Ever fixed a camera?

**BetterSense** · 08-16-2008, 12:07 AM

I recently inherited a Canon AT1 in great-looking condition with what appears to be the kit lens. After making a silver-oxide replacement battery out of button cells and shrink tubing, it seems to work, and the metering is spot on, but about 10 percent of the time the shutter doesn't seem to work right, resulting in some pretty neat looking photographs with scorched edges, or mostly, the right-third of the photo being a bit over exposed, sometimes also featuring beautiful red auroralike ribbons all over the place.

Since I also vaguely remember experiencing weird shutter lag when these photos were taken, I assume it's the shutter. The mirror cushion foam has all deteriorated and gets on the mirror sometimes, so it's possible that it has gotten in something and gummed it up. The shutter works when it works though, even up to 1000. So I would really like to get it working.

Do you know where I could find exploded diagrams? Is there any chance that I could fix this myself? I'm pretty handy with other stuff but never tackled a camera.

**Rei** · 08-16-2008, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by BetterSense

I recently inherited a Canon AT1 in great-looking condition with what appears to be the kit lens. After making a silver-oxide replacement battery out of button cells and shrink tubing, it seems to work, and the metering is spot on, but about 10 percent of the time the shutter doesn't seem to work right, resulting in some pretty neat looking photographs with scorched edges, or mostly, the right-third of the photo being a bit over exposed, sometimes also featuring beautiful red auroralike ribbons all over the place.

Since I also vaguely remember experiencing weird shutter lag when these photos were taken, I assume it's the shutter. The mirror cushion foam has all deteriorated and gets on the mirror sometimes, so it's possible that it has gotten in something and gummed it up. The shutter works when it works though, even up to 1000. So I would really like to get it working.

Do you know where I could find exploded diagrams? Is there any chance that I could fix this myself? I'm pretty handy with other stuff but never tackled a camera.

The mechanics of the AT1 and the AE1 are identical. The only difference is that the AT1 lacked the shutter priority mode electronics of the AE1.

That said, I'm familiar with two common problems on the AE1. One is dirt and dust on the shutter curtain electronics. The other is lack of lubrication. They both make the second curtain stick. If it silently sticks, the electronics are dirty. If it makes a squeaking noise, then there is no lubrication.

Last I checked, going rate on that repair from a camera shop was about 50 bucks.

If you want to try servicing it yourself, you can find the service manual for your camera on this page:
http://www.canonfd.com/choose.htm

**adamjaskie** · 08-17-2008, 10:18 AM

I paid about $100 several years ago to get my AE-1 totally overhauled. They disassembled it, cleaned it, lubed it, and replaced the foam on the mirror cushion and around the back.

**BetterSense** · 08-17-2008, 02:54 PM

The really bad shutter problem seems to be gone, but I might still have some light leakage around the edges. I bough a new foam seal kit, but it's still in the mail. I think mabye the camera just needed used a bit, after sitting so long. I blew the inside of the camera out with canned air too. I'm pretty happy with how nice the pictures turned out. Manual cameras aren't that bad, cause you can kind of 'pre-set' the camera to the ambient light and then pretty much shoot spontaneously with only maybe a little bit of correction. I was shooting some go-karts and I would like get the camera set up and focused on one spot on the track, then shoot people when they drove through it. Turned out pretty good. I hope it keeps working cause I'm totally keeping it full of Kodak c41 B&W.

**rickw** · 08-17-2008, 03:11 PM

I'd be interested in the data/instructions on the replacement cell that you mentioned. I can usually take a pretty close quess on exposure settings, when I'm taking pictures frequently but it would be nice to have the capability to use my meters.

**BetterSense** · 08-17-2008, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by rickw

I'd be interested in the data/instructions on the replacement cell that you mentioned. I can usually take a pretty close quess on exposure settings, when I'm taking pictures frequently but it would be nice to have the capability to use my meters.

what do you mean by replacement cell? I made a silver-oxide 6v battery by stacking up 4 357 silver oxide button cells and using the end-pieces from an old 6v alkaline battery. I held this together with shrink-tubing. If you take apart a 6v battery, you can see that this is exactly how they are made, with 4 button cells inside.

**brofkand** · 08-17-2008, 07:21 PM

I'd imagine rickw is talking about a replacement selenium cell for the light meter. Those are more often than not the first things to break in an older camera.

The Sunny 16 rule is probably the best light meter you have in those situations.

**adamjaskie** · 08-18-2008, 03:07 PM

The AT-1, IIRC like the AE-1, has an electronically-controlled shutter, so a dead battery actually means NO pictures, not just poorly-exposed pictures.