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Nesster
Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 5883 Location: NJ, USA
Expire: 2014-02-20
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject: Canon A-1 review 1979 |
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Nesster wrote:
Canon A-1 review measurements meter sensitivity strip down shutter exposure 1979 Popular Photography
Click on pic to get a bigger size _________________ -Jussi
Camera photos
Print Photographica
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philslizzy
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4744 Location: Cheshire, England
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 12:00 am Post subject: |
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philslizzy wrote:
The A1 was an awesome camera in it's day. I'd love a working one!! |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7793 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:03 am Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
I had one but it confused me, I got rid of it and got an AE1p instead. I still have it. The A1 was a superb camera, but I just couldn't get on with it. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5017 Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:33 am Post subject: |
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Excalibur wrote:
Lloydy wrote: |
I had one but it confused me, I got rid of it and got an AE1p instead. I still have it. The A1 was a superb camera, but I just couldn't get on with it. |
Huh! But in Shutter priority mode or manual it's just like a AE1p, you needn't have bothered using anything else _________________ Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, EOS 300 and EOS300v, Chinon CE and CP-7M. Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Konica Autoreflex TC, FS-1, FT-1, Minolta X-700, X-300, XD-11, SRT101b, Nikon EM, FM, F4, F90X, Olympus OM2, Pentax S3, Spotmatic, Pentax ME super, Praktica TL 5B, & BC1, , Ricoh KR10super, Yashica T5D, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony Nex 3
.........past gear Tele Rolleiflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from good to excellent. |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5017 Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:35 am Post subject: |
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Excalibur wrote:
Thanks for the review but was disappointed with the just "good" mentioned. _________________ Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, EOS 300 and EOS300v, Chinon CE and CP-7M. Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Konica Autoreflex TC, FS-1, FT-1, Minolta X-700, X-300, XD-11, SRT101b, Nikon EM, FM, F4, F90X, Olympus OM2, Pentax S3, Spotmatic, Pentax ME super, Praktica TL 5B, & BC1, , Ricoh KR10super, Yashica T5D, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony Nex 3
.........past gear Tele Rolleiflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from good to excellent. |
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fermy
Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 1974
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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fermy wrote:
It's a good camera, the finish though OK for the 80', is nothing like the cameras of 60' and early 70', the top plate is painted plastic... It was made to a price point, so "good" is probably fair. It's a great shooter though. _________________ Many lenses and some film bodies for sale here: http://forum.mflenses.com/canon-fd-minolta-md-c-mounts-m42-pentax-and-more-t50465.html
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/96060788@N06/ |
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56 DIN
Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Posts: 1656 Location: Germany Erbach /ODW
Expire: 2021-11-18
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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56 DIN wrote:
i had one, too - it was the most modern camera i could affort and i liked it very much
thanks for sharing the test _________________ Thomas
NEX & manual lenses
Nikon & manual lenses |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7793 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
Excalibur wrote: |
Lloydy wrote: |
I had one but it confused me, I got rid of it and got an AE1p instead. I still have it. The A1 was a superb camera, but I just couldn't get on with it. |
Huh! But in Shutter priority mode or manual it's just like a AE1p, you needn't have bothered using anything else |
The problem was the display, it was in 1/3 stops and I'm dyscalculic - basically dyslexic with numbers - and struggled with it. Quite possibly the display could be changed somewhere in the settings but I couldn't find it.
So it was just easier to change cameras. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5017 Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Excalibur wrote:
I don't know whether this camera is extra clever or what, but I'll be giving mine a workout and using a flashgun meant for a Canon T70...well on fitting on the A1 it sets the flash syn (1/60 sec-got that right) and tells me to use either f5.6 for dark areas or f8 for bright...which I would set for my old Nissin flashgun if I was using it. _________________ Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, EOS 300 and EOS300v, Chinon CE and CP-7M. Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Konica Autoreflex TC, FS-1, FT-1, Minolta X-700, X-300, XD-11, SRT101b, Nikon EM, FM, F4, F90X, Olympus OM2, Pentax S3, Spotmatic, Pentax ME super, Praktica TL 5B, & BC1, , Ricoh KR10super, Yashica T5D, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony Nex 3
.........past gear Tele Rolleiflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from good to excellent. |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7793 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
Excalibur wrote: |
I don't know whether this camera is extra clever or what, but I'll be giving mine a workout and using a flashgun meant for a Canon T70...well on fitting on the A1 it sets the flash syn (1/60 sec-got that right) and tells me to use either f5.6 for dark areas or f8 for bright...which I would set for my old Nissin flashgun if I was using it. |
I would be interested to know if the A1 does display in 1/3 f stops, and if it does can it be changed to standard f stops ? I might be wrong about why I got rid of it. But that reason does stick in my mind. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5017 Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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Excalibur wrote:
Lloydy wrote: |
Excalibur wrote: |
I don't know whether this camera is extra clever or what, but I'll be giving mine a workout and using a flashgun meant for a Canon T70...well on fitting on the A1 it sets the flash syn (1/60 sec-got that right) and tells me to use either f5.6 for dark areas or f8 for bright...which I would set for my old Nissin flashgun if I was using it. |
I would be interested to know if the A1 does display in 1/3 f stops, and if it does can it be changed to standard f stops ? I might be wrong about why I got rid of it. But that reason does stick in my mind. |
For an easy life I still don't understand why you changed as you set the AE1 with the lens on "A" and at your chosen shutter speed the camera chooses the aperture...........the A1 does the same (when set for shutter priority) ? A quick check on mine when panning around the room it seems to be half stops, which is good enough for slide film if using manual. Dunno if it does 1/3 stops on auto.
