Canon A1 - my first Canon SLR camera
A multi-automat with automatic aperture, aperture and program.
The special feature of this camera at that time was that with the automatic programs mentioned, the aperture of the lens remains in position "A".
The time is preselected using a setting wheel (automatic aperture with time preselection), the camera automatically selects the appropriate aperture and transfers this setting to the lens or the adjustment wheel is switched so that the apertures can now be selected (automatic aperture with aperture preselection) and the camera transmits in turn the aperture on the lens and calculates the exposure time necessary for a correct shutter speed.
Even today I still take photos with the Canon A1 and almost exclusively use aperture priority with aperture preselection.
An eye correction lens has now become an important accessory, which enables me to assess the subject in the viewfinder without glasses and to set the correct distance.
Refractive errors can be easily corrected with this small accessory, as the corrective lens required in each case can simply be screwed onto the viewfinder eyepiece. Unfortunately, these useful accessories can only be purchased second-hand.
Canon F1 New - the last professional camera with FD bayonet
A real workhorse. Seen here in a short video with the Canon Winder FN and the AE prism viewfinder. With this configuration, the camera offers aperture priority (with aperture preselection) through the use of the AE prism viewfinder and aperture priority (with aperture preselection) through use of the Winder FN.
The Canon F1n is my standard setup for analog 35mm photography in connection with the Canon FD 2.8-3.5 / 35-70mm chrome ring.
Canon AE1 program - more than just a backup
A fine Canon SLR camera for the FD bayonet. It offers automatic time and program controls as automatic programs.
When using the automatic program, the camera automatically determines the appropriate aperture / aperture combination depending on the film sensitivity and the lighting conditions. The film speed is indicated on the packaging of the film (ISO, ASA or DIN) and is often part of the film name. You can find more about this on this page or in my YouTube channel "apertureonepointfour".
What does it look like when you look through a viewfinder of an analog Canon DSLR camera? I have put together a few examples for you.
In addition to the subject, you will see other displays that will help you to expose the picture correctly, to choose the appropriate exposure time so that the picture does not have any motion blur or only a small area of the picture is shown in focus so that the main subject stands out from the background.
Canon AV1 - you choose the aperture on the lens, the camera determines the appropriate exposure time (aperture priority with aperture preselection)
The camera selected a 1/60 second to the manually selected aperture, the image is exposed correctly.
The camera cannot choose a suitable time. The image becomes too dark or, in other words, "underexposed".
Canon T70 - a camera with motorized film transport, shutter control with time preselection, fully automatic exposure and digital display of the aperture value determined by the camera's exposure meter
In this example, the camera selected an aperture of 4.5 - an aperture between 4.0 and 5.6
I present some cameras to you on YouTube - please have a look!
Help - My Canon AE-1 Program Has Asthma!
Cameras can also get sick. There are numerous YouTube videos that show how the problem can be eliminated with relative ease. Warning: I messed up a Canon A1 myself when I tried to repair it with too much oil, plus WD 40. Better buy other oils, for me special oils for cameras worked very well for further repairs - and used very sparingly! To help, I took an extra fine oil dispenser. 1 drop of oil is enough for some cameras!
This is what Canon Asthma sounds like
Canon FD - System - a small picture gallery
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Flash bulbs on the Canon A1
Even a Canon camera for the FD system can still be operated with flash bulbs - even indirect flash is possible. In the following example you can see a Canon A1 that is operated with a Zeiss Ikonblitz 6. The flash unit requires a 15 volt battery, which is no longer available today (e.g. Varta V74PX). However, there are various adapters on the market that can be operated with 10 LR54 silver oxide (button cells) with 1.5 volts each. The required flash bulbs are used at various auction houses or new, as of October 2021, (unpaid advertising) at: https://flashbulbs.com/
Lightning bulbs were patented on September 23, 1930 by the physicist Johannes Ostermeier, employee of the Hauser lamp factory in Augsburg. Previously, photographers used magnesium powder, which was detonated and glowed for seconds. A not entirely harmless way of generating light, as reported by numerous reports of fires from this time.
After a short time the patent was marketed, in Germany under the name Vacu-Blitz by the Osram company. Probably the decisive advantage: It was safer than the magnesium flash. The glass bulb minimized the risk of an explosion.
"Burns with Vacu impossible.", Read the advertisement of the manufacturer and it continued to read: "Fire does not spread, you have Vacu-Blitz in the house. The Vacu-Blitz has the same brightness as the best quality flash powder, burns but emits much faster and with a more pleasant light than this, so there are no frightened faces. Your photo dealer can supply you with the Vacu-Blitz at a price of 1 Reichsmark 25. "
Why should I still take photos with flashbulbs today?
