Canon A1 Film Camera Guide For Dummies

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Since making my previous video about the Canon A1 film camera I have discovered through comments that a lot of people have inherited these cameras and may not necessarily know anything about cameras or photography.
This simplified guide is for people who have suddenly found themselves in possession of this classic film camera, and who would like to take photos with it, but are really struggling to use it.
If, after watching the video, you still aren't sure about something please leave a comment below. I do my best to respond to every comment I receive!
Old film cameras and lenses can surface anywhere. If you're lucky, you can find good examples in second-hand shops or flea markets. However, this requires a great deal of luck. The most reliable way to find good used equipment - without relying on luck - is to look on eBay. The following link should list several Canon A1 film cameras currently available on eBay:
ebay.us/PUXrRC

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9 янв 2021

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Комментарии : 521

@MrSnapperDog Год назад

I bought my A1 in 1980 and took 100s of pictures with it. In 1982, I married and a few years later, my wife didn’t like taking pictures with the A1 because she had to manually focus. The Rebel came out and I traded my A1 and lenses for an auto focus Rebel. Eventually digital cameras came out and the Rebel fell into disuse. I recently purchased a Nikon Z50 which I love. In January, my son passed from Covid (at 30)… while going through his things, I found that he had an A1… I had no idea that he had it. Now I have an A1 again and I plan on using it in his memory. My next purchase will be a film developing kit so I can develop the exposed film. I already have the hardware to scan the negatives.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. As a parent myself I can think of nothing worse than losing a child. My sincere condolences. The A1 had quite a good run before autofocus took over. Not so the T90. That was a truly amazing camera, but even when it was new there were already AF cameras and these soon dominated. Years ago, my brother developed his own film. It didn't seem too bad doing B/W, but color was a lot trickier. Doing your own developing gives you complete control over the creative process. The problem for me with two young children is lack of time! Thanks for your comment.

@bampss 13 дней назад

That’s mad love 🖤

@gemmahayley 3 года назад

I've been using my A1 for almost 20 years and I've finally learned what some of the buttons do! This is an excellent and clear video thank you! I load my film differently but as long as it works there's no wrong way!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

That's very kind of you Gemma, your comment is much appreciated 🙂 I'm not sure how you load your film but, as you say, if the end result is the same it doesn't matter. Happy shooting!

@Tenskwatawa4U Год назад

True. He's a very good explainer. I was shooting 35mm rangefinder cameras back in the 1960s, and I had to learn a lot of this stuff on my own, sometimes through trial and error, also through photography magazines such as MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY. I was processing my own black and white film and making prints in the bathroom whilst my proud parents suffered - we only had one bathroom! I was also a photographer for my high school yearbook, and processed and printed in an on-site darkroom. You're doing a fantastic job explaining all this. I'm looking at A-1 cameras online and I'm going to buy one pretty soon, so your video fills in a lot of the questions I have. I sold all my gear during a hard period about 8 or 9 years ago, and concentrated on iPhone photography. Now I'm getting the film itch once again. I do have an EOS Elan IIe which needs a new lens, but looks like it's in working order otherwise. Thanks for the great video!

@jasschramm4592 3 года назад

This honestly is the best tutorial I’ve seen. Been using my camera wrong this whole time 😂😅

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you 🙂

@madgazo 2 года назад

same here !!

@TheOlympia75 2 года назад

How were you using it wrong. I think I may be as well

@dubtastic 2 года назад

I have my father's Canon A-1 and stumbled across this video looking for an explanation as to how to do multiple exposures. Totally blown away at how in-depth and helpful this is. I even bookmarked this to come back to it later on. It is a video that I wish I had when first given the camera. Thank you so much for taking the time to do it.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Hi Jason, you're most welcome and thank you for your kind comments! I'd done a video previously and forgotten a few points, so I thought I'd make another (this one) to include the omissions. It didn't actually take long. Some other videos I've made have taken a lot longer. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

@vileCR999 Год назад

DUDE, I LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!! ❤️❤️❤️ I recently inherited my late brother's A-1 and this video was EVERY SINGLE THING I wanted to know! Even down to the little side buttons! You're the hero we need.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

LOL! I can feel the love. Thank you. It's not every day I receive comments like this. Happy shooting 😃

@tomdelisle8955 3 года назад

RIP Uncle Henry, thanks for the great camera.

