nathan_bruning Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 <p>Hey guys, sorry to bug you with more silly camera issues but I've been researching for about an hour and still can't find a solution or even the same issue. Maybe I'm just using the wrong terms but here it is. I have a Canon AE-1 with a Canon 50mm 1.8 FD lens that I purchased at a garage sale. Whenever I fire the shutter, it remains open for about 3 seconds every time no matter what speed I set it to. I have verified that both the shutter curtain and mirror remain open the whole time. The strange thing is that when i switch to Bulb, it works normal. I can hold the shutter open or release it immediately. Any thoughts? Thanks.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_wheatland Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 <p>does the mirror snap up and down without a squealing noise or does the mirror move very sluggishly?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan_bruning Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 <p>The mirror is definitely sluggish. It sounds almost like the sound you would expect a robot to make. I've read other articles about the mirror being slow but not ones where the shutter also stayed open. But like I said earlier, the bulb setting fires and resets quickly but still makes the robotic sound.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_janes Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Slowest AE-1 shutter speed is listed as 2 seconds: is this what you're getting, or something actually longer than that? And be absolutely sure you're using not only a new battery but a fresh one...that's speaking from experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan_bruning Posted March 16, 2014 Author Share Posted March 16, 2014 <p>Brand new battery. Its definitely longer than 2 seconds and it varies slightly.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4136860 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 <p>The lesson is don't buy cameras that are at least 27 years old at garage sales and expect them to work perfectly without being prepared to spend more money than they are worth having them serviced, I'm sorry Nathan if this seems harsh but that's what it boils down to. If I buy a used camera that I want to use seriously I always factor into the potential price the price of a service, and if this is too much I don't buy it</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan_bruning Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 <p>Not harsh and I expected as much when i bought it. I was just seeing here if anyone knew a simple fix. That's all. I have a few other cameras that I've had good luck with but its probably not worth putting any money into. I can buy a working one for fairly inexpensive.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikos_k Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 <p>Seems like the infamous Shutter Squeal of the A series cameras. Try this first:<br> http://jetbutterfly.web.fc2.com/camera/e_squeak.html</p> <p>When things get really bad the shutter goes slow and in some cases jammed open.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_anastasopoulos Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 <p>Dear Nathan, I just joined the Photo.net Web site, and am now on the forum! I was going to answer somebody else's question, because I have a Canon FTb QL SLR film camera; although it has a battery, <em>it can work without one.</em> However, let me get to your topic. First I bought the Canon AE-1, which is also an FD mount as you know, from eBay; a very good SLR film camera. At first it did not appear to work, except the first exposure. I'm talking about after 0 and 1, by the way, and I wrote to the seller who revealed to me that it won't function without a battery. After I bought a new battery the camera worked very well. I see, I've now read the rest of your replies. Sorry to offend your knowledge or at least your familiarity. All I can say is that it is best to check it out for repair. I'll get to you later if I find out something else that can solve the dysfunction of your Canon AE-1 SLR.</p> <p>Sincerely,<br /> George</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lazzari Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 <p>First and simplest would be to clean the 2nd curtain magnet.<br /> The <em><strong>Nikos K.</strong></em> link actually shows the magnet at the "How to lubricate" section. (Nearest to the red dot)</p> <p>Clean armature and coil contact surfaces with clean paper that has a drop of Naphtha solvent applied. Also, just in case put a drop of solvent on the armature pivot. (The action must be fluid & therefore free of contamination)</p> <p>If that didn't work, then the top-plate must be removed and the speed dial contacts are next for solvent cleaning.<br /> (It's been written about before, because of spring pressure and a certain tungsten wire, top removal is hazardous)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4136860 Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 <p>The Canon A series cameras have proved over the years to be reliable, but you must appreciate that the design philosophy of the engineers who designed the A series that are consumer grade cameras was never in the age of planned obsolescence for them to last for 30 years.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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