what cold be wrong with this AE-1

jaimeb82

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My wife has this camera since HS and I inherited due to my latest addiction to the analog world, that being said, the camera may need a CLA, but I purchased a nice 55mm FL f/1.2 from the Classified section here in APUG. I went out and did take a test roll. I didn't know how to use the FL lens very well in term of exposures, but the photos came with an weird lines in most of them, but not in all of them.

I am guessing light leaks, the guy at the camera lab told me it looks like double exposure. I am going to put a link here to some of the pics.

Can anyone identify what the problem is?
Does anyone thinks it could be the new lens?
Did the lab screwed up?

I am definitely going to test another roll, but it will help to know if someone saw this kind of problem before.

Vamos APUG!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaseando/3650489320/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaseando/3649686363/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaseando/3650488614/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaseando/3650488028/in/photostream/

the following pictures don't seem to have that problem, or I don't see it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaseando/3650488388/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flaseando/3650489090/in/photostream/
 
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Rol_Lei Nut

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jaimeb82 said:
Can anyone identify what the problem is?
Click to expand...

It's a Canon...

Sorry, couldn't resist!
;-)

More seriously, I recently CLA'd my favourite camera for giving the same result and that solved it. Also, the effect was only visible on about 1/3 of the frames.

I am assuming that the AE-1 has a horizontally travelling shutter, otherwise it is something totally different.
 

JBrunner

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It is an outside possibility, but it could be the battery or the contacts. The shutter can act dodgy or the camera can seem to jam on the AE series if the voltage is low or erratic.
 
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jaimeb82

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Yes, the curtain travels horizontally and it seems to be the problem because many of you are pointing at this problem, I did not think about the curtain at all or about the battery at all either! I remember changing it about 2 years ago when I dusted off the camera from my wife's parents basement to see if it worked, but I didn't use the camera that much during those two years. I think what I will do next is buy a new battery and do a test roll, It seems cheaper than a CLA

Thanks for the feedback.
 

Rol_Lei Nut

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The battery/contact scenario should be checked out (my camera is purely mechanical).

If the AE-1 has a purely mechanical speed (often the flash sync speed - AKA the dead battery speed - if in doubt, take out the battery and try), try shooting a number of frames with that to rule out any electrical problem, though in my camera, the banding was worse at some speeds than at others.
 

JBrunner

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I have purchased two very excellent "jammed" AE cameras for a pittance that simply needed a new battery! (shhhhhh)
 

JBrunner

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Andrew Horodysky

I typically buy a silver oxide 6V (S28) for my F-1N, which is the same battery used for an AE-1. Like some of the other postings-recommendations, above, see if a new battery does the trick. Also, take the camera in for a check-up/cleaning/calibration; it's got to be done periodically, anyway. Good camera; you'll enjoy it!
 
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jaimeb82

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Duane Ready sells 6v lithium battery 28L, they charged me $2,70, I think they made a mistake. First of all, the battery was dying when I pressed the battery check button, so that's a good sign. It was up at to the range of f/11. It should be right at f/5.6 or at f/2.8 when battery brand new. Next step is to test a whole new role and see if problem is there. Thanks again and hopefully this will help some others with the same problem.
 

John Koehrer

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The battery shouldn't have anything to do with banding.
The camera battery is needed to trip the shutter and is timed electonically. Once the shutter has been tripped and is moving, the slit width(speed) has been determined. I'd take a swag that over time the curtain has lost tension in the springs driving the curtains.
 

Anscojohn

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Try a new battery first; and be sure to clean the contacts in the battery chamber with a pencil eraser. Then start excercising the shutter. I agree with the others it looks like a shutter curtain hanging up. Try using the camera in the warm weather and see if the problem disappears. Even so, a CLA should be the next important thing you do.
 

Pumal

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The CLA is fine, but before that; put in a new battery and exercise the shutter for a good time. They seldom fail. I have 2 since they came out in the market. Never a problem
 
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