CANON AE-1 PROGRAM in depth REVIEW and SHOOT - amazing film camera, I've had this for 27 years!
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- Опубліковано 20 лис 2020
- Thinking of getting into film photography? Want to know a good place to start. You really can't go wrong with a Canon AE-1 Program! You can shoot it fully auto, and the auto functions are really really good, or if you're getting good and feel more adventurous then you can put the whole thing into full manual.
This camera was my very first camera of any kind, I got it when I was 13 years old in 1993. I have dragged that camera around with me ever since, run thousands of rolls through it, given it hell through probably 20 house moves and probably 100 international trips, and it is still going strong. It hasn't been serviced in 27 years!
Ok... as you'll see in this video, it really is overdue a service, and I'll be getting it done soon. It's starting to make some weird screeching noises when I fire the shutter. But amazingly, despite the noises, it's still taking perfect photos!
The cameras are really built like tanks. Easy to use, easy to get film for, reliable, and won't let you down!
Whether you're a digital shooter, or a medium format shooter, or large format, whatever type of photography you do, you really should have one of these in your collection. They're cheap, versatile and insanely good!
Ok, enough 35mm videos now, heading back to the trusty 120 after this!
Do you have a Canon AE-1 Program? Drop me a comment below, tell me about your experiences!
#35mm #filmphotography #canoneae1program
i just bought this for 29 dollars at a salvation army, I am absolutely stoked. and its mint. Thanks for your review
That's a great deal! Nice find! Enjoy it, it's a great camera.
Got a great deal on mine at a church yard sale. Camera body, 4 different lens, lens filter, lens adapter, flash with a case, and 6 100 iso film rolls. All that for $25 and I am in LOVE with this camera.
Took it for Easter and everyone loved the look and especially the sound of the shutter.
Great video!
That's a great deal, wow! Good find!
It really is an awesome camera, and as vintage cameras go, they're about as reliable as you'll find. And oooooh, that shutter sound. Might get mine out now and just click it a few times....
Enjoy!
@@the120ist awesome! Unfortunately the film advance lever is acting weird now😞 it automatically takes the photo when I wind it up without hitting the shutter button. Even if I have the camera set to lock it will do the same.
Searching google now to find a solution. Happen to have any tips?
Just pulled out my mom’s AE-1 program and can’t wait to use it! Great video!
Woop! Have fun with it, and shout if I can help with anything.
Thanks!
I got mine for $27.00 at a garage sale. with all the lenses mentioned in this video. I left it alone in my living room for 3 years, I decided to use it with a roll that came with the camera. To my surprise the camera worked perfect.
That's a great deal! Good find. And I'm totally not surprised that it was still working after years of inactivity, these cameras really are built like tanks.
I still have my AE-1 Program that I bought in 1984
They're bullet proof aren't they?! Amazing quality.
I thought the light seals were weak
Almost all the used ones have horrible light seals
I have mine I bought 5 days ago!
Love the video, thanks. I know why you mean about the battery, my aunt gave me her camera from the 80's and the battery is still good.
Thanks! I changed the battery in mine a few years ago just because I thought I should... it wasn't dead, and now it will probably never die. Ever. Actually it will probably die like a day after they discontinue that type of battery!!
I received my Canon ae1 program for graduation in 1984. I used in art school and took a lot of pictures with it up until about 10 years ago, and it just quite working. I just purchased an other one on ebay. Can not wait to start taking pictures again.
Best review I've seen of the AE-1 Prog. Nice video thanks.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
My first 35mm camera was the AE1 Program! Just a wonderful camera for all the reasons you state. I eventually picked up an A1 to go with it so I could have one loaded with color and the other with B&W. Also, the A1 allowed for multi exposure which I wanted to try. I eventually sold them (which I regret) to move not to auto focus cameras and later to digital. I really wish I had kept the AE1 as it was a graduation gift! Shortsightedness of youth! Shutter squeak is more common on the A-1 but servicing will take care of it easy!
Got my AE-1P in 1982, didn't need (or I didn't think it did) until latest roll. It's been a beast and lit the passion that continues almost 40 years later. Having worked my way through the years, now to an R5, I'm still not very good, but such a pleasure. This one still travels with me constantly, and only a 50mm. You've reminded me to look into some other lenses. I subscribed so that both of our kits get serviced.
That sounds just like my story! Although I haven't gone all the way to an R5 yet... I'm still working with my 5D4 and can't get close to justifying the leap yet! One day maybe....
The good news is that FD lenses haven't been hit anywhere near as hard by the hipster vintage lens price hike that have sent M42 or the Leica R lenses skyrocketing. So you can still get them pretty cheap on eBay. Go grab a few! I keep saying it, but I'm not a fan of 50mm as a focal length, I prefer a wider lens like a 35mm or a 28mm. Getting that 28mm really got me excited about the AE-1P again.
Thanks for subscribing! I did actually get the AE-1P serviced... but now that I've got it back I'm not totally convinced it needed it! Still squeals occasionally with the 28mm lens, which means it wasn't the shutter escapement I was hearing, it was the iris in the lens. But apparently they did clear up some fungus that was growing in the viewfinder, so that would only have got worse.
It's probably a good idea to get it serviced. Maybe.....
That intro LOL. So good. Good idea waiting for better weather too. You got some really good shots.
Thanks! Had some fun with the intro!
"A" think about it stands for Advance as in advance the film to the next exposure and L is obviously for Lock for reasons of portage of the camera to it's next destination when travelling
Ooooh controversial... L = Lock, agreed. But a for advance... not convinced. You can still advance the film in the L position.
