Canon AE-1 User Manual

English Edition

INSTRUCTIONS

PICTORIAL OUTLINE FOR USING THE CAMERA

A Settheapertureringofthelensto	')	Load the battery.
I the "A" mark.		Z

Set the ASA film speed.	Look into the viewfinder.
Select a shutter speed.	Compose the picture and focus.

Out of Focus

In Focus

Distance Scale (in feet and meters) Focusing Ring

Aperture Ring

Distance Index

Bayonet Ring

Exposure Preview Switch

Stopped-Down Lever

Backlight

Control Switch

	Film Rewind Crank	Synchronization ’
		Contact Automatic
	Film Plane Indicator
		Flash Contacts
	Battery Check Button

Depth-of-Field Scale

A" Mark

Battery Chamber Cover

Finger Grip

Film Speed Set Ring

ASA Film Speed

Scale

Shutter Speed Dial

Film Advance Lever

Shutter Release Button

Electronic Self-Timer Lever

(Shutter Release Lock)

Accessory Shoe

While reading the instruction booklet, unfold this flap and the flap on the back cover to facilitate your uhderstanding of the instructions.

Load the film.

Advance film; Check exposure. Press the shutter button.

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Photography with the Canon Speedlite 155 A

1.Load the batteries.

2.Set the ASA film speed.

3.Mount the Speedlite 155A on the AE-1

4.Turn the main switch on.

5.Set the AUTO/MANU. switch.

6.Focus and press the shutter button.

Photography with the Canon Power Winder A

1. Remove the Battery Pack A.

2. Load the batteries into the Battery Pack A.

3.Attach the Battery Pack A to the Power Winder A.

4.Take off the winder coupler cover.

5.Attach the Power Winder A to the AE-1.

6.Turn the main switch on.

7.Focus and press the shutter button.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIFICATIONS.......................................	8-11
PRELIMINARY PREPARATION	. . . . 12
Mounting the Lens and Setting the
Aperture Ring to the "A" Mark ........................	13
Loading the Battery and
Battery Check ...........................................	14-16
Loading the Film and Setting
the ASA .....................................................	17-20
OPERATION FOR
GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHY..........................	23
Selecting the Shutter Speed ..........................	25
Focusing and Dioptric
Adjustment Lenses ...................................	27-28
Holding the Camera ......................................	31
Rewinding the Film.........................................	33
Double-Check Before Shooting .....................	34
DETAILED OPERATION OF
THE AE-1 .......................................................	35
Viewfinder Information and
Meter Sensitivity Pattern ................................	37
AE Coupling Range and
Overexposure Warning Mark .........................	38
Underexposure and
Coupling Range Warning LED Lamp ...	39

Stopped-Down Metering Index Mark
and Manual Aperture Control
"M" Signal .......................................................	40
Effects of Changing the Shutter
Speed and the Aperture ............................	41-42
Depth-of-Field ...........................................	43-44
Using the Self-Timer.......................................	45
Shooting Against the Light and
Long Exposures ........................................	47-48
Stopped-Down Metering ................................	49
Lock for Manual Aperture Control . .	50-51
Lenses ......................................................	53-56
ACCESSORIES, CARE OF THE CAMERA,
MAINTENANCE, AND MISCELLANEA 57
Canon Speedlite 155A	59
Flash Photography with the AE-1 ..................	60
Canon Power Winder A..................................	61
Canon Data Back A
and Bellows FL ...............................................	63
Other Accessories ....................................	64-65
Characteristics...........................................	66-69
Care and Storage of the Camera .	. . . 71-72
Using the Camera in
Very Cold Conditions.....................................	73

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: 35mm SLR (Single-Lens-Reflex) camera with electronically controlled AE (Automatic Exposure) and focal plane shutter.

Picture Sjze: 24 x 36mm

Interchangeable Lenses: Canon FD series with full aperture metering and AE coupling. Canon FL series with stopped-down

metering.

Standard Lenses: Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C.

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C.

Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.

Lens Mount: Canon Breech-Lock mount. Canon FD, FL and R lenses can be used.

Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism.

Field of View: 93.5% vertical and 96% horizontal coverage of the actual picture area.

Magnification: 1:0.86 at infinity with a standard 50mm lens.

Viewfinder Information: Split-image/mjcro- prism rangefinder, aperture scale with meter needle and stopped-down metering

index mark which also serves as battery charge level check mark. Besides, there are two red zones at the top of the aperture scale to warn of overexposure.

