Canon AE-1 User manual

Check the Battery
Whenever you check out one of our cameras you should verify that
the battery level is good.
The battery level is checked by pressing the battery check button on
the top of the camera while watching the meter needle in the view-
nder. If the meter needle rests below the index mark or 5.6 the
battery level is ok. If the meter needle rests above the index mark ask
the lab aide to replace the battery for you.
Battery check button
Meter needle as seen in viewfinder
Getting started with the Canon AE-1
The Very Very Short Version.
Setting the Film Speed and Using the Meter.
Set the Film Speed
To set the lm speed, rst push
the lm advance lever to its stand-
o position away from the camera
body, then lift up the ASA ring
around the shutter dial and rotate it
in either direction until the proper
number is aligned with the green
index mark.
Light Meter
First set the shutter speed to the
desired setting. TIP: For hand-held
shots you shutter speed should be
set to 125 or higher. Then to use the
light meter, lightly press the shutter
release button while looking through
the view nder. Make note of the
aperature setting indicated by the
meter needle in the veiwnder then
set the aperature ring on the lens to
the setting indicated. The setting will
vary depending on your shutter speed
and lighting conditions.
Meter
Set the Film Speed
Rewinding the Film
When the lm advance lever cannot travel
all the way to the end of its stroke, the lm
counter tells you that you have reached
the end of the roll. You have to rewind the
lm into its protective cartridge before
removing it from the camera. To rewind,
press the small black rewind button on the
bottom of the camera, unfold the rewind
crank and turn it in the direction of the ar-
row. When the frame counter has reached
the “S” mark you should stop. Then pull
up the rewind crank and open the camera
back.
Rewind Button
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It is important to load the lm correctly to avoid time comsuming
re-shoots. Follow these steps. Avoid direct sunlight when loading or
unloading lm.
How to Load the Film
Open the Back Cover
Pull up the rewind crank and the back cover will pop open. The back
cover can be securely closed by simply pressing it until it locks.
Rewind Crank
Next, Place the cartridge into the lm cartidge chamber and press
down while rotating the rewind knob until it drops securely into posi-
tion. The protuding part of the cartridge should be on the bottom. Pull
the lm leader across and insert the end into one slot of the the take-
up spool. Turn the lm advance lever and wind the lm around the
take-up spool making sure that the perforations of the lm are
engaged in the teeth of the lm transport sprocket.
Film Cartidge Chamber
Then, make sure there is no lm slack. In case there is, gently turn the
lm rewind crank in the direction of the arrow to obtain proper lm
tautness. Crank the lm advance lever to ensure that the lm leader is
wound fully on to the take-up spool before closing the camera back.
Close the back cover until it snaps shut. Gently turn the lm rewind
crank in the direction of the arrow to take up any remaing slack. Then,
advance the lm a couple of times presssing the shutter button until
the rst exposure appears in the frame counter. TIP: Watch the film
rewind knob as you advance the film. If it rotates, the film is properly
loaded. If it doesn’t, open the back cover and load the film again from
the start.
Take-Up Spool
Rewind Crank
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