A-1

Hi Everybody.

I have a A-1 and I am finding that the exposers are all over the place, under

and over exposed. I set the shutter speed and let the camera set the f-stop. Is

it time for a CLA, it has been quite some time since the last time. I shoot

outdoors most of time. Thanks

Are you using negative or slide film? I ask because generally negative film is exposed for shadows and positive film is exposed for highlights. How are you metering? My recollection is that the exposure meter uses centrally weighted metering. Perhaps you could show us an example or two and tell us what part of the picture you were metering on.

I am shooting negative film. Here are two pic's one under and one over exposed.

Second pic.

processing error?

IMHO am002, given its range of contrast, seems properly exposed when looking at the peripheral objects and sky. Had you compensated for the dark docking areas, you would probably have blown the highlights. This one is a case for interior flash or sacrifice of exterior objects. Am003 appears clearly underexposed on my screen. I'll hazard a guess that processing, or perhaps negative compensation dialed in could have been the cause. Your best way to test things out is to sacrifice a roll (or partial roll, esp. if you do your own processing), using a tripod and reasonably well and evenly lighted scene (I'd go for a pot of flowers with a well lighted background) take a series of test shots bracketing exposures. Make sure your processor does a straight print with no compensation, or process your own. You'll quickly see whether or not your meter needs adjustment, or the degree of compensation you want to dial in.

>I am shooting negative film. Here are two pic's one under and one over exposed.

 

First one looks quite right to me, second is a bit strange. Straight overexposure should have given you a brighter sky. Looks more like shot through a curtain.

 

Battery ok? http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/SLRs/a1/manual/htm/np.html#Checking

Are you shooting handheld, or on a tripod? If you put the A-1 on a pod and fail to close the eyepiece shutter, light getting into the system via the eyepiece can mess up the metering, although I think it would cause underexposure rather than overexposure. Just a thought...

I always found that the centreweighted metering of the A series caused underexposure when there was a lot of sky in the image.

 

I use backlight compensation of 1 or 2 stops in such cases.

 

Henry

the second one looks like it is under contrasted. Were these scanned by you or a shop? the first one looks ok, just go with what has already been said.

 

Henry, nearly all cameras will do that methinks. If shooting airplanes, its one of the first things you learn...

Try taking a roll of photos using a gray card to manually meter off of. You'll know right away if it's a metering issue or your technique. Since you're splicing your photos in half with a bright sky, I'm guessing it's your technique. Try shooting your roll using the rule of thirds and see if that helps. If you can't get your hands on a gray card, then meter against the palm of your hand.