You are correct! I was going to answer, but ya beat me to it. Happy shooting :-)
@@the120istyes, but you cannot shutter it- the shutter only works in Advance.
So helpful! Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Some great photos in this set. I’ve got a Minolta x700 and i feel the same as you do about this camera! Just set to aperture priority and boom. Really nice to have a point and shoot filmy for sure.
Thanks! I forget about it so often, and get down on 35mm, and then I get it out and again and shoot some rolls and I realise why I never get rid of it! Such a breath of fresh air after all the unmetered MF and LF!
Recently picked one up and was looking for a bit of info on using it. Great video. 👍
Enjoy it, it's a great camera! Mine came back from its service just a couple of weeks ago and it's like having a new camera again. Should see me for another 30 years!
Was so excited to see a video on this camera, got this camera as a gift not long ago and has become my absolute favorite camera even more than my digital there is nothing like shooting film. I highly recommend the motor drive, takes the camera to a whole new comfort level. Great vid, enjoying mine to the fullest. Lovely images. Blessings to you 🙏📸
Thanks so much, and the same to you! Really glad you're enjoying this camera, I keep leaving it for months and then coming back to it and then getting excited about it all over again!
I'm a little scared of the motor drive... I'm worried I'll burn through hundreds of pounds of film in just a few hours!
Are you developing your own films? For me that really makes the whole process complete and gives me huge satisfaction!
@@the120ist Its a very lovely camera, I have a small Photo business I photograph Real Estate and Architecture this was a gift from a client of mine whose home I photographed and this camera was a thank you gift to me for helping them sell their home they loved the photos of their home.
When it comes to the motor drive I has different modes S-Single, L-Low, H-High and of course OFF I either keep mine on S or just OFF barely have used the H mode but again the comfort it brings its truly incomparable to just holding the body itself and when it comes to shooting vertically oh my it is incomparable again to just the body itself.
Absolutely, developing film is another art itself. Black and White I do at home, have a found a local camera store that develops film for a very low price and I have my own Epson V550 scanner so I scan at home.
Just bought an AE-1, never shot before in my life. Enjoying it a bunch already. Super cool camera
Congratulations! You will love that camera. Just make sure you keep pushing yourself to try new things, and learn more about how it works (if you don't already). It's super versatile, and you really start to get the best out of it when you're taking complete control of your photos! Enjoy!
My sister bought a second hand Canon AE-1P for me in the early "90. Later on my brother work as a photojournalist until he retired. Used to used Canonet QL1, Ftb, Power Shoot, EOS 5 before moving to digital. Canon has become important part of our family life.
I'm a huge Canon fan boy... I admit it! I'm not even going to list he Canon models I currently own, both film and digital, because it is a little embarrassing!! But they make good cameras, there's no denying it! No taking anything away from any other brand, there are many great camera makers out there, but what Canon have done is pretty special. And the most amazing thing is that there's some inherent similarities that mean if you feel comfortable with an AE-1P you'll probably feel comfortable with an R5! I have no idea how they've done that. But it works for me!
I enjoyed Your video on this Canon camera, given to me as a gift by a friend who bought it in 1982. I have two Olympus reflex plus a fujica reflex, all of them bought in the 80s; and to tell You the truth, when we developed our photos I was able to perceive the difference this CANON made in the capturing of the sharpness of the details.
It's a lovely camera isn't it? There's a reason it's one of the best selling camera models of all time, Canon got pretty much everything right with this one. Especially the build quality. Just amazing!
I DO agree!
@@paolazuffinetti 👍👍
❤A wonderful camera canon ae 1 program and good of all in one❤❤❤❤
Such a great camera!
This is the second review that really likes the AE1 Program a lot! It is very nice. I went Full Monty when I was 16 and bought an A1, probably just before the AE1P came out.
Alternatives were Nikon FE, Olympus OM2N, Minolta XD5 and XD7, Pentax ME super. There was loads of choice with some lower priced manual/ auto or single mode auto inly or manual only cameras too. Got mine from the historic and huge Jessops store in Hinckley Road, Leicester where you could spend a whole afternoon or a whole day. I was always torn between Canon and Olympus.
You know what I like about it most... it's just the durability. I only had this film camera for maybe 20 years until I started really getting into it and buying different brands and models. And it wasn't until I started using other cameras that I realised how amazing it is that my AE1P has had no problems at all in such a long time of owning it. Plus it's been thrown in and out of boxes, left is drawers or on shelves for years at a time, and it never occurred to me that it was unusual that whenever I wanted it, there it was, fully working still. But when you look at it, it's really pretty extraordinary!
A friend of mine gifted my Daughter this very camera in wonderful condition. She is so excited to use this instead of a very expensive full frame canon Mom and Dad purchased. So film is on the way and I am sending her this video. Thanx Wish her luck🤓🙏
That’s awesome! I hope she really enjoys using it. Film is always a little trickier to master than digital, in my opinion, because you don’t get that instant feedback from the back of the camera, but it’s worth the extra effort. And AE1-P is a great camera to get going on, she’s going to LOVE it!
If you have any questions or hit any problems, feel free to put them on here and i’ll try to help out if I can!
Good luck!! 👍👍👍👍
Super video. This was my first real camera and I bought one new in New York where I lived for 350 dollars when they first came out which is probably more like 2K today. I was in awe of it since the day I bought it and would sit holding it and observing it. I only used the kit lens which is what I believe you have on your camera. It came with me to Vietnam in 1988 and where I since have moved taking thousands of pictures there over the years. Ultimately I went digital and my wife gave it to a relative for him to use for his work at local tourist sites. I have since gone through a number of Canon DSLR cameras but now almost exclusively use a baby Leica D-Lux 7 which for its smaller form factor produces super images. I love my cameras!
