Canon A series
When Canon -A series it was the six small picture - SLR with Canon FD bayonet with the designations AE-1 , AT-1 , A-1 , AV-1 , AE-1 Program and AL-1 . They had very much in common and were particularly important to Canon, as they made the company the market leader in single lens reflex cameras.
The Canon AE-1 , which came on the market in April 1976, was the first 35mm SLR camera with microprocessor control. It had an automatic shutter and there was a variant with a tracking pointer in the viewfinder, the AT-1 . The later AE-1 program had taken over some details of the A-1. The Canon A-1 was the first 35mm SLR camera with a 7-segment LED display in the viewfinder for the aperture value and the exposure time, and after the Minolta XD 7 it was the second 35mm SLR camera, which has both aperture and as well as with automatic timing. There was also an automatic program. Compared to the AE-1, the AV-1 was a bit emaciated as an entry-level model and worked with automatic timing . The AL-1 was derived from this and already featured an electronic focusing aid as a harbinger of the autofocus cameras.
The Canon A series was replaced in 1983 by the Canon T series , the last 35mm SLR cameras for the Canon FD bayonet.
Emergence
prehistory
In the second half of the 1960s, Canon had nothing to oppose to cameras with open aperture measurement , so that Minolta in particular achieved significantly larger market shares with the SR-T 101 . After 1970 the Canon FD bayonet and the Canon FTb were able to catch up a little, and the step to market leader was made possible by the superior modern AE-1.
Development work on the AE-1 began in early 1973, and at the same time the design basis for the A-1 had been determined.
Canon, Minolta, Pentax , Olympus and Nikon were considered the "Big Five" in the heyday of the SLR .
concept
The A series has been consistently built using the latest technology, in particular with a microprocessor control. The suspicion that many photographers had of a camera that relied on a battery did not play a role. So you could get by with very few parts and offer the camera at a low price, but still finance a large-scale advertising campaign. This consisted mainly of advertisements in magazines and specialist journals. The microprocessor control also kept the additional effort for a fully automatic exposure control low. As a modern system there was also a system flash unit, a motorized film transport that could be attached without modifying the camera, and a back wall for imprinting data. All of this was still unusual for an amateur camera and a weighty argument in the purchase decision .
Similarities
casing
The A series was based on a completely new aluminum housing that was significantly lower than that of the F series. In addition, there was no longer the combined dimming and self-timer lever. Instead, there was a stop-down slide, if available, to the left of the lens in the direction of the camera, which was locked by a spring-loaded button. The housing cover was made of plastic with a layer of copper and then the layer of paint over it.
The base plate and housing cover were available in silver or black. The A-1 was always black, the AT-1 always in silver, the other models were available in black for an extra charge, but the AV-1 was not available from the start.
Viewfinder
All models had a built-in prism viewfinder. The viewfinder screen was designed differently, the viewfinder view on the A-1 could be closed with a lever, otherwise it could be attached with a plastic slider that could be stored in the hot shoe.
Exposure control
The exposure metering corresponded to the general standard with the center-weighted integral metering. With the exception of the AT-1, a silicon cell was used as the sensor. The entire electronics were built with flexible printed circuit boards.
Clasp
All cameras had the same horizontally running cloth shutter with 1 ⁄ 60 s as the shortest flash synchronization and 1 ⁄ 1000 s as the shortest shutter speed. Only the longest settable time determined by the microprocessor was different. The trigger was not mechanically connected to the shutter, but only made an electrical contact. The electronics also implemented the always present self-timer. He had 10 s lead time on all cameras and an additional 2 s on the A-1.
Data Back A
The Data Back A was an unusual accessory, especially for a common amateur camera. It replaced the back wall and could imprint the date or a combination of letters and numbers with orange characters in the lower right corner of the image. For this purpose, a small flash was built into it, which had to be connected to the X-contact via a short sync cable and its own power supply, with the same type of battery as the camera used it. The appropriate film speed range had to be selected with a three-stage switch. Three dials were available for the data to be displayed, which, in the case of the recording date, had to be set to the year, day and month. Eleven year numbers were available, which ranged from 76 to 87 for the first models and could be exchanged by the factory service department after the expiry.
