Problem with my Canon A-1 (selecting aperture and shutter speed)

[wichard]

Hi all,

I was hoping you could help me with a problem I'm having with my newly acquired A-1. The dial for selecting aperture or shutter speed doesn't appear to be working very well (or perhaps there is an issue with the viewfinder).

When selecting an aperture or shutter speed the majority of the time the viewfinder shows a completely different value from the one selected. I made this extremely boring Excel table to show which dial value corresponds with which value on the viewfinder. (400 ISO film. Tested whilst pointing at 3 different light conditions to check it was happening all the time, hence lamp/window/floor. The '..'s are shown in the viewfinder as the lower half of an 8 (like this one). If number is followed by 'flash' they were flashing in viewfinder to indicate incorrect exposure. I think for P the viewfinder value was 1000th (had half of the one missing) rather than 100th)

For both aperture and shutter priority they seem to follow the same pattern - ABBA CDDC EFFE GHHG. Metering seems OK (but obviously limited by not being able to access all speeds/apertures)

The problem extends to using the camera in manual mode too... set lens (50mm 1.8) to desired aperture and choose a shutter speed, the M symbol shows in VF, shutter remains constant yet aperture changes depending on light as if it was in shutter priority mode.

I haven't opened it yet, just burning through the tail end of the film that was already in there. Not really sure what I'd be looking for tbh but hopefully it's simple... took a bit of a punt on this as it was cheap but still a bit disappointing if it's borked!

Sorry for the long-winded post but I thought it was worth being thorough... any help much appreciated

Thanks,
Richard

 

[excalibur2]

Hello and Huh! The proof of the pudding is in the eating ...assuming you live near a citiy, put some cheap film in the camera and get it developed at Asda with scan to CD for £2.97..see what the results are like and any problems post here.

regards

 

[Asha]

Welcome to TP!

Agree with Brian....run a cheapo film through it and see what results you get.

Only then will you know for sure if there is a problem......

 

[TheBigYin]

third vote for "the lemon method* " - suck it and see...








* this method is nothing to do with my esteemed co-moderator Tom

 

[wichard]

I've finished up the film that was in it, all looks fine. Pretty grainy but I'm sure that's the film.

I opened it up while the film was being developed. Shutter seems to be working fine, the light seals were rather gooey in the heat but otherwise looked OK in there...

Problem with the dial still persists except selecting P for shutter speed now goes to Bulb mode

I wouldn't mind so much if I could go around shooting on Program but for every shot it's a faff manually trying to find an appropriate shutter/aperture when half are unselectable and the rest are in the wrong place!

Thanks for the help and welcomes. Here's a couple of test shots for your troubles!

 

[Asha]

I wouldn't mind so much if I could go around shooting on Program but for every shot it's a faff manually trying to find an appropriate shutter/aperture when half are unselectable and the rest are in the wrong place!

]

Agreed it's a bit of a faf and a darned shame that you've fallen upon these probs BUT the camera looks to throw out an ok shot so if you can learn what is "in the wrong place" and what settings give you the actual settings that you want, then it's not all bad news...............just work with what the camera will offer......failing that, sit it on a shelf as an ornament or sell it on.

I

 

[excalibur2]

I've finished up the film that was in it, all looks fine. Pretty grainy but I'm sure that's the film.

I opened it up while the film was being developed. Shutter seems to be working fine, the light seals were rather gooey in the heat but otherwise looked OK in there...

Problem with the dial still persists except selecting P for shutter speed now goes to Bulb mode

I wouldn't mind so much if I could go around shooting on Program but for every shot it's a faff manually trying to find an appropriate shutter/aperture when half are unselectable and the rest are in the wrong place!

Looking at my A1 and "B" and "program" or at opposite ends on the dial with a mechanical lock so you can't just flick from one to another..so would suggest an electrical fault, like Asha said if you can't use it some way then sell it for spares.

 

[wichard]

Looking at my A1 and "B" and "program" or at opposite ends on the dial with a mechanical lock so you can't just flick from one to another..so would suggest an electrical fault

I think you might be right, is it worth opening it up for a look/fiddle d'ya reckon? Found a couple of guides for disassembling but maybe I'll be better off just muddling along until I find a better one for sale.

 

[excalibur2]

I think you might be right, is it worth opening it up for a look/fiddle d'ya reckon? Found a couple of guides for disassembling but maybe I'll be better off just muddling along until I find a better one for sale.

Well I couldn't be bothered with a camera I couldn't trust 99.9% and can only suggest to try and pick another A1 very cheap with the common broken battery door problem and use your one.....also you can go to a Canon FD forum or classic camera repair forum and they might have more suggestions.