AE-1 Program not exposing film

<p>Hey guys, new to this and my last post apparently didn't post so here I go again :D<br />I have only recently dusted off my dad's old Canon AE-1 Program cause I wanted to try and start using film a bit more than my digital workhorse (6D). I went through the first roll of film, but it wouldn't rewind (apparently it snapped of the end where it's taped to the canister). It was rolled back into the canister in the darkroom, so shouldn't be a light issue, but the pictures came out not having been exposed. Now I changed the battery and tried if it was maybe a shutter or curtain problem but both go up and down no problem and I can look through the lens entirely. <br>

Do you guys have any suggestions? The film had an expiration date from 2001 so maybe that's the problem? <br />Any help is appreciated as I bought some rolls of new film and I don't want to waste 8$ rolls on a camera that's not working.<br>

Thanks :)</p>

<p>I'd try the most important functions (shutter, diaphragm/aperture, mirror) in a systematic way. See if each of them works in the expected way, try several shutter speeds (long and short) and apertures (wide open and closed). If all goes well test it with film in it.</p>

<p>Yep think I found at least one problem. The shutter and mirror work like a charm but the aperture on the fixed 50 doesn't. I tried changing the aperture in bulb mode with the mirror locked up so I could look through it and it didn't close. On my 35-70 the aperture ring worked and the diaphragm closed and opened.<br>

Could that actually be the problem that it's just the fixed 50mm that's causing the pictures to not be exposed at all?</p>

<p>Check whether the lens is mounted the right way; the diaphragm should be open until the picture is taken or until you press the diaphragm button. If in bulb mode it behaves diffently from other lenses the lens may be at fault.</p>

<p>Yep checked it already, I do thankfully have a 35-70mm and as opposed to that the fixed 50mm doesn't close the blades at all, as long as I take it off the camera. On the 35-70mm the blades perform normally, so the close and open in bulb mode when I twist the aperture ring and they open and close, when I take the picture.</p>

FD lenses often do not behave as you'd expect for stopping down manually. Have you tried the

stop down tab on the camera instead of bulb?

<p>It seems you have checked everything that should need checking. Perhaps the problem with the film breaking led to its being inadvertently exposed to light? The aperture being stuck on the lens should result in exposure errors, rather than a completely blank film. I would try another film through it using the zoom lens which appears to be working correctly. Chances are it will be OK.</p>

<p>It's always a good idea after engaging the film in the take up spool and closing the back, to turn the rewind handle backwards until you encounter resistance, proving the film is engaged correctly. Then when you wind on you will see the rewind knob turning at the same time.</p>

<p>I've had a few Canon 50mm lenses, both F1.8 and f1.4, with stuck apertures. Oil gets on the blades somehow. It's actually not too difficult to fix.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Probably time to buy some fresh rolls. If the exp. was 2001, then the film is probably 17 or 18 years old. </p>