A1 Aperture/shutter dial

I have an A1 whose command dial doesn't always register changes - ie.

when moving from f16 to f11 on Av setting, the viewfinder still

displays f16; a similar effect when moving from f16 to f19 - the

viewfinder stays on f16. applying a light pressure to the dial,

without actually turning it, sometimes causes the correct value to be

displayed in the viewfinder (until the pressure is removed).

 

my T90 sometimes 'stuck' in this way, but i solved that with some

switch-cleaner after advice from this forum. my A1 however doesn't

really have anywhere to apply the cleaner to - there is no real gap

into which to spray it. does anyone have advice on how to sort this -

if it is indeed merely dirty contacts? the camera is under guarantee

(bought 2nd hand from a high st store) so i can take it back to get it

fixed, but if it's something i can do myself in 3 minutes that would

be preferable.

Sounds like a good CLA is in order? All thought I have never had this problem with my A1 (just the heretitary squeek); yours might just need to be ajusted and cleaned.

It is possible to get in there. I know because I got in there once on my A1 as part of a battery door replacement. (Probably not the best idea, but fortunately everything turned out ok.) On the front of the camera there is the little slide which you can use to "lock" the dial in place (does anybody actually use this?). In any event, if you slide it upward it reveals a small screw. Remove this and the slide assembly comes off. If I remember correctly, there is a small metal plate held on by two or three screws below this, which can be removed also. Be forwarned that somewhere in there (under the metal plate I think) is a very small ball bearing which serves as a detent for the slide. The screws are all very tiny as well and all of these are easy to lose or drop into the camera if you're not very careful. So don't blame me if anything goes wrong!

 

At this point I think you would have access to the innards of the dial - at least for an inspection if nothing more. That's all I remember because that's as far into it as I went.

 

Good luck!

 

Jeff

There is a downloadable repair/service manual free on the net if you look, it could actually be onChristian Rollingers home page.

Failing that, I could mail you a copy.