Fsking Canon AL-1!

Tony-S

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I bought a used Canon AL-1 about a year ago that was in fabulous shape, except for its Achillies heel - the battery door latch. Found a source for a replacement and after half an hour of futzing around with it I finally got it installed and the camera put back together. Well, today, the battery door latch broke. I really don't understand what Canon's engineers were thinking when they designed it. The other A series cameras also had a poor battery door design. I wish there was a good solution for this problem, but I suspect it's going to be duct tape.

Ugh.
 

ntenny

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I just think of broken battery doors as part of the charm of the A-series. If you've gotta fix it, I think electrical tape is less obtrusive than duct tape.

-NT
 

AgX

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Tony-S said:
The other A series cameras also had a poor battery door design.
Click to expand...

There had been four different battery-door/finger-grip designs at the A-family. I'm not sure if all are involved in faults.
 

lxdude

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I wonder if age is a factor. I had an AE-1 Program in the 90's and had no issue with the battery door.
 
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Tony-S

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The A-1, AE-1, AE-1P, AT-1 and AL-1 all take 6V PX-28 equivalent batteries and the cameras had the door on the front of the camera. This door was prone to cracking after many years. I've replace the door on my A-1 and my sister's AE-1. The AL-1 was the last A-series camera has a bottom door and takes two 1.5V AAA batteries. The latch on it is what breaks - a notorious issue with this camera.
 

E. von Hoegh

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lxdude said:
I wonder if age is a factor. I had an AE-1 Program in the 90's and had no issue with the battery door.
Click to expand...

No. The operative factor here is the presence of a door. No door, no latch. No latch, no latch breakage. No breakage, happiness.
 

CanonShot

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The Canon A series suffer from a less than sturdy door hinge that succumbs to excessive fingernail pressure. I use a paper clip, pressing inward and upward on the door latch, and have never had a problem.
 
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Tony-S

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CanonShot said:
The Canon A series suffer from a less than sturdy door hinge that succumbs to excessive fingernail pressure. I use a paper clip, pressing inward and upward on the door latch, and have never had a problem.
Click to expand...

The AL-1 is different than the other A series cameras.
 
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