I think anyone who starts with an AE-1 falls in love with cameras! Such a reliable little machine. Sad that you don't have yours any more, but great that it's gone on to another user and good home. One day I'll pass this one on to my kids... but not til they're a little older. It is robust, but let's not tempt fate!!
I'm the same, have had a host of Canon DSLRs... but I recently sold my last one and have fully moved over to Sony mirrorless for my digital work.
I have actually never shot any Leicas... I'm kinda scared to now, in case I fall in love with Leicas and consign myself to debt forever!
Have a black one and silver one...got them in the mid 80s...great cameras.
They really are!
I know ...This was a 2020 review but it was a good review and informative. Never owned a Canon but always curious about them and since I'm binge watching all your reviews and videos it seems like a good thing on a Tuesday in lockdown Nova Scotia. My favorite memories are of the first camera I ever purchased back in 1969 (52 years) after saving all summer working for $1 an hour at my first ever job, the Minolta SRT 101. I still have the camera and original lens, a 55mm f/1.7 Rokkor. It works like a charm and still delivers that beautiful mechanical sound when shooting. Thanks for your time producing these videos, but I think they would be even more enjoyable with a large bowl of chocolate ice cream so I'm off to the grocery to pick up a few tubs...LOL Cheers from Canada..
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you! I think we all remember that first camera don't we. That Canon went back in the bag after that shoot and I don't think it's been back out since, apart from going off to be serviced. But I know where it is, it'll be back out some time, and I'll never sell it!
So you're in Nova Scotia? Beautiful part of the world. I spent a few weeks working over there end of 2019, beginning of 2020, just before the world went crazy. Did a few weeks in Halifax and then spent some time in Yarmouth. Amazing experience, I really loved it over there.
Hope you got your ice cream!!
Very nice video! Just bought myself one. Have you shot all the pictures in program/automatic mode? Cheers from Switzerland XX
thank you so much ! I like this video.
Thank you!
Just bought an AV-1 so it was nice to see a similar model being out through its paces...
The AV-1 is a great camera. I had one for a while. I actually preferred the aperture priority to full auto in some ways. Enjoy it!
I had a AV-1 for colour print stock and AE1-P for B&W and sometimes slide film, mostly Ilford Pan F, FP4, HP5 and XP. Agfa & Fuji chromes. Still got the AE1-P.
Back in the day my bathroom was a makeshift B&W darkroom.
@@russcattell955i Ahhh the makeshift darkroom in the bathroom! I've tried but it's such a rigmarole trying to get any room in my house light tight... and my wife won't put up with any fixtures left in place, so if I ever did want to use a bathroom, all kit would have to be gone by the morning. Turns into a LOT of effort if you're having to fully set up and pack down every time you want to use it! I only just get away with hanging negatives overnight!
I bought my AE-1 Program brand new in 1985. It came with the Canon 50mm f1.8 and Toyo 75-200mm f4.5. I also have the motor drive that I purchased separately. I probably haven't shot with it since the late 1990's but I did put a new battery in it last year. I've also only shot Canon my entire life and still own my Canon Powershot G2, D10, HF11 and EOS 80D and my newest camera the EOS R5. I've never had the AE-1 serviced and plan on shooting with it in the coming week. Just need to re-read the original user manual that I have.
I find it really good for my photography to shoot film and digital side by side. Really makes me think harder about the pros and cons of each system, which then dictates how I use each. Get that AE-1 back out again and take it for a spin!
Now... I am a huge fan go film... BUT that R5 is a very nice camera! Seriously considered selling a kidney when that came out!
@@the120ist I got the AE-1 out of the camera bag this afternoon. It's making the same noise as yours did. I guess that would be the shutter making the noise? I may try to get in for service soon. I just love the simplicity of the AE-1. Don't get me wrong, I love my R5 but it was like 10x the price of the AE-1 and a very steep learning curve. I think I paid around $500 for the AE-1 kit that I bought in '85. I'm trying to remember where I bought it. It may have been "Price Club" which was the predecessor to Costco.
@@kenhalal375 Yeah it's common with AE-1's, and A-1's I think. Google "AE-1 shutter squeal". From all I've read it's not actually a big problem, just an unpleasant noise.
The good news is that almost all camera techs will happily work on an AE-1, there are so many about. Shouldn't be a pricey fix and it won't take long.
You can also find a lot of tutorials online.... some more dubious that others!
Agreed on the price of the R5... that's why I didn't go there! But i bet you'r not disappointed with the photographs it produces!!
Still got my A1 from 1982. I did eventually purchase the motor drive after I had some moeyfrom working after leaving school. Used it for one day! It's still here. The camera has the shutter squeak or squeal something terrible now.
My first camera was the Canon AE-1, which I bought back in 1978. It sill worked in 2009, when I traded it in for a Canon Rebel (what was I thinking), but now I'm about to purchase the Canon AE-1 Program.
Ahhh the things we regret! I'm lucky that prices for the AE-1P have never got high enough to tempt me into selling. Plus this one has sentimental value, which will only increase as time goes on I'm sure. I think I'm committed now to passing this one on to the kids, if one of them shows any interest in using it!
