Could there be something wrong with my AE-1P?

<p>Greeting everyone, I was wondering if I could get some advice on my Canon AE-1 Program. I was testing it out today after I accidentally dropped it and I was winding it and firing the shutter just fine, but then one time after I wound the lever, and pressed the shutter release button, the shutter did not go off, so I thought that the battery died. I pressed the battery check button and it did not beep, so I took out the battery and put it in another camera, and the battery still had some juice left in it, so I put it back into my AE-1P and it was working just fine. I was able to wind the shutter and press the shutter release button to take pictures. I'm just wondering why it stopped working, and continued to work after I took the battery out and then put it back in. Could my camera be messed up somehow? Thank you for any and all advice.</p>

<p>I'd keep an eye on it to see if the problem recurs, but don't worry too much as long as the camera continues to work properly.</p>

<p>most likely your battery is on its last legs. Buy a new one.</p>

<p>It seems to be working just fine now, but the battery is low, so I think I will buy a new one. Thank you very much for your replies!</p>

<p>Before you insert the new battery, take a pencil erasure and clean the battery contacts.</p>

<p>@ Stuart, I sure will, I didn't know that one could do that, so I will definitely do it.<br>

OK, so I put the same battery in my AE-1P and according to the battery check button, it is low on energy, but I tried several times to wind the shutter and fire it, and I have not gotten the same problem again, which is good, but is the battery really why my AE-1P froze on me, and didn't want to fire the shutter or let me check the battery status? Is it possible that the battery could have gotten loose, or something like that? Or what could have been the problem when my camera didn't want to fire the shutter or let me check the battery status and also, letting nothing light up in the view finder? I really hope it was nothing serious, and I have already ordered a replacement battery. Thank you guys very much for your responses, I greatly appreciate it.</p>

<p>Any one have any ideas?</p>

<p>I'm going to echo the sentiments of everyone else. It really sounds like a dead battery to me. The camera will still beep at you ever so slowly with a battery that doesn't have enough juice to release the shutter and work the electronics. If you let it rest it may recover enough to fire off a shot or two before ceasing to operate again.</p>

<p>Al, I suspect that when you dropped your camera, you may have jarred the battery such that it wasn't making good contact with its electrical contacts, and that when you took it out and put it back in, you re-established an adequate electrical connection. But like everyone else is recommending, I will too recommend that you replace your battery, especially since your battery check function is telling you it's time.</p>

<p>But! After you've installed a new battery, be sure to check it again and make sure the check function indicates sufficient voltage. Because if it doesn't, then you might have jarred something loose inside somewhere. And this could be causing your shutter not to fire.</p>

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<p>Yes I think that is what must have happened, because I put in a new battery today and it seems to be working just fine now, and when I press the battery check button it beeps fast, so there is adequate power. I shot a test roll, and now I just need to get it developed to make sure that everything really is ok with my camera now.</p>

<p>Hey, good news, Al! Happy New Year and best wishes that your AE-1P is ready to handle its photographic tasks for the coming year and far into the future!</p>

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<p>Thank you very much Michael, happy New Year to you as well!</p>