Below the aperture scale, a red warning LED lamp blinks to indicate under­ exposure.This lamp also indicates that the selected shutter speed is outside the AE coupling range with respect to the ASA of the film being used.

Above the aperture scale, a manual aperture control "M" signal (red LED)

blinks as a warning	that the aperture
ring is not set at the "A" mark for AE
photography.
Viewfinder Attachments:	Angle Finder A2
and B, Magnifier S, Dioptric Adjustment
Lens (10 kinds), and Eyecup S.

Mirror: Instant-return, large reflector	mirror
with shock absorbing mechanism.
AE Mechanism: Shutter priority,	electro­

nically controlled AE metering system incorporating two ICs and one LSI equi­ pped with L (Integrated Injection Logic)

Light Metering System: TTL (Through- The-Lens) Central Emphasis Metering

method employing a Silicon Photocell as photosensitive element.

Exposure Meter Coupling Range: With ASA 100 film, EV1 (f/1.4 at one second) to EV18 (f/16at 1/1000 second).

Film Speed Range: ASA 25 to ASA 3200. Exposure Correction: By pressing the back­

light control switch, exposure is corrcted by the automatic opening of the dia­ phragm 1.5 stops more on the aperture scale than the actual setting.

Exposure Preview: The meter needle will indicate in the viewfinder when the shutter release button is depressed half­ way or the exposure preview switch is depressed.

Shutter: Cloth focal plane shutter with four

spindles. Shock			and	noise damping
mechanisms		are incorporated. All shutter
speeds are electronically controlled.
Shutter Speeds: 1/1000,				1/500,		1/250,
1/125,	1/60,	1/30,	1/15,	1/8,	1/4,	1/2,	1,

2 (seconds) and B. X synchronization is at 1/60 seconds.

Shutter Speed Dial: The shutter speed dial is on the same axis as the film advance

lever. The number 2 for two seconds is marked in orange; other numbers as well as X synchronization are in white.

There is a shutter dial guard to prevent

unintentional	movement of	the dial.
The ASA	dial is located	underneath
the shutter speed dial.

Shutter Release Button; It is a large, button type magnetic release switch. Depressing

the shutter		release	button	halfway
switches	on	the light	metering	circuit,
while full depression releases the shutter.
The shutter release button has a locking
device, besides a socket for the cable
release in the center.
Self-Timer;	Electronically		controlled	self-

timer. After the self-timer lever is pushed forward, the self-timer is activated by the shutter release button. The self-timer releases the shutter after a time lag of 10 seconds. A self-timer lamp (red LED) blinks on and off to indicate when the self-timer is in operation.

Stopping-Down the Lens: Stopping-down the lens can be performed by pushing the stopped-down lever after setting the

aperture ring.

Power Source: One 6V silver oxide battery Eveready No.544, UCAR No.544 JIS 4G13, or Mallory PX28) or alkaline man­ ganese battery (Eveready No.537, UCAR No.537, or Mallory 7K13). The battery lasts approximately one year under normal use.

Battery Check: Battery power level can be checked by the meter needle in the

viewfinder when	the battery check
button is pressed.
Flash Synchronization:	X synchronization is

at 1/60 second.

M synchronization is at 1/30 second and below.

Flash Terminal: The accessory shoe has a direct flash contact and automatic flash control contacts. On the front of the camera body is the flash terminal, JIS-B type for flash units with a cord. It has a built-in protective rim to prevent elec­ trical shock.

Automatic Flash: With the exclusive Canon Speedlite 155A, the shutter speed and aperture are automatically set. The

amount of light is automatically con­ trolled for correct flash exposure.

Back Cover: The camera's back cover has a memo holder for your convenience. The cover can be removed for attaching the Canon Data Back A. To open, pull the rewind crank up.

Film Loading: Easy film loading with multi­ slot take-up spool.

Film Advance Lever: Single stroke with 120° throw and 30° stand-off. The film can be wound with several short strokes. The Canon Power Winder A also can be

mounted		for automatic		winding	of	the
film.
Frame	Counter:		Additive	type.	Auto­
matically resets when the back cover is
opened. While rewinding film, it counts
back the frame numbers.
Film	Rewinding:		Performed	by	pressing
the rewind button on the bottom and by
using the rewind crank on the top. The
rewind		button	is automatically			reset

when the film is advanced with the film advance lever.

Safety Devices:

•The shutter does not drain battery power when not released.

•The film cannot be wound while the shutter is in operation.

Size: 141 x 87 x 47.5mm (5-9/16" x 3-7/16" X 1-7/8") body only.

