Canon A-1 for the uninitiated

[lrochfort]

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!

 

[sevo]

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]

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

 

[Timmyjoe]

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

 

[Brad Bireley]

Love my two A-1's !

 

[Fixcinater]

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...

 

[Huss]

The A1 is fun to use, great kit find!

 

[RandyB]

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]

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!

 

[Dwig]

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.

 

[Huss]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I just got this A-1 from Craigslist for $20 with a like new power winder, and a Seikor MC Macro Zoom 80-205mm 1:4.5 lens.The lens doesn't look too good inside, but the A-1 is in great condition.

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[GarageBoy]

If it has a red ring, its L, if it says aspherical in yellow letters, that's what it is

 

[wakarimasen]

A1's are pretty good: a lot of camera in fact, for the price that you paid!

 

[Timmyjoe]

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