danac

One year ago last January master technician Ken Oikawa thoroughly went over the camera. I trust his workmanship as I have for three other Canon bodies. I'm sure the fault is mine not the camera.

Canon FTbn QL with 50mm f/1.8 FD lens, Hoya UV filter, Lens cap, New viewfinder eye cup, Extra 625A batteries, New carrying strap. One year ago in January, master Canon technician Ken Oikawa replaced the mirror cushion and light seals, cleaned, lubed and adjusted shutter speeds, meter and mirror box. The all-manual match needle meter covers a center-weighted 12% rectangle in the viewfinder (same as the Canon F1). Shutter speed is displayed in the viewfinder. Canon FD Lens is flawless. Price is $260. Shipping to the continental USA $18.

My last roll with the FTb was a disaster. Folks, despite all of your help and encouragement and all of the intense studying about partial metering over the last several months, I have come to the conclusion that the 12% meter mode is definitely not for me. The images on this last roll (and four others) ranged from lousy to horrible with one or two exceptions. The magnitude of these failures was a new and unpleasant experience for me after decades of photography. So it's back to averaging meters.

Of course, If I'm standing on the edge of Bryce Canyon, the needles of the Black Hills or in the Mariposa grove of giant Sequoias, I won't be holding anything but the A-1, FTb or my Mamiya 645E. Whatever I acquire all will be used regularly. There will be no shelf queens. barryreid: If I can get comfortable with the FTb the F1 might be a consideration.

I have a confession to make. Before I received the first response to this thread (and this is after all, an AV-1 thread), I discovered a new-in-box AV-1 body on Ebay. That camera is now in Ken Oikawa's workshop in order to correct for any age related problems. It sat unwrapped in the box for forty years give or take. I simply couldn't resist. It's smaller and lighter than the other A series Canon bodies, is aperture priority which I am long used to and you can facilitate exposure compensation with the ASA dial. Just holding that camera in my hands was a delight. Before I'm through, there may yet be an AT-1 and an EF in my modest collection. I will most likely keep the FTbn now. BTW, I need to expose six more frames of the present roll in the FTb. The results should be instructive.

I sure hope you are wrong about that. I love my A-1 and AE-1. :eek: I just dug out my gray card - forgot I had it. It was only used once at a vintage British car show with good results.

Results of the practice roll in the FTb were interesting. I now have examples of how shadows can acquire more detail (higher Zones) by giving more exposure. I have long known about this phenomenon but had never attempted it in practice. That is because all of my previous film cameras had center-weighted averaging meters. In the new roll, one f stop was usually enough to give better results by comparison with the control image (where no meter or composition adjustments were made). Metering on my hand produced excellent results. I had serious doubts about that technique but you can't argue with success. Taking a reading from the small meter rectangle at areas where I wanted the most detail produced nice images. No surprise there. Now I will expose another roll or two with the FTb as I would normally spend a day of camera work (without the control image). My confidence in the FTb is still quite shaky. At this point I would still much prefer the A series meters for important landscapes. The FTb meter is just plain fussy, time consuming and confusing. I love the challenge but wonder if all the extra bother is really worth it. Maybe it's just too early to tell.

That was before I new about using colored filters sometime around 1980. Before 1977 I only used color film. A #15 or Orange is what I'd use now but Arches NP is way too crowded and we won't be going back.

Yep. This one was with a CP filter.

AA is my hero. I am a BIG fan. I took a roll of images with the FTBn today using many of the techniques suggested here and other places. Metering on the hand+1 was interesting. You'll get a report about the results after I develop the negatives. And yes, careful notes were taken. I enjoy the fact that the FTBn is all manual. It's a lot like using my much loved old Pentax Spotmatic that I purchased in Japan back in 1969.

I have #8 and #15 yellows, an orange and a #25 red for all of my different lens sizes and formats. The #29 red is a bit too much for me but it's tempting. I have several B+Ws. Good filters won't spoil the ship for a ha pence of tar. I seldom make a landscape image without clouds so filters are de rigueur.

That camera is a beautiful time machine - mint condition and Oikawa'd. I will study all that applies (that's where I was all day today) and work with it. My landscapes are very important to me. BTW I only use black and white film.

I will do a more in depth search on the Internet for tutorials using a 12% meter mode. Hopefully there will be one for landscapes. I hear what you all are saying but I need some more specific information on these techniques. I'm a fast learner.

Anyone here with experience using an AV-1 for landscapes? Nearly all of my images are landscapes. Last year I bought a mint condition FTBn. The 12% meter is best suited for subjects close up or with a small range of lighting conditions. That's exactly the wrong thing I needed but found out too late. I will sell it. Ken Oikawa did the CLA etc.. I have an A-1 which is fantastic for landscapes and does all that the AV-1 will do and much more. I'd still like to have a black AV-1 for it's simplicity. What's your experience?

That sounds about right. Further experimenting will be fun.

I can't find this information anywhere on the Internet. So far in the short time I've had this camera the overall exposures have been okay.

Cliff Palace Mesa Verde NP, Colorado. AE-1 FD 28mm f/2.8 on Kodacolor VR200

Mamiya 645E 80mm f/2.8

Narrows trailhead Zion National Park, Utah. A-1, 28mm f/2.8 FD and #8 filter on Tmax 400.

Alan: Here is the view from about half way down the canyon. I used a #8 yellow filter. The image you took was the one I really wanted but there was no way to park at the Great Arch trailhead in October. You captured the very essence of Zion. The shadows on the tunnel side and the cap on West Temple had just enough detail (Zone 1 I think). Zion isn't easy. Even AA seemed to have had a difficult time there. We can't wait to get back.

Did you use a colored filter for this image?

Thanks all. Time to experiment.

Allan: If you ever decide to visit Rocky Mountain NP you are welcome at our fire. It's only a forty minute drive from here.

Allen: That is a trail we have taken many times over the years but in October there was absolutely no place left to park near the trailhead - very disappointing. It was a big difference from the first time there back in 1980. I really wanted to make that image again but in medium format for the first time.

I have a set of these but have no clue as to what to do with them. Any helpful comments would be appreciated.