Canon A-1
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The Story Behind
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One of the marvelous old Canons. This
one was way to expensive when I bought my Minolta
X-700 many years ago. So finally I got one.
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Technical Data
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Manufacturer |
Canon Inc. |
Build |
1978-1985 |
Type |
35mm SLR
(Single-Lens-Reflex) camera with electronically
controlled, multiple-mode AE (automatic exposure) and
focal plane shutter. |
Format |
24 x
36mm. |
Photographic Modes |
Six modes, including 5 AE
modes: Shutter-speed priority AE, Aperture priority
AE, Programmed AE, full AE flash photography with
specified Canon electronic flashes, and stopped-down
AE, as well as manual override. |
Standard Lenses |
Canon FD 55mm and 50mm
lenses. |
Viewfinder |
Fixed
eye-level pentaprism. |
Field of View |
93.5% vertical and 95.3%
horizontal coverage of the actual picture area. |
Maginification |
0.83X at infinity with a
standard 50mm lens. |
Focusing Screen |
Standard split-image
microprism rangefinder |
Viewfinder Information |
Displayed in the form of LED
digital readout below the visual field. Includes
shutter speed, aperture, flashing warning of incorrect
exposures and settings bulb indication, charge
completion indicator with specified Canon flash units,
manual aperture control signal, error indication for
incorrect stopping-down operation. Shutter speed and
aperture data displayed in 1/2 step increments.
Viewfinder information can be cancelled by turning off
the viewfinder display switch. |
Eyepiece Shutter |
Built-in. Keeps out
extraneous light during self-timer or remote control
operation. |
Mirror |
Instant-return type with
shock-absorbing mechanism No image cut-off in the
viewfinder even with the FD 400mm telephoto. |
AE Mechanism |
Electronically controlled.
Employs 3 LSIs with 12L, one Linear LSI and one Bi-MOS
IC for light metering. |
AE Mode Selection |
By means of the AE mode
selector. Two main settings: Tv for shutter-speed
priority AE, Av for aperture priority AE. |
Light Metering System |
Through-the-lens (TTL)
Central Emphasis metering by silicon photocell located
just above eyepiece lens. Light reaches the silicon
photocell after passing through a Fresnel lens
condenser. |
ISO Film Speed Setting |
ISO 6 to ISO 12830 in 1/3
step increments. With lock. |
Meter Coupling Range |
EV—2 to EV 18 at ISO 100
with FD 50mm f/1.4 lens. In the programmed AE mode,
meter coupling range depends on the programmed shutter
speed and aperture combinations. |
Exposure Compensation |
+2 f/stop scale gradations
in increments of 1/3 of a gradation, with 1/4, 1/2, 1,
2, and 4 markings. |
Exposure Memory |
EV is stored and locked when
the exposure memory switch is pressed. When pressed,
the shutter-speed/ aperture combination can be changed
for the same EV stored in the memory. |
Exposure Preview |
Viewfinder digital readout
activated by pressing the shutter button halfway, or
by pressing the exposure preview switch or the
exposure memory switch. |
Stop-down Lever |
Operates when pushed in.
Stopping-down an FD lens is possible only when the
aperture ring is disengaged from the "A" mark. |
Manual Override |
Possible by disengaging the
FD lens from the "A" mark and setting the AE mode
selector to Tv. Aperture manually controlled with
aperture ring, shutter speed with AT dial. |
Shutter |
Cloth focal plane shutter
with four spindles. Electronically controlled,
stepless, from 30 sec. to 1/1000 sec. Shock and noise
damper mechanisms are incorporated. |
Shutter Speed Scale |
B, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1, 2, 4,
8,15 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, 1000 plus P (with the AE
mode selector at Tv). "P" setting is required for
programmed AE mode. Intermediate speeds not on the
scale cannot be set. |
Aperture Scale |
1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22
(with the AE mode selector at Av). |
Shutter Release Button |
Oversized, 2-step button
with electromagnetic shutter release. Pressing it
halfway activates meter circuit; pressing it all the
way sets shutter in operation. Can be locked by
setting the main switch to "L" to prevent accidental
shutter release. With cable release socket. |
Power Source |
One 6V silver oxide battery
(Eveready No. 544, UCAR No. 544, JIS 4G13, Mallory
PX28) or alkaline manganese battery (Eveready No. 537,
UCAR No. 537, Mallory 7K34). The battery lasts
approximately one year under normal use. Battery is
loaded into the battery chamber on the front of the
camera body. |
Battery Check |
A red LED on top of the
camera flashes on and off to indicate power level when
the battery check button is pressed. Flashing
frequency decreases with power level. |
Main Switch |
2 positions: "A" and "L". At
"L" all circuits are off and the shutter button is
locked as a safety feature. Doubles as self-timer
lever. |
Cancellation of Camera
Circuit |
Shutter and self-timer
operation cancelled by setting main switch to "L" or
by pressing battery check button. |
Multiple Exposure |
Possible by setting multiple
exposure lever before winding film advance lever to
recock shutter. Frame counter does not advance.
Unlimited. |
Self timer |
Electronically controlled.
Activated by pressing shutter button. A choice of 2 or
10 seconds time lag is available. Red LED flashes on
and off to indicate its operation. Flashing frequency
increases 2 sec. before shutter release. |
Flash Synchronization |
X-synch at 1/60 sec., FP-
and M-syneh at 1/30 see. and slower. |
Flash Coupling |
Accessory shoe has contaets
for directly coupled flash units and automatic flash
control contaets for automatic exposure. JIS-B (PC)
type flash terminal with shock preventive rim on front
of the body. |
Automatic Flash |
Full AE flash photography
with Canon Speedlites 199A, 177A, 155A and 133A.
Shutter speed automatically set. Aperture
automatically controlled aeeording to the flash
settings. |
Back Cover |
Opened by pulling up rewind
knob. Removable for attaching Data Back A. With memo
holder. |
Film Loading |
Easy film loading with
multi-slot take-up spool. |
Film Advance Lever |
Single-stroke 120° throw
with 30° stand-off. Winding with several short strokes
is possible. Automatic winding possible by mounting
Canon Motor Drive MA or Power Winder A. |
Frame Counter |
Additive type. Counts back
frames as film is rewound. Automatically resets to "S"
upon opening back cover. Does not advance during
multiple exposure. |
Film Rewinding |
By pressing the rewind
button and cranking the rewind knob. Rewind button
automatically resets when the film advance lever is
turned. |
Other Safety Devices |
Camera will not function
when power level is insufficient. Use of self-timer is
impossible with shutter speed set at "B". Film winding
is impossible while shutter is in operation. Lockable
controls. |
Size |
141 x 91.5 x 47.5mm (5-1/2"
x 3-5/8" x 1-7/8") body only. |
Weight |
620 g (1 lb. 6 oz.) body
only, including battery. With the 50mm f/1.8 lens:
830g (1 lb. 12-3/16 ozs.). With the 50mm f/1.4 lens:
860g (1 lb. 14-5/16 ozs.) |
Miscellaneous
|
Link(s) |
Lomography
Photo Analogue
Photoethnography
M.T. Fotoblog
Daniel J. Schneider
Lewis Collard
Casual Photophile
Internet Archive
FOGDOG I
FOGDOG II
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My Impressions
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March 2018
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Just got it ... and it looks
like new. Attached the ... arrived yesterday ...
1.4/50mm S.S.C.
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May
2018 |
On reCap |
July
2018 |
On reCap
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