Can't tell you how much I love my AE1P. The material, THE SOUND, everything! I boght mine in 1982, it was my first own camera, and it still works perfectly (with that squeeking shutter sound as well). During the years I bought 5 lenses in total, and I sometimes use the Canon Power Winder. This one is slower than the motor & therefore a bit milder to the shutter. The man in the shop (back in the 1980s) recommended to use the more powerful motor rather with the Canon A1, which is built a bit stronger, he said.) There is one thing I don't like at my AE-1 Program: The battery is not only used by the light meter but also to make the shutter work. So if the battery is down the whole camera is down, which is a pity. (Happened to me in my first year of use...) Great video, thx!
They're great aren't they! I just got mine back from a camera repair guy and the squeak is fixed, plus it's had a full service. So that should last me another 27 years I hope!
Totally hear you about the battery being needed for the shutter to fire. Quite a few other models will at least let you still operate, maybe with limited functionality. I don't find I use up the battery very quickly though, they seem to last me quite a while.
Good news is that you can still get the batteries. I have quite a few cameras from the 60s-80s that use old defunct battery sizes or voltages and I have to get creative to get them going.
If you want manual, Use Canon Ftb a manual SLR with a match needle matering. I used this before I owned Canon AE-1P. If I remember correctlly, a more expensive option for electronic and manual shutter is Canon F1N.
Never had a Canon AE1. Started with a Pentax Spotmatic my grandfather gave me. M42 (screw mount lens) and since they don’t make mercury batteries anymore so I use a meter. Then bought a Minolta XG-M in 1985. Still have it! Aperture priority camera served me well. Got a Canon TX recently on eBay for about $30. All manual but takes FD mount lenses. Had it serviced and will try it soon. Yes, get your AE1 serviced. The squeaky shutter is famous and it needs to be serviced! Keep us posted. Great camera you have! Cheers!
Thanks, I got it serviced! But interestingly the squeak isn't entirely fixed... but now I only get it with one specific lens, and it sounds a little different. So I'm thinking that what I'm hearing now is actually a squeak from the aperture actuation movement in the lens. Either way, the shots are coming out just fine, so I'm going to live with the squeak until it become a problem!
There are quite a few places now coming up with work-arounds for the old mercury batteries, allowing use of silver oxide or zinc air alternatives. Have you taken a look for the Spotmatic? I've got a couple of adapters, one that is just a conductor, another that steps down the voltage with a resistor in it. Worth a look!
@@the120ist Glad you found the actual source of the squeak! I’ve seen the Wein battery on Amazon for about $14, so I’ll pass on that solution! Haven’t seen the other solutions you mentioned. Thanks I’ll do a search for them.
You can fix the squeak by injecting some lighter fluid from the bottom. The exact location is easy to locate. Many online video on this. You shld be able to do it since you are quite a handyman. Nice video, enjoy watching your video.
FYI you’d love the sound of the shutter of a Pentax Spotmatic! 😉😉
Oooh, that's one to try! I have an ME Super and that doesn't sound quite right. Nice sound, but not the iconic sound of the 80s for me. I'll keep an eye out for a Spotmatic at a good price. And yes, I would absolutely buy a camera just to hear what the shutter sounds like! And maybe put a few rolls through it of course!
The shot of the light through the trees is gorgeous! I just got this as my first film camera and this video has made me so excited to shoot!
Thanks, I liked that one too. I love my AE-1, you're going to really enjoy shooting with it! Drop me a comment on here if you have any questions!
Haha... funny open! Good video, too.
Always time for a bit of silliness, right?
No it doesn't need servicing yet... it's just the dreaded Canon shutter squeal. It's a common issue with this camera, including the A-1 and the AE-1. You can have it CLA'd but be careful who you send it to. I got one that I bought on eBay from Japan. Was told it was "just like new". When I got it I noticed that all the shutter speeds sounded the same, so I sent it out to my guy that I trust implicitly. Turns out, that they doused the inside of the camera with oil to get rid of the squeal and got oil everywhere. I kept the camera casing and had to replace all the guts of the camera. It's like new now, but be careful if you follow any of the tutorials here on YT about adding oil to get rid of that squeal. You might just make things worse. Enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing!
I sent it away to get serviced in the end. The guy seems to have done a good job, although interestingly I still get the squeal when I use one particular lens... so I must assume that the lens is squealing, which is a new one on me!
Oh, the oilers... those guys who open up a camera and squirt oil everywhere. Nightmare!
im a beginner and have only shot a couple of rolls with my
ae1p and not completely happy with my results but i am
very happy with the all around experience of using this camera
the feel of the body shutter button and shutter sound are wonderful
i have much to learn technically but i love the ae-1 p
Stick with it! It gets easier! The great thing about the AE1P is that you can learn in stages, start with it n full auto and switch bits of it to manual when you want to. And then when you've learned it all and you're confident shooting in manual, you switch it all back to auto again because the auto settings are so good on this camera!
It's nice having the option to switch everything to manual, and it's nice to sometimes be able to control things when you want to, but really I use this camera as a point and shoot 95% of the time (with some occasional focusing of course!)
Enjoy that camera, it's great. If I could give my beginner-self one piece of advice, I would have said start home developing black and white immediately. It's really easy and will save you so much money! And the cheaper it gets to shoot films, the more films you'll shoot and the better you'll get!
Good luck!
Sounds like a 80 camera should sound like! Bought mine in 84. Still have & a couple of months ago I put a new battery in it. I think the only thing that doesn’t work is the battery check (no sound) button. I’ll know when I take one of the rolls of 16 year old Kodak Gold 200 out of the fridge.
