Canon A-1 User Manual

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Shutter Priority AE 1. Make sure the lens aperture ring is set to the “A” mark. 2. Switch the AE mode selec- tor to TV. 3. Select a shutter speed by

release. Pressing it halfway activates meter circuit, pressing it all the way sets shutter in operation. Can be locked by setting main switch to "

Frame Counter: Additive type. Counts back frames as film rewound. Automati- cally resets to "S" upon opening back cover. Does not advance du

For your own convenience you may want to use this form to fill in the serial numbers of your A-1 equipment for quick reference in the event of loss o

Winder and Motor Drive TerminalsEyepiece Shutter LeverEyepieceFilm AdvanceLeverFilm Rewind ButtonWinder and Motor DriveCoupler Cover Positioning Hole

Not For Resale –Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manualsFD 100mm f/2.8 with an orange filter, f/8, ASA 125Aperture priority AE

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Stopped-down AE 1. Disengage the lens aperture ring from the “A” mark (necessary only on FD lens). 2. Fold and push in the stop- down lever. 3. Set th

Neckstrap Thread the tips of the neckstrap through the corresponding rings on the camera so that the tips are on the inside. Then adjust the neckstrap

Semi-hard Case To protect the camera, particularly when carrying, it, insert it into its semi-hard case as indicated in the photo A. You can easily sh

Rear Dust Cap The rear dust cap must be removed before mounting the lens. Operation with an FD lens which lacks a chrome Breech-lock mount ring: The r

Reattachment 1. Make sure the mount ring is locked so that it cannot be turned. 2. Align the arrow on the cap with the red dot on the mount ring. 3. I

Mounting on the Camera and Dis- mounting Pre-Mounting Checklist 1. Make sure the camera's stop-down lever is not locked for stopped-down metering

In the case of an FD lens which has a chrome Breech-lock mount ring or of an FL lens: Mounting 1. Make sure the Breech-lock ring is locked so that it

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Loading the Battery This camera will not function unless a battery is loaded. Use one brand-new silver oxide or alkaline-manganese battery as speci- f

INTRODUCTION Congratulations! You are now the owner of the most exciting and advanced camera on the market. Canon has good reason to have unbounded c

Checking the Battery Life of the battery in normal use is approximately one year. Using the camera frequently at low shutter speeds, at the “B”setting

The battery check button also serves to cancel the self-timer or to cancel the shutter in long exposures. The circuit is cancelled the moment you pres

Film Advance and Shutter Release At the base of the film advance lever is the main switch of the camera. When it is at the “L” (LOCK) setting, all act

Attaching a Cable Release A cable release is a device which, used in conjunction with a tripod, allows the shutter to be held open for long exposures

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Holding the Camera The best precaution in preventing camera shake is to press the shutter button gently. Never punch it. It is also helpful to hold th

Film Loading The Canon A-1 accepts color or black and white film in standard 35mm cartridges. When loading and unloading film, avoid direct sunlight a

rewind crank clockwise to take up film slack, open the back cover and reload the film. The A-1 can also be loaded with bulk film in which case the tip

Setting the ASA Film Speed The ASA is a numerical rating of a film's sensitivity to light. The higher the ASA rating, the faster the film and the

The choice of film is an important part of photography, and you have a wide variety to choose from. Films differ in a number of ways including ASA rat

Focusing Index Mark with Depth-of-Field ScaleMount Positioning PointFocusing RingExposure Preview Switch “A” MarkAE Lock PinAperture RingBattery Chamb

Memo Holder The back cover of this camera is provided with a memo holder. Once you have loaded the film and set the ASA, it is very useful to tear off

through the lens. Each time you move from one f/stop to the next smaller f/stop (larger number), the amount of light allowed through is exactly halved

The length of time that the light is allowed to strike the film is determined by the shutter speed. The relationship between shutter speeds is like th

aperture and shutter speed in the pro- grammed AE mode. This mode is helpful when your only goal is correct exposure and neither depth of field nor co

Instead of an “A”mark, some earlier FD lenses have a small green circle on the aperture ring for AE photography. Its use is the same as that of the “A

AT Dial This dial works in conjunction with the AE selector. When the AE selector is set at TV, it shows the shutter speed scale. When the AE selector

Shutter Speed Scale on the AT Dial There is a choice of 16 click-stop settings ranging from 1/1000 (sec.) to 30 (sec.) on the AT dial's shutter s

Aperture Scale on the AT Dial The aperture scale on the AT dial is calibrat- ed in f/stops ranging from f/22 to f/1.2. The f/1.2 setting is indicated

Shutter priority AEFD 400mm f/4.5 S.S.C., 1/1000 sec., ASA 125Not For Resale – Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals

Shutter priority AEFD 50mm f/1.4, 1/30 sec., ASA 125 Not For Resale – Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals

TABLE OF CONTENTS Main Features ... 5 Pictorial Outline for General Use of the Camera ...

