Canon ae1 fd 50mm 1.8

Isaiah Dominguez

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I need some help guys. When my lens is mounted the aperture is stuck at I'm guessing f2.8 ,I only can change it to 1.8 anything over 2.8 it does not change. But if I take the lens off I can change it manually just fine. What is the problem here?
 

AgX

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Take off the lens. Cock the camera. Mount the lens. Try again.
 

AgX

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FD cameras with shutter priority have to be cocked before mounting a lens. This typically is done anyway, as one cocks after each exposure. But when playing with a (new) body and lens one might not do so.
 

LimeyKeith

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.
AgX said:
FD cameras with shutter priority have to be cocked before mounting a lens.........
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but that is not correct for the AE1, AE! Program or the Canon A1. I have owned and still use an AE! 50mm f1.8 and A1 50mm f1.8 since I bought them new in the 1970's and I can state that lenses can be changed whether the shutter is cocked or not. It is possible that the diaphragm has been set manually off the camera and needs to be reset, or there may be some damage to the pins/lever protruding from the back of the lens. I would suggest that the OP downloads the manual and reads it in conjuction with camera and lens in hand to understand the operation of the lens and possibly identify the problem.
 

AgX

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My experience is contrary. It depends on the state the camera was in when uncocked. There are cases when the lens cannot be stopped down completely.
 

LimeyKeith

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We will have to agree to disagree then Agx. I am sat here with both my cameras in front of me and I can change the lens on both no matter what state the shutter is in without any problems at all. Canon give one warning in the AE1 manual: "FD series lenses must not be mounted on the camera when the film is partially advanced". What will happen if one tries to do that I have no idea, thankfully I haven't been that stupid - yet. There can be issues when using the 'Aperture Stop Down Lever' hence my recommendation that the OP read the user manual, paricularly page 43.

I don't think I can be of any further help so I will leave the thread now. Best of luck Isaiah.
 

gone

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This was my first "real" camera and lens combo. Took a lot of great photos w/ it. You don't have to cock the shutters on any Canon camera to mount a lens, at least to my knowledge. FD lenses are funny about how their apertures work though. I don't remember the details, but if you go to google and search for a fix (there's something that needs to be set on the back of the lenses, that I remember) you should see it. Make sure that Rube Goldberg little sliding lever on the front of the camera near the bottom of the lens mount on the left side isn't pushed in and engaged too, as that will cause problems like you're having. The lever allows you to stop the lens down, but it was so fiddeley that I never used it.

Try this

 

LimeyKeith

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Isaiah Dominguez said:
Thx guys idk what I did but it fixed it self diaphragm working perfect now
Click to expand...

I guess the previous owner had used the lens off-camera for some reason, extension bellows or reverse mounted for macro use, and didn't reset it properly and your 'informed adjustments' have fixed it. Well done.
 
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