Clearly, it looks cool, you stand out, you don't have an automatic flash available and, as in the last millennium, photography is slower and more conscious.
On the website www.flshbulbs.com you can read:
“Nothing matches the quality and quantity of light produced by a flash bulb. Small, portable, easy to ignite, and relatively inexpensive flash bulbs are capable of delivering a tremendous amount of lighting from the palm of your hand.
Certainly there are electronic flashes, lasers and other high-tech methods of generating light, but they just don't match the size and characteristics of a simple flash lamp. "
Try it - it's pure fun ... and our hobby is about fun, right?
Recommendation! The three best Canon FD standard zoom lenses for analog and digital!
Canon has produced 10 different Canon FD / FDn standard zoom lenses - plus 2 AF lenses for the Canon FD bayonet. Which one should i buy?
In this video I give you my recommendation from 35 years of experience with Canon FD / FDn lenses.
Recommendation! The three best Canon FD standard zoom lenses for analog and digital! Here you can see the German version:
Who does not know that? After 30, 40 or 50 years the lens hood on your beloved Canon FD / FDn lens wobbles.
But the remedy is very simple! Check out my short video!
Using an expired Kodak Ektachrome SE Duplicating film and the Canon F1n with magnifier viewfinder, I took a few macro shots. My clear recommendation is to use the magnifier finder if you want to get into macro photography - it offers a convenient view from above the camera!
Here I offer you some great brochures from the 1980s for free download. Just click on the picture and the respective brochure will end up on your hard drive as a .pdf file! Have fun browsing - and if you want, donate me a glass of coke or a coffee to maintain and expand this website. Thanks!!
Practical, convenient and extremely cool: the motorized film transport for the Canon "A" series cameras.
In this video, I introduce you to all three options for automatic film transport.
Have fun watching!
(external video on YouTube)
Canon offered a total of three different motor systems for the A series of the Canon FD system:
Canon Winder A
Canon Winder A2
Canon Motor Drive MA
The Winder A was the first version of the motorized film transport. It is suitable for all A models. This winder has no adjustment of the transport speed, but transports forward with a maximum speed of 2 frames per second. The prerequisite for this is a shutter speed in the range of 1/60 to 1/1000 second. With a slower shutter speed, the frame rate decreases up to single transport.
Four AA batteries or rechargeable batteries are required for operation. 141x42x34mm in size and weighs approximately 300 grams, including batteries.
The Winder A2 represents the further development to the model A.
It offers the possibility to choose between single bikd transport or serial transport with maxinal 2 frames/second, depending on the set shutter speed.
Unfortunately, this only works with the models A-1 and AE-1 program.
With all other models, this Winder A2 works like its predecessor, Winder A.
The Canon Motor Drive MA is primarily designed for use with the Canon A 1.
In combination with the Canon A 1, it provides “S”
single frame transport, 2 frames per second ein the "L" - Low setting or 5 frames per second in the "H" - High setting - provided an appropriate shutter speed.
Here you can find the user manual for the Winder A2 in english language as pdf-file for download.
Accessories for your Canon A or T series camera
You also have a Canon camera of the A-series, like AE1, AE1 Program, A1, AT1, AV1 or AL1 or you want to buy such a camera? Most of the accessories presented here can also be used for the T-series, i.e. T50, T60, T70, T80 and T90. Of course you need these accessories for your camera as well!
In the following video I present the most important accessories that should not be missing in your equipment!
Eye diopter correction lenses
Front and back covers
Lens hoods
Filters
Handles, eyecups and hoods
Winder A2 (for A series only)
Data Back A (for A-series only)
Speedlite 299T flash unit
Extension ring
Teleconverter 2xA, 2xB, 1,4x
Films
Canon AV1
My tip for an inexpensive entry into the world of the analog Canon FD - system.
As you may have learned from my other videos or by visiting my homepage, I use - with a few exceptions - aperture priority as my automatic exposure.
I just want to have full control over the depth of field and this automatic offers the easier workflow.
So today I'm introducing you to the Canon AV-1, an easy-to-use camera that relies on aperture priority.
Canons writes about this model on its homepage Canon Camera Museum:
Launched May 1979
The original price was 57,000 yen with the new FD 50mm f2.
Although these cameras would cost more, cameras with shutter speed priority automatic exposure control were important to Canon because users could understand shutter speed settings more easily than aperture settings. However, in America and other overseas markets, 35mm cameras with aperture priority were in the majority.
Overseas dealers also demanded an aperture-priority model.
Canon responded with the AV-1.
With the release of this camera, a new type of FD lens was also introduced. These lenses allowed instant attachment and detachment, they are called nFD lenses.
An inexpensive FD lens, the 50mm f2was made available for the AV-1.
In the following video, I will introduce you to all of the camera's features in detail. Have fun watching!