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

LOL! Thank you!

@RobertoDiBenedetto-tm8jy Год назад

Phil proceeds to roast our ass before educating us in the most articulate way. Phil is a treasure.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Not sure that ass-roasting was my intention, but thanks for the compliment!

@diamondk4648 Год назад

The accuracy within the first 2 seconds lol I know nothing about photography and I am inheriting my dads camera that he used taking pictures of me my whole childhood lol ❤ thank you for this tutorial

@PhilUKNet Год назад

You're most welcome! Your Dad had excellent taste. Hopefully, you inherited a few nice lenses as well 🙂

@CptLehat 3 года назад

Just picked up an A1 as a complete novice! This video was excellent, thorough but concise, really appreciate your knowledge. Looking forward to taking her out for some shots! I'm sure i'll be coming back to this video time and time again as I learn, very informative, thank you

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you! People get bored with RU-vid videos quickly so I need to go through the content quite quickly. Sometimes I want to take longer to explain, but it is necessary to try to strike a balance. I made a previous video about the A1, but left out a few things. In this one I think I covered everything and my target audience was complete novice level. If you do have any questions, feel free to ask. There's no such thing as a stupid question!

@xxloserface194 Год назад

I’ve learned so much from this tutorial and keep coming back to it every once in a while 😊 great stuff!!!

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you Linda, you're very kind! If I missed anything or something isn't clear, feel free to ask.

@maximedutel9668 Год назад

The right level of detail, covering everything about the A-1. Great video!

@PhilUKNet Год назад

You're very kind, thank you!

@jeffkelly5972 2 года назад

I have a A1 and have never seen a better tutorial on this camera than yours. Thank you for posting this video. I also have a AE1 and enjoy both film cameras. It is getting hard to find film and even harder to find developing at a reasonable price.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you! I'm in Thailand and film is very easy to find, but it's expensive. I've been paying Bt320 (almost $10) for a 36 exp roll of Portra 160. The developing cost is Bt80 (almost $2.50) without scanning - I do my own scanning. It soon adds up when you consider the cost of digital!

@fatfrank4278 11 месяцев назад

Thank you so much Phil! Im not completely new to film photography and got the A-1 recently. Your video was a big help! Much appreciated!

@PhilUKNet 11 месяцев назад

Pleasure! Thank you for the kind comments 🙂

@manuelpujolbatlle7795 2 года назад

Wonderfully explained. It's the best video on this camera I have seen so far. I just got one of these cameras on a thrift shop and I just can wait to go out and shoot with it.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

You're very kind, thank you! Have fun shooting!

@poniponiponi 3 года назад

I just got my dad's old canon a1 and was so confused with so many buttons and options (I'm used to using an f1), so this video is really helpful to. Thank you so much!!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

You are very welcome, thanks for leaving a comment! There are lots of people like you who have inherited these cameras, which is why I made this video. I've never actually used an F1 so if I get hold of one I will give you a shout!

@michielvanzummeren Год назад

Thank you so much for this video! Have my A1 a couple of years now but only knew a handful of buttons. This is truly helpful

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Pleasure! Thanks for letting me know.

@evannash228 Месяц назад

Talk about a quick and concise tutorial! I recently found my grandfathers A 1 in our attic, complete with a 50mm and 28 mm lens and this video has been such a simple and yet helpful resource!

@PhilUKNet Месяц назад

Thank you! I, too, have both those lenses. The cameras often came with a 50mm f/1.8. After I bought a 28mm f/2.8, I much preferred the wider angle, and it stayed on the camera most of the time. Have fun!

@kennethpost3974 Год назад

Perfect video for newbies. Bought my A-1 at an estate sale for 15USD a few years ago. Now I feel much more confident in being able to play around with the settings.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

That was a good price! Thanks for your comment.

@badgerrun8771 Год назад

Bought an A 1 today at a rummage sale from the original purchaser from 1979. Came with the 50 mil, 80 to 200mil lens, auto winder and some extras. All paperwork original that came with it and a leather carrying case for 80 dollars. I cant wait to try it out and this video was amazing. New sub, keep up the awesome work.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

You got a good deal! Further, all the original paperwork being there tells me the previous owner looked after the equipment. Have fun!