- With the right wheel for the day, numbers from 0 to 31 or nothing could be faded in.
- With the middle wheel for the month, numbers from 0 to 31, letters from A to G or nothing could be displayed.
- The two-digit year number, Roman numerals from I to X, letters from a to g or nothing could be displayed with the left wheel for the year.
The data back could not be attached to the AV-1 or AL-1, these cameras also did not have a socket for flash synchronization.
Film transport
Power Winder A
The AE-1 was presented together with the Power Winder A, a motorized film transport for a frame rate of up to 2 / s. It was screwed under the camera on the tripod thread. To do this, a small screw cap was removed from the bottom plate of the camera, which covered the mechanical transport coupling. The lid could be stored in a slot provided on the winder. Two spring-loaded contact pins provided the electrical connection. The drive ran with four mignon cells in a removable battery compartment, which was also available separately and could therefore be changed quickly. An external battery pack was even available as an accessory, which could hold two such battery magazines and a camera battery and which was connected to the winder or camera by cable. The only control element on the Power Winder A was an on / off switch, so that the film could also be transported manually if necessary. A red LED served as a warning signal when the film transport blocked - for example at the end of the film. The Power Winder A extended the camera downwards and thus had the side effect of making it easier to hold the camera. It could be used on all A-series cameras.
Power Winder A2
The Power Winder A2 was released together with the AE-1 Program. It could also be connected to all A-series cameras, but had an additional function that only worked with the A-1 or the AE-1 Program, as only these two cameras had the necessary additional contacts: there was a connection socket for one Release cables, as they were already known from the Canon motor drives.
In addition, the Power Winder A2 could be switched to single image mode, and the film was only transported after releasing the shutter release. Due to the low frame rate, this was hardly of any practical use. The power supply still consisted of four mignon cells, which were no longer in a removable container, but directly in the housing.
Motor Drive MA
The Motor Drive MA appeared with the A-1 and could only be operated with this or the AE-1 program. The MA essentially consisted of a thin gear plate with an attached handle in which the electric motor was located. To attach it to the camera, the camera-side cover of the transport coupling was removed, as was the standard grip plate over the camera battery compartment on the A-1 and AE-1 Program. This is where the handle was located after the motor was started. Either the battery part MA or the NC part MA has been snapped into place under the actual motor part . Both had a main switch on their underside which, in addition to OFF, could be set to single image (S), series image slow (L) or series image fast (H). There was also a second shutter release button for portrait photography. The primary trigger for landscape images was on the top of the handle. The battery pack also had a white button on its underside, which you could use to switch directly to the maximum transport speed regardless of the position of the main switch. Its battery magazine took 12 mignon cells and enabled a recording rate of 3.5 / s in the slow and 5 / s in the fast position, or 3 / s and 4 / s with the AE-1 program. The battery pack had 12 built-in NiCd cells and was a bit lighter and smaller. It enabled the frame rates of 3 / s and 4 / s with both compatible cameras. To rewind, a small lever marked with an R on the motor part was operated, which in turn pressed the rewind button of the camera and thus enabled the usual (manual) use of the camera's rewind crank. The red warning LED already mentioned for the winders and a connection socket for a release cable were also available.
Power supply
The A series no longer used button cells, but with the exception of the AL-1 a 6 V battery of the type PX 28, which was available in alkali or silver oxide versions. It was to the left of Lens behind a door. Without the battery inserted, it could not be triggered. Because even amateurs considered it to be a very high risk not to be able to take photos at all because of an empty battery and almost every test report of a camera considered this aspect, a reserve battery container was included in the scope of delivery to attach to the shoulder strap.
Auto flash
The A series no longer stuck to the outdated CAT automatic flash , but instead used flash units with a built-in light sensor and electrical information transmission through two small additional contacts in the hot shoe. A connected system flash automatically set the camera to 1 ⁄ 60 s exposure time (unless the shutter speed dial was on B) and transferred the aperture selected on the flash to the lens. The latter did not apply to the AT-1, AV-1 and AL-1, as these cameras did not have a transmission of the aperture value to the lens. Your hot shoe only had one additional contact. The readiness for flash was indicated in the camera viewfinder by correspondingly deflecting the measuring needle (AE-1, AT-1, AV-1, AL-1), or by a flash symbol (AE-1 program) or an F in the digital display of the A-1 .
