Canon AE-1 User manual

DistanceScale (infeet and meters1 Focusing Ring
Di~tanceIndex
Exposure PreviewS
Stapped-Down Leve
Shutter Speed Dial
Film Advance
Lever
hutter Release Button
enronic Self-Timer Lever
Film Rewind Crank
hutter Release Lock1
Film Plane Indicator
Battery Check
Button
I
While reading the instruction baokier. unfold this flap and the ftav on the back cover to facilitate your
undersfending of the instructions. 3

PICTORIALOUTLINE FOR USING THE CAMERA
1 Set the aperture ring of the lens to
the "A" mark.
2 Load the battery.
4
Set the ASA film speed.
5
Look into the viewfinder.
Select a shutter speed. Composethe picture and focus.
~~~
-- ~ ~. . -.
Out of Focus In Focus

3 Load the film.
ii
6
Advance film; Check exposure.
Press the shutter button.
Photography with the Canon Speedlite
155A
1. . Loadthe batteries.
2. Set the ASA film speed.
3. Mount the Speedlite 155A on the AE-1.
4. Turnthe main switch on.
5. Set the AUTOIMANU. 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.
Winder Coupler Co
,. ,

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPECIFICATIONS ................. 8
PRELIMINARY PREPARATION
..... 12
Handlingthe Caseand Lens Cap ..... 12-15
Mountingthe Lensand Setting the
Aperture Ringtothe "A" Mark
..... 16-19
Loadingthe Batteryand
Battery Check
................. 20-22
Loadingthe FilmandSetting
theASA
.................... 23-25
OPERATION FOR
GENERAL PHOTOGRAPHY
........ 29
SelectingtheShutter Speed .......... 31
Readingthe Exposure
............. 32
Focusingand Dioptric
Adjustment Lenses
............... 33
HoldingtheCamera
............... 37
Rewinding the Film
............... 39
Double-checkBefore Shooting
....... 40
DETAILED OPERATION OF
THE AE-1
..................... 41
Viewfinder Informationand
Meter Sensitivity Pattern
........... 43
AE Coupling Rangeand
OverexposureWarning Mark
......... 44
Underexposureand
Coupling RangeWarning LED Lamp
.... 45
Stopped-Down Metering Index Mark
and ManualAperture Control
..
MSignal .................... 46
Effects of Changingthe Shuner
Speed and theAperture
.......... 47-48
Depth-of-Field ................ 49-50
Shootingagainstthe Lightand
ManualOverride
................. 51
ExposureCompensation byChanging the
...
ASA Settingand Usingthe Self-Timer 52
......
Long Exposuresand "8" Setting 54
Stopped-Down Metering
............ 55
Manual Diaphragm Control
........ 56-58
Lenses
...................... 58-62
ACCESSORIES. CARE OF THE CAMERA.
MAINTENANCE. AND MISCELLANEA
63
Canon Speedlite 155A ............. 65
FlashPhotography withthe AE-1
...... 66
Canon Power Winder A
............ 67
Canon Data Back A
and Auto Bellows
................69
Other Accessories ................ 70
Characteristics
................... 72
Careand Storageof the Camera
....... 76
UsingtheCamera in
Very Cold Conditions
............. 77

SPEC1FlCATlONS
Type: 35mm SLR (Single-Lens-Reflex)
camera with electronically controlled AE
(Automatic Exposure) and focal plane
shutter.
PictureSize: 24 x 36mm
Interchangeable Lenses: Canon FD series
withfull aperture meteringand
AE coupl-
ing. Canon FL series, TS lens, Fish-eye
lens and Mirror lens with stoppeddown
metering.
Standard Lenses: Canon FD 55mm fl1.2
S.S.C.
Canon FD 50mm fl1.4
Canon FD 50rnm fl1.8
Lens Mount: Canon Breech-Lockmount.
Viewfinder: Fixedeye-levelpentaprism.
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-imagelmicro-
prism rangefinder, aperture scale with
meter needle and stopped-downmetering
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 beingused.
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
8. Magnifier S, Dioptric Adjustment
Lenses (10 kinds). and Eyecup
45.
Mirror: Instant-return, large reflector mirror
with shock absorbingmechanism.
