lrochfort
Well-known
Hello all,
Just got a call from my Dad saying he'd seen a Canon A-1 with 50mm f/1.2 and 24mm f/1.8 (might be wrong on that one) for £12.
I asked him to get it for me because I know it's historically significant, but mostly because I love a fast 50mm.
Now, I'm chiefly a rangefinder and handheld meter guy. The only slr we own is my wife's Nikon FM2 and my Hassy 500cm.
Any tips for using the Canon, particularly metering techniques and modes? Any things to check on an A-1 of unknown origin? Any comments on those lenses?
Thanks all!
Just got a call from my Dad saying he'd seen a Canon A-1 with 50mm f/1.2 and 24mm f/1.8 (might be wrong on that one) for £12.
I asked him to get it for me because I know it's historically significant, but mostly because I love a fast 50mm.
Now, I'm chiefly a rangefinder and handheld meter guy. The only slr we own is my wife's Nikon FM2 and my Hassy 500cm.
Any tips for using the Canon, particularly metering techniques and modes? Any things to check on an A-1 of unknown origin? Any comments on those lenses?
Thanks all!
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Get the kit, keep the lenses, and dispose of the camera. The camera is historically significant only as one of the worst ergonomic nightmares in camera history. In general, the Canon A series is difficult in handling, reliability and maintenance, worse than both the earlier and the later Canons, and the A-1 is the worst among them - if any, the entry level manual AT-1 is the most reasonable one of the bunch. The lenses are great, and if you want to see them shine, it is trivial to pick up a cheap (new) F1, FTb, EF, or if you like it electronic, T90...
farlymac
PF McFarland
Yeah, quirky come to mind when I use my A-1. And the motor drive I got for it sounds like a can opener. There are so many ways to set it up that one can get easily confused as to why it's not working as it should. But I do like the red LED readouts in the viewfinder, it's best feature. I eventually got a T90 to replace it.
PF
PF
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Gotta disagree here. I love my A-1. Didn't for a long time. Then a couple months ago I pulled it out because I wanted to use a certain FD lens with film and it's the only FD body I have left anymore.
What a fun camera, and what a capable camera. Make sure you have the action grip on the body, makes it handle MUCH better. Download a PDF of the user manual. I shoot mine in Aperture Priority, make sure you have your lens set to "A". And I love that the viewfinder gives me the shutter speeds in the little red LED's.
I find it to be just a fun camera to shoot, and set up in Aperture Priority, really all you need to do is focus.
One other thing, I got mine from a guy who used to be a Canon service tech in Japan, so even though mine is brassed up a bit, mechanically, optically, and electronically it is "factory fresh". I don't know how many of the A-1's in the wild are experiencing malfunctions.
Canon A-1 User Manual
Best,
-Tim
What a fun camera, and what a capable camera. Make sure you have the action grip on the body, makes it handle MUCH better. Download a PDF of the user manual. I shoot mine in Aperture Priority, make sure you have your lens set to "A". And I love that the viewfinder gives me the shutter speeds in the little red LED's.
I find it to be just a fun camera to shoot, and set up in Aperture Priority, really all you need to do is focus.
One other thing, I got mine from a guy who used to be a Canon service tech in Japan, so even though mine is brassed up a bit, mechanically, optically, and electronically it is "factory fresh". I don't know how many of the A-1's in the wild are experiencing malfunctions.
Canon A-1 User Manual
Best,
-Tim
Brad Bireley
Well-known
Love my two A-1's !
Fixcinater
Never enough smoky peat
I don't have an A1 right now (sold off some FD stuff to get an F1N kit here shortly) but I prefer it's handling over the earlier all mechanical/manual like the FT, and the AE1s.
Good score on the kit if it is a 50/1.2 and not a 50mm 1:2.0...
Good score on the kit if it is a 50/1.2 and not a 50mm 1:2.0...
Huss
Veteran
The A1 is fun to use, great kit find!
RandyB
Member
I used a pair of A-1's for commercial/advertising work back in the 80's/90's, great cameras once you learned their minor quirks (like any camera). Metering was always spot on. The only failure was with the PC flash connection, I had my repairman silver solder the plug, after that never a missed flash. I still miss them but I now use a New F-1 for my FD lenses.
lrochfort
Well-known
Thanks for the replies all.
I've never really used a camera with auto exposure so I'm looking forward to seeing how it makes my life easier taking pictures of the kids in particular.
I'm also excited about the 50mm. Let's hope my Dad read the f-stop correctly!
I've never really used a camera with auto exposure so I'm looking forward to seeing how it makes my life easier taking pictures of the kids in particular.
I'm also excited about the 50mm. Let's hope my Dad read the f-stop correctly!
Dwig
Well-known
The A-1 is a decent camera, but it has its flaws.