The last time I used a AE1 was taking a few shots with my Father's one (about 17 years ago) before he dropped it in sea water _________________ Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, EOS 300 and EOS300v, Chinon CE and CP-7M. Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Konica Autoreflex TC, FS-1, FT-1, Minolta X-700, X-300, XD-11, SRT101b, Nikon EM, FM, F4, F90X, Olympus OM2, Pentax S3, Spotmatic, Pentax ME super, Praktica TL 5B, & BC1, , Ricoh KR10super, Yashica T5D, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony Nex 3
.........past gear Tele Rolleiflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from good to excellent. |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7793 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:10 am Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
I bought the A1 new in 1979 andI think I used it for about a year, I remember taking it to Canada and using Kodachrome and getting a lot of good shots from it, but the chances are I was using it in full auto. My dyslexia - dyscalculia - is part of a bigger learning difficulty, as they call it today; back in school I was just stupid according to the teachers, so I have great difficulty reading instructions and retaining that new information long enough to actually apply it. And the A1 was just far too complicated for me at that time, when I turned the scroll wheel and saw the unknown numbers - in 1/2 or 1/3 stops - I had to search for the familiar f stop numbers that meant a little bit to me. To this day I could not recite the list of f stops or shutter speeds commonly found on a camera, I have my own 'vision' of what they mean that isn't based on numbers. And I still can't read instructions and retain the facts, I've got a fancy mobile phone that I have no idea how to use. Somehow I spent nearly 40 years as an engineer!
But I would like an A1 again, it is a classic camera of its time. I've just looked in my old copy of "Lens Works" and all the serial numbers of the camera and lenses I bought are written in the front cover, it's scary, these are 1970 - 1980 prices!
Canon A1 £264, 28 / 2 £320, 50 / 1.2 £98, 80-200 / 4 £449, 500 Reflex £450, 199A Speedlite £75, Motordrive £220. According to that old list, with the accessories, I had it insured for £2,300, more that I earned in a year. I was young and foolish...... _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 5017 Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:28 am Post subject: |
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Excalibur wrote:
Well I bought my A1 with 50mmm f1.4 lens for £30 at a boot sale last year, but with new experience I would advise newbies (if they want a camera in the Canon A range) to get the A1.....but the Canon T range is superior, well if you don't care about how a camera looks. _________________ Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, EOS 300 and EOS300v, Chinon CE and CP-7M. Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Konica Autoreflex TC, FS-1, FT-1, Minolta X-700, X-300, XD-11, SRT101b, Nikon EM, FM, F4, F90X, Olympus OM2, Pentax S3, Spotmatic, Pentax ME super, Praktica TL 5B, & BC1, , Ricoh KR10super, Yashica T5D, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony Nex 3
.........past gear Tele Rolleiflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from good to excellent. |
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womble
Joined: 28 Sep 2009 Posts: 987 Location: Hertfordshire
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:00 am Post subject: |
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womble wrote:
I remember as a teenager saving up for my first SLR and A1 was sooooo tempting with all those modes. Knowing very little about photography I was swayed by the 'more is better' marketing. In the end I couldn't afford an A1 so bought a Pentax ME Super instead. I've been a Pentax man (mainly) ever since although recently the various former eastern bloc cameras seem to have been quietly multiplying while I wasn't looking and my friend's old Minolta 7000 has been getting a bit of a workout. I do have a couple of Canon EOS film cameras but they are such big ugly bricks I only use them on site as i don't mind if they get covered in muck.
K. _________________ Kris Lockyear
Digital: Pentax K-3iii
35mm film SLRs: various Pentax bodies from a H2 to a SF7, favourites the MX and LX
Rangefinder: Zeiss Super Ikonta IV, FED2, Zorkii-4, Industar 26m, Jupiter 8, 11 and 12 lenses
Medium format: various folders, Yashica Mat 124 G. Lubitel 2
LF: Horseman LE 5x4 view camera.
MF lenses (favourites) Pentax "K" 200mm f/2.5; "K" 135mm f/2.5; "K" 50mm f/1.2; "K" 35mm f/2; "K" 30mm f/2.8; "K" 28mm f/3.5 shift; "K" 15mm f/3.5; M 100mm f/2.8; M 40mm f/2.8; Jupiter-9 85mm |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7793 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:08 am Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
womble wrote: |
I remember as a teenager saving up for my first SLR and A1 was sooooo tempting with all those modes. Knowing very little about photography I was swayed by the 'more is better' marketing. In the end I couldn't afford an A1 so bought a Pentax ME Super instead. I've been a Pentax man (mainly) ever since although recently the various former eastern bloc cameras seem to have been quietly multiplying while I wasn't looking and my friend's old Minolta 7000 has been getting a bit of a workout. I do have a couple of Canon EOS film cameras but they are such big ugly bricks I only use them on site as i don't mind if they get covered in muck.
K. |
That's how I came to buy an A1.
And I think I've got one coming very shortly, with lenses, motordrive, speedlight, accessories......and.....a Voightlander Vito and a complete darkroom. The lady's partner has got a Zenit and lenses, a Praktica and lenses, and a complete darkroom.
This will probably cost more than the 'mad money' I keep hidden from my wife! _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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