I don't know if my battery check button works... don't think I've ever tried it! The battery runs out so infrequently that I end up changing it long before it really needs to be changed! Have fun with that roll of gold!
Managed to get my grandfather’s old AE-1. Been wanting to get into photography for a little bit, maybe give it a shot. Been watching some videos on how to operate it, and I’m going to try to grab some batteries and some film and I can’t wait to try it out! Any film recommendations? Also what should I look out for to see if it needs servicing?
Great decision! Give shooting film a go. I spent quite a few years dipping in and out with my AE1P, and then it took hold of me and I disappeared down the film photography rabbit hole, from which I may never resurface! It’s lots of fun to get into!
Ref films - I’d say the best thing you can do is start cheap! That way you aren’t going to beat yourself up if your first few rolls aren’t as successful as you hoped! Fomapan is usually a good place to start for low cost.
Black and white is always cheaper, but it may be more difficult to find places to develop it, because it’s a bit of a specialist process these days. Ilford make XP2 which can be processed C41, which is basically the machines, so anywhere that processes film will process that film. Take a look at that one as well maybe.
Ref servicing - great thing about these AE1Ps is that they are pretty durable. There’s an absolute ton of stuff that could go wrong, but you don’t tend to see many that need a whole lot more than a damn good clean.
So much exploring ahead of you, I’m jealous! Let me know how you get on 👍
Awesome camera I’ll get one if the price is ok but to be honest I really need to focus on my Pentax spotmatics just love them to bits the shutter sound is sublime. Top video mate enjoyed that 📷❤️📷
Hey Paul, just going through my comments and I was sure I replied to this one... youtube doing some weird things with my comments, some seem to disappear. Ever had that?
Still on the lookout for a Spotmatic!
@@the120ist all gd mate yup I see comments in notifications but they’re not on the channel and I can’t reply on notifications happened a fair few times🙄
@@paultaylorphotography9499 It's weird that isn't it? I sent a load a replies from my phone a week or so ago, and they all seem to have disappeared. Ah well...
@@the120ist big tech meddling
I LOVED this video! Loved seeing the pictures you took! I was given the camera with a bunch of lenses. I just bought a battery and it fired up. Now to decide to keep or sell. There is only ONE real camera shop in my state (US) and as such they are free to charge anything for repairs ( and film development 😢) Never really learned to shoot 35mm...wondering if I should take the leap or not. Thanks for the enjoyable video 😃
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the vid. You know what my advice is going to be, right.... get some film and take that camera out and shoot with it! You'll love it!
Interesting that there's only one camera shop in your state... which state do you live in? Camera repairs are getting harder to find, but if you AE-1P is firing up and sounds like it's working as it should then you might not need any repairs right now.
Film development is a different issue. You really see a range of prices. If you try a few rolls of film in the camera and find yourself enjoying it, then home processing and scanning (or printing of course) is definitely a much much cheaper way to go. You don't need a darkroom, outlay for all the equipment is less than $100, and it gets your developing cost down to less than $1 per roll.
Whichever way you decide to go, surely it's worth putting just one film through that camera?! Go on... you know you want to!
@@the120ist you are right...lol! 😀You inspired me to call one of professional photograph friends, and she said the EXACT same thing!
@@jaimesmiles2818 Enjoy it! You'll get hooked!
Let me know how you get on
@@the120ist will do!
A hell of an entertaining video, loved it. I don't think i have ever had an AE-1 even back in the day, it looks and sounds of the time as you say, it sounds confident of itself. I have a Praktica Super TL1000 with a 1.8 Pentacon Lens and it sounds exactly the same, mechanisms made to last. As an aside, I bought a couple of lens adapters to enable me to use some of my M42 lenses on my Ihagee cameras, all seems fine once fitted, but no matter which M42 lens I use the focus is all to cock with no infinity at all !! I am positive it is the adapters in some way, have you ever had a similar experience or indeed any thoughts on the matter. I am out of Ideas. Cheers .
Thanks!
I don't have direct experience with the adapters you're talking about, but my guess would be that by adding the adapters you're extending the lenses past the flange focal distance (FFD) of the lens/camera combo... ie the adapter is basically acting like a small extension tube. So you'd be able to focus closer than the published minimum focus distance of the lens, as you would if you were using extension tubes to shoot macro, but you'll be unable to reach infinity.
But... assuming we're talking about an SLR, maybe an Exa or Exakta, and assuming there's nothing wrong with your mirror (you're still getting good focus with the native lenses?), then the focus you're seeing in the viewfinder will be accurate, and replicated on the film plane. So whilst your focus range is different and not what you'd expect, you will likely still be getting accurate focus.
If that's right, then there's nothing that you can do about it, other than get used to the different focus range! Your M42 lenses are designed to be used with M42 cameras, where the distance from the flange to the film plane is fixed across all M42 systems cameras.
It's the same reason you can't adapt Canon FD lenses to be used on Canon EF cameras... because the FFD of the FD lens is shorter than the FFD of the EF lenses, so any physical adapter you put in between the two will only make the problems worse.... make sense?!?!
@@the120ist It makes perfect sense the way you explained it, I suspected it was something along those lines.Yes to both, the native lenses focus beautifully ( suprisingly, although Ihagee made lenses for other camera makes, they made no lenses for their own camera range ). thank you for your insight, very helpful. Cheers
I recently bought an AE-1 Program including four lenses for about 100€. It is in mint/refurbished condition. I have already shot some Portra 400 and APX on it and it came out perfect. My aunt has one too, and hers has the same issue with the shutter sound. You can easily fix that by yourself, you just need to open the screws on the bottom cover to release it. Then you just put a few drops of machine oil on the shutter mechanism. Afterwards it should sound normal again. I love the shutter sound of those old SLR cameras, it makes me feel like going back to the 80's. Modern cameras don't sound like that anymore.
