Canon AE1 Aperture Lever Puzzling Behavior

<p >I've got a Canon AE1 (not program) which exhibits some puzzling behavior. With a lens fitted, the aperture stops down correctly, for example with the speed set to one second, anf the aperture to F/16, it visibly stops down to what looks like the correct opening for the correct time. This was the same for a number of different lenses, both breech lock and bayonet fitting.</p>

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<p >Now with the lens off, the aperture lever at the bottom of the lens throat doesn't move. Rather it just tries to flick across momentarily, but not enough to stop a lens down for the required period. But as I poked around as you do, I realised that if I put my finger against the area to the left of the aperture lever, as marked with a red arrow, the lever moves across correctly and strongly.</p>

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<p >Here's the really odd thing, though. I found that I didn't have to be actually pushing against the plate, <em>or even touching it</em>, to get it to work. By just hovering my finger, or even the plastic end of a pen, <em>around one millimeter above the plate</em> at the position indicated by the arrow, the aperture lever moves across correctly. Otherwise it stayed put as I operated the shutter.</p>

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<p >I'm puzzled as to how and why this is happening – how does the camera “know” that there is, for example, a plastic pen 1mm away? I'm sure I'm not mistaken, I've tried it many times.</p><div></div>

<p>If your camera is working properly with a lens attached, and your photos are turning out well, why worry about it.</p>

<p>The elves that live and work inside the camera (that's what the "E" stands for) are just having fun with you.</p>

<p>I'm not worried, Charles, just puzzled. I was ready to scrap it, thinking it was US until I noticed it was working correctly with a lens fitted.</p>

<p>David, I'm afraid the elf theory is a non starter because all the local elves went to work for Santa Claus on zero hour contracts at the North Pole. Likewise the fairies are firmly ensconced at the bottom of my garden. Now, if the camera had been a Gnome Pixie, instead of an AE1, I might have been persuaded.</p>

<p>Your blocking the light entering the lens opening when you stick your finger or something in there. this then causes the camera to stop down the lens. With no lens there is to much light reaching the meter and its only stopping down to the max opening of a lens.</p>

<p>Mark, the camera is in manual mode. And it doesn't have to be my finger or a pen. Even a thin watchmakers screwdriver, which hardly blocks any light at all, has the same effect, which is very marked. Move the point nearer and the lever operates. Move it further away and it doesn't. I'ts almost as if there is some kind of capacitative coupling going on. </p>

<p>May the Force be with you</p>

<p>I have always suspected there were unseen weird forces affecting my photography. This explains all the failures I have had.</p>

<p>John ... ha! You crack me up. Thanks!</p>

 

<p>I don't want to worry anyone unnecessarily, but my next project is a Rollei Magic.</p>

<p>Your camera is cursed. Best to bury it in the back yard. I think you may also need a frog to complete the spell, depending on the camera's serial number (not a toad, those are for Nikons and FSU cameras, and for the Nikons you will have to turn the toad the other way 'round), but my memory as to why you need one is a little fuzzy.</p>

<p>The Rollei Magic can only be CLA'd on a full moon, so best to keep that in mind. Not sure what happens if you don't follow this advice, but it is probably not good. A Fed or Zorki may show up on your door step wrapped in red foil w/ little chicken bones scattered here and there. If that happens you will have to move, as no power on earth can get one of those to work properly (or even improperly).</p>