@saras7934 3 года назад

Fantastic tutorial! Thank you very much! :) I only just received a Canon A1 + can't wait to start shooting with a film camera. I've mostly just used digital cameras, but think I can learn a lot from shooting film. Thanks again for your fantastic tutorial!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you Sara, very kind! The more technology improves, the less we have to think. These days just point your phone or camera, click, and you will get a good shot 99% of the time. There was a lot more thinking about exposure in the film days and that's how I learned the basics. It was also necessary because there was no instant feedback. If you take a shot with a digital camera you know straight away if it's OK, and if not you just change a setting and take another shot. When you have to wait for your film to come back from the lab you don't have this luxury. I have to admit I really enjoy the convenience of digital but occasionally I also enjoy reeling off a roll of film! Enjoy your A1!

@dustinmorgan4634 Год назад

You got it spot on with the fact that this was an inherited gift but I have done previous digital photography

@PhilUKNet Год назад

If it was inherited I hope you inherited a nice selection of FD Lenses as well!

@veritymckenna2422 3 года назад

I just bought a canon A1 and its the most complex film camera I’ve had yet, so I watched the original video and the for dummies one! I found both really helpful in getting to know the A1! Thanks a lot 🐢

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you! It seems complex at first, but actually it's very basic. I wasn't intending doing a 2nd video, but I realized that a really simple version was necessary and also it was an opportunity to include the bits I forgot in the first video. Glad you found it useful!

@syedbrothers1824 6 месяцев назад

I want to sell my A1 camera

@majafilipovic1392 2 года назад

Thanks for this, I just got an A1 and I'm totally new to film photography and I would be lost without this tutorial!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Pleasure! Thanks for your comment. If you have any problems feel free to leave a question. I'm sometimes a bit slow to respond, but I try to help everyone who asks.

@princessshredder Год назад

Thank you for this. I read the manual and this is an excellent fill-in-the-blanks tutorial! I can hardly wait to use the pristine Canon A-1 that was just gifted to me!

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Pleasure, thanks for your comment! The manual is actually very good, but if you aren't familiar with the camera I think it helps to actually see the real thing. Enjoy your new camera!

@saulekaravirs6585 2 года назад

I've been reading the manual on my Dad's ol' trusty, but this really simplifies it a bit. Thanks for the clear and concise explanations.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thanks for letting me know. I'm glad it helped!

@rachelhaines258 7 месяцев назад

SUCH a clear, informative, and helpful video! Well done! Sending thanks from the states!

@PhilUKNet 7 месяцев назад

You're very kind! Thank you 🙏

@melvinhowell5469 3 года назад

Very cool! I've had an A-1 for almost 30 years, but never really used it...now, retired, I'm gonna start...can't wait! Thank you so much! Subscribed!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

After moving to digital in 2004 I didn't use my film gear for a long time. I do miss the convenience and ease of digital when I shoot film now, but it's actually quite good fun and brings back a lot of happy memories. Thank you!

@BoeingSkunkWorks 2 месяца назад

Another great overview of the A-1. This explains so much that so easily understood about the many functions of this camera.

@PhilUKNet 2 месяца назад

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

@TrevorsFishing 2 года назад

Just got into film again and picked up an A1. This video is extremely helpful, thanks a lot man!!!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Glad it helped! Thanks for commenting. Happy shooting!

@CanoeToNewOrleans 2 года назад

Your explanation is clear and easy to understand. Thank you for posting this.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you!

@emrearioglu Год назад

Great video, I inherited an A-1 and had no clue. Now it gets exciting📷

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you! From the comments I have received, I've found out that a lot of people have acquired these cameras through inheritance. If you're really lucky you will have inherited a selection of good lenses as well!

@Lisa-zk5hz 3 года назад

Thank you SO MUCH for making this! So helpful & easy to follow!!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Pleasure, I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for your comment!

@aerialcornwall 4 месяца назад

Thank you for a great video! My grandad passed away over 10 years ago and just got this out of storage to finally use again. There's even an old roll of film in the camera still.

