Keen to have a go!

stevetiler

stevetiler

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Steve
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So I have inherited a Canon AE1 Program and a couple of FD primes and am keen to try it out ( to see if it works for one thing )
Haven't shot any film for years so not sure where to start ? Where is the best place to buy film and which is best for a novice ?
Where to have film developed ? So many questions !!
Any help or tutorials would be great thanks
 
:welcome:

Have fun with the AE1. This thread is a good place to start looking. Anything not there or not clear, just ask. There's a lot of folk on here who know a lot about film etc.

:film:
 
...... and remember, there’s no such thing as a stupid question. As mentioned above, just ask.
 
stevetiler said:
Haven't shot any film for years so not sure where to start ? Where is the best place to buy film and which is best for a novice ?
Where to have film developed ? So many questions !!
Click to expand...

Welcome Steve.

Others will chime in with stuff, but for now...

Buying Film... Amazon, Analogue Wonderland, NIck 'n' Trick, direct from Ilford, eBay...
Which is best for a novice?... I'd say something ISO 400 because that gives you the most flexibility in the light we have in this country. My suggestion would be HP5 Plus. It's cheap, and it's forgiving. Analogue Wonderland have a review section for all their films where you can read a bit about how it works under different conditions.
Where to have developed? Again, others will chime in but I use AG Photographic or Filmdev. If I want scans doing, I use Filmdev, and if I don't, I use AG. Filmdev's practise of offering WeTransfer links to download your scans makes the process really simple & straightforward. (AG have adopted the same but their scans are more expensive)

All the best, and as others have said - sing out if you need help. Some really knowledgable folks here.
 
Hi Steve
If you don't know anything about the camera I'd use the cheapest film you can buy or scrounge as the light seals might need replacing (easy to do), also when you fire the shutter does it sound OK with no cough or squeak, also with the lens off check if the mirror is working quickly. If you are only interested in taking B\W shots and fancy doing your own development, then it's easy to test a camera as you just use about 5 frames of the film and develop those and then use a loupe to look at the negs.....but if you want any JPGs you would have to buy a scanner (to scan the negs).
Anyway the easy way out is to use colour film and send to Filmdev, select low scan and it will cost £4 inc scan and you can download the scanned JPGs and they will post the negs to you and with a large JPG on your computer screen you can spot if any light leaks or sticking shutter problems etc etc
Good luck with your camera
 
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excalibur2 said:
Hi Steve
If you don't know anything about the camera I'd use the cheapest film you can buy or scrounge as the light seals might need replacing (easy to do), also when you fire the shutter does it sound OK with no cough or squeak, also with the lens off check if the mirror is working quickly. If you are only interested in taking B\W shots and fancy doing your own development, then it's easy to test a camera as you just use about 5 frames of the film and develop those and then use a loupe to look at the negs.....but if you want any JPGs you would have to buy a scanner (to scan the negs).
Anyway the easy way out is to use colour film and send to Filmdev, select low scan and it will cost £4 inc scan and you can download the scanned JPGs and they will post the negs to you and with a large JPG on your computer screen you can spot if any light leaks or sticking shutter problems etc etc
Good luck with your camera
Click to expand...

So it seems the shutter does make a “squeaking “ noise so is it worth getting it serviced ? Or is it something I can do ?
Thanks
 
stevetiler said:
So it seems the shutter does make a “squeaking “ noise so is it worth getting it serviced ? Or is it something I can do ?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Some people have managed to fix this issue themselves, but then again, some people have probably broken their camera too! Trouble is, I imagine you're far more likely to hear from people who say they've fixed their camera, than from those who'll admit to ruining theirs!

I'd always go for a professional service/fix for a camera that's worth a few quid (and is likely to increase in value as time goes on). A professional service is a selling point that often increases the selling price, a home done temporary 'fix' or botch is not!
 
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stevetiler said:
So it seems the shutter does make a “squeaking “ noise so is it worth getting it serviced ? Or is it something I can do ?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Check the mirror is working quickly with the lens off and if OK what you probably have is the Canon squeak which affected quite a few (or many?) Canon "A" models (in the "A" range)...it's caused by the mirror damping systen needing oiling.....well if the mirror seems to be working ok then you can put up with it until one day (maybe years) the mirror will move slowly and would need oilling....it aint going to get better or go away by itself, but you could do this yourself following the instructions shown on the net and is basically using a long needle with a drop of sewing M\C oil on the end.....I've done two Canon cameras and I'm not a mechanic.
H'mm just had to edit this post as I checked on the bay and the AE1p is going for silly prices so maybe you can make money by having it serviced, mentioning it in your advert, and selling it on ........if you don't enjoy film?
 
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So I just rang our local camera guy and he said between 60 and 70 quid for a service - does that sound about right ?
Might just get some film and see what happens before I spend that money on a service !
 
stevetiler said:
So I just rang our local camera guy and he said between 60 and 70 quid for a service - does that sound about right ?
Might just get some film and see what happens before I spend that money on a service !
Click to expand...

If he knows what he's doing then that sounds about right. My last two services have been in that ballpark.
 
Yes he’s a reputable guy ! Ilesley cameras in Billericay- been there for years
 
Always good to find another repair place they are getting fewer all the time.
 
Sounds about right for a service and money well spent if it fixes the problem and gives you another 10+ years from your camera. Things squeak because there is friction and friction causes wear. One film might not hurt, but treating it to a 'clean, lubricate and adjust' (CLA) service will give should give you a fully working camera with accurate light meter (ask if this will be checked and adjusted as part of the service and, if not, how much extra to do it, as it's worth it while the camera is in bits), so when it comes back any dud photos will be down to you and not the camera! Yes, film can be a cruel mistress, but that makes it all the more rewarding when everything comes together!

If you find you like film photography and the AE1 programme, then have a think about getting the Canon FD 35-70 f/4 zoom, for the £40 to £50 you'll pay for one in VGC (watch for play in the zoom mechanism as it's due to internal pads wearing, which aren't currently available as spares) it's a very underrated lens that's sharp throughout the zoom range. Don't confuse it with the f/3.5 - f/4.5 more plasticky version, it's the constant f/4 that I'm talking about. Hope this is useful.
 
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