Canon Mount (FD/FL/EF) SLRs: Canon A-1 by Karen Nakamura Overview and Personal Comments The Canon A-1 is an advanced manual focus SLR produced by Canon, Inc. Between 1978 and 1985. It featured through the the lens (TTL) full aperture metering, automatic exposure, and aperture and shutter priority metering.The A-1 was designed as a professional level camera, complementing the consumer which Canon had released two years earlier. At the time of its release, the A-1 was revolutionary with an integrated CPU and a full range of automatic exposure modes. It could take the entire Canon FD series of bayonet mount lenses (which can now be bought very inexpensively on ebay at a fraction of the EOS equivalents) as well as most FL and non-FD lenses. It had AE-lock, exposure compensation, multiple exposure ability, and depth of field preview features. It was a generation ahead of any of its Nikon counterparts at the time.

Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law. My Canon A-1 (serial #15001xx) was in almost mint condition when I bought it in late 2008 at an antique mall. The A-1 was built as late as 1985. There is almost no wear visible anywhere on the camera. I tested the camera fully and it works perfectly. The camera takes a 6V alkaline battery, but I put in 4 LR44 batteries with a wad of aluminium foil instead. This worked just fine.

This is an excellent camera for a student or as the second body of a professional who uses the FD system (which includes the excellent F-1). How To Get A Boiler License In Wisconsin Wisconsin. It was is perhaps the lightest of the metal-clad Canon FD body (ie, before Canon moved fully to polycarbonates in the T-series). Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law and your ebay terms of service. Interesting quirks The A-1 has a lot of buttons for all of its features, as befits a professional level camera. You should download the manual to get a better sense of what all of the buttons do.

I think that given that this was in an era before informational LCD menu systems, that Canon did a very good job of keeping the clutter to a minimum. Even in the heat of shooting, you can easily figure out which mode you are in -- or which mode you would like to switch to. Some of the incredible features of the A-1: • Shutter blind on the eyepiece. This professional feature allows you to close steel shutters over the rear eyepiece with a single switch. This prevents stray light from travelling back through the eyepiece and through the pentaprism and causing problems with the exposure. • Multiple exposure switch • Selectable 2 and 10 second self-timer • Built-in battery check.

• Selectable finder LED read-out shutoff. • Automatic LED brightness dimming.

Dec 11, 2012 Determining the Age of a Canon Lens Based on Serial Number. Canon General » Determining the Age of a. Dll Suite Keygen Free Download. My 35mm 1.4L bought this year.

• Stop-down automatic exposure (aperture-priority) mode, great for non-FD lenses • Metering lock About the only negatives that I can think about the A-1 are: • You can't do aperture-priority exposure using the lenses' aperture ring, instead you have to dial in the aperture using the multi-function dial. • The maximum shutter speed of 1/1000 is lame, even for 1978.

It should have been at least 1/2000. Similarly, the flash speed of 1/60 is slow, they could've managed 1/125 at least.

My guess is that the shutter was detuned in order to make it more reliable. • The battery isn't widely available anymore. Replace with four LR44 or SR44 batteries; or two CR1/3N or one 2CR1/3N. Canon offered a variety of optional accessories which are often listed on ebay. They include the Canon Speedlite flashes which offer full automatic exposure as well as the power winder unit which turns the camera into a motor driven powerhorse.

Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law and your ebay terms of service. Technical Details. Retail Price in 1978 짜114,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4SSC) Note: Using the text or images on this site in an ebay auction without permission is a violation of your ebay Terms of Service.

I will report you to ebay if I discover such a violation taking place. This may result in your account being cancelled. I also reserve the right to file claim for civil penalties. About Canon Canon started out its life as Seiki Kohgaku Kenkyuujo (Precision Optical Research Company). Its first goal was to produce domestic inexpensive Leica clones, and it released the Kwanon, its first camera in 1934. Interestingly, they used Nikon lenses since Nikon was already established as an optical lens manufacturer and was not making any of its own camera bodies at that time.

Canon soon gained the ability to make their own lenses and never looked back. Nikon also went on to produce some reasonably popular cameras of its own as well. The name 'Canon' comes from the Buddhist deity Kwanon and early Canon cameras were actually spelled 'Kwanon' and the lenses were named 'Kyasapa' after another deity.

Side note: Canon is my favorite Japanese company along with Honda. I actually interned for Canon Japan (ok, Canon Sales Japan, a part of the Canon keiretsu) during a summer in college and loved my coworkers to death. They keep coming out with innovations that take your breath away. On the Net •. • KJSL report on: • CameraHobby.com's report on the (which adds aperture priority and a few others to the AE-1) • (MSN.com) with photos • The Canon Museum's guide to the. Paul asks: Interesting site and excellent for reference. I am thinking over to film photography as a break from using my Canon 40D which i do enjoy, but there is something magic about using film and working more at my hobby.

I think Digital is fine for many reasons but I am still drawn to the film. I like the Canon A1 and I was offered one that has been in storage for many years and with a flat battery.

You mentioned flat batteries and I noted your comment about being dead in the water. See below: Why non-metered cameras? Metering is usually the first thing to break. It's electronic. Batteries leak. Wires corrode and break.

Non-metered cameras are less likely to have the problems that metered ones do.And it's one huge variable that you don't have to account for when purchasing. Is the meter dead or is the battery dead? With cameras where the battery electronically controls the shutter (e.g. Nikon FE, Canon AE-1, etc.) if your battery dies, you're dead in the water. Difficult to call it. And I may not be able to locate a battery before I view the camera.? Do you recommend I get a battery and test before I consider a purchase.?

Its a one owner camera, bought new and very seldom used according to the seller who's father was a professional photographer Any further advice would be helpful as I do like the Canon A1 Regards Paul In the case of the A1, the shutter won't work without a battery as its electronically timed. I'd buy the four LR44 batteries (you can get 2 or 4-packs for $1 at most dollar stores) and use the tin-foil trick to mimic the PX28. This should at least give you enough info as to whether the camera works or not -- and at worst, you'll be out $2 and some tinfoil. Basically, you'll just need to stack the 4 little LR44/SR44 on top of each other. You should then wrap them in some cellotape to keep them together, but make sure the tops and bottoms are touching each other. Then put that roll in the battery compartment, wedging some tin foil in to make sure that it the top hits the + connection and the bottom is electrically connected with the - connection.

Hi Karen and thank you for your reply. I have managed to purchase an ENERGIZER A544BP A544 6 VOLT PHOTO ALKALINE battery tonight and that should save me the bother of the tin-foil trick with the button batteries. I have taken a lot of detail from this very helpful site and I will use that to carry out the tests.

I have not powered up an older camera for a very long time, so used to the Digital 40D. Its like starting to ride a bike all over again. I intend to view the A1 this Sunday and I will have a deal if its running properly. I like that camera, a mate had one for years and he swears by it. Regards from Ireland Paul.