Should I get my Canon AE-1P CLA'd?

[Nathan King]

I would get the AE-1 fixed up, that way you know everything is in good order. Picking up a new non-serviced body often means picking up the same problems. The AE-1 was my first camera, and I still have it.

 

[BySumbergsStache]

Thanks guys for the advice. I think I will CLA the device. Just for clarification it's a AE-1 Program, not a AE-1

 

[BySumbergsStache]

Now the question is who to send it out to

 

[benjiboy]

A fanboy is someone who defaults to the same product or person no matter what the question or context. Canon FD lenses on an F1 body are a nice combination but they aren't the holy grail. The holy grail of photography is great photographs, and those things don't care what camera they were taken on.

I agree that the "holy grail" is great photographs, but that can't be achieved when at the critical moment of producing the "great photograph" the camera craps out.

 

[flavio81]

A fanboy is someone who defaults to the same product or person no matter what the question or context. Canon FD lenses on an F1 body are a nice combination but they aren't the holy grail. The holy grail of photography is great photographs, and those things don't care what camera they were taken on.

We're not fanboys. We just love the F1 too much.

 

[benjiboy]

We're not fanboys. We just love the F1 too much.

Rock on, brother

 

[cuthbert]

If I was backed into a corner for my life in support of any Canon, I'd say the FTb was most likely the top nominee of the advance amateur class, and the F1 original as the "flagship". Even though the FTb came first, I believe. Those 2 were worthy of some respect. If I were a collector, I'd have the FTb. If you had one of those, it might be worth a few dollars of attention. The AE1 is best left alone. Don't jinx what works, as long as it works.

I think the first F-1 and the FTb were introduced at the same time (1971) but while the F-1 was an original design the FTb is the FD version of the earlier FT.

I have a FTbn and a F-1n, to be honest the FTbn is a sort of "lite" (still very heavy) version of the F-1, the two cameras are similar, the F-1 has a titanium shutter with 1/2000s and of course you can change screen and finder, for the rest they are more or less equivalent, if I have to walk a lot I take the FTbn.

Still, I would prefer a Spotmatic or a KM (KX), smaller and as strong as the big FTbn, not a great fan of the A-1 but the T90 is a very nice camera, just you can't use it in manual mode (like the A-1).

We're not fanboys. We just love the F1 too much.

but you ARE a fanboy, Flavio!

The F-1N and the LX are my favourite cameras, but I also like to use simples Pentaxes, Nikons and even Praktica Bs, that you probably consider trash but they are little capable cameras, sort of cheap version of the LX but with some of the best lenses I've ever used.

 

[CMoore]

The F-1 is pretty complex and CAN BE rather expensive to fix. Assuming the meter is calibrated, the shutter speeds are timed, and the viewfinder is good, i do not see that the camera model matters much. We all have our favorites. But as long as it reliably pulls film under a lens, the lens is what "matters" (no big revelation) .
I think the Canon AT-1 is a great choice.....all mechanical and much simpler than the F-1.
Of course, there are some things the F-1 will do and the A-1 will not. But that is a fact with all Brands/Models.
best

 

[blockend]

The F-1 is pretty complex and CAN BE rather expensive to fix. Assuming the meter is calibrated, the shutter speeds are timed, and the viewfinder is good, i do not see that the camera model matters much. We all have our favorites. But as long as it reliably pulls film under a lens, the lens is what "matters" (no big revelation) .
I think the Canon AT-1 is a great choice.....all mechanical and much simpler than the F-1.
Of course, there are some things the F-1 will do and the A-1 will not. But that is a fact with all Brands/Models.
best

Yes. This long after manufacture the condition of an individual camera is more important than its place on the original pecking order. IME professional cameras have lead a harder life than the amateur varieties.

 

[benjiboy]

Yes. This long after manufacture the condition of an individual camera is more important than its place on the original pecking order. IME professional cameras have lead a harder life than the amateur varieties.

Not necessarily, in my experience of working for more than twenty years of working at a leading professional photographic dealers a great many photographers who buy professional cameras are not pros, indeed if only pros bought professional cameras it wouldn't be worth the manufacturers while to make them because the development costs would be too great and the market would be too small to justify the manufacturing costs
It is possible to buy little used Canon F1's that haven't been hammered if you buy them with care and don't expect to get them cheap, I have four of them I have acquired over the last twenty odd years that have always behaved faultlessly.

 

[mgb74]

I say this only partially in jest - buy a pro level camera from a dentist. It's likely to have seen relatively little use and they tend to be meticulous with equipment.

 

[benjiboy]

I say this only partially in jest - buy a pro level camera from a dentist. It's likely to have seen relatively little use and they tend to be meticulous with equipment.

Very true, many well heeled amatures buy pro equipment for their image and street cred, not to take pictures.

 

[MattKing]

FWIW, I have a friend who is both a dentist, and an excellent and very active photographer, who does use top grade (now digital) equipment.

If he was selling something I wanted, I would expect it to be both well used, and well maintained.