Ever fixed a camera?

[trains are bad]

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.

 

[poo]

The 'cushion foam' you mention is prone to deterioration in older model Canon cameras. A service centre will be able to replace it for you with higher quality, longer lasting material, or you may be able to talk them into selling you the sections required as parts to do it yourself. Be very careful of the shutter - the lightest of touches can destroy it, especially in older models.

Canon Service Centers also have full service manuals - not sure how you would go about getting a copy though... I know some photography sites have service manuals, but you'll have to do some searching. Try sites like Fred Miranda or similar - and good luck!

 

[Lazarus Short]

I "fixed" two Olympus digitals the other day with a screwdriver and a large hammer. While I was at it, I also "fixed" a non-working cassette deck. I may not be of much help...

Laz

 

[screwglue]

hmmmmm

normally cameras shutter up and down so i don't think the white strip of overexposure would be there. I think there is a light leek by some hole or something. not sure though.

 

[leftnose]

I would agree with screwglue. I have a Hasselblad that developed a light leak in one of the film magazines and the results looked similar to the above. A trip to the service center fixed it.

I might also have the film advance system checked. It might not be pulling enough film and you're getting partial double exposures.

 

[trains are bad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by screwglue /img/forum/go_quote.gif hmmmmm normally cameras shutter up and down so i don't think the white strip of overexposure would be there. I think there is a light leek by some hole or something. not sure though.

on this one, the shutter goes side to side. I looked at it.

The camera seems to be working now though. I developed two more rolls. The really bad shutter problem seems to be gone, but I might still have some light leakage around the edges. I bought and installed a new foam seal kit. I blew the inside of the camera out with canned air too. I'm pretty happy with how nice the pictures turned out. I hope it keeps working cause I'm totally keeping it full of Kodak c41 B&W.

 

[Bob_McBob]

http://www.pbase.com/bob_mcbob/kiev

The best place to ask about Canon manual focus stuff is the Canon FD forum on photo.net. It does look like there's something kind of wonky with the shutter.

 

[StanleyB1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftnose /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a Hasselblad

Aah, a man of patience

.

 

[poo]

Up-down shutters are new-fangled technologies. AT1 is a beast made of metal and such...

Be really careful with canned air internally - can cause all sorts of pain with freeze burn or sudden blasts of extra pressure. Glad it's working nicer for you though!

 

[IceClass]

I've had to fix everything from an Old Leica M4 to a Pentax 67 rig in the field, often in atrocious conditions.
Okay, the word "fix" might be a bit bold but I usually managed to get them working well enough to last until they could go to the master tech for a full once over once the job was over.

Shutters curtains can travel vertically or horizontally depending on the model. Hasselblad and large format type shutters are leaf type shutters which are a totally different kettle of fish.

The picture would seem to indicate a sticking second shutter curtain to my eye.
While this can be fixed at home if you know what you're doing, you're much better off to drop it off at a local cmaera repair store being sure to remember to ask for a quote before allowing work to go ahead.
Shuters can be cheap to fix or can be horribly expensive depending on model.

Good luck.

 

[divideby0]

The shutters on older Canons are notorious for sticking after an extended period of disuse. Used to see it on AE-1's all the time when I worked at a camera store in the Chicago area. The best thing is to clean out particles from the deteriorated mirror foam and run a few rolls of (cheap) film through it. (note: don't shoot anything important) Most will loosen up and return to normal operation from the above alone.

If the problem recurs, that would most likely indicate some sort of mechanical issue. Those can range from easy fix (contaminant stuck in the drive assembly and/or shutter diaphragm; usually a piece of film that's gotten stuck in the drive teeth) to impossibly expensive (internal timing component wear: remember, these are mechanical beasts)

Assuming the problem is resolved, welcome to the wonderful world of SLR photography. Full-metal bodied SLRs from the 60s & 70s are real beauties and can be an absolute joy to shoot with.