AE Mechanism: Shutter priority, electro-
nically controlled AE metering system
incorporatingtwo ICs and one LSI equi
pped with
I2 L(IntegratedInjection 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 (f11.4 at one second) to
EV18 (f116 at 111000 second) at ASA
100with FD50mm f11.4 lens.
FilmSpeed Range: ASA 25 to ASA 3200.
Exposure Correction: By pressing the back-
light control switch, exposure
is corretted
by the automatic opening of the dia-
phragm
l .5 stops more on the aperture
scale than the actual setting,
ExposurePreview:
Meter needle activated by pressing the
shuner bunon halfway or pressing the
exposure preview switch.
Shutter: Cloth focal plane shutter with four
spindles. Shock and noise damping
mechanisms are incorporated. All shutter
speeds are electronicallycontrolled.
Shutter Speeds: 111000. 11500, 11250.
11125. 1/60, 1/30. 1/15, 118. 114. 112. 1.
2 (seconds) and B. X synchronization is
at 1160seconds.
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 synchronizationare inwhite.
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 inthe center.
Self-Timer: Electronically controlled self-
timer. After the self-timer lever is pushed
forward, the self-timer
is activatedby the
shutter release button. The self-timer
releases the shutter after a time lagof 10
seconds. A self-timer lamp (red LED)
'blinks on and off to indicate when the
self-timer
is inoperation.
Stopping-Downthe Lens: Stoppingdown 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.537I.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 1I60second.
M synchronization
is at 1130 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-8
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 133A. 155A. 177A or 199A.
the shutter speed and aperture are
automatically
set. The amount of light is
automatically controlled 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
rewindcrank up.
Film Loading: Easy film loading with multi-
slot take-upspool.
Film Advance Lever: Single stroke with 120'
throw and 30' stand-off. The filmcan 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. Aut*
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.
a The film cannot be wound while the
shutter
is inoperation.
Size:. 141
x 87 x 47.5mm (5-9116" x 3-7/16"
x 1-718") body only.
Weight: 5909 (20-13116
02s.) body only.
7709 (27.3116 02s.) with the 50mm
fl1.8 lens.
8309 (29-114 ozs.) withthe 50mm f11.4
lens.
Subjecttochange without notice.
I

PRELIMINARY PREPARATION
Attaching the Neckstrap
Attach the Canon AE-1's neckstrap by
threading
its tips through the corresponding
rings on the camera so that the tips are onthe
inside. Then adjust the strap to the length
most comfortablefor you.
Plastic Insert
Sharply pull upthe film rewind knob and
open the camera's back cover. Remove the
plastic insert, which
is attached to the
pressure plate, and snap the back cover shut.
The insert
is no longer necessary and may be
thrown away.
Semi-hard Case
The two straps on the case go aroundthe
neckstrap and snap into position. To remove
the topcover, turn
it down, slide itstraight up
and pull
it out of the hole as shown in the
photo. The lens' focusing ring should be
turned to infinity
(-1 for closing the top
cover.

Lens Cap and Rear Dust Cap
The front and rear lens caps should
always be on the lens when the lens
is not
on the camera. For protection when the
lens is mounted on the camera but not in
use, please see to
it that the front lens cap
is attached.
Lens Cap
Most Canon lenses are provided with a
clipan front lens cap which is easilyattached
and removed from the front of the lens by
pressing inthe tabs on both sides of the cap.
This type of cap may also be attached to a
Canonfilter screwed intothe lens.
Rear Dust Cap
The rear dust cap must be removed
beforemountingthe lens.
Operation with an FD lens which lacks
a chrome Breach-lockmount ring:
The rear dustcap for this type of lens has
serrated edges. Do not mount arear dust cap
which lacksthe serratededges.

Removal from Lens
1.
Turn the cap counterclockwise until it
stops.
2. Pullthe cap out.
Reattachment
1.
Align the arrow on the cap with the red
dot
at the rear of the lens.
2. In that position, apply slight pressure
to the cap and turn
it clockwise until
it
is tight.
Operation
with an FD lens which hasa
chrome Breech-lock
mount ring or
with an FLlens:
Removal
from Lens
1.
Turn the lens' mount ring clockwise until
it stops.
2. Pullthe capout.
Once the rear cap is remved,the Breech-
lock mount ring is locked so that it cannot
be turned. (The diaphragm blades are also

locked and will not move even iftheaperture
ring isrotated.)
Reattachment
1.
