 Don Julian |
How to use my new camera? I have a Canon AE1 and some lenses and other goodies. I take OK pictures with it on a good day. I just bought a Canon A1. What am I in store for. It hasn't been delivered yet. Am I in the right forum? I saw someone ask a fairly simple question and he got some really easy to understand answers. I immediatly registered. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Don Julian |
Right off the bat I screwed up. Sorry for the double post.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jon Close |
Welcome, Don! If you don't already have instruction manuals for these cameras you can download them at http://www.canonfd.com/choose.htm. These cameras have the old Canon manual focus FD mount. Shop used for the fine Canon FD (and older FL) lenses - you can get information about them at the Canon Camera Museum. Canon stopped making new lenses in the FD mount about 15 years ago. Tokina and Tamron both have a line of manual focus lenses that they still make in the FD mount. Autofocus lenses for Canon EOS cameras (EF mount or Canon AF) cannot be used. For flash, look for a good non-dedicated auto flash like the Sunpak 383 Super, or an older Canon model. These old cameras do not have TTL (Through The Lens) flash metering and control, and so cannot use the more recent line of E-, EZ-, or EX-series Canon speedlites, or similar third-party TTL flashes for the autofocus SLRs. This Link has a lot of information about the old A-series Canon cameras, including a section on the old Canon speedlites made for them.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Bob Chance |
Hi Don: Well I'm happy to tell you that you are in for a treat. I purchased an A-1 shortly after it's release back in '79-'80, and I absolutely loved it. It will have pretty much the same feel in your hands as the AE-1, as all of the A series cameras were of the same basic styling just like todays EOS series. In fact, I owned all of the A series cameras except the AV-1, which was the aperature priority model. Bob
|
|
|
|
||
|
Christopher A. Vedros |
It's kinda refreshing that "How to use my new camera?" wasn't followed by "it's an entry-level digital and I have a wedding scheduled next weekend - HELP!" Welcome aboard, Don! Like Jon & Bob said, the A-1 shouldn't be a big adjustment from the AE-1 you've been using. Any lenses or accessories you already have should work fine with it also. I have a Canon AE-1 Program and a box full of gear that a friend asked me to sell for him. I just need to find the time to clean it up and test it all. You might have some more specific questions when you get the camera in - don't hesitate to ask, we'll help if we can. Chris
|
|
|
|
||
|
Don Julian |
Jon, thanks for the links. I have already started using them. I also own an old Photura that I looked up in the Museum. My wife uses it and doesn't understand why I want "those hard to figure out" cameras. Bob, the motor drive idea is probably first on my agenda. I have the power winder for the AE1 but I can now see the difference in the two. I will start my search on Ebay. When I looked up the Canon Museum, supplied by Jon, above, I found that this A1 cost 114,000 yen when it sold new???? Once I got the converter going I was shocked! I got mine very reasonable considering. And they are talking "old money" without all the inflation. Wow!! Now, this brings me to Chris. I heard loud and clear "Box of Gear"!! Questions, what, when, where and how much? If there is anything in there you think I might be interested it, please advise. Would like to thank all of you for your very helpful and informative responses. I feel I definately found the right forum for my finding out all my areas of ignorance. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Christopher A. Vedros |
Like I said, I haven't had time to clean this stuff up and test it to make sure it all still works. Let's see, in addition to the AE1 Program camera, there is a 50mm f/1.8, a 28mm f/2.8, a 70-210 f/4 zoom, and a 300mm f/4 with a tripod collar. There is a Speedlite 188A and a Sunpak Auto 522 handle-mount flash with a rechargeable battery and batter charger. There is also a Canon Powerwinder A2, a Kiron 2x teleconverter, and a Gossen N100 light meter. There are also a bunch of filters. Everything looks to be in good used condition. One thing I did check - I was happy to see that he took the batteries out of everything before he stored it away. I've seen lots of old cameras ruined by leaky batteries! I haven't done any research yet to see what fair prices would be for any of this. Chris
|
|
|
|
||
|
Don Julian |
OK, not trying to turn this link into an auction site or anything, just a couple of things. By the way, I haven't looked around here much, is there a buy/sell/trade section herewith? I have a 50mm f/1.4. It is a little better in low light, I understand, than the standard f1.8. I have the wide-angle f/2.8 and really like. I don't know what the 300mm f/4 w/tripod coller is? I probably want it as I really go for the long lense stuff, if that is what it is. We have already talked about the power winder. I have a doubler lense and a teleconverter. I would love to talk more about the Sunpak. I have two rather low end flashes and this one sounds much nicer. I am to illiterate to handle a light meter not on the camera but I used to have some Cokin filters that were a lot of fun. Used to have an old Sears generic SLR and some equipment but one night in a bar, forgot the door lock on the pickup and the rest is history!! Lots of fun starting over and for that replacement thinking is why I have stayed with the dinos rather than going digital, etc. Just want to have some fun. This is really nice, Thanks!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Don Julian |
Question: What is the deal on the 12,800 film speed indicator on my camera? What would I ever need film like that for?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jon Close |
Very low light, surveillance, or a very grainy/arsty look. Ilford's Delta 3200 Professional and Kodak's T-MAX P3200 are black & white films intended to be push-processed to ISO 3200, 6400, 12500, even 25000.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Don Julian |
Thanks, Jon. Now I am getting excited. I can see some stuff that I might be able to do that I hadn't thought of before.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Christopher A. Walrath |
Two bits of literature. 1. Your Instruction booklet or a copy which can be found anywhere online in Adobe .pdf format. 2. Ansel Adams Basic Photography Series the camera, the Negative and the Print. Can't go wrong there.
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||