Speedlite 155A
With the AE-1, the Speedlite 155A appeared, which had the guide number 17 at ISO 100/21 °. It had two automatic ranges, the green for shooting distances from 0.5 m to 3 m and the red for 0.5 m to 6 m. At ISO 100/21 °, the apertures were 5.6 and 2.8 accordingly. The 155A's reflector could not be swiveled.
Speedlite 199A
The Speedlite 199A appeared with the A-1. It offered an additional function: if you pushed the slide switch on your foot from Auto to Manu 1 ⁄ 60 -30s , the camera would only switch to 1 ⁄ 60 s when the dial was on a (impermissibly) shorter time. Exposure times longer than 1 ⁄ 60 s, however, were retained. This also made it possible to take flash photos with long-time synchronization. This switch was ineffective on the other A cameras.
The Speedlite 199A had a guide number of 30 at ISO 100/21 ° and three automatic ranges, ranging from 0.5 m to 2.6 m, from 1 m to 5.3 m and from 1.5 m to 10.6 m. The corresponding aperture values at ISO 100/21 ° were 11, 5.6 and 2.8. The reflector could be swiveled up to 90 °, but not turned sideways. Its light angle was sufficient for lenses with a focal length of 35 mm or more, and the supplied diffuser could also illuminate 24 mm.
Speedlite 188A
The Speedlite 188A appeared with the AE-1 program and offered an additional function with this: After the shutter was released, the flash symbol flashed in the viewfinder for 2 seconds if the range of the flash was sufficient in automatic mode. It was therefore the information that was otherwise only displayed on the flash unit itself. The 188A had the guide number 25 at ISO 100/21 ° and like the 155A had no swiveling reflector and two automatic ranges.
More flash units
Over time, the range expanded to nine flash units. But they were hardly of any significance after third-party manufacturers such as Braun, Metz or Sunpak also offered system flash units. The models 011A, 133A, 166A, 177A, 533G and 577G were added, with the guide numbers 14, 16, 20, 36 and 48, each at ISO 100/21 °. The G models were handheld flash units.
With the exception of the Speedlite 300TL for the T90, the flash units of the T series can also be used with advantage on the A cameras. The 299T offered a large number of automatic apertures and a largely pivotable and rotatable zoom reflector.
AE-1
Period and classification
The AE-1 appeared in April 1976 and was superseded by the Canon T-70 in 1984 , although with the appearance of the AE-1 program it had hardly any significance. It replaced the Canon FTb .
The AE-1 initially cost around DM 730 with the 50 mm f / 1.8 standard lens, but this price fell to around DM 630 after the A-1 was released. Around 5 million copies were sold.
particularities
Exposure control
The microprocessor selected an aperture for the set exposure time and displays it in the viewfinder. This processor, built in I2L technology, comprised over 1000 transistor functions. The power supply was only switched on during the shutter release and when the shutter release button or the exposure test button was tapped. The latter had the same function and was located on the left side of the bayonet socket in the direction of view of the camera. Above it was the backlight correction button, which opened the aperture 1.5 steps.
A film speed of ISO 25/15 ° to ISO 3200/36 ° could be set on the camera, the exposure meter was locked at the lowest sensitivity up to 2 s shutter speed and then gradually less until the range at the highest sensitivity only up to 1 ⁄ 60 s was enough.
Viewfinder
The focusing screen of the AE-1 had the combination of a microprism ring with a split image rangefinder, which is common in many SLR cameras without autofocus. The viewfinder contains the displays, a pointer instrument and two light-emitting diodes, next to the right edge of the picture. The instrument indicated the aperture value determined by the camera, a red light-emitting diode underneath warned against underexposure and an M above it, which was also illuminated in red by the second diode, reminded of the switched off automatic shutter.
Clasp
On the AE-1, the dial lasted up to 2 seconds. The self-timer was switched with the release lock and had a lead time of 10 s, during which a red LED next to the release flashed, the last 2 s quickly.
