Canon A-1 Assembly instructions

Canon A-l Repair Guide

1. Introduction
In April, 1976, Canon introduced a landmark camera, the
Canon AE-l. It incorporated a very reliable computerized
AE mechanism into a compact body that can be marketed at a
very competitive price due to revolutionary production
techniques. The AE-l has been a huge success and completely
changed the face of photo hardware marketing.
With the AE-l firmly established as the best selling SLR in
the World, design work progressed on a more versitile ver-
sion. This work is now complete and the result is the CANON
A-l, the Apex of the AE camera world: the highest quality,
most durable, most feature laden automatic exposure SLR in
the world.
The major goals which guided the design of the A-l were:
- Incorporation of advanced digital technology
- Compact, easy-to-handle body
- Compatability with AE-l system components
- Interchangeability of parts with AE-l
- Improved durability
2. Features
2.1 Five difference automatic exposure modes
o
Full Aperture TTL Metering
Shutter speed priority AE
Aperture priority AE
Programmed AE
Electronic flash AE
o TTL Stopped-Down Metering
Stopped-down AE at (regardless of the types of lens
attached or whether a lens is attached at all).
2.2 The employment of total digital system to process with
speed and accuracy all incoming information
After converting the brightness information from analog
form into digital form, digital computation takes care of
information input, calculation, information storage,
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information display and exposure control.
2.3 Full Information Character Display Viewfinder
All information is displayed alphametricly is the dark area
below the focusing screen by segmented LED's similar to
those used in digital calculators. Information includes
exposure information, mode information, and various warn~
ings. Although it is probably the least intrusive full
information viewfinder ever built, it can be turned off to
completely eli m inate any distract io n to focusing and com-
position. Even when it is turned off, the camera continues
to function normally in whichever mode it is in. Details
are given later.
2.4 Expanded Range and Versitility
Expanded metering, film speed and shutter speed and ex-
posure compensation ranges, EV memory · and multiple exposure
increase the A-l's versitility.
2.5 Essential Controls and Displays Grouped for Easy Reach and
Rapid Operations
(1) AE mode
· (2) AT dial
(3) Shutter button lock self-timer lever
(4) Viewfinder information displ ay switch
(5) Multiple exposure lever
2.6 Automatic System Components
Motor Drive MA, Power Winder A, Data Back A, Speedlites
155A, and 199A.
2.7 Human Engineering, Miscellaneous
2
o Safety Features: Lock Mechanis m s, Flashing Warnings,
Energy Conser v ing Design
o Easy Operation: Action Grip, H uman Engineering
Design, Electro-magnetic release
o Interchangeable Viewfinder Screens

o Easy to ~ead viewfinder
o True-load b attery checker giv es visual indication
of remaining battery power
o Eyepiece Shutter to block extraneous light
o Two delay self timer
3. Specifications
3.1 Type:
35mm focal plane shutter single lens reflex with five
automatic exposures modes:
3. 2 Picture Size:
24 x 36 rom
3.3 Interchangeable Lenses:
3.4
Whole FD series for five methods in automatic exposures;
with FL series, automatic exposures with stopped-down
metering at working apertures.
Viewfinder
(1)
(2 )
(3 )
(4 )
(5 )
Type:
Field-of-view:
Magnification:
Viewfinder Power:
Focusing Screens:
Fixed eye-level pentaprism
93.4% vertical and 95.3%
horizontal
0.S3X at infinity with 50 rom lens
-1.0 dpt (same as the AE-l)
Standard screen is center split-image (2.5 rom di-
ameter with So prism angle) rangefinder surrounded by
microprism (with So prism) and ground glass/fresnel
field for the remaining portion. , The six focusing
screens for replacement are split-image, mlcroprism,
microp j."i sm for small aperture lenses, all matte,
double cross hair reticule a nd matte/scale.
(6) Viewfinder Information
Seven segment LED's provide six variable digits plus
an "Mil and a decimal paint. Information includes
Shutter Speed, Aperture, Flash ready information,
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Manual indicat i on and flashing signals, in digital
form. The display can be turned off when not needed
without affecting the camera operation.
(7) Mirror Cut-off:
No mirror cut-off with telephoto lens as long as FD
400 mm lens.
(This is the same with AE-l.)
(8) Eyepiece Shutter:
Built-in
(9) Accessories.
Angle Finder, Magnifier, Eyecup, and eyesight correc-
tion lenses.
(The same as for the AE-l.)
3.5 AE Function
4
(1) Method
Electronicly controled automatic exposure by setting
the FD lens at the 'A' mark, and selecting the AE
mode with the AT dial to relay the input of exposure
control information.
(Three LSI with 12L, one linear LSI,and one Bi-Hos IC,
the latter for metering the light, are used.)
(2) Automatic exposure modes
AE Hode Meter in g
Shutter speed
Full aperture
priority
Aperture
stop
Full aperture
pr i ority
Prograaaed
Full aperture
AE flash
Full aperture
Stopped-down Stopped-down
.
Aperture R in g
AE Hode
AI Dial
Selector
Setting of Leos
Switch
Reading
'A' mark.
Tv
Shutter speed
'A'
.... rk
Av Aperture stop
' A'
mark
Tv
P
' A' mark
*Either
Tv
or Av
Any apert u re
Either
Tv or Av
except 'A'
*: For a shutter speed of 1/60
or slower with the 199A,
set the switch to Tv.

