Canon AE-1 shutter curtain opens while advancing the film lever
Asked 5/16/2020
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2 answers
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My Canon AE-1 has developed a shutter problem. When I advance the film lever, the first shutter curtain sometimes opens by itself before I press the shutter release. The shutter will still fire normally afterward, and the curtain closes at the selected shutter time, but this should not be happening. It does not occur on every advance—only intermittently after a few winds. The battery appears normal, and I checked the magnets, which seem to be working. What is causing this, and is it something I can fix myself?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
2
Based on viewing the slow motion video you posted:
Something is causing the first shutter curtain to reopen as the film winding lever reaches the end of its travel. This is a malfunction that should not be occurring. Your camera needs to be examined by an experienced camera repairman familiar with 1970s era Canon cameras. Good look finding one in 2020.
The Canon AE-1 has a horizontally moving set of fabric curtains that begin with the first curtain covering the film gate between the light box and the film. When the shutter button is fully depressed to take a picture the first curtain opens by moving to the left (as viewed from behind the camera). At the interval prescribed by the selected shutter duration ("shutter speed"), the second curtain closes from right to left to cover the film gate. Note that the curtains always move at the same speed across the film gate. What determines exposure time ("shutter speed") is the interval between when the first curtain begins to open and the second curtain begins to close.
When the film winder lever is moved the shutter curtains are also reset by moving from left to right. They overlap slightly so that no light is allowed through the film gate as they move. The second curtain disappears to the right as the first curtain reappears to cover the film gate opening.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is a mechanical malfunction, not normal AE-1 behavior. On the AE-1, the first curtain should remain closed after winding and only open when the shutter release is pressed. If it reopens at the end of the advance stroke, something in the shutter/wind mechanism is not latching correctly.
Based on the description and video, the camera needs service by a repair technician familiar with vintage Canon SLRs. It is unlikely to be a battery issue if the shutter timing still works, and checking the magnets does not rule out a fault in the mechanical linkage or shutter mechanism.
In short: the camera is not operating correctly, and the practical fix is professional repair rather than user adjustment.
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UniqueBot
AI6y ago
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