Shutter Priority vs. Aperture Priority Having now read how to control the camera for shutter priority and aperture priority AE photography, you might

This table does not necessarily apply when using a lens of a different focal length. If you are using a telephoto lens, for instance, any subject mov

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Selecting an Aperture A discussion of how to select an appropriate aperture boils down to an explanation of depth of field. When your subject is in fo

Programmed AE FD 28-50mm f/3.5, ASA 125Not For Resale – Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals

Programmed AE When the AE mode selector is set to TV and the AT dial turned to “P” on the shutter speed scale, the camera is set for program- med AE.

AE Range of Silicon Photocell at Various ASAs FD 50mm f/1.4 Lens Meter Coupling Range When using the FD 50mm f/1.4 lens and ASA 100 film, the built-i

Metering at Low Light Levels With AE coupling all the way down to EV -2 (with ASA 100 film), the A-1 is capable of metering and producing a natural re

Microprism RingSplit-Image Rangefinder Not For Resale – Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals

Viewfinder A less conspicuous, unusual feature of the A-1 is the fact that, unless you are taking a meter reading, the only thing you can see in the b

Quality from the Inside Out The extraordinary qualities of the A-1 start with its design. It is the first camera in the world in which all information

OPTIONAL VIEWING AIDS Dioptric Adjustment Lenses S The dioptric adjustment lens S is an acces- sory which slides into the grooves of the viewfinder ey

Magnifier S The Magnifier S inserts into the grooves of the viewfinder eyepiece with its adapter to give a 2.5X magnification of the center of the vie

Previewing the Exposure When you take a meter reading, the view- finder information will be displayed in a digital readout directly below the viewing

degree of LED illumination changes in four stages depending on the brightness of the subject seen in the viewfinder. When the subject is brighter, the

Numerals and Characters Composing Digital Readout in Viewfinder Up to the first four digits from the left in the digital readout show shutter speed da

is set for flash photography while “buLb” replaces the shutter speed data when the AT dial shutter speed scale is set to “B”. “M” is also displayed at

shutter speed. If your lens has a smaller minimum aperture, exposure will be correct. Outside the Meter Coupling Range When the light level is so low

3. In programmed AE mode Both the shutter speed LED and the aper- ture LED flash on and off simultaneously to warn you of overexposure as well as unde

Shutter Release Once you have focused, composed your picture and confirmed correct exposure, gently press the shutter button all the way down to set t

To rewind the film, press in the film rewind button on the bottom of the camera. Once you have pressed it, you can remove your finger. Unfold the film

AE functions is also possible. Shutter priority AE is especially useful in action photography, aperture priority AE in still photography. The program

Specialized Procedures Not For Resale – Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals

Stopped-down AE Photography There are basically two cases which require stopped-down AE photography (unless you wish to operate in manual override). I

data will be displayed in the viewfinder. Unless the shutter speed data is flashing on and off, simply press the shutter button for an accurately expo

Not For Resale –Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manualsStopped-down AE Photomicrography (butterfly wing), ASA 32 Stopped-down AE FD 50mm f/3.

Warnings of Incorrect Operation in Stopped-down Photography Two problems can arise if you use the camera incorrectly in the stopped-down mode. The fi

Manual Override You may have occasion to wish to cancel the A-1's AE capabilities to control exposure, both aperture and shutter speed, by your-

With an FD lens, if you set the AE selector to Av instead of TV while the lens is away from the “A ” mark, the digital readout will show the aperture

AE mode, it will not set the exposure until a split second before the shutter itself is ac- tually released. Once you have completed these preparation

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EXPOSURE COMPENSATION You can, of course, make exposure cor- rections by operating the camera manually, but the A-1 is also equipped with other device