That sounds like a great deal! Good find!
I've read so many things on the internet about putting oil in the wrong place, or whatever. In the end I decided to send it off to be serviced. It was due some TLC!
Totally agree with you, I just love that shutter sound!
May I ask which country you are from? I am currently looking for an AE1 Program and most offers I find are around 120-180€ for the body plus a 50mm 1:1.8 lense.
@@JanCCLemon I'm from Germany.
Hi, I recently shot some Kodak 200 film on my AE 1 Program, but had the ASA set to 400. Will this effect my film?
It will affect it, the images will be slight underexposed. But only by one stop. You should be fine!
I've got three of these wonderful cameras but haven't looked at them in years. How much is the average service?
Not too pricey, I think I paid maybe £70 to get mine serviced. But dig those cameras out and dust them off, it's pretty likely you'll find they don't need any work done to them!
What’s your understanding of the blinking P in the light meter? I understand that says it may have camera shake? Is this the same as when the numbers blink when there isn’t correct exposure?
Ty
You're basically right, the flashing P symbol is to warn you that for the camera to expose correctly in the lighting conditions, it's going to have to set the shutter speed to less than 1/30, because you're unlikely to be able to handhold it still enough to get clear images at those slow speeds. You'll also get motion blurs if anything in the frame is moving.
The numbers blinking is slightly different, that's telling you that the camera can't reach the exposure it thinks it needs. You'll get that if you're in shutter priority, where you've set the shutter speed but have the aperture on A (auto). The camera will attempt to adjust the aperture to achieve correct exposure for that shutter speed, but if it can't do it then the number will flash. You'll get flashing numbers if you're using a lens that doesn't offer a f stop that the camera wants, or if the correct exposure is beyond the f-stop range shown in the VF (f1 - f32).
For example, my 35-105 has a max aperture of f3.5, and if I set the shutter speed and the camera thinks it needs f2.8 to get a proper exposure, it will show flashing 2.8
@@the120ist I’m guessing if the P is flashing then adjusting shutter won’t make a difference since program can’t do it automatically anyway? Or am I wrong?
I wanna explain an example, friends and I were at the cinema, we were going up escalators and I had both of them framed from behind them, all of us were going up the escalator, I was particularly still other than the escalator going up, the P may or may have not been flashing I don’t recall if I checked for sure or not, but the final image they were blurred. A particularly well lit area. Using the 50mm.
Perhaps it’s just that sensitive sometimes?
@@RebelwoaCause That's right - if the P is flashing then the camera has essentially already tried to use the widest aperture, and can't get the shutter speed higher than 1/30. So setting things up manually won't get you any more speed.
Couple of things to mention for the scenario you described there - firstly, I personally find it hard to ensure sharpness anywhere slower than about 1/125... my hands just aren't steady enough. So by the time I get a flashing P I stand almost no chance of keeping that camera still! The longer the lens, the more pronounced any tiny hand movements will be, even 50mm is quite a tight frame.
Also worth mentioning that our eyes can deceive us, especially indoors. Areas that seem well lit, if you were to take a light meter to them, are actually really not. That amount of light that you need indoors to mimic outdoor light is the sort of powerful spotlights that make you shield your eyes. Of course, I don't know the place you're talking about but it might be that it seems well lit to us, but to your camera it's struggling for light.
Only things to suggest are using faster film, maybe an 800ASA, for anything indoors... and I use a trick that a photographer I used to work with taught me for keeping the camera as steady as possible - put your left hand on your right shoulder, lift your left elbow up, and rest the camera lens in the crook of your elbow. That's about as steady as I can get it without a tripod!
Hope something there helps!
@@the120ist Wow! Ty for all that valuable information and taking the time to write this response. I’m gonna try that trick you mentioned.
One last thing I’d like to ask you about is your use of the auto exposure button. That beautiful image of the light shinning through the trees in your video, from what I understand, you pointed downward into the shadowy area you wanted exposed properly, pressed the button, and readjusted your frame to take your photo? I’d like to know where you pointed the center marker before firing the shutter. Was it directly at the sunbeam?
Ty again! Cheers from California
No problem! So with the exposure lock button - it was actually the opposite, I looked for a bright area so the camera would under expose the scene. By aiming at a bright area you're telling the camera that you want it to adjust to correctly expose that bright section (in other words it will darken the whole image down so that the bright bit is correctly exposed).
I wanted to under-expose the frame a little, so that the sunbeams in the mist wouldn't get blown out and lose definition. So I looked for a bit of the scene which was brighter than average (usually you'd look for a bit of the scene which is just average), and I settled on a patch of grass where the sunlight was landing. Aimed the centre circle at that, held the exposure lock button and re-framed.
If I'd aimed at the grass in shade the camera would have tried to get that section correctly exposed by brightening everything up and it's likely the sunbeams would have ended up over exposed and wouldn't have come out quite as good.
If I remember right, you can hear me muttering as I check what the whole scene was metering at. If I had aimed at the trees the camera would have gone for f8, whereas aimed at the brighter patch of grass the camera selected f11, and that's what I held.
Hope that makes some sense!!