@PhilUKNet 4 месяца назад

Thank you! I'm sorry to hear about your granddad. I moved from the UK to Thailand in 2003 and left my film cameras in storage. When I finally retrieved them, they were fine, and hopefully, yours is too. My cameras also had old rolls of film in, and when they were developed, they still looked OK. You might have a few pleasant surprises when you get the film developed!

@LordPhilOne 2 месяца назад

Well, thank you, sir! Having recently bought a Canon A1 without the manual, your video was really helpful. Cheers.

@PhilUKNet 2 месяца назад

Pleasure 🙂 Thanks for letting me know 🙏

@donriedthaler3212 10 месяцев назад

I bought a Canon AE-1 many moons ago, like 40 years ago, now that I am retired am trying to get back into film photography, so bought two used Canon cameras, a Canon A-1 and a Canon AE-1 , and had to go on the internet to find out how they work as neither camera came with a lens but after watching your picture show, I am pretty well aware I can manage everything on my own, keep up the good work, will be back if I run into a problem

@PhilUKNet 10 месяцев назад

Thanks, and good luck sorting both cameras out!

@aristabooyse3685 Год назад

I have just been gifted with 2 A1s from two dear family friends and I am so thankful for this video! My sister and I can't wait to start snapping away.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

You're very fortunate! I get comments from people desperate to get a good A1, but they can't find one. I hope you were gifted a few good FD lenses too 😉

@aristabooyse3685 Год назад

@@PhilUKNet wow I didn't know they were so popular. They have been in storage for years, so some of the lenses has a mold grown inside. The 50mm lens unfortunately has mold. I am hoping to send it off for a clean, buy I live in Botswana, Africa so I might not be able too. Very very thankful for my friends generosity.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

@@aristabooyse3685 Me neither. I made videos about the Canon A1 and T90. The T90 also uses FD manual focus lenses and is FAR superior to the A1. However, the T90 video gets very views. Conversely, the A1 video gets lots of views. It has surprised me. Good luck getting your lenses cleaned. If gear is stored in a high humidity environment, mold is often a problem.

@rogerbrackin9274 Год назад

Great review. I've owned this camera for 40 years (was my first camera). Continued to use it (now alongside a digital). I also recently bought a friend one. This is really great for her. There is one querk worth noting. Sometimes the LED display goes to flashing EEEEE. Usually after the depth of field preview has been used. Cure is to set the 'multiple exposure lever' and re-cock the shutter.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you! It's similar for me. Mine was a 21st birthday present in 1981. The EE EEEE problem and how to reset it appears in comments quite regularly. The other quirk is that the A1 tends to overexpose. I've compared it against my T90 and the difference is a stop or more. I tell people to wind in a little negative EC. Thanks for your comment!

@SteveAtkinsonFineArt 3 года назад

Thanks for this Canon A1 overview Phil, it's very helpful. I have a quick question for you. When shooting in Aperture priority mode, do you have to have the aperture ring on the lens set in the A position as you do for shutter priority, or does it not matter if the lens is set to the A position or not? Thanks in advance!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Pleasure! Yes. If you're shooting in Av or Tv mode you need to have the aperture ring set to A. In both of these modes the aperture is being set via the dial on the camera and in order for the camera to be able to communicate with the lens and control the aperture it needs to be on the A. As soon as you turn the aperture ring away from the A you are in manual mode. The only way then you can set the aperture is by turning the aperture ring and the camera can only control the shutter speed.

@cinderellie9583 2 года назад

Thank you soooo much for sharing your time and experience! Im so excited to start using my camera now that its a bit less intimidating!!💖💖

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you!

@cinderellie9583 2 года назад

@@PhilUKNet 💖💖 And i was testing my battery wrong. Now i see my battery is fine and i can get right into it! 💖💖

@user-zs2un5vc5k 4 месяца назад

Thanks for this video!! Incredibly clear and easy to follow tutorial!

@PhilUKNet 4 месяца назад

Thank you! If you have any questions, feel free to ask 🙂

@user-zs2un5vc5k 4 месяца назад

@@PhilUKNet ❤

8 дней назад

Thanks mate, very instructional video. Cannot wait to start shooting with my A1.

@PhilUKNet 8 дней назад

Pleasure!

@Justhunny_ 2 года назад

thank you so much, i just got my first manual camera and is this one and this helped me a lot!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you!

