topic Re: Canon A1 tune up price? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Canon A1 tune up price?

dknapp1117 — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:59:29 GMT

My son is wondering about how to shoot pics on film. I am the original owner of a Canon A1 that I loved back in the day. I haven’t used it for 20 odd years and I think the shutter is sticky. What price would I expect for a general tune up and cleaning for just the body? Where’s a good place to send it out to?

Thank you

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

shadowsports — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:01:49 GMT

Greetings,

Would be hard to guess about something like this. Primarily because you might have difficulty finding someone who is capable or willing to work on a camera this old.

Try garrys cameras in illinois. Shows a flat fee of $78. Note: I have no experience with this company

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

dknapp1117 — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:37:24 GMT

Thank you, I will give them a try. Pro Photo in Washington DC was also suggested, but I haven’t heard from them yet.

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

normadel — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 02:04:29 GMT

What leads you to think the shutter is slow? It is electronically controlled. Slowness is not very likely.

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 10:00:03 GMT

@normadel wrote:

What leads you to think the shutter is slow? It is electronically controlled. Slowness is not very likely.

I think you might be confused about what an Canon A-1 is.

Canon A-1 - Wikipedia

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

dknapp1117 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:02:47 GMT

Just listening by ear, there’s a significant pause between hearing the shutter open and hearing it close. Could be a bad battery though. I will check.

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

dknapp1117 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:09:12 GMT

It’s definitely the A-1. It also has a sticker showing 1988 from an earlier repair visit on the inside. A 36 year old camera could still need a tune up. The shutter itself is mechanical, only the timer is electronic. Could be a bad battery though, I will check that before sending it to anyone.

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:14:09 GMT

My post wasn’t to you. I don’t doubt you know what your camera is.

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

justadude — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:27:55 GMT

The A1 has a red light next to the shutter. If it doesn't blink several times per second, the battery is low. If it is blinking several times per second, then you have a different problem with the shutter.

Curious - what is everything set at on the camera? Are you in bulb mode?

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

dknapp1117 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:14:22 GMT

The battery is so low, I get no blinking lights. Measured by VOM outside the camera the voltage is about 0.2 v, instead of the 6v it should be. The camera is set to 1/500, F8, ASA 400, not B but good guess. My by-ear timing was a while ago, but without a good battery all bets are off. Thanks for the suggestions.

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

normadel — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:56:05 GMT

Beg your pardon. I know full well what an A-1 is I own one, along with two AE-1 Programs. The shutter speeds are electronically controlled.

Re: Canon A1 tune up price?

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:45:50 GMT

I had one many years ago, before I converted to EF. I had to have mine serviced. Repair tech said shutter was sticking. All I know is that whatever was done camera was working again.