Bought an AE-1 at a thrift store that was marked broken and all it needed was a battery… amazing shape, just needs the canon squeak fixed… $5. Also got a Minolta X700 for $7 with a zoom lens and a bag
Ha, classic AE-1 find! It really does appear completely dead without the battery. Almost all other cameras from that era will fire without a battery, often at a fixed speed. But not the AE-1! No battery = no life at all!
You've got to love those thrift store finds! We don't have the same thing over here in the UK sadly, but quite often there will be huge boxes of cameras come up at auction, and you can snap them up for £20... I've found some absolute gems in those boxes! Such a great feeling.
How did you get the photos onto the screen. Did you print them and then took a photo?
Hey, I home develop my negatives and "scan" them using a DSLR. So basically shine light through them, take a photo and then reverse the image.
I don't have the space at home for a proper dark room set up unfortunately, so not able to make prints for now. Hopefully I'll work that one out soon!
I have a DSLR with macro lens on a clamp attached to a computer monitor stand, so aimed straight down, and I put the negatives onto a cheap sketching light pad from Amazon. Works like a dream!
I have an AE-1 Manual (non-program?). I'm still new to photography and learned on digital. I'm trying to figure this thing out. Nothing is automated except for maybe the shutter? Whatever the batter is for.
Stick with it, it gets easier! And working analogue photography definitely improves my digital photography. The only major addition that the "P" brings is the Program mode, which is fully automated. So the original AE-1 doesn't have a full auto option. The AE-1 is primarily a shutter priority camera, (Tv mode on your Canon digital camera, or S on a Nikon) whereby you set the shutter speed you want and the camera automatically adjusts the aperture to give you the correct exposure.
The battery in almost all these manual focus, manual wind-on cameras is there primarily to power the light meter and the auto-exposure system. Most cameras of that era will either function fully in manual mode, or have limited functionality (usually firing on just one set shutter speed) without a battery, however... the AE-1 and the AE-1 P were the at the beginning of a newer generation that used battery power to drive more internal functions, and so unfortunately these Canons won't move a muscle without a battery installed!
Hope that helps, if you get stuck or have any other questions about shooting film, put them in the comments here, I'll be happy to help if I can! Good luck!
@@the120ist That actually helps a lot. Thank you very much for the information!
@@deanwlkr no problem!
My father gave me his old AE-1 Program and I absolutely love it, but I don't know my way around it if I'm honest. I've been looking everywhere for a guide on how to read the light meter and how to play with shutter speed and such - do you have any tips? Thank you!
Hey, congrats on the AE1, once you've got the hang of it you'll love it!
Main thing to note with the AE1P is that it has two only automated exposure functions - full auto, and shutter priority. It doesn't do aperture priority.
So if you set the shutter speed to what you want, and have the lens aperture ring set to 'A', the camera will adjust the aperture to get the correct exposure with the shutter speed you have selected, if it can.
However, this doesn't work the other way around - you can't set the aperture on the lens, put the shutter speed selector to 'Program' and hope that the camera will set the shutter speed to fit the aperture.
The only communication between the lens and the camera is a mechanical stop which tells the camera if the lens is on 'A', or not on 'A'. So if the lens is not on 'A', the camera knows that, but doesn't know any more. It doesn't know what f stop is set on the lens.
So I would suggest you avoid using the camera with the aperture set to a specific number (off 'A') and the shutter selector on Program... there might be a way to use it like this, but it's not what the camera was set up to do.
Using the shutter speed selector, however, you can set the shutter speed, half depress the shutter button, and the readout in the viewfinder will tell you what the camera thinks the f stop should be to correctly expose the shot which you're framing. You can then decide if you want to follow that advice or not!
On full auto, with the shutter speed selector on Program and the lens on 'A', the readout in the viewfinder is telling you what f stop the lens will be automatically adjusted to. If the scene is too dark for the widest f stop, or too light for the smallest, the numbers will flash at you.
Does that help? I hope so. But shout if you have more questions, happy to help!
@@the120ist Thanks for the Video! I shoot a Canon 90D and I have just been gifted a AE-1 program. I am trying to understand it, but this explanation helps me understand it a bit more! One question. If I am shooting full manual, and I want a large aperture for a shallow depth of field so say set it to F2.8, is it basically a bit of trial and error to get the shutter to the correct speed for it to show 2.8 in the light meter or as close as possible? And at that point, I take it the exposure will be correct? Thanks!
@@bryanlong4920 Hey! Congratulations on the new (old) camera! You're going to love it.
So, the answer to your question is yes... if you're only using the AE-1P in full manual and no external light meter, then I'm afraid tinkering with the shutter speed until it shows f2.8 in the viewfinder is the only way really.
As you know, the AE-1P allows shutter priority, but not aperture priority. That main reason for this is that in 1981 the technology wasn't there for the lens and camera body to adequately communicate, so the camera knows what the shutter speed is, because it's set in-body, but manual aperture is set on the lens, and it can't tell what it's been set to. Auto aperture is controlled by a fairly simple mechanical connection, but with one way comms from camera to lens.
But if you're headed in this direction, and want to have full control over your camera, and especially if you're planning on shooting more film with older cameras, then I would highly recommend getting yourself a light meter. Even the light meter apps on your smart phone are pretty accurate, and I think there are some free ones available.I have one that is called "Pocket Light Meter", I think I maybe paid £7 for the full version.
Using a light meter will allow you to get an immediate reading on what shutter speed to set for a given aperture, should save you some fiddling!!
@@the120ist Awesome man. Thanks for the reply! That is very helpful.
@@bryanlong4920 No problem, let me know how you get on with it!
for the film lever, A is for advance, L is for lock, and s is for self timer.