Wide Metering Range With its extensive film sensitivity range (ASA 6-12800) and 16 shutter speeds (1/1000-30 sec.), the A-1 offers a wide AE metering

cate an exposure adjustment of only 1/3 f/stop, but your picture will be exposed in the 1/3 f/stop increment you set on the dial. Generally, exposure

may be better to use the exposure memory switch as explained on the next page or manual override. The exposure compensation dial can also be used to c

Exposure Memory Switch The A-1 also offers an exposure memory switch for correcting the exposure in the AE mode. Essentially, this switch assures corr

Changing the ASA Setting There is another way to correct exposure which can be used whether you are in the manual or the AE mode. That is to change th

Multiple Exposures Making two or more exposures on the same frame is an exciting technique which is very simple to perform with the A-1. After making

Multiple exposures are not possible when the Motor Drive MA or Power Winder A or A2 is mounted on the A-1 and in operation. They are possible even whe

Film Plane Indicator This mark is engraved on the top of the camera beside the film rewind knob, just to the left of the pentaprism, to indicate the e

make a focusing correction. Follow the detailed instructions of the film manu- facturer. The position of the infrared index mark has been computed for

field looking at the image through the viewfinder by pushing in the stop-down lever just as in stopped-down AE photography and setting the lens to the

Lens Signal Coupling There are several levers and pins at the rear of an FD lens which transmit signals be- tween the lens and the camera body. Usuall

Flashes to indicate overexposure Flashes to indicate underexposure In FocusOut of FocusPICTORIAL OUTLINE FOR GENERAL USE OF THE CAMERA 1111Load the ba

3. Full Aperture Signal Pin This pin transmits the maximum aperture of the lens to the exposure meter to set the meter coupling range automatically.

Automatic Diaphragm Control When the A-1 is directly coupled with an FD lens, diaphragm control is totally automatic. Exposure metering is performed a

All FD lenses with a chrome Breech-lock mount ring and FD Macro lenses are set for manual diaphragm control as follows: 1. Before mounting the lens,

Flash AE FD 24mm f/2.8 with Speedlite 199A, 1/4 sec, ASA 100 Not For Resale –Free Download at http://www.joe-chan.com/manuals

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THE A-1 AE Flash Photography (Full Auto- flash Photography) There are seven special automatic flash units, the Canon Speedlites

Of course, with the flash still on Auto you can set the aperture manually should you wish to use an FL lens. Even then, however, the camera will auto

to work improperly or even possibly damage the camera itself. Digital Readout in Flash Photography When you preview exposure in flash photo- graphy,

The digital readout will be the same as in AE flash control but will also include the “M” signal for manual aperture control. Though the set flash au

2) Automatic Shutter Setting Autoflash 3) Manual Flash The “B” setting is useful in flash photo- graphy for lightening the subject's back- groun

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4444Set the ASA film speed.5555Set the aperture ring of the lens to the “A” mark (for AE photography). 6666Select the AE mode. (Turn the AT dial). 999

MOTORIZED FILM WINDING There remains one last mechanical operation in the A-1 that could possibly distract your attention from your subject: you have

DATA BACK A Within seconds, the A-1's back cover can be exchanged for the Data Back A, which, again, becomes an integral part of the camera'

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ACCESSORIES 1. Angle Finder A2 and B 2. Eyecup 4S 3. Magnifier S 4. Camera Holder F3 5. Macrophoto Coupler FL 52 and FL 58 6. Lens Hood BS-52 7. Micr

27. Copy Stand 4 28. Auto Bellows 29. Macro Auto Ring 30. Bellows FL 31. Extension Tube M Set 32. Manual Diaphragm Adapter 33. Extension Tube FD 15-U,

1Speedlite 133A 2Speedlite 155A 3 Speedlite 177A 4Speedlite 188A 5Speedlite 199A 6 Speedlite 533G 7Speedlite 57 7G 8Data Back A 9Ni-Cd Charger

Proper Care of the Camera Your A-1 is a rugged, high-quality camera. It will work properly if operated and cared for properly. Never force anything. I

is necessary, do not attempt to do it yourself but take it to an authorized Canon service facility. The film compartment also requires occasional clea

Type: 35mm SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) camera with selective, electronically controlled AE (Automatic Exposure) and focal plane shutter. Format: 24 x 36m

AE Mechanism: Electronically controlled. Information input by means of AE mode selector and AT dial for full-aperture AE metering (FD lens at “A”) and