 Tudor |
Canon AE-1 or FTb for beginner???? I've recently acquired these together with lots of lenses and accessories. I would like to use one or both of them to take up photography as a hobby. I like the idea of being able to manually input settings and develop these skills as I progress. As a complete beginner, which of these cameras would you recommend and where could I find out more about how to use them effectively? Also, I realise that having not been used for so long, they might not be working at their best - are there any issues that I should look out for or would be able to test for? Thanks.
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Mike Rubin |
I learned on a Canon AE-1. This is a great camera for a beginner. Just make sure you have a fresh battery. I am not familiar with the FTb. A very good book on exposure is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It has recently been revised but either version woould be good for you. You can find it on Amazon.com for under $20.00usd
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Andy |
I have an AT-1 (very similar to AE-1 without the shutter priority feature) and the Ftb QL. The Ftb is a fully mechanical camera. The battery is needed only for metering. Without battery you can still take pictures. The AE-1 required a battery to meter and take picture. Without battery, the shutter won't work. The self timer and the film loading mechanism are not the same on both cameras though. There is a similar question posted today. Go to here for more info about the cameras: http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/QnAdetail.php?threadID=27215 Hope this helps.
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doug Nelson |
Since you've already bought them, I suggest the FTb for the learning process. The only real problem with that camera might be the no longer available battery. DO NOT use a 1.5 volt PX-series battery. You need the 1.35 v sold in camera stores. That battery is rather short lived and expensive. Look for the MR-9 adapter, into which you can put the cheap and easily available SR44. Read more about the adapter option at www.classiccameras.com. Use the AE-1 for snapshot situations, until you fully understand how to play shutter speed off against aperture. Canon FD lenses are plentiful and cheap. This is one area where you can indulge yourself fairly inexpensively.
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doug Nelson |
Sorry, classic cameras may be out of business. Try www.criscam.com for this adapter. I have used it in a Leica and a Canon F-1; it works fine for me.
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Tudor |
Thanks for the leads everyone. I've followed them up and already know lots more about the AE-1. I'd appreciate a bit more help with the FTb as this seems to be the one I can learn most on. By the way, I am presuming that the lenses are interchangeable between these two. Is this the case? As for the battery for the FTb, I've bought a WeinCell type 1.4v off a photographic dealer on ebay. I'm hoping this is the right one as he advertises this for use in Canon cameras.
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doug Nelson |
The lenses are interchangeable, the silver mounting ring AND the bayonet mount models. Your battery is OK for now. Check it each month against the AE-1 (SAME shutter speed, aperture and film speed), filling the frame with a large object, such as a concrete floor, and be sure the meters read the same. The FTb light meter reads the central 12% of the frame, as do the professional grade F-1's (when they have the screen option that reads 12%). I use this system as a semi-spot meter. Much of the time I just cover the subject with the rectangle. This system is useful in a backlighted situation. Meter from something in the shadow, if it is important that subjects such as a person's face be properly exposed.
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Tudor |
Thanks for the advice about metering and for putting my mind at ease about the lenses and battery. Incidently, I am a complete novice and haven't even taken a picture yet, but I can't wait to start when those batteries finally arrive. Do you have any general advice on first shots? I'm particularly interested in taking buildings and landscapes. Also, any tips on film and processing would be appreciated, or maybe I should start another thread?
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doug Nelson |
My web site is for folks learning. You might find it interesting. Doug
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Tudor |
Thanks for that Doug. Some good solid advice there and some totally inspiring photos in your gallery. My battery just arrived for the AE-1, so I'm all set to go. I'll be taking things steady and concentrating on the basics for now, keeping notes of my settings to help me learn.
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Laura Roth |
I learned on a Canon AE-1 and stuck with it for 2-3 years until it started doing some weird mechanical stuff & I realized you couldn't REALLY do Aperture Priority on it. The part of the AE-1 that taught me the most, possibly was the ability to shoot in stopped-down mode (the little slider on the bottom right hand side of the lens if your facing the front of the camera. If you have the aperture manually set, say to f2.8, and then you engage the stop-down slider, it'll give you a preview of th depth of field, which will teach you a LOT about what the different apertures do. Also, if there's enough light (mainly so that you can see enough to focus), you can shoot with the stop-down slider engaged which will give you pseudo-aperture priority as long as you have the shutter speed on program mode. If you really get into it, like the AE-1, and look to upgrade to a similar fully manual camera.... I'd suggest the A-1, which is nearly the same but has a true aperture priority mode. I love my "upgrade" A-1! Most of the pics in my gallery were taken with the old AE-1.
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Laura Roth |
P.S..... aperture priority very good for shooting indoors without a flash..... You just have to be good at focussing precisely. The lenses are also interchangeable between AE-1 and A-1, which is part of the reason I suggest that as an upgrade (i.e. less money invested because you'd just have to buy a body)
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