(3) Light Sensing Element
Center-weighted average meter reading (the same as the
AE-l) by a silicon photocell placed above the eyepiece
and fresnel lens to concentrate the incoming light.
(4) Meter Coupling Range
EV -2 (f/l.4 lens) to EV 18 with ASA 100 film. The
programmed AE program is shown by the dotted line.
5

30 15 8 4 2
AE coupling Range for ASA Film
Speeds with f/l.4 Lens
F
NO .
la
II
•
5.6
4
2.8
2
1.4
112 114 1/8 III' 1130 1160 VI25 11250 II!:IOO 1/1000
m

(5) Film Speed Range
ASA 6 to 12,800 in 1/3 step increments
(6) Exposure Compensation
Two full f/stop plus/minus control with figures from
1/4X to 4X and calibrations in 1/3 step increments.
The following shows the range of exposure variations
possible with the respective film speed setting:
ASA 6
ASA 12
ASA 25 -3200
ASA 6400
ASA 12800
1/4 • • 1/2 • 1
1/4 • • 1/2 • • 1 • • 2
1/4 • • 1/2 • • 1 • • 2 • • 4
1/ 2 • • 1 • • 2 • • 4
1 • • 2 • • 4
(7) Exposure Memory
There is a memory lock button (located where the
exposure compensatio n bu tton is ON the AE-l). While
this button is press ed , th e exposure reading is
locked and you are at your liberty to vary the com-
bination of shutter speed and f/stop.
(8) Stopped-Down Metering Lever
The lever is of folding type and by lifting the end
and pushing against the t ension of the spring, it is
locked in place.
(9) Other Operations
The AT dial has the following indications
>
<
..
..
...
-: •
C: • : • ..
o 0 0 '" 0 0 ."
a.. 0 0 W) N ~ M _
o II) N _
-
GO ...
GO
..
- ..
...
• GO
AV. Black figures in the yellow ground
p, Black in the green base
-
TV: 2" to 30": Yellow figures in a black ground
Other figures: White figures in a black ground
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3.6 Power Source
8
(1) Battery
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)
(This is the same with the AE-l.)
(2) Battery Chamber
Under the finger grip on the front of the camera body.
(This is the same with the AE-l.)
(3) Main Switch.
By setting the shutter button lock lever to "L", all
the ' electronic circuits will be · turned off.
(4) Battery Check
True-load Type
The flashing frequency changes depending on the con-
dition of the battery, roughly telling you how good
it is. The slower the flashing frequency, the weaker
the battery.
(5) Cancellation of the circuit
1) Set the shutter button lock lever to "L", or
2) Press the battery check button and take your finger
off the button.
The AE-l's circuit is ca ncelled the moment the
battery check button is pressed, while the A-l's
circuit is cancelled the moment the finger is
taken off the button. (To be more precise, the
A-l's circuit is cancelled when the battery check
button is pressed, but the battery checker current
thru the second shutter magnets give the impression
that the circuit is not cancelled.)
(6) Battery Life
The battery lasts for approximately 15,000 exposures
or one year under normal use.
Normal use means that the camera is used with shutter
speed at 1/125 sec and that the digital indications
are lit for one second at every exposure.)

3 . 1 ~h u t t er Mechanism
(1) Type
Dual roller type cloth focal plane shutter
(2) Speed
1) Scale on the AT dial
B, 30, 1 5,8,4 , 2,1,2,4,8,l5,30,60,125,250,500,1000
I I I I
Yellow White
(3) Shutter release button
o . Electromagnetic shutter release
Large-sized shutter button is concentric with th e
AE mode selector.
(4) Synchronization contact
o X synchronization is at 1/ 60 sec.
o The accessory shoe on the top of the pentaprism
has a direct flash contact. On the front of the
camera body is a PC flash terminal, (JIS-B type).
Wit h built-in electric shock preventive rim.
o The accessory shoe has an automatic flash control
contacts for automatically switching shutter spee d
and aperture.
o When using ordinary flash units (other than
Speedlite 155A and 199A) , set the AE mode selecto r
to Tv and set the sh u tter speed to 1/ 60 sec or
slower.
3. 8 Self-Timer
(1) Ty pe
Electronically controlled self-ti m er
(2) Operation
o Set the self-timer lever either to "2" or to " 10".
o Activated by the shutter release button.
Q