Canon AT-1: intermittent refusal to fire

<p>Recently bought on the auction site. Been working fine until today, when the shutter has intermittently failed to fire. It's not the battery (checked it in another camera and a brand new battery in the AT-1).<br>

Any ideas? Is this something a decent CLA should sort out?</p>

<p>I had a similar problem with my AT-1. A kind member on this forum suggested that I clean the battery contants with an eraser. Worked like a charm.</p>

<p>Jurgen</p>

<p>Thanks for the tip, Jurgen. I've given that a go, but sadly still misfiring. Time to try out Sendean for a CLA.</p>

<p>Throw the camera out. There's no sense in sending good money after bad.</p>

<p>An AT-1 is the most primitive of the 'A'series Canons. It has the electronic shutter, but it was the very last holdout of the CdS meter in Canon cameras. All other A and T series cameras have silicon photocells. Unless you specifically want an AT-1 for some arcane reason, you can find a better camera in working condition-- there are several choices-- for around the price of a good CLA. </p>

<p>I have no argument with paying for an expensive CLA on a bargain camera, because then you end up with an excellent well-tuned camera. But for a broken AT-1, it's just not worth it.</p>

<p>As a long time FD user I agree with Dave, although I always advocate a CLA due to the FD range of cameras age, but I really don't think in this case It's worth spending money on it, If it was an F1 or an EF it would be a different story.</p>

<p>The economic case is compelling, I agree (even though I only paid £20 for it): I rather enjoyed using it, though: nice quiet shutter and simplicity itself in operation.<br>

But then I bought it to introduce my daughter to SLRs, and she got a bit cheesed off with it not working. Perhaps I should cut my losses and use the AE-1 I bought at the same time instead (the FTb is the other option, but >25% heavier).</p>

<p>James, if you get hooked on Canon FD, you may acquire a few bodies. They cost almost nothing now, and they just sort of stick to you, like burrs. </p>

<p>FWIW, my stock camera for giving away is the T70-- I've given three away to kids and friends. It's about 8 years newer than your AT-1, and it's a very friendly film camera for beginners. It has two metering modes (average and selective) and manual, shutter-priority, or programmed exposure. (The programmed exposure is actually useful for snapshooting-- just leave it on 'tele' mode.)</p>

<p>Secondhand T70s are very inexpensive, because there were millions sold in the mid-1980s at the end of the big consumer SLR boom. Lots of people bought SLRs when what they really needed was an autofocus point and shoot, like an AF35M or something. Hence lots of T70s sat in closets for 20+ years. You should be able to find a near-mint copy for less than £40. Just my two cents, or two pee as the case may be . . .</p>

<p>Thanks, Dave. I'm already well-hooked on FD (at the last count I had 8 bodies). This goes back to thread I posted in September (<a href="00XIbr">http://www.photo.net/canon-fd-camera-forum/00XIbr</a>), as a result of which I followed up the recommendation for an AT1. I have shied away from the T70, for reasons I gave then (<a href="00XIbr?start=10">http://www.photo.net/canon-fd-camera-forum/00XIbr?start=10</a>): partly my daughter's inclination to be lazy and partly because - T90 apart - the T series is not very collectable: they're just so plug ugly (and my daughter agreed: <a href="00XIbr?start=20">http://www.photo.net/canon-fd-camera-forum/00XIbr?start=20</a>).<br />I'm still toying with giving the AT-1 a CLA (I had a film back yesterday and its light seals are shot, too), but that would be because I hate throwing things away. Failing that, Plan B will definitely be the AE-1.<br />The FTb, meanwhile, turns out to have a distorted lens mount, which is a bit of a blow ... it HAS had a CLA.</p>

<p>James, I was having a similar problem with My Canon A-1 about ten years ago. My tech replaced a capacitor that was part of the combination magnet circuit. That solved the problem.</p>

<p>Thanks, Bill. If I do do a CLA, I will pass that on to the CLA'er.</p>

<p>A very difficult decision too say the least.I agree with Dave that there are very few film cameras worth putting lots of money into these days unless they are top end pro equipment.Something to consider if you go to sell it or move over to the dark side (digital).Remember it is a very old electronic camera and even with a CLA it will continue to need lots of service.<br>

That said,my first Canon back in 1978 was a AT1 and yes it was a good camera to learn photography on back in 1978 but even by the standards of those days it was obsolete (as Dave makes very clear).I quickly moved on to a A1 that was not my cup of tea then a F1N that was perfect.I am still in love with F1Ns and shoot them to this day.Matched needle settings,partial metering screen,full real time viewfinder information,rapid exposure compensation,etc,etc.The best thing about the AT1 was it was a very quiet camera,small,and light,and inexpensive to purchase new.If you must have a A Series I would pick up a clean AE1p.Ugly is in the eye of the beholder but like Dave I shoot and have turned on many beginners to T70's.<br>

Just because some of us had to learn photography on a full manual machine,learn to drive a car with a stick shift,dial a phone with a rotary,write and mail a letter via postal doesn't necessarily make it the best choice for today's world.Heck,my nephew just started a high school photography class (thank goodness they still start them on film!)using my 'old' Canon ElanIIe (a mid 90's auto everything autofocus SLR) and the teacher thought it was the perfect starter camera.That made me sad but that is the reality of the world we now live in.I'm just thankful he is learning on film and does not get bored too quickly before moving over to digital.<br>

I don't have a lot of time anymore to participate in this forum but when I see the subject appear in regards to a AT1 and T70 I just had to find the time!Nonetheless I still pop in and read just about every chance I get.BTY:Still shooting F1N's and T70'S most of the time.Still own my first AT1 but nowdays it is mostly a keepsake.</p>

<p>Douglas sounds like my twin, separated at birth. I also started out on an AT-1-- in 1979, a year later than him. And I use F-1Ns and T70s nearly exclusively (at least in 35mm SLRs). </p>

<p>The AT-1 is apparently very sensitive to the type of battery. While most cameras that take the same size battery as the AT-1 get along fine regardless of whether the battery is lithium, alkaline, or silver oxide, the AT-1 is one of those that may not function consistently on lithium or alkaline versions of the cell. The AT-1 really needs the silver oxide battery. If you are already using that type, then servicing is in order.</p>