Opinions on the old Canon A1?

[ozphoto]

I loved my A1 - purchased it 2nd hand and used it for many years. Shot many a sports assignment with it and my trusty F1 (first version). Was very sad to see it go but I know it went to a good home. Same for the F1.

In the time I owned it, it didn't suffer the "squeak" and the MA Drive performed superbly. If I hadn't needed to go AF, I'd still have both of these babies today. Solid and reliable two great workhorses.

 

[sangetsu]

I'm enjoying this thread so far. I went to my favorite junk shop today looking for gear, and actually got some good finds. I found an old Fuji passport camera sitting on the shelf for 2100 yen (I live in Japan, price in US dollars is about $20). I didn't care for the camera, but I liked the Fuji PA-45 instant film back that was attached to it (they are running for $100 and up on Ebay).

As I was at the counter getting ready to pay for the Fuji stuff, I saw that the clerks were sorting through a plastic bin full of old 35mm cameras and lenses. Amazingly enough, I realized that I still don't have a 35mm film camera (I shoot large format), so I thought I would look in the bin and see if they had anything interesting.

I got lucky, I found an old F1 in nearly mint condition, with a 50mm 1.8 lens on it. The price was ichi man yen, or $100. I found a 35mm 3.5 lens for $10, a Canon 2x teleconverter for $5, and a 100~200 zoom for $10. Also in the bin was a decent looking A1.

I used to read National Geographic magazines voraciously when I was in elementary school, and I still remember the Canon A1 ads on the back cover: "Hexa-photo-cybernetic" (or something like that) were the words that described it. I lusted after that camera, thinking (ignorantly) that it was the kind of camera that National Geographic photographers used to take the pictures in the magazines.

I asked how much for the A1, and the clerk said "san-zen-yen" (about $30). I thought "why not?", and told him I'd take it too. I was surprised to find when I came home that it had a flawless 50 1.4 lens on it.

The F1 works perfectly; amazingly enough the battery is still good, and the meter seems to work normally. The A1 didn't have a battery in it, I'll go pick up some extra batteries and film tomorrow, and hopefully a couple of reels that will work in one of my tanks.

 

[dougjgreen]

FYI, the 50mm f1.4 FD alone is worth $60~$70, so even if your A-1 squeaks, you did well.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I must admit sounds like a good deal to me also!

Jeff

 

[EdColorado]

Nice buy sangetsu!

I used Canon gear exclusively when I was trying to earn a living at this stuff. Shooting motorsports it was always my T90s with my early F1 used some for fun. I also have a couple of A1s and like them a lot for general use. The T90 is my favorite but any problems with one is likely to be permanent as parts (I hear) are impossible to find. Of course they sell cheap so I guess parts are just an Ebay buy away. The F1 is a tank. As close to indestructible as a camera can be. Coupled with the motor drive MF it was a great conversation starter at the race track.
Of them all, as a camera to try out the Canon FD system with I'd say either a F1 or an A1. The F1 is fully manual and has a great "pro cachet". The A1 was an advanced amateur camera with more bells and whistles. A1 will be cheaper than the F1. F1s don't get a shutter squeak but its pretty easy to fix. BTW, its not the shutter that squeaks, its the mirror damper. Takes about 30 minutes to fix but if the thing is squeaking then its probably a good idea to get it CLAd so the rest of the body can be cleaned and lubed. Once done you'll probably use it the rest of your life with no problems.

 

[nocrop]

The red LCDs in the view finder can be turn off.

Jeff

Surely they're LEDs?

 

[sangetsu]

Got a pic of the stuff I picked up last night. The square thing in the left rear is a Fuji instant film holder for a 4x5 camera. The price for all the gear here was less than what the film holder would normally go for by itself, it's like I got the 35mm stuff for free...

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Surely they're LEDs?

Sorry about that, but you know what I mean!

Jeff

 

[Paul Jenkin]

On the recommendation of a friend, I traded my OM kit (OM1n and OM2n + lenses, etc) for an A1 + 28/f2.8, 50/f1.8, 35-70/f4-ish and 85/f1.8. All went well, at least initially.....

I was shooting weddings at the time and had, I think, a Mamiya C330 as a back-up - which was just as well. Half way through a shoot the A1 just 'died'. Complete electrical failure - it just refused to start and nothing I or the camera shop I bought it from would resurrect it.

I have to agree with earlier comments about the functions being a bit clunky and non-intuitive. It also felt quite light and plasticky and the flashgun I had never really sat quite right on the hot shoe and occasionally 'failed' when on the bracket I had.

I shamed the dealer into giving me a good deal against a T90 - which had been brought out just as mine failed. In comparison, I cannot praise the T90 highly enough.