Weight:	590g (20-13/16 ozs.) body only.
790g	(27-7/8	ozs.)	with	the	50mm
f/1.8 S.C. lens.
895g	(31-9/16	ozs.)	with	the	50mm

f/1.4S.S.C. lens.

Subject to change without notice.

12

PRELIMINARY PREPARATION

Attaching the Neckstrap

Attach the Canon AE-1's neckstrap by threading it through the rings and adjusting it to the desired length as indicated in the photos. A case for a spare battery can be attached to the neckstrap.

Handling the Lens Cap

The lens cap can be removed from the front of the lens after pressing in the tabs on both sides of the cap. The rear dust cover can be removed by turning the bayonet ring in the direction of the arrow. To attach the dust cover, align its slot with the positioning pin below the red dot of the bayonet ring, and press it in. When the dust cover is removed, the bayonet ring is locked.

For an explanation of how the lens mechanisms function, see page 52.

'i Mounting the Lens

I Remove the body cap and mount the lens onto the camera. The lens is mounted by aligning the red dot of the body with the red dot of the bayonet ring, and then turning the bayonet ring clockwise, pressing gently until it locks into position. Reverse the procedure to dismount the lens.

2	Setting the Aperture Ring to the
	"A" Mark

The AE-1 delivers perfect AE photo­ graphy when the aperture ring is set for automatic exposure. The "A" mark on the aperture ring should be set to the EE position. Hold in the EE lock pin while turning the aperture ring to the "A" mark. This can be done either before or after the lens is mounted on the camera.

13

14

3 Loading the Battery

This camera will not function without battery power. A 6V silver oxide battery is loaded into the battery chamber after opening the battery chamber cover. It can be opened more easily by using the viewfinder cover that is inserted into the accessory shoe.

Be careful to load the battery correctly

with the "+" side		up as	indicated in	the
diagram.	Load the	battery	by inserting	first
the	contact in the battery chamber.

The battery can be unloaded in a similar way by pulling it out from the top. The battery can be loaded and unloaded more easily when the lens is dismounted. The battery should last for approximately one year under normal use. Refer to page 73 about the details of the battery when the camera is used in extremely cold conditions.

4 Checking the Battery

Since the AE-1 is an electronically con­ trolled camera, the shutter will not function without sufficient battery power.

The battery requires checking in the following circumstances:

1.When a new battery is loaded.

2.When the shutter does not function.

3.When long exposures are frequently

performed.

4.When the camera Is used very frequently.

5.When the camera is used after it has been stored for a long period.

6.When the camera is used in extremely cold conditions.

Usable Batteries

S il v e r O x id e	E v e re a d y	(U C A R )N o . 5 4 4
B a tte ry (6 V )	J IS 4 G 1 3 , M a llo ry P X 2 8
A lk a lin e M a n g a n e s e	E v e re a d y	(U C A R ) N o .5 3 7
B a tte ry (6 V )	M a llo ry 7 K 1 3

Alkaline Manganese

Silver Oxide Battery

Battery

15

How to Check the Battery

The charge level of the battery is checked by pressing the battery check button on the top of the camera Carefully watch the meter needle in the viewfinder.

Press the battery check button and if the meter needle in the viewfinder rests below the index, power level is sufficient. If the meter needle rests above the index, the power level is insufficient. If this is the case, replace the battery with a new one of the prescribed type. When a new battery with full voltage is used, the meter needle in the viewfinder indicates close to the 2.8 f/stop.

When the battery power wanes, it takes more time for the meter neelde to stop fluttering.

Because of the special circuit, the meter needle's swing depends on the state of the battery. The meter needle will rise as the battery power wanes until it reaches the f/5.6 position where there is no longer any more power. Press the battery check button until the meter needle rests still.

When the battery is just about to fail, the meter needle in the viewfinder rests close to the index.

5 Loading the Film

The Canon AE-1 uses color or black and white film in standard 35mm cartridges.

Opening the Back Cover

To load a cartridge of film into the camera, first open the camera's back cover. Pull up the rewind crank and the back cover will pop open. The back cover can be securely closed simply by pressing it until it locks.

The Canon Data Back A, an accessory for imprinting data such as the day, month and year, can be attached to the AE-1 in place of the back cover. (See page 63.)

How to Load the Film

Avoid direct sunlight when loading or unloading the film.

Put the cartridge into the film cartridge chamber and press down while rotating the rewind knob until it drops securely into position. The protruding part of the cartridge should be on the bottom. Pull the film leader across and insert the end into one slot of the multi-slot take-up spool. Turn the film ad­ vance lever and wind the film around the take-