Unusual AE-1 repair

Gardener · Joined: 22 Sep 2013 Posts: 950 Location: USA

I've recently acquired a broken AE-1 Program, for the most part because of the lens mounted on it. Having removed the lens (in excellent condition) I decided to see if the camera is truly dead. First thing I did was to pop a fresh battery. Sadly, there was no response, neither shutter butter nor film advance lever functioned. I lifted the mirror and observed the following:

A-ha - so it's probably just stuck because it ran out film, though I and opened the back. But it turned out to be not quite so simple:

Did they really? Oh yes, they did!

I pulled out the film, and all that was left to do was to remove the bottom plate and manually decock the shutter.

And now I have a perfectly operational AE-1. Well, not quite - it squeaks, but that I'll take care of when I round up 3 or 4 that need to be lubed.

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4749 Location: Cheshire, England

Well done. I have many cameras sold as broken with simple 'faults'. If you only want the lens, the AE1-program sells for quite a bit more than the regular AE1. I think you'll make your money back. Of course cure the squeak first...