Canon AE-1; Opinions Please

[doubs43]

Calling all you Canon owners out there. I really don't need another lens system but there are seemingly dozens of Canon AE-1 cameras on ebay calling to me so I'd like the opinions of those who own or have owned them.

So let me have it; good, bad..... whatever.

Walker

[bcomber2]

Some nice FD lenses out there and if nothing else grabbing an AE-1 or AE-1P for the lenses alone wouldn't be a bad move. The cameras can be affected by the infamous squeal and this could be tricky to repair especially the AE-1. e.g. Further damage could result from lifting the top. (tungsten wire from ASA dial to somewhere is very brittle) AE1-P doesn't have this problem but I don't know as I haven't struck this squeal problem with my example and so haven't needed to lift the top. . The camera I have is o.k as a functional P&S i.e. not much involvement required when taking pics. So basically a foolproof camera coupled with FD lenses. AE-1P has focus screen change capability but that's about all I know about the AE-1P. wouldn't pay too much for an AE-1 little more for AE-1P. beware of the squeal. dave

[casualcollector]

I just picked up an AE-1 with 50/1.8, Canon Speedlight, LA Olympic belt pack and all the original documentation. It's about 1980-81 vintage and in very good condition. No squeak. Found it at a church thrift store for ten dollars.

My sister gave me her well traveled AE-1 Program. It squeaks and the mirror action is very sluggish. It is currently serving as a paperweight.

Both are well made cameras and easy to use.

[doubs43]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I may get an AE-1 or even an FTb if I can find a cheap one. I'll try to avoid the "squeal" too. The FD lenses are well thought of from all I can find and prices for them on ebay are as reasonable as any other system lenses..... actually, cheaper than a lot of them.

Walker

[PeterW]

Hi Walker,

As a long-term Canon user and fan I thought it was about time I chipped in with some of the things I've found with Canons.

A Series (A1, AE1, AE1P, AV1 and AT1).
These are all known to suffer from the infamous Canon Squeal or Canon Squeak. It's caused by drying up of the lubrication for the flywheel damper and gearing for the mirror which sit between the mirror box and the battery box. It's annoying but, in its early stages doesn't seem to affect the working of the cameras. Later it can cause a sluggish mirror action

The cure is, of course, to lubricate it. But there's a snag - as always. The snag is getting to them. To do the job properly you have to take out the mirror box, but unless you've got some experience of camera work it's a somewhat involved business.

Some people say they've has success with 'injection lubrication' using a small syringe. Rick Olsen has a sketch of this on

I did this using watch oil in a hyperdermic syringe on an example of an AE1 that I picked up very cheaply because the squeal was really loud. It worked, but I've heard stories of people who were over-enthusiastic with the oil with the result that after a few weeks other problems like sticky shutter blinds appeared. It needs only one or, at the most, two to three very small drops.

I've had two A1s which developed a voracious appetite for batteries. A new battery lasted about a fortnight. In both cases this was caused by a short, or more of a small leak-short, in the battery check light circuit. The cure was to take the check light right out of circuit by cutting and insulating the connections. This cured both examples, and I never used the check light anyway.

AV1 and AT1. Aperture priority only and speed priority only. Fully automatic exposure. Going very cheaply now and fine for most shots in average light conditions, but I like to be able to choose either, or manual settings, on a camera.

AE1P. The Program, or P, setting copes very well with ordinary everyday type shots but falls down a bit in low light. Choose one of the other modes when the light gets tricky.

F Series (F1, FT, FTb, FP and FX.) All metal and much heavier than the A Series.

F1. Lovely camera. I've had two. Never gave any problems at all.

FTbn. Had one and loved it. Sorry I traded it in.

FX. Purely mechanical with a built-in but not TTL meter. Meter works fine on a cheap alkaline button battery because it has a bridge circuit that makes it independent of voltage variations.

FP Purely mechanical. Soldiers on for ever.

T Series.
I've got two, both T70.

One is my main user camera at the moment and hasn't given any problems. I like it very much. Automatic motor drive and rewind. Runs on ordinary cheap alkaline AA batteries - get them almost anywhere.

The other works OK but the 'down' button for the aperture and speed selection doesn't work. If you want to go down you have to switch off and start again. I talked with Canon Service in the UK who told me what the problem is. The button is a sealed switch which shorts pin 14 on the main chip to chassis earth. If it stops working you can't get in it to clean the contacts because it's sealed. There aren't any new button assemblies available, not even from Japan it seems, so the only cure is to find a donor camera or put in a separate small button switch.

T90. A sort of up-spec T70. I've handled one and would like one, but I'm in no hurry as the T70 does all I want.

One thing in favour of all the above is that all my Canon FL or FD lenses fit and couple perfectly. So do my M42 lenses using an adaptor. The lens I use the most, and which sits more or less permanently on the T70, is the 35-70 'short zoom'. A lovely lens which covers 90% of the shots I take - and you don't have to refocus after zooming. The 28mm Canon lens is a very nice flat-field wide angle lens.

EOS. Never had one but borrowed a couple on different occasions. Nice to use but I didn't find them so convenient to use as the T70. The owner of one of them told me you can run down the batteries quite quickly by constantly using the auto-focus motor 'to see what a picture looks like looks like' without actualy taking anything.

Digital. No experience at all.

Hope all this was of some help.

PeterW

[mickeyobe]

In 1985 I decided to get a new camera after using my Canon FTbn QL for about ten years. It worked flawlessly then and still does.

