Simviation Forum - Canon A-1 Yes, real film!

Dec 12^th, 2009 at 11:03pm

BSW727 Offline
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I've had a Canon camera of one model or another since I was about 14 years old starting with a TLb model.

My current A-1 has been a fine camera over the years but I noticed some months ago a very small hairline crack on the left side of the top cover. I don't know how this occured since I'm extremely protective of my cameras.

Anyhow, this has been bugging me since I discovered it and I've been searching for a new top cover.

I finally found one on e-Bay last week. Brand new, never installed, still in the wrap. $39! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it and bought it immediately. It's on it's way now and a Canon authorized repair shop will be installing it for me along with a calibration and cleaning.

It's a shame this happened because there is no brassing anywhere on the top cover and no dings or scratches either. Well, it gives me peace of mind knowing that crack will no longer be there.

Canon_A-1_top_cover01.jpg (Attachment deleted)

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Reply #1 - Dec 13^th, 2009 at 3:13am

The Ruptured Duck Offline
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sounds like a nice piece of equipment, I wish my film SLR was in as good of shape (Canon AE-1)

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing" -Ben Franklin&&&&"Man must rise above the Earth to the top of the atmosphere and beyond, for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives." - Socrates&&&&" Flying is a religion. A religion that asymilates all who get a taste of it." - Me&&&&"Make the most out of yourself, for that is all there is of you"- Ralf Waldo Emerson&&

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Reply #2 - Dec 13^th, 2009 at 7:36am

BSW727 Offline
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I had an AE-1P Back when they first came out. Boy that camera was all the rage back then.

I never did own an AE-1. How does it compare to the A-1?

Been looking at the newer F-1 lately but no plans to buy right away.

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Reply #3 - Dec 13^th, 2009 at 9:19pm

The Ruptured Duck Offline
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BSW727 wrote on Dec 13^th, 2009 at 7:36am:

I had an AE-1P Back when they first came out. Boy that camera was all the rage back then.

I never did own an AE-1. How does it compare to the A-1?

Been looking at the newer F-1 lately but no plans to buy right away.

To be honest I have no clue. The AE-1 is the only film SLR I've ever owned. I got into film photography only 2 years ago and these days all I use are 120 or 4X5 negatives, so the 35mm doesn't get used as much. I managed to get some great shots with my 50mm lens mounted on the AE-1 during the airshow this year, but the cocking handle managed to fall apart and I had to repair it on the fly. I'm still not sure if I found all the pieces that dropped on the hangar floor that morning.

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing" -Ben Franklin&&&&"Man must rise above the Earth to the top of the atmosphere and beyond, for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives." - Socrates&&&&" Flying is a religion. A religion that asymilates all who get a taste of it." - Me&&&&"Make the most out of yourself, for that is all there is of you"- Ralf Waldo Emerson&&

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Reply #4 - Dec 26^th, 2009 at 6:52pm

BSW727 Offline
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I sent the A-1 off today for the top cover replacement. I also told them to replace the seals as they were starting to get gummy, and perform a CLA for the whole shebang. No Canon squeal yet though, it was functioning fine when I sent it off today.

Should look and function like new when I get it back.

I don't know why (other than photo quality) that I still love film cameras. I guess it's because I couldn't afford this level of camera when they came out. Dirt cheap now. Lenses are dirt cheap too.

A 35-105mm Canon lens that was $450-$550 back in the day can be had for $100 in excellent optical and physical condition these days. Ironic ain't it. The best digital camera still cannot replicate film, and film cameras and accesories are at bargain basement prices.

It's a buyer's market and I can finally afford camera equipment that I could only dream about as a two-striper while in the Air Force 25 years ago.

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Reply #5 - Dec 27^th, 2009 at 2:08am

Rifleman Offline
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As I remember it, the AE-1 was aperture priority only, whereas the A-1 was aperture priority, shutter priority, or full manual ........I could be wrong though, it's been a few yrs....

Edit: I had to go and check....the AE-1 was Shutter priority mode or manual mode with open aperture metering...

The A-1 was, as I remembered, a full house of auto modes...
Aperture priority
Shutter priority
Program mode
Manual mode with open aperture metering + full override for exposure compensation

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Reply #6 - Dec 27^th, 2009 at 3:13pm

The Ruptured Duck Offline
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Ok, it settled. I'm gonna go out and buy a new film SLR even though I don't have a dark room and I'm not registered to take the advanced B/W photo studio class next semester.

For Christmas my parents gave me a book full of photography for LIFE magasine and also a book with a collection of ansel adams' color work with 5X7 and 8X10 negatives.

Does anyone know how to scan negatives?

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing" -Ben Franklin&&&&"Man must rise above the Earth to the top of the atmosphere and beyond, for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives." - Socrates&&&&" Flying is a religion. A religion that asymilates all who get a taste of it." - Me&&&&"Make the most out of yourself, for that is all there is of you"- Ralf Waldo Emerson&&

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Reply #7 - Dec 27^th, 2009 at 3:59pm

Hagar Offline
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The Ruptured Duck wrote on Dec 27^th, 2009 at 3:13pm:

Does anyone know how to scan negatives?

My scanner will take negatives. It will only take 5 frames at a time & I wasn't impressed with the results when I tried it. You can also get specialised negative scanners. http://www.negativescanners.co.uk/

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