The Canon AE-1 is a 35 mm SLR camera released in 1976 and manufactured through 1984. The AE-1 supported interchangeable lenses and was the first SLR camera to use a CPU microprocessor. The camera was a big seller for Canon as it was reasonably priced for a higher end camera. For many new photographers of that era, the AE-1 was the first SLR camera they used. While a little more complicated than many consumer point and click cameras, the AE-1 can be used out of the box after a short setup.
Attach Lens
The AE-1 supports interchangeable lenses that must be attached to the camera before shooting pictures. To attach a lens, remove the rear lens cap from the lens by holding the rear side toward you and twisting counterclockwise. Next, pull off the lens cap on the body of the AE-1. Locate the red positioning mark on the lens and line it up with the red dot above the lens mount on the body of the camera. Turn the lens clockwise until the it stops moving and the "Lens Release" button on the side of the lens pops out. If the "Lens Release" button does not pop out, the lens is not attached correctly and pictures taken with the AE-1 will be distorted. Remove the lens and try again.
Load Film
The AE-1 supports both color and black-and-white 35 mm film. The film comes in cartridges that are placed in the back of the camera. Before loading the film you need to set the ASA of the film you are using. The ASA is usually located on the packaging that comes with your film and must be matched to your camera for correct exposure. To set the ASA, lift the grooved ring around the "Shutter Speed" dial on the top right of the camera and turn it until the number matches the ASA number of the film.
To load the film, pull the "Rewind" knob on the top left of the camera up until the film cover pops open. Place the film cartridge in the left side of the compartment with the smaller round area on top of the cartridge pointing down and the opening where the film is located facing right. Pull the film leader across the compartment to the opposite side of the camera and place it in one of the slots of the spool. The spool is what will pull the film through the camera so that it can be exposed.
Press the "Film Advance" lever on the top right of the camera once and check that the holes in the film are caught in the raised teeth of the spool. This is to ensure that the film moves through the camera correctly and does not create bad photographs. Make sure the film is pulled tight. If there is slack in the film, turn the "Rewind" knob clockwise until it is tight. Close the compartment cover once the film is loaded.
Before you can take pictures, you have to advance the film past the leader so the pictures will be recorded. Press the shutter button and advance the film keeping an eye on the frame counter located next to the "Film Advance" knob. Continue to shoot blank pictures and advancing the film until the counter is pointing at the small white dot between the "0" and "2." You are now ready to take pictures.
Take Pictures
Before taking a picture, set the shutter speed on the camera by turning the "Shutter Speed" dial. The smaller the number, the longer the shutter stays open. In general, you should use shorter shutter speeds in bright conditions and longer shutter speeds in lower light conditions. Look through the viewfinder and press the shutter button halfway. You will see a meter on the left. If needle is high in the red area, decrease the shutter speed. If the red light blinks, increase the shutter speed.
Point the camera at the subject and frame it in the viewfinder. Turn the focus ring on the lens back and forth until the subject appears clear and sharp in the viewfinder. Press the shutter button completely to take a picture.
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