Post by PeterW on Jun 27, 2005 20:32:23 GMT -5
Although I've got a number of other SLRs my favourites without a doubt are Canons. I wasn't quite sure whether or not to include the older ones in this section but as the majority are later than 1970 I've lumped them all together here.
The earliest is a Canonflex RP from the early 1960s, a big heavy old beast with the big external clip-on selenium meter that couples to the speed dial. The meter doesn't work but I haven't been inside it to see if it's a corroded connection or a dead cell and, if it is a dead cell whether or not I can find something like a solar cell at Tandy's to replace it. I don't use the camera at the moment because although the shutter works fine on all speeds the automatic iris in the lens is very sluggish, so much so that at small apertures and fast shutter speeds the action's all over before the iris has even had time to close down. It's probably grease migrated on to it but I haven't had time to strip it and see.
Still pre-1970 there's an FP and an FX both of which still work faultlessly though the focus on one of the FL lenses is starting to get just a little stiff.
Moving on to post 1970, we come to the F1n, cosmetically brassy from years of hard use but still soldiering on like a good-un. Then there are three A1s, two of which have never given any problems. The third, cosmetically the nicest looking, works beautifully but unfortunately eats batteries. I've been told of various things, like the battery check switch, which might be causing this, but for the moment I've just taken the battery out.
Of the lighter-weight Canons I've got an AE1 and an AE1 Program. I was a little dubious about them when I first got them, they didn't quite seem to have the solid, heavy Canon 'feel', because they aren't as heavy or solid. But I have to say that over the years neither has given the slightest of problems. There's also an AV1 but I don't use that much because it's aperture priority only, and I like to have user-choosable speeds.
Lastly comes the latest acquisition, a T-70 which I picked up very cheaply because it's got an electronics problem. One thing I like about it is that it takes cheap AA batteries which you can buy almost anywhere. Everything works well except the 'down' selector button. So at the moment The slowest ASA speed I can get is 650, and the slowest speed 1/125 sec, which is a bit limiting to say the least.
I've downloaded a schematic of the system and gather that the 'down' button earths pin 14 on the main chip, but I haven't yet had the top off to see if it's a dry joint, a broken connecting wire or a dodgy button contact, nor whether or not I can get to the contacts on the button with some switch cleaner or if it's sealed. I must admit that I've been putting off opening it up because electronics, flexible pcbs and connections that need a soldering iron with a point like a darning needle are not my favourite field of tinkering. I don't 'think' I'm an old diehard even at nearly 77, but I prefer mechanical things where I can see what's happening without having to use a meter to measure something I can't see. But I like using the camera even within its present limitations, so I shall have to take the plunge and open it up. I don't suppose anyone's been inside a T-70 and has any tips??
Regards to all,
Peter
The earliest is a Canonflex RP from the early 1960s, a big heavy old beast with the big external clip-on selenium meter that couples to the speed dial. The meter doesn't work but I haven't been inside it to see if it's a corroded connection or a dead cell and, if it is a dead cell whether or not I can find something like a solar cell at Tandy's to replace it. I don't use the camera at the moment because although the shutter works fine on all speeds the automatic iris in the lens is very sluggish, so much so that at small apertures and fast shutter speeds the action's all over before the iris has even had time to close down. It's probably grease migrated on to it but I haven't had time to strip it and see.
Still pre-1970 there's an FP and an FX both of which still work faultlessly though the focus on one of the FL lenses is starting to get just a little stiff.
Moving on to post 1970, we come to the F1n, cosmetically brassy from years of hard use but still soldiering on like a good-un. Then there are three A1s, two of which have never given any problems. The third, cosmetically the nicest looking, works beautifully but unfortunately eats batteries. I've been told of various things, like the battery check switch, which might be causing this, but for the moment I've just taken the battery out.
Of the lighter-weight Canons I've got an AE1 and an AE1 Program. I was a little dubious about them when I first got them, they didn't quite seem to have the solid, heavy Canon 'feel', because they aren't as heavy or solid. But I have to say that over the years neither has given the slightest of problems. There's also an AV1 but I don't use that much because it's aperture priority only, and I like to have user-choosable speeds.
Lastly comes the latest acquisition, a T-70 which I picked up very cheaply because it's got an electronics problem. One thing I like about it is that it takes cheap AA batteries which you can buy almost anywhere. Everything works well except the 'down' selector button. So at the moment The slowest ASA speed I can get is 650, and the slowest speed 1/125 sec, which is a bit limiting to say the least.
I've downloaded a schematic of the system and gather that the 'down' button earths pin 14 on the main chip, but I haven't yet had the top off to see if it's a dry joint, a broken connecting wire or a dodgy button contact, nor whether or not I can get to the contacts on the button with some switch cleaner or if it's sealed. I must admit that I've been putting off opening it up because electronics, flexible pcbs and connections that need a soldering iron with a point like a darning needle are not my favourite field of tinkering. I don't 'think' I'm an old diehard even at nearly 77, but I prefer mechanical things where I can see what's happening without having to use a meter to measure something I can't see. But I like using the camera even within its present limitations, so I shall have to take the plunge and open it up. I don't suppose anyone's been inside a T-70 and has any tips??
Regards to all,
Peter