I bought a Canon AE-1. I returned it after a day or three or four. After the FTbn, it felt too cramped and insubstantial to me. That is strictly personal preference and not a reflection on the camera's quality.

I bought a Canon T90. The wisest camera choice I have ever made. To me it is the perfect camera.

Despite my having gone digital I still occasionally take out my T90 as a reminder of what a CAMERA feels like.

The FD mount (I prefer the older breechlock lenses.) lenses and accessories seem to be unlimited in numbers, varieties and applications. Be aware, however, that Canon lenses are not compatible with other cameras.
There are very many after market lens and accessories available for the FD mount. I am particularly fond of some Vivitar and Sigma products.

I honestly cannot say anything against the A-E 1. I have one now and it seems to be an excellent camera. I have just been spoiled by the T90. My AE-1 does make quite a noise when I release the shutter. So does the A-1. To me it sounds more like a sneeze rather than a squeal.

I now have Canon A-1, AE-1, FTbn QL, TX, Pellix, T50, T70, T90, EOS Rebel X, EOS 5000, Canonet 28, Canonet QL17, Canonet QL25 and a stable of FD lenses and accessories.

I have never had cause to complain about Canon products except when they dropped the FD lens mount in favour of EOS.
Canon Canada service may leave a little to be desired though.

Needless to say I am a Canon fan. If only those accessories would fit my Pentax K100D.

Mickey

[doubs43]

Peter, Mickey & Ron, thank you so much for the evaluation of the various Canon models. I have zero experience with Canon SLR's so your personal experiences give me important insight on what to expect.

As of late last night, I won an FTbn on ebay with an FD 50mm f/1.4 lens and a Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 lens. Checking ebay for completed sales, the price I paid is average or less for an FTbn. With any luck I'll have it before the week is out as it's not far from me. I'm looking forward to learning about Canons.

I'm not at all familiar with the T model Canons..... have never even seen one. But, with the enthusiastic reports here, maybe I should be looking at them too as a future acquisition.... after I recover financially from this latest buy!

Walker

[olroy2044]

Does the FTbn have the bridging circuit? I have one that I purchased for an embarassingly low price, and want to have it CLA'd by a pro, and am thinking of having the meter recalibrated for 1.5v batteries if necessary. Roy

[bcomber2]

Re: FTB and FTBn meter and battery. An O-ring and a bog-standard (not wein-$$$) zinc-air cell will power up the meter. The O-ring is to bulk up the zinc-air battery for the compartment.. Has no contribution to the meter function! Have done a comparison between mercury and zinc-air and there appears to be no significant difference in readings with my FTBn unit. mercury voltage 1.3v long life.. zinc-air 1.4v short life - 'they' say about 3 months - I have witnessed longer times.
I am lurking in the shadows waiting for a T-90 aka 'Tank' .
Dave

[PeterW]

Not sure if the FTb has a bridge circuit for the meter or not, Roy. As it came after the FX I imagine it might have, but I sold mine back when you could still get mercury batteries.

Canon's spec for the FTb calls for a 1.3 volt mercury cell, but so does their spec for the FX. Mercury batteries had the advantage that they lasted longer and stayed at their specified voltage for most of their life instead of it gradually dropping like alkaline batteries.

I've heard of people using a PX625 or equivalent alkaline cell in an FTb very happily with no detectable difference in results. If I had one again I think I'd try an alkaline cell first before paying out lots of cash for a conversion (that may not really be necessary). There's more than one Canon forum on the net. Why not join one and post a request for experiences?

One point I might mention, and it applies to all camera batteries. The contacts inside the battery box must be alsolutely clean. Many older cameras I've bought have had tarnished contacts. Even a small amount of tarnish gives a resistance that, with only one point something volts to start with, can drop the voltage by an alarming percentage.

Every time I change a battery I give the contacts a wipe with a Q-tip lightly dampened with vinegar, followed by a wipe with another dampened with iso-propyl alcohol. Keeps them sparkling. Vinegar will also clean off even green horrible corrosion from a leaking battery. Or, if they're only lightly tarnished you could use a spot of proprietary switch cleaner on a Q-tip.

PeterW

[olroy2044]

Thanks for the info, Peter. The one roll I shot with FTbn showed the exposure to be just about spot-on, with the exception of streaking from leaky seals. I had a fresh zinc-air cell in it. I guess I could compare readings with an alkaline or silver oxide with readings from a couple known accurate meters. Roy

[vintageslrs]

Peter

I do not believe that the Ftb has a bridge circuit......(like the Pentax Spotmatic)....so I think the meter will be off a bit....but a simple asa compensation......would solve that, I believe.
I know Konica fans routinely half the film speed on their asa setting and get good results.

Bob

[ted]

Good camera, but I could never get on with shutter-priority automatic for general photography. Found the A1 much preferable when i needed auto, but overall I preferred the F1 as my regular Canon SLR.

I suggest you try an AE1 and see what it feels like to you.

Ted.

[PeterW]

You can choose the shutter speed on an AE1 but only in match-needle stopped-down mode.

The AE1 Program went one better and offered a choice of speed priority, aperture priority or program (the camera chooses the speed and aperture for you).

I've had both, but preferred the A1 over either of them.

As with all Canon A Series cameras, watch out for the infamous shutter squeal - see earlier in this thread.

PeterW

[daveinpasadena]

I don't use SLR's with electronics, but if I did it would probably be an AE-1. They are pretty impressive -- so much so that an old-school reactionary photographer like me might just be caught using one!