Power supply
Between the rewind crank and the viewfinder prism there was a test button which, when the battery was full, let the pointer in the viewfinder deflect to about 2.8. As the battery became exhausted , the display value increased during the test process. If it reached 5.6 (there was a small mark there), the battery was considered exhausted and should be replaced.
AT-1
Period and classification
In December 1976 the AT-1 added an entry-level model to the Canon range. It expired before the AE-1 and had no successor. Since then, apart from the professional F-1 , Canon has not had a single-lens reflex camera with a tracking pointer in the viewfinder. It cost about 100 DM less than the AE-1.
The AT-1 was not offered on the Japanese market.
particularities
casing
The AT-1 was very largely identical to the AE-1. Even the housing caps differed only minimally, so that at first glance you could hardly distinguish the two models more than the lettering. However, the two buttons for exposure measurement on the bayonet socket were missing, as they would have had no function here.
Exposure control
The exposure control was done manually, in that, as is common practice and still known from the Canon FTb, two pointers on the left edge of the image had to be brought into line. In contrast to the AE-1, a CdS cell was used instead of silicon. Such a cell managed without a measuring amplifier and thus saved electricity, but reacted more slowly. The two buttons on the bayonet socket for exposure measurement and correction were omitted without replacement.
Power supply
Due to the tracking measurement, the AT-1 needed a switch with which the camera could be switched on permanently. This was located around the rewind and took over the battery test in position C, so there was no separate button for it.
A-1
→ Main article: Canon A-1
Period and classification
The A-1 appeared in April 1978 and remained in the range until the Canon EOS appeared, but was practically replaced by the Canon T90. Its predecessor was the Canon EF . Just like this, it cost about 1200 DM with the normal 50 mm f / 1.8 lens.
particularities
Viewfinder
The viewfinder had a particularly modern appearance for the time, as it was equipped with red 7-segment light-emitting diode displays under the lower edge of the picture, which indicated the aperture and shutter speed. The B setting for long exposures was displayed as buLb, an F indicated the flash readiness of a connected system flash unit and both together led to bu F. In the event of an error, EEEE EE was displayed, which stood for Error. The entire display blinked to warn of overexposure or underexposure.
In order not to irritate the photographer, the display changed the numbers no more than every 0.5 seconds and adjusted its brightness to the image brightness: from EV 15 it was maximally bright, from EV 11 to EV 15 the brightness was 1 ⁄ 2 , from EV 8 up to EV 11 only 1 ⁄ 8 and below EV 5 only 1 ⁄ 16 .
Such a display appeared for the first time on a 35mm SLR camera, only the display of only the shutter speed with 7-segment display was already available on the Fujica ST-901. However, this camera only showed rounded values, for example 100 for 1 ⁄ 125 s, which was not particularly well received by customers, so that the successor model again had conventional pointers. The A-1, on the other hand, immediately became a gigantic success, so that Canon asked for understanding in an advertisement for delivery bottlenecks.
Adjusting washers
The following adjustment washers could be installed by the factory service. Standard was target E:
- Type A: microprismatic grid
- Type B: cross section indicator
- Type C: full matt disc
- Type D: mesh screen
- Type E: micro prism ring and cross section indicator
- Type G: Microprismatic louvre for lenses with a speed of 3.5–5.6
- Type I: double crosshair
Exposure control
The film speed could be set from ISO 6/9 ° to ISO 12800/42 ° on a ring around the rewind crank, which also served to correct the exposure by +/- 2 f-stops in 1 ⁄ 3- stop steps. The exposure meter was linked to ISO 100/21 ° for an exposure time of 8 s, which corresponded to EV - 2 to EV 18.
- Shutter Priority
- For the automatic aperture, the switch next to the selection dial had to be set to Tv (time value) and the aperture ring of the lens in automatic position, then the shutter speeds appeared in the window for the aperture / time dial and could be set in whole steps with the dial.
- Automatic timing
- In contrast to all previous single-lens reflex cameras with automatic aperture control and thus also the Minolta XD 7, the aperture with automatic aperture control was not set on the lens, but also on the camera. As with the automatic iris, the aperture ring of the lens was in the automatic position. The selector lever on the camera was set to Av (aperture value) and the window of the aperture / time wheel showed the aperture values, which could be set in half steps as usual.
