File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hey /p/. I just recently got hold of this old Canon AE-1. It's borked and I can't figure out how to fix it. Details to follow, can you help me out?
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot SD400Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size5.80 - 17.40 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.01Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2008:04:02 18:36:26Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/2.8Lens Aperturef/2.8Exposure Bias0 EVFlashFlash, AutoFocal Length5.80 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2592Image Height1944RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeLargeFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeAutoCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance1.210 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed128Image Number867-6762
>> Anonymous
Not with that amount of information, retard. We need more than "borked".
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
It has a battery, which must have at least /some/ charge, because the light meter in the viewfinder acts up when I press the shutter button. But the shutter button doesn't do anything to the shutter, the film advance lever wont turn more than a little bit and doesn't advance the film (even when I took the old film out and put in a whole new one) and the light meter doensn't do anything /useful,/ just hops up and down like a wild thing.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot SD400Maximum Lens Aperturef/4.9Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaLens Size5.80 - 17.40 mmFirmware VersionFirmware Version 1.01Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution180 dpiVertical Resolution180 dpiImage Created2008:04:02 18:36:53Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/4.9Lens Aperturef/4.9Exposure Bias0 EVFlashFlash, AutoFocal Length17.40 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2592Image Height1944RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeISO Speed RatingAutoSharpnessNormalSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeFull AutoImage SizeLargeFocus ModeSingleDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeAutoCompression SettingSuperfineMacro ModeNormalSubject Distance0.660 mWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation3Sensor ISO Speed128Image Number867-6763
>> $19.99 !OSYhGye6hY
If the shutter doesnt do anything, then get a new battery. Same thing happened with my av-1. Nothing works, not even film advance, if the battery is dead.
>> Anonymous
if camera is fucked definitely save the strap!
>> Anonymous
so its possible for the battery to be dead even if the light meter still lights up and moves?
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>158436
I don't know about the AE1 specifically, but the meter needle in my Minolta jumps when I hit the shutter even if there's no battery in it at all.

In any case, it looks like it uses a common-as-dirt Alkaline cell that you can pick up at any Radio Shack for like four bucks. So go swap it out and see if it magically starts working.
>> $19.99 !OSYhGye6hY
>>158436
Is the light meter reading the scene accurately?
>> Anonymous
If I press the shutter button the needle starts jumping up and down, continuously, making a little noise every time it hit the top of the meter, and continues to do so as long as I hold the button. The manual exposure light blinks too.
>> lol mickey des
>>158411
>>shutter
>>AE-1

Welcome to a world of fail.
The shutter is probably cocked if you can't advance the film. If you replace the battery and it doesn't fire, it's probably shot. Which is pretty common.

>the light meter doensn't do anything /useful,/
That's true even with 100% working AE1s
>> Anonymous
Shutter locked?
>> Anonymous
I have an A-1 and these are both quite similar. The batteries back then carried a poisonous substance which is why they're extinct now but old ones might still have a charge even after a decade. I was able to find an inferior alkaline based 4LR44 battery at a local shop. If you do get it working, try testing with a cheap roll first at different exposure values or ASA settings because the metering might be off and you could end up with either overexposed or underexposed shots. You can easily make up for that by setting the ASA higher or lower.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Oh, and is this your first time shooting film? If it is, prepare for a world of hurt and awesome. I say, waste a cheap roll now experimenting. Try and get the hang of it while you've got nothing important to shoot rather than later and accidentally exposing half the roll or forgetting to set the aperture ring to "A", or reading the meter wrong.

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon PowerShot A550Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution822 dpiVertical Resolution822 dpiImage Created2008:04:12 20:20:39Exposure Time1/125 secF-Numberf/3.5ISO Speed Rating80Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModeCenter Weighted AverageFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length9.82 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width960Image Height640RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard
>> des
>>158769
You can still buy SR44s, they're silver not mercury.