@andyjamz3799 3 года назад

This is the most useful tutorial, thanks a lot!!!!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you 😊

@cynhwon 2 года назад

This is extremely helpful. I feel like I am more confident in using this camera. Thank you! :)

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thanks for letting me know, that's great to hear 😃

@drygihsetudefu5547 Год назад

Hi Phil, thank u so much for this video! The best and most useful tutorial for beginners I've ever seen! I just bought a second-hand canon A-1 and struggled to get used to it.( A-1 is my first manual film camera. I only used point and shoot camera in the past) If you don't mind I wanna ask a silly question. I put a battery in A-1 and about 3 to 4 hours later, the battery is dead, should I go to the repair center and check my camera?

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you! Although Canon says a year, the battery will actually last for several years. Although there could be a fault with the camera that is draining the battery, I have never heard of this. As a first step I would try replacing the battery again. Try buying one from a different source in case the first source has a lot of old stock. I doubt that many of these batteries are sold and it's possible that you bought an old one that was almost depleted. If the same thing happens with another new battery, you may have a problem finding someone who can repair these cameras. The people with the right skills probably retired years ago. Good luck!

@marceaucouve6427 3 года назад

Thank you for this material, it has been very useful. One naive question though : When you want to shoot a double exposure, how do you divide the exposition time in 2, so the film doesn't get blown. Do you use exposure compensation?

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

It's not a naive question at all, it's a very good question! It really depends on the scene. If there is a lot of light in the scene and you expose twice with the normal exposure you will overexpose everything. You need to reduce the exposure of each shot, probably by a stop, but then you risk underexposing your subject. I guess one way would be to underexpose the background and use a flash just to expose your subject in each separate shot. You could use exposure compensation or just set the exposure manually. Whatever method you choose will require quite a lot of thinking plus trial and error.

@matthewsisson1234 Год назад

Thanks for the video, Phil. It really took me back. Can you remind me what the hearing-aid type battery receptacle on the bottom of the A-1 powers? What size battery does it need? Thanks again.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Pleasure! On the bottom? There is no battery on the bottom. The only thing on the bottom is a little cap that covers the opening for the film advance mechanism. You remove this when you want to use a power winder with the A1. Is this what you meant? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ejIX8O0WAYI.html

@shirinmarshall6642 5 месяцев назад

This is brilliant. Thanks Phil.

@PhilUKNet 5 месяцев назад

Very kind. Thank you!

@theyellowcab 2 года назад

Thank you very much for this thorough video ! Does the exposure compensation work in fully automatic mode ?

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Pleasure! Yes, it does, and I would recommend dialing in some negative exposure compensation. In a video I have just made, I explain how the A1 tends to overexpose quite a lot and how some negative EC can counter this problem. It could just be a problem with my camera, but I've read several similar complaints about the A1 and it seems to be a fairly generic problem. Of course, you will be advised to do your own testing! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kx5oggaO_ck.html

@NIVEADeoformen 2 года назад

Great Video Phil! I got an excellent condition A1 as a birthday present a couple of years ago and have been enjoying it ever since. One struggle that I have been dealing with a lot though is the fully-automatic mode. I can only get correct readings every other time, mostly the Viewfinder does not show a clear, bright red Aperture and Shutter speed. When that happens, it falls back to a 15'' exposure, obviously overexposing every picture. As a remediation, I have been working with the Sunny-16 rule for 80-90 % of the time. Do you have similar experiences with the Automatic Mode (getting lucky once in a while), or might there be something off with my A1? Thanks!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thanks! Mine was a birthday present too, but it was new because I'm old! The Achilles' heel of the A1 is its metering system - just one mode and not accurate. When I got my T90 I did comparisons and the A1 was overexposing consistently by a stop or more. You could try winding in a stop of negative EC to see if that improves things. I found that I got much better images with the T90 using the same film and lenses. The only difference is the accuracy of the metering systems and the A1's tendency to overexpose.

@sweetgoguma3157 3 года назад

I just bought my A1 camera 😇😇 I’m gonna try my first ever film with the fully automatic program first (just to play safe) thanks for the instruction Sir!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

That's what I would recommend at first. Once you're comfortable with the camera you can then try the semiautomatic modes, which are actually very easy. With the Av and Tv modes you can get a lot more creative controlling depth of field and freezing or blurring motion. Happy shooting!