Make sure the mount ring is locked so
that it cannot beturned.
2. Align the arrow on the cap with the red
dot dot on the mount ring.
3. In that position, push lightly down on
the cap
and turn the mount ring counter-
clockwiseuntil
it istight.
Lens Hood
When shooting into bright light, light
rays entering the lens may form defects on
the image called ghost and flare. Attaching
a hood onto the lens helps to prevent this.
Bayonet-mount hoods are available as op-
tional access~iesfor most Canon lenses.
Please use only that hood which is specified
for the lens concerned. This type of hood
fits into the bayonet mount at the front of
the lens where
it is fixed by turning until
it is tight. Some hoods for wideangle lenses
require proper positioning before mounting.

Align the red dot on this type of hood with
the notch inthe bayonet mount at the front
of the lens. Then lightly pushthe
hood into
the mount and turn
it until it istight.
vvnen nor in use, rne nwu
can ue
mounted in reverse on a standard or rome
wide-angle lenses, inwhich case even the hood
will fit perfectly into the camera's case.
4 Mountina onto the Camera and
I ~ismousin~
Pre-MountingChecklist
1.
Make sure the camera's stop-down lever
is not locked for stoppeddown metering (see
p.
55). If it is, a red warning dot will appear
beside the coupling lever inside the camera
body.
2. Make sure the automaticaperture lever at
the rear of an
FD lens is not set for manual
diaphragmcontrol (See P.
56).
3. Before mounting an FD lens, make sure

the film advance lever has been completely
advanced.
4.
Remove the lens' rear dust cap.
5.
Remove the camera's body cap.
Operation with an FD lens which lacks
a chrome Breech-lockmount ring:
Mounting
1. Align the projecting red mount posi-
tioning point with the red dot above the
camera mount.
2. Inthis position, apply slight pressureto
the lens. and sim~lvrotate the whole lens
. .
clockwise until it stops and the lens release possible with the red dot on the camera.
buttonpopsout withaclick. Turn the lens slightly back and forth while
Do not press the lens release button applying slight pressure until it drops into
while mounting the lens. Only when this position and continue with step
2 above.
button pops out can you be sure that the Excessive sloppiness will make mounting
lens
is properly mounted and that it will impossible; take care to be as accurate as
function properly. It is also possible to
' possible.
mount this type of lens when
it is not per-
fectly aligned with this camera. To facilitate
mounting when
it is very dark or when you
are in a great hurry, the mount positioning
point is rounded. Simply find this point
with your finger and align
it as closely as

Dismounting
1. Turn the lens counterclockwise until
it stops while pressing the lens release button.
2. Pullthe lensout.
When the lens is dismounted, the dia-
phragm blades are locked in a half-closed
position and will not move even if you turn
the lens aperture ring.
Operation with an FD lens which has a
chrome Breech-lock mount ringor with
an
FL lens:
Mounting
1.
Make sure the mount ring is locked so
that it cannot beturned.
2.
Align the red dot of the Breech-lockring
with the red dot on the camera body above
thecamera mount.
3. In this position, fit the rear of the lens
into the camera body and turn the Breech-
lock ring clockwiseuntil it istight.
Dismounting
1.
Turn the Breech-lock ring counterclock-
wise until
it stops.
2.
Pullthe lensoutfromthe camera body.

When removing a lens, take special care
.,, to damage the protruding pins and levers
on the rear. With the exception of the Fish-
eye 7.5mm lens, always put a lens down
with the rear facing up.
For more information on generaluse and
caeof the lens, please see the lens instruction
booklet.
2
Setting the Aperture Ring to the
"A" Mark
For cwrect automatic exposure control.
only an FD lens can
be used and the lens
aperture ring must
be set tothe "A mark.
To do this, simply hold inthe
EE lock pinon
the lens while turning the aperture ring from
the minimumaperturetothe
"A" mark. This
can
be done either before or after the lens is
mounted on the camera. At the "A" mark,
the aperture ring is locked and cannot
be
turned to any other setting. Reverse the
procedure to disengage theaperturering from
the
"A" mark.

3
Loading the Battery
This camera will not function without
battery power.
A 6V silver oxide battery is
loaded intothe battery chamber after opening
the battery chamber cover. Itcan
be opened
more easily by usingthe 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 banery 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
77 about the
details of the banery when the camera
is used
inextremelv cold conditions.