- Automatic programs
- For the automatic program, there was also the P position in the automatic aperture setting beyond 1 ⁄ 1000 s. Then the camera selected a certain aperture-time combination for a certain brightness, which was stored in the electronics memory.
- Aperture priority automatic
- When the shutter slide was pressed, the camera automatically set the automatic aperture control and the combined aperture / time setting wheel was inoperative. Only the shutter speed was now displayed in the viewfinder.
- Manual setting
- If the stop-down slide is not pressed, the aperture on the lens and the time on the camera can be set manually.
Clasp
As known from Canon EF, times from 1 ⁄ 1000 s to 30 s could be set.
AV-1
Period and classification
The AV-1 appeared in June 1979 at about the same time as the comparable Nikon EM . It was an entry-level model that was offered a little cheaper than the AE-1 and was also more simply equipped. It cost the same as the AT-1.
particularities
casing
The stop-down slide was missing on the housing, so that it was not possible to stop down to check the depth of field. On the bayonet base there was only the button for exposure correction, the measurement could only be switched on by tapping the shutter release.
In addition, there was no socket for flash synchronization, nor could the Data Back A, which used this socket, be used.
Viewfinder
The focusing screen of the AV-1 also had the combination of a micro prism ring and a sectional image rangefinder. There was also a pointer instrument next to the right edge of the picture, it indicated the exposure time from 2 s to 1 ⁄ 1000 s. In contrast, there were no LEDs in the viewfinder.
Exposure control
The AV-1 was a time machine. This saved a servo motor, as no aperture transmission from the camera to the lens was required. As with the AT-1, the aperture value was set on the lens and transferred from the aperture simulator to the camera.
The time setting wheel only had the positions automatic mode, flash sync time and B as well as self-timer with automatic or flash sync time. Other times could not be set manually. This was the case with the Nikon EM or the Asahi Pentax ME , for example , but it was the first Canon SLR camera without freely adjustable exposure times.
The camera selected the exposure time between 2 s and 1 ⁄ 1000 s, with the measuring range ranging from EV 1 to EV 18, corresponding to 1 s and f / 1.4 to 1 ⁄ 1000 s and f / 22 at ISO 100/21 °.
AE-1 program
Period and classification
The AE-1 Program appeared as an additional model in April 1981, but practically replaced the AE-1. The AE1 Program added some features of the A-1 to the ordinary AE-1.
particularities
casing
The AE-1 Program could be distinguished from the ordinary AE-1 at first glance, as the controls on the housing cap were arranged differently. In particular, the shutter speed dial was no longer on the same axis as the film transport lever.
Viewfinder
As with the AE-1, the displays were located next to the right edge of the image in the viewfinder, but there was no longer a pointer instrument, instead luminous symbols and numbers arranged one above the other. From bottom to top these were a lightning bolt, the digits 1; 1.4; 2; 2.8; 4; 5.6; 8th; 11; 16; 22; 32 and the letters P for automatic programs and M for manual.
Adjusting washers
The following finder screens were available for the AE-1 program, which, in contrast to the A-1, could even be changed by the photographer himself. A small tool was included with the discs. Disk E was standard.
- Type A: microprismatic grid
- Type B: cross section indicator
- Type C: full matt disc
- Type D: mesh screen
- Type E: micro prism ring and cross section indicator
- Type H: measuring scale cross
- Type I: double crosshair
- Type L: cross-cut indicator
With the AE-1 Program, a new marker was introduced, which was available in the B and E focusing screens. In contrast to conventional types, the halves of the cut image did not darken or only slightly darkened even with less light lenses, so that the usability with lenses with a speed of 4 or 5.6 was considerably improved.
Exposure control
The name-giving innovation is the automatic program. It worked exactly like the A-1: On the shutter speed dial, the 1 ⁄ 1000 s was followed by another position. The camera automatically selected the aperture and shutter speed according to a characteristic curve.
AL-1
Period and classification
The AL-1 appeared in April 1982 as a harbinger of the autofocus cameras. It was of little importance, but it did allow Canon to gain experience with a distance measurement system. The camera was based on the AV-1, from which it differed mainly in the focusing aid called Quick Focus .
particularities
casing
Like the AV-1, the AL-1 did not have a shutter on the housing and no sync socket, so that the Data Back A could not be used.
