Sick Canon AE-1 Program ?

[Luddite Frank]

Trying to help Mom troubleshoot her early 1980's Canon AE-1 Program.

The internal metering system seems to have gone wonky.

No matter where the camera's ASA dial is set ( 64, 200, 400, 800, 3200 ), when in full-manual mode, when the shutter release is slightly depressed, the LED's on the RH side of the viewing frame show an "M" in red high-light up top, and a flashing " 1 " at the bottom.

Adjusting the shutter speed, aperture, and ASA have no effect. Still the same meter reading. (Yes, I remembered to remove the lens-cap... 😉 )

We have put a fresh Duracell L-28 battery in it, with no improvement.

The shutter still seems to fire correctly, at the various speeds... but the meter seems to be confused.

Is this the Achilles' Heel of the AE-1 P as it gets old ?


Thanks !

Luddite Frank

 

[nobbylon]

From memory the M flashes when the lens is not set to A. Is it an FD or FL lens? Is the depth of field lever in the normal position or is it pushed in?

 

[Bille]

No matter where the camera's ASA dial is set ( 64, 200, 400, 800, 3200 ), when in full-manual mode, when the shutter release is slightly depressed, the LED's on the RH side of the viewing frame show an "M" in red high-light up top, and a flashing " 1 " at the bottom.

Any lens mounted?

Try changing shutter speed instead of ASA. Flashing "M" is correct when in manual mode.

http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/SLRs/ae1pgrm/html/index.htm

 

[Luddite Frank]

Thanks for the replies...

I wanted to report back that the camera's meter is alive and well again...

Apparently, with the AE-1 Program, there is a little plunger just inside the lens mount on the body, around 5 o'clock as you look at it from the front, which reacts to an aperture plunger in the the lenses itself, and operates a progressive micro-switch that talks to the meter.

Apparently during long period of non-use, the contacts in the micro-switch can become oxidized and perhaps the plunger even becomes sticky, causing the meter to seem no-responsive.

Removing the lens, and gently depressing the plunger and releasing several times got things working again. :dance:

My Mom is pleased... she bought this camera in the early 1980's, when taking a photography course at the local community college, and now at 81, she's not interested in getting / learning another camera ! 😉

LF

 

[Moto-Uno]

^I'm beginning to feel the same way myself. Is this the end of GAS ? Peter

 

[Luddite Frank]

"Is this the end of GAS ?"

Well, in my Mom's case... she just wants to take pictures, and she knows her camera well...

She's the artist, I'm the gear-happy collector... so I'm the "GASsy" one... 😉

( But for user cameras, at least with digitals, I really don't look forward to learning another digi-cam, in spite of the limitations of my ancient Canon G-1 Powershot... 🙄 )

LF