dominik_m

Tomspielman, Thank you very much This is what I have suspected, loose connection or corroded wire. I am not skilled enough to disassemble and assemble canon ef myself, ( latter especially) and since I have ordered shiny,new ( to me) Canon EF from Japan in the meantime, upon my return I will just ask camera repair engineer ( Dave from Milton Keynes, cannot praise him enough) to replace that very wire, rather than chasing intermittent problem... Once again thank you very much for your input. Dominik

Surprisingly it has sorted itself. I have not done anything to it, suddenly lightmeter needle came back to life. Magic

Hiya, I have had it for nearly a year. It was repaired, since long shutter speeds were not working and everything was fine until today :( Sod's law I suppose. I can use it with handheld meter for now and once I am back I will send it for examination. I just thought that I have forgotten about something ( I have, a back up camera) ...

Hello. I have taken canon ef with me for holidays, unfortunately when ready to used I have discovered that lightmeter doesn't work :( Long shutter speeds works fine, battery check shows batteries are fine ( I have replaced them anyway), cat selector is on normal and camera swith is ON. Yet, lightmeter needle doesn't raise over 1.8, or 2.8 depending on the lens I'm using, unless I set ISO to 3200 and shutter speed to very long. Is there anything trivial I am missing?

Canon EF , 50 mm 1.4 , kodak ektar 100 Canon EF 50 mm/ 3.5 macro, kodak ektar 100 Canon AT-1 , 200/ f4, agfa vista 200 Canon EF , 24mm/2.8 kodak ektar 100

Hello tomroberts, Sorry to hear about your misfortune. It is very common problem with EFs, just look up canon ef on this forum. I suspect ( but don't quote me on it!) it is caused by improper battery loading. As you know camera technician are not very keen on repairing this fault. Here is solution which has worked for me : Get working ( and make sure you specifically ask seller if long times are working) from eBay and ask your camera repair specialist to swap failed part. It should not be very complicated. To cheer you up, your camera lightmeter should be working fine.

Canon ftb, portra 160, canon fd 35-105 with hood. I have learned hard way that this lens does need hood. And that is one pricey hood

Hello again, Thank you to all of you for your input. Since last post I have shoot several photos with flashbulb, none has exploded. There is no PC connection on T90, hence flashbulb use is limited to F1, Ftb and AE-1 Program. None has been fried, so canon electronics can support 15V ( plus capacitor) on PC socket. Photo below ( or above, I am not sure how this will be posted) was taken with ftb on B shutter speed with 35-105 canon fd lense ( hence the glare, sorry about that) and shows F1(n) with flash unit j-3 firing a flashbulb.

What a beautiful camera, Canon EF it is. I was hunting for a while for working one in presentable condition, finally I have given up. Then I looked at my shelf with FD cameras, something was missing, so I have bought one god looking body for 30£. Not to my surprise long shutter times were not working, it is very common issue with this model. It was bothering me a little, I have sent it for repair, not to avail unfortunately, looks like 40 years old electronics in the camera are irreparable. Then I bought another one, I have specifically asked seller in Japan if long shutter times work. They, so bought this one as well, few weeks later it has arrived. Indeed , electronic shutter times work as promised, but body itself looks like it was dropped from fifth story building underneath upcoming lorry, all dented and rattly. I have spoken with my camera repair serviceman ( Dave of Milton Keynes, cannot praise him enough) and he agreed to combine both bodies into one decent looking, completely working Canon EF body. I cannot wait...

Hello Keith, Thanks, my little one was chasing sheep and moment after photo was taken run to daddy for help. This lamb has not given her way... As for AE-1 Program : it was first roll I shot with it and I was pleasantly surprised how well program setting works. Next time I will fit canon fd 35-70mm/4 AF lens and I will have fully automatic 1981's set up!

And last one this month: Canon 35-105mm/3.5 fitted onto AE-1 Program using Ektar 100 film ( because of little one camera was set to PROGRAM, and I'm pleased with result)

Canon 50mm/1.4 fitted onto F1(n) using Ektar 100 film

Canon 35mm/3.5 fitted onto F1(n) using Ektar 100 film

Hello again. So it has arrived... Loaded battery, installed light bulb, mounted unit onto AT-1 and I got scared. It says to use flash shield on top of bulbs box, j3 flash unit doesn't have one, so rather than firing it into someone's face I made great photo of inside of my bathtub, just in case bulb would explode. It has not fortunately, just bulged and distorted. Flash unit itself is nice and very compact, I think it is smaller than 133d 39 flasbulbs to go...

Hello Jim and thanks for your reply. Canon j3 flash unit has a cold shoe and a pc connection. However it is powered by 15 v battery and I am not sure if any of those 15v will not be transferred to my camera. It cannot be good for camera, can it? Except for T-90, which I remembered doesn't have a Pc socket. And flash unit along with 40 bulbs has costed me less than a pack of smokes. Or 4 pints. Even if I can not get hold of bulbs ever again. I have seen them in old movies only.

Good evening. Just quickly before I do damage to my cameras... I have bought canon j3 flash unit along with flash bulbs. It should arrive tomorrow and I have received battery for it already. I want to try it as soon as it arrives, however after some research I have discovered that it is designed for canonet camera which I don't have yet. I do have ftb, F1(n), AT-1, AE-1 Program and T-90 all working and in excellent condition. Is there any risk of damaging camera by using flash bulbs? I understand that sync time is 1/30 s or lower, is that correct? How do I dispose of spent bulb, can I just dump it into household rubbish? Thank you