Canon AE-1 question

[Nikonfan07]

Hello,

I was wondering if I can manually set my lens to any aperture on the ring or do I have to just leave it on A? I would like to have complete control of the aperture and shutter speed. I realize the AE-1 is a shutter priority camera but I was wondering if I can have complete control of the settings. I just received this camera and have not loaded a roll of film in it yet. I just picked up a new battery for it and I was going to take it down to our local camera shop and have them test the meter etc...

Thanks for your help,
Dan

 

[flatulent1]

Yes you can.

 

[AgX]

The AE-1 has manual setting by pressing the A-button on the FD-lens aperture ring and setting it on any of the indicated apertures.

The automatic diaphragm will still be activated (diaphragm will only close to pre-set value during exposure)
For DOF-control you have to set aperture and then press the DOF-preview button left of the lens.



One of the best sources of Information on Canon cameras and lenses with FD-mount can be found here

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/SLRs/index.htm

 

[MattKing]

Hello,

I was wondering if I can manually set my lens to any aperture on the ring or do I have to just leave it on A? I would like to have complete control of the aperture and shutter speed. I realize the AE-1 is a shutter priority camera but I was wondering if I can have complete control of the settings. I just received this camera and have not loaded a roll of film in it yet. I just picked up a new battery for it and I was going to take it down to our local camera shop and have them test the meter etc...

Thanks for your help,
Dan

Yes!

Have you a copy of the manual (s)? If not, here is a link to its location on Mike Butkus' site (I'd suggest that you make the requested donation):

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/canon/canon_ae-1/canon_ae-1.htm

 

[Kevin Kehler]

If you leave it on A, it will set the correct aperture for the shutter speed selected. If you take it off A, it works like any other manual camera (you have to pick both aperture and shutter speed). Assuming it does not have the squeal that a number of these bodies have developed (usually associated with the shutter curtain's lubricant drying out, which means it may be off in the shutter times), the camera is a tank that just keeps going, assuming there is a battery in it. I previously owned one which developed the squeal; $150 to repair seemed excessive, so I figured out it was over-exposing by 2/3 of a stop and compensated by changing the ISO. Found another at a garage sale for $20 and chucked the faulty one.

 

[AgX]

That special noise seems to come from the mirror damper, thus any problem related to it should not cause exposure error.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Excellent camera, just take the aperture ring and take it off from 'A' you are on manual!

Jeff

 

[Nikonfan07]

Excellent. I will load a roll and start learning this camera. Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[John Koehrer]

That special noise seems to come from the mirror damper, thus any problem related to it should not cause exposure error.

Very close but........It's the mirror governor on the side of the mirror box. It's just a series of gears meant to regulate the speed of the mirror's rising.
It's very similar to a slow speed escapement in a leaf shutter where the last gear engages a pallet for consistant speed.