A for advance? not A for active?
@@the120ist Im not sure now lol, that's what my boss told me
@@jemusdoesvr9300 like I said in the vid, no one in the world knows what they stand for!! One of photography’s biggest mysteries 😂😂
@@the120ist Yeah, i think active seems to be the simplest option for what A could stand for, i did some reasearch and im seeing either action or active lmao.
also very compelling to hear that the AE-1 got you into photography, even though I started with the sturdy cannon 1300d dslr, the day that my boss handed me his trusty AE-1 was the day i started getting serious about film
not many teenagers shooting film out there yk?
Did you get it serviced? Any suggestions as to where get it serviced?
I did get it serviced. Where in the world are you? In the UK?
@@the120ist Yeah, should have mentioned that I am in the UK!
were these shot takes in full auto mode?
Yup, the only input I gave it was towards the end there where I used the AE lock button. Otherwise, full auto throughout!
hu, my shutter is stuck, i removed the bottom plate to unstuck it but it wont move. any suggestions?
I just had mine with the same issue in the shop, I get it back 7/2/21. I’ll update after I get I back.
I'm not so good on the workings of the AE-1 I'm afraid. They can be fiddly cameras when they go wrong! I hope you get it sorted
What lenses will the this camera use?
It takes Canon FD lenses. There are literally hundreds of options out there, Canon own brand lenses and a load of off brand lenses. Lots of exploring to do!
@@the120ist thank you, I went work the A-1. It seemed more versatile and more vintage. I believe it's also an fd lense as well.
Great video, but oh no! you did't trim the film label neatly in the back of the camera!
You caught me. I am so sloppy. Count yourself lucky I was wearing pants for the video!
Where can I buy this camera?(online)
Any number of online second hand camera shops. What country are you in?
i have this camera but i always found my shots to be underexposed. what am i doing wrong? any tips? 😅
Hey, could be a whole number of things, unfortunately. The simplest of them is to check that you’re setting your ASA / ISO right on the left hand side?
If all the settings are correct then I would guess you either have a dirty or faulty light meter. Not a very simple fix for mere mortals like me. So I’d be sending it in for a service...!
If every shot is uniformly underexposed then you could short term fix by setting the ASA / ISO dial to a speed lower than your current film, thereby forcing the camera to auto-expose more?
@@the120ist ooo do you mean set the iso level to 100 if i used an iso 200 film?
Exactly. If it’s under exposing every time, then you could set the ISO low, and the camera will increase the exposure to compensate... it’s not a fix, but it should get you decent exposures! One day you’ll probably have to work out what’s wrong with it, but in the meantime, you’ll be taking good photos!
@@the120ist thanks alot! i’ll give that a try first :)
From my experience shutters can strain and be noiser in colder weather.
I have this camera and it is that good...................................
It really is! Haven't had mine out for a while now, been shooting with other cameras. But I might go find it again....
Sounds like you had an interesting career! Are you a professional photographer/filmmaker? You should start an Instagram account and post some of your photographs ( like those from Alaska!). Keep us posted. I’d definitely follow you on Instagram!👍
It has been good to me! I have travelled a bit as a professional photographer, but most of my trips out to the wilder reaches of the world have been as a television documentary producer and director. I've been very lucky, I've found myself in some extraordinary places over the years!
Problem with sharing photos is that I'm usually not able to share where I am and what I'm doing there until after the film has broadcast, which can be up to a year later. I could stack everything up and share when I can, but I'm not organised enough for that! Now that I'm doing this channel I'll definitely take film cameras with me when I'm travelling and try to shoot something while I'm away, but I started the channel during the pandemic, and we're still in it! So I haven't left the country for more than a year.
As soon as covid f**ks off and travel opens up again, and I land a job that takes me somewhere interesting, I'll shoot a video about film photography from there!
@@the120ist Of course you can’t share your work related stuff. I meant the pics you take when you test your cameras. What I do on Instagram is post a pic of the camera I tested, then follow it up with a few posts of the pics taken from that camera. I like doing that on Instagram as it tells a story. Anyway your career sounds so interesting and rewarding. That’s a good subject of a video one day! Look forward to your future videos of the cameras you have. Your channel is right up my alley! Take care. Chat anytime! Anthony.
@@plestj I'm not so good with instagram! I try, I post some things, but I'm inconsistent! Must try harder.... I'll look you up!
@@the120ist Please do - @anthony_plescia
Battery is necessary to fire shutter but otherwise a solid review. The Canon cough or squeal is fixable at home so save yourself the expensive repair charges.
Thanks! I ended up sending it off for a service anyway. It was due! But then I've found that it still squeals... but now it is definitely only with one lens. Which makes me think that what Im hearing is actually the aperture actuation mechanism. Whatever, it's only a squeal, doesn't seem to be affecting the photos for now. I can live with it!
@@the120ist I don't believe so. I have lubricated the shutters of a dozen A bodies in my collection and while it starts as an intermittent problem like yours it will get worse. Best of luck with it, I too enjoy these cameras.
Thanks! I’ll see how it progresses. 👍
Fixing the shutter squeak is easy. Don’t need to pay to get it serviced
I already did pay to get it serviced! But I’m keen to find out how to fix it anyway. Care to share?
(A) on (L) off (S) is for the 10 second timer
Right! But what do A and L actually stand for? No one seems to know for sure!!
I’ve had an AE-1 and an AE-1P. Get yourself an A-1 instead
Intersting, I've never tried an A1. You reckon it's a lot better? What did you prefer about it?