To start with, the A-1 wasn't designed from the ground up as a multimode (Program, Aperture Priorty, Shutter Priority, & Manual) camera. It was a tacked together hack on the original A-series models, the AE-1 and AT-1 twins. The result is a functional camera with a rather odd control layout that is not the easiest to navigate. Once you learn your way through the maze, so to speak, it become reasonably usable.
To start with, the A-1 wasn't designed from the ground up as a multimode (Program, Aperture Priorty, Shutter Priority, & Manual) camera. It was a tacked together hack on the original A-series models, the AE-1 and AT-1 twins. The result is a functional camera with a rather odd control layout that is not the easiest to navigate. Once you learn your way through the maze, so to speak, it become reasonably usable.
Huss
Veteran
Thanks for the replies all.
I've never really used a camera with auto exposure so I'm looking forward to seeing how it makes my life easier taking pictures of the kids in particular.
I'm also excited about the 50mm. Let's hope my Dad read the f-stop correctly!
As much as some are trying to rain on your parade, you got a very sweet camera with two great lenses for the equivalent of $20!!! For $20 I could not care how many quirks it has!
Wish I found a deal like that!
Enjoy.
lonemantis
Well-known
I'd be very curious as to what exact versions you found of the lenses. Canon never made a 24/1.8, but they did make a 24 1.4 L, a 2.0, and a 2.8. As for the 50, if could be either an older SSC model, a new-FD (same optics), or even the aspherical 1.2 L - if that's the case, you really hit the jackpot!
lrochfort
Well-known
As much as some are trying to rain on your parade, you got a very sweet camera with two great lenses for the equivalent of $20!!! For $20 I could not care how many quirks it has!
Wish I found a deal like that!
Enjoy.
Thanks!
I've never once found a junk shop bargain before either so I've got my fingers crossed.
lrochfort
Well-known
I'd be very curious as to what exact versions you found of the lenses. Canon never made a 24/1.8, but they did make a 24 1.4 L, a 2.0, and a 2.8. As for the 50, if could be either an older SSC model, a new-FD (same optics), or even the aspherical 1.2 L - if that's the case, you really hit the jackpot!
How can I tell what version of the 50mm it is?
Spavinaw
Well-known
I used a Canon A-1 for years as my primary FD lens camera and loved it! Somehow I can't see why there would be any problem in using it. All settings are mechanical and visible from the top of the camera. There is an ASA dial with all speeds visible. There is an exposure compensation dial with all settings visible. There is a changeable dial that shows either the shutter speed or the aperture you select or PROGRAM for automatic operation (be sure the lens is set for automatic operation). Beside that there is the lever that locks the shutter release button and sets the self timer. For manual operation you set the shutter speed with the dial in top and the aperture on the lens like most any other camera. All of this seems very straight forward to me. Others may disagree, why I don't know. I'd really like to know some of the specific things that others don't like.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
How can I tell what version of the 50mm it is?
The Canon FD 50mm lenses I've had and used:
50mm f1.8 SC lens, says so on the front lens beauty ring (chrome bayonet lock)
50mm f1.8 FDn lens, also says so on front beauty ring, (black bayonet lock)
50mm f1.4 SSC lens, says so on the front lens beauty ring (chrome bayonet lock)
50mm f1.4 FDn lens, also says so on front beauty ring, (black bayonet lock)
50mm f1.2 FDn lens, says so on front beauty ring, (black bayonet lock)
50mm f1.2L FDn lens, says so on front beauty ring, (black bayonet lock) and red ring stripe around front of lens.
There are other 55mm versions, but I am unfamiliar with them.
Best,
-Tim
blumoon
Well-known
GarageBoy
Well-known
If it has a red ring, its L, if it says aspherical in yellow letters, that's what it is
wakarimasen
Well-known
A1's are pretty good: a lot of camera in fact, for the price that you paid!
Timmyjoe
Veteran
I have to agree, since I got mine for free.
I used one back in the early 1990's and didn't like it much compared to my F-1n. Then I was given one, (and as my Daddy always told me, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth.") so I said, "Thank You" and put it on a shelf in my office.
Picked it up a couple of months ago just to play around with it and the one FD lens I still own, and have been shooting it every day since. It's a really fun camera to use.
Finally spent a whole $75 for a pristine 50mm 1.4 SSC lens and now she's all set.
Best,
-Tim
I used one back in the early 1990's and didn't like it much compared to my F-1n. Then I was given one, (and as my Daddy always told me, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth.") so I said, "Thank You" and put it on a shelf in my office.
Picked it up a couple of months ago just to play around with it and the one FD lens I still own, and have been shooting it every day since. It's a really fun camera to use.
Finally spent a whole $75 for a pristine 50mm 1.4 SSC lens and now she's all set.

Best,
-Tim
Share:
-
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.