Exposure control
Because it was derived from the AV-1, the AL-1 was also a time machine. While you could only set B and the flash sync time manually on the AV-1, on the AL-1 it was all times from 1 ⁄ 15 s to 1 ⁄ 1000 s and B.
Viewfinder
The AL-1 had a fully matt screen with a clip in the middle, which marked the measuring field for the focusing aid. Next to the right edge of the picture was the pointer instrument known from the AV-1, on the lower edge of the picture the three light-emitting diodes for the focusing aid.
Power supply
Since the Quick Focus led to increased power consumption, the AL-1 could not manage with the capacity of the 6 V battery and therefore worked with 2 micro cells that were inserted from below into the battery compartment in the indicated handle.
Quick Focus
service
For the focusing aid, a vertical contrast had to be placed in the bracket on the ground glass, then its distance could be determined. The middle, green LED indicated the correct setting, with the left, red LED the setting ring had to be turned to the right and with the right, also red LED, the other way around. If the focus was completely wrong, the distance setting had to be rotated until an LED lit up.
functionality
The system worked with a special mirror on which lines were applied that let light through. Behind it was a small auxiliary mirror that was placed on the main mirror when it was folded up so that it did not get in the way when the film was exposed. The auxiliary mirror directed the light beams to the CCD sensors at the bottom of the mirror box, which determined the focus. To do this, a beam splitter divided the light beam into three parts. The middle part covered the same distance to the sensor as when the mirror was folded up to the film plane and could therefore be used to determine the correct distance setting. The other two beams covered a shorter or longer distance and could therefore be used to determine the too large or small distance setting.
This process was later developed for the Canon T80 and finally the EOS models.
Operation in this day and age
Known weaknesses
The most common weakness of the A-series is a whooping-cough-like sound, combined with slowly moving the mirror. The cause is the mirror brake, which slows down the swinging process of the mirror so that it hits the lower limit with little vibration. If the camera is not used regularly, the lubricating oil of this component tends to become resinous, which causes both the squeaking noise and the unnecessarily long oscillation process. This can be remedied by adding a little lubricating oil. Repair instructions can be found on the Internet.
At the time of the production of the A-series, the camera electronics were not yet geared towards a power-saving design, which cannot be called a shortcoming for the past time. On the other hand, with some of the AE-1 and A-1 models, small breaks in the battery compartment cover mostly only appeared after almost two years of use, which could later lead to a complete break and thus to the loss of the battery compartment cover. The specialist dealers described the cause as the plastic material of the lid, which changes over time. This well-known weakness, in turn, meant that when the camera was used, the battery could be lost without the lid lock and the function of the camera was lost while on the move. Masking the battery compartment without the cover was an unsightly problem solution.
Web links
- AE-1 in the Canon Camera Museum
- AT-1 in the Canon Camera Museum
- A-1 in the Canon Camera Museum
- AV-1 in the Canon Camera Museum
- AE-1 Program in the Canon Camera Museum
- AL-1 in the Canon Camera Museum
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Canon A-1: The digital computer makes it possible , Color Photo June 1978
- ↑ Canon A-1 Repair Guide
- ↑ Canon advertisement in Color Foto, October 1978 issue
- ↑ Repair instructions for the Canon "whooping cough"
swell
- Günter Richter: The Canon AE-1 Reflex System. Laterna magica 1979, ISBN 3-87467-115-1 .
- Ludwig Knülle: Canon AE-1, superlative SLR camera. vwi Verlag, Herrsching 1977, ISBN 3-88369-014-7 .
- Ludwig Knülle: Canon A-1, the dimension of camera technology. vwi Verlag, Herrsching 1978, ISBN 3-88369-064-3 .
- Ludwig Knülle: Canon AV-1, reflex camera with a sense of time. vwi Verlag, Herrsching 1979, ISBN 3-88369-095-3 .
- Günter Richter: Canon AL-1, the reflex camera with Quick-Focus. vwi Verlag, Herrsching 1982, ISBN 3-88369-043-0 .
- Carl Shipman: How to select and use Canon SLR cameras. Fisher Publishing, Tucson 1979, ISBN 0-912656-56-5 .