New here and to photography

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

Hello everyone. My name is Chad and I just joined this site. I'm also quite new to photography. I have had a digital camera for awhile and take pictures on occasion with it. I recently was out with my fiancée at different antique stores and came across a deal I felt like I couldn't pass up and now we're here. I got a Canon AE-1 Program that came with 3 different lenses, a flash unit and a case. Looking to get some advice and figure out how it all works. Hoping to get to the point where I can load my own film, shoot, and develop my own pictures at some point.

removed account4 · Jul 28, 2016

hey chad

you can find the manual here:

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

sounds like quite a deal !
you might consider taking/sending the camera to a local camera repair shop
for a cleaning, and getting fresh batteries for it. you will undoubtably find lots of information here
in the film + processing + printing sections and people eager to help you get started with that part of the adventure.
you can also go to the classifide section here and find the necessary things to develop your film when the time comes.

good luck ! ( and welcome to apug )
john

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

I got fresh batteries and got film loaded and everything. The only issue I'm noticing, or think I'm noticing is with the aperture settings. I change the aperture on the lenses and I don't think I see any change. From what I'm reading you should see the blades closing. I could just be not knowing what I'm looking at.

Terry Christian · Jul 28, 2016

You won't see the change on an SLR like the Canon AE-1 until you either press the shutter or you press the depth-of-field preview button (if the camera has one). When you look through the viewfinder, the camera locks the aperture wide open. When you press the shutter button, the mirror flips up out of the way of the light path, the lens stops down to the selected aperture, the shutter activates, the mirror flips down, and the aperture is once again locked open for the next shot.

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

Nevermind. I figured it out! Didn't have the stop down lever pushed in after putting the lens on.

Mark Tate · Jul 28, 2016

Great cameras and the last of the good Canon film SLRs, I have one I got new in 1982.
You may want to get the light seals replaced though if it still has the original seals, they did not last very long, I had the seals replaced in my camera around 1985 with Neoprene seals and they are still as good as new to this day.

With the lens on the camera you will not see the app blades close as you adjust the aperture, they only stop down as you take the shot. On the front of the camera under the ISO knob there is a Lever that will stop the app down for DOF preview.

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

Next to the lens on the camera I found a lever you push in after mounting the lens. When I push this in I can see the blades position when changing the aperture. Before I wasn't pushing in that lever.

Mark Tate · Jul 28, 2016

35mmNoob said:
Next to the lens on the camera I found a lever you push in after mounting the lens. When I push this in I can see the blades position when changing the aperture. Before I wasn't pushing in that lever.

That is the DOF preview lever, after a while you will never use it anyway, once you get down to f:8 it gets to dark to really see anything unless it is a bright sunny day.

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

Ah ok. So basically that's just a guide? But it's still working even when that is not pressed in? Because I got a little worried after doing research. I got this camera on Monday so only a few days ago. Other than needing batteries the camera is in good condition. I will take a few pictures and post them real fast

Mark Tate · Jul 28, 2016

35mmNoob said:
Ah ok. So basically that's just a guide? But it's still working even when that is not pressed in? Because I got a little worried after doing research. I got this camera on Monday so only a few days ago. Other than needing batteries the camera is in good condition. I will take a few pictures and post them real fast

Yes it is just a guide.
If it is not clicking back to open then it may need a service, this camera is getting close to 40 years old now remember, yes it is worth getting it serviced IMO.

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

Just curious, how much does a servicing cost? Just getting an idea. And do you think it's worth it to order the bulk film rolls and fill your own cartridges?

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

This came with the camera I got. Can't seem to figure out what it is though.

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

Here is the camera itself. Having trouble with image files for the pictures

Mark Tate · Jul 28, 2016

35mmNoob said:
This came with the camera I got. Can't seem to figure out what it is though.

That is a remote shutter release cable , you screw it into the top of the shutter button so can can operate the camera with out touching it.

MattKing · Jul 28, 2016

Welcome to APUG - and film photography.

The item you don't recognize is a cable release. It helps you take long exposure photos without the camera shaking.

Your AE-1 Program offers what is known as open aperture (viewing and) metering. It allows you the ability to review and focus and compose with a viewfinder that is as bright as possible. The lens aperture only stops down at the instant of exposure (unless you decide to preview it with the depth of field preview lever).

In the day, I sold lots of your camera.

Mark Tate · Jul 28, 2016

35mmNoob said:
Just curious, how much does a servicing cost? Just getting an idea. And do you think it's worth it to order the bulk film rolls and fill your own cartridges?

I have no idea what servicing would cost you, it would not be very expensive I imagine.

35mmNoob · Jul 28, 2016

Thanks! I've been wondering what that thing was since I bought it. I just need a tripod so that thing will actually be useful haha

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