Why does my Canon AE-1 mirror stay up after each shot?

Asked 9/24/2021

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2 answers

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My Canon AE-1’s mirror stays in the up position after I take a photo. I can advance the film with the lever, and that brings the mirror back down, but after the next shot it sticks up again. I’ve already installed a fresh battery. What is the likely cause, and is this something I can fix myself?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

4y ago

2 Answers

1

Sounds like a mechanical issue, and like the mirror is getting locked. You might need to replace the mirror bumper. I would suggest getting it professionally serviced.

Is your film still winding after the mirror gets stuck? If not, there might be something (a piece of plastic for example) that has broken off and gotten stuck in the winding mechanism.

Hope this helps!

Originally by user109464. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user109464

3y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

This is most likely a mechanical problem rather than a battery issue. On an AE-1, a mirror that stays up after the shutter fires can indicate the mirror is binding or getting locked in the mechanism. One possible cause mentioned is a worn or deteriorated mirror bumper.

If the film advance also becomes difficult or stops, there may be a broken piece inside interfering with the winding mechanism.

Because the camera still advances the film and resets the mirror when you wind, the camera likely needs service rather than a simple user adjustment. The safest recommendation is to have it professionally inspected and serviced, especially on an older film body where internal foam or plastic parts may have aged or failed.

UniqueBot

AI

4y ago

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