Canon AE-1 Troubleshooting

The Canon AE-1 is a 35mm single-lens reflex film camera. Canon released the AE-1 in 1976. The Canon AE-1 uses a electromagnetic focal plane shutter with a speed from 1/1000 to 2 seconds.

"The camera has no power.''

The Canon Ae-1 runs on a single 4LR44 or PX-28 battery. It is possible that the battery was put in incorrectly. Open the battery hatch on the front of the camera. Check to see that the positive and negative nodes on the battery align correctly and that the battery is in all the way.

It may be that the battery is dead. This can be check using a voltage meter to check the battery's charge or by simple replacing the battery with a fresh one.

It is possible with the age of the Canon Ae-1 that the terminals for the battery have been corroded. If this is the case try to remove some of the rust off of the terminals. A good way to remove the rust is to soak just the terminals in coke.

"Shutter does not cycle correctly with the film."

One of the main reasons that this happens is that the battery in the camera is almost dead. The function that cycles the film take a significantly less amount of power, then it does to make the shutter function. Simple replace the battery.

The shutter in the Canon Ae-1 funtions with an electromagnet. As the camera gets older the camera can accumulate metal particles on the electromagnet. These particles will cause the electromagnet to not have enough power to function the shutter. To fix this you will need to remove the bottom and spray pressurized air into the small plastic container that houses the electromagnet.

"Looking through the view finder the lens appears dirty''

The simplest way to fix this problem is to remove the SLR lense. This will expose the inner mirror and lens. Take a canister of pressurized air and spray it on the mirror and lense. This will remove dust and dirty without the risk of scratching either the lens or mirror.

It is possilbe the the inner mirror and/or the lens have been scratched or cracked. If this is the case they will need to be replaced.

"There is light exposure on the pictures after they have been developed."

This may be because the film was not completely rewind before being taken out of the camera. Be sure to rewind the fill fully before opening the film compartment.

There is a foam light seal inside the film compartment that can go bad. This is often the case with light exposure problems becasue the Canon Ae-1 is over 20 years old. Replace the strip of foam with a new piece and the problem should be fixed.

The solutions above didn't work or you have a different problem not listed.

The full user manual can be found for free at http://www.butkus.org/chinon/canon/canon...