Shop to check out, and if necessary, service a circa 1978 35 mm AE-1?

[Rusty100]

The subject says most of it.  

Can anyone recommend a shop to check out, and if necessary, service a circa 1978 35 mm AE-1in the New York City metro area?

Thanks.  

[ebiggs1]

Ask someone at B&H.

[Rusty100]

Thank you ebiggs1!. I did. They recommended Photo Tech, but when I called that shop they told me they only service digital cameras.  

[ebiggs1]

Mail order repair and I know they do film cameras is Film Camera repair  (phototronic.biz)

This is such a limited area there is not likely going to be a lot of shops. And. parts are going to be an issue if needed.

[justadude]

Hey EB, thank you for the link to "Film Camera Repair".  Out of the various film cameras that I own, one recently stopped working (Russian made Zenit 12XP).  Hope they can find parts without asking Putin.  🙂 

[ebiggs1]

"Russian made Zenit 12XP"

That may be a bridge too far my friend. 😉

[normadel]

Is there something specific wrong with the camera?

[Rusty100]

Not to my knowledge.  The battery hasn't been changed in decades, so I will do this, but then I don't know/remember enough to know how to test to see if will still function properly.  Do I just put in film and take test shots?  Or is there anything else to be done to check it first?

[normadel]

You can test/check everything on it without putting film in.

Do you have a manual for it? Here's where to download it:

https://butkus.org/chinon/canon/canon_ae-1/canon_ae-1.htm

Learn what it does and put it through its paces as if there was film inside. Check meter function, all shutter speeds, mirror function, lens stopping-down, on-and on. Don't waste film until you determine it's working fully.

[justadude]

"Don't waste film until you determine it's working fully."

I couldn't agree more!  And once you determine if it is working, then buy a roll of the cheapest film you can find for a live test.   This way if you have non-obvious problems (shutter delay for example) you can find out on a $5 roll of 24 exposure expired film, instead of a $18 roll of 36 exposure Cinestill (or anything good).

Once you determine everything is working on a live roll... if you haven't thought of it already, consider developing your own film.  It is easy (B&W is easiest, color only slightly harder), and compared to developing charges this days, it's crazy how much you can save.  Besides, it's fun and rewarding.