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Post by zimaaron on Oct 16, 2007 17:07:59 GMT -5
I have my mothers old canon ae-1 camera and for a while it worked fine. A few years ago, the film advance lever become stuck and it was sent off to be repaired and came back still broken. My grandfather paid for it so i'm not sure exactly what happened. The point is the mirror is 'stuck' up, it can come down if you push it, but it stays in the up position all the time. Also, the film lever moves about 1/2 way and doesn't advance the film even if you press the shutter button. Is there something I can do without sending it to be worked on again?
Aaron
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Post by herron on Oct 16, 2007 21:29:45 GMT -5
 A loose or broken spring, and a gear not engaging, sounds like. Maybe one of our Canon enthusiasts has run across this one before!
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Post by bcomber2 on Oct 17, 2007 5:09:40 GMT -5
This may require a removal of the bottom cover. AE-1/AE-1p and A-1 have a couple of shutter solenoids under the bottom cover.. Occasionally suffer from residual magnetism effect and stick closed. The main culprit being the coil on the RHS (right hand side) with lens facing away from you. Identify the coil with the opaque plastic cover. Above this is the attachment to the armature of the solenoid - a wedge shaped piece of metal with a shaft at the pointy end and on it you can see a spring. if the two parts of the solenoid are together open them up with a little! force on the top tab of the wedge piece. the shutter should operate. If the above spiel completely misses the point try the other solenoid and see if it is stuck closed also. sometimes a bit of judicious prodding around the linkages, with care, will release the linkages for the mirror return. can't get into much trouble if you do everything deliberately and carefully.
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Post by herron on Oct 17, 2007 8:46:56 GMT -5
coils, armatures, solenoids........I knew someone would have a better answer than ambiguous springs & gears.  I also recall now why I like the old mechanical cameras. They're more like me, simple and uncomplicated.   |
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Post by bcomber2 on Oct 17, 2007 18:47:48 GMT -5
Note that I did include the technical term " pointy end" for lack of a suitable description!
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Post by bcomber2 on Oct 17, 2007 19:12:59 GMT -5
I should add that knowing some basic repair knowledge can help to snare the occasional bargain on the auction sites. The bidders seem to avoid such items if any hint of 'repair' or 'stuck', and 'fungus' gets a mention. Then there is the usual 'was working last time it was used' trap too. A whole new subject on its own!
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PeterW
Lifetime Member
Member has Passed
Posts: 3,804
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Post by PeterW on Oct 18, 2007 6:16:40 GMT -5
Of course it was, or it couldn't have been used. For this read 'Doesn't work now'.
There's also 'Haven't tried it', 'Know nothing about cameras', 'Ideal for collector', 'Suit enthusiast', 'May need slight attention' and 'Selling for a friend/relation' - for all those read 'I know a lot about selling things that don't work'.
PeterW
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Post by vintageslrs on Oct 18, 2007 7:31:30 GMT -5
Bravo Peter...
Well said!
Bob
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Oct 18, 2007 22:27:40 GMT -5
I always like "Mint condition, shutter doesn't work". A personal favourite right up there with "I can't see any reason it wouldn't work". OK Kreskin, thanks for mind melding with the camera.
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