@Sektor71 7 месяцев назад

Thank you for this amazing and detailed video Phil! I do have one question: If I set the aperture value on the lens (to lets say 5.6) and I set the aperture value (in AV mode) on the camera to 4. With what aperture will the picture then eventually be taken? Would the lens or the camera be the "Master" in this setup? Thanks again!

@PhilUKNet 7 месяцев назад

You're welcome, thanks for the comment! As soon as you move the aperture ring on the lens away from A, you are in manual mode and the camera cannot control the lens diaphragm. If you set the aperture ring to f/5.6, that is the aperture that will be used for the shot. The viewfinder will show what aperture SHOULD be used for the shutter speed you are using, but the camera can't set the aperture when the aperture ring is not on A. In your example, the camera will measure the light, and because you have selected f/4 in Av mode, it will select a shutter speed for f/4. However, as you have set the lens aperture to f/5.6, which is smaller than f/4 and lets in less light, the photo will be underexposed.

@benbadenhorst2423 Год назад

Much help, thank you so much, I appreciate it!

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know.

@FURRYFRIENDS-vu7xo Год назад

This is the best guide!!!

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Very kind, thanks!

@patriciaaangeli 2 года назад

Bought this for myself and I kinda regret it til I found this video! 😂 I never thought that this camera has an Automatic mode and told myself I should’ve gotten the AE1 Program instead LOL thanks for this video!!! ❤️❤️

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you! The A1 does everything the AE1 P does and it also has an aperture priority mode. It's very flexible. When it was released it was a revolutionary camera. The metering isn't great and it tends to overexpose, so I would recommend dialing in a stop or so of negative exposure compensation. Enjoy your shooting and Merry Christmas!

@thomasmaddison2171 9 месяцев назад

Hi Phil, I have just started a BOA in photography at the grand old age of 64, having used digital for the past zillions of years, I was given the A1 and sent out on a walkabout to snap in manual mode as you can imagine my results were very poor after developing the film another first, So decided to do a little research and found you tube, a very informative tutorial hopefully I can now do a little better thank you.

@PhilUKNet 9 месяцев назад

Hi Thomas, and thanks for your comment! My experience was the other way round. I started with the A1 in 1981 and moved to digital around 2000. Cameras are so good now that you don't need to know anything about exposure to get great images. Using an old film camera in manual mode is a good way to learn. In my experience, I have found that the A1 overexposes. I have two A1 bodies and they are both the same. Be careful of this if you use the camera metering system. I normally set the camera to 2/3 of a stop less by dialing in some negative EC. If you have access to one, you can also check using an external light meter. Let me know if you have any A1 related questions.

@tommymaddison 9 месяцев назад

Thanks Phil as I said it was difficult but with what you have learned me I may be a little better, thanks for the exposure tip I have a roll to shoot so will be processing soon I will let you know how I get on Thanks Tommy

@bharatpatel1017 2 года назад

Super helpful! Thanks Phil!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

I'm pleased it helped. Thanks for your kind comment!

@paul-II Месяц назад

Thank you so much ! I just got a a-1 from my aunt, this might help me a lot !

@PhilUKNet Месяц назад

Pleasure! I hope you got a few good lenses as well! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

@TiarniMajid-Loban Месяц назад

this was awesome! thank you!

@PhilUKNet Месяц назад

Thank you!

@yancucco5904 2 года назад

Thanks for sharing! Such a great video!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you 😊

@ianhand5006 2 года назад

I took my A-1 out today, loaded wit Tri-X, and really enjoyed shooting with it.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Despite the convenience and ease of digital I know what you mean. It's fun! How does the Tri-X look? I haven't tried it.

@glittery_alice6179 Год назад

Best video I found online for this camera :)

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you!

@tonyharris8889 2 года назад

Great video introduction to the Canon A1 though I am puzzled as to why you selected 1/1000 shutter speed before loading the film?

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you! I normally have the lens cap on when I load film. If it's in auto mode and sees total darkness it selects a very long shutter speed resulting in you having to wait a long time to use the advance lever to load the film. That's all!

@noodle06317 2 года назад

Really helpful video thank you, I wanted to ask about the numbers on the dial on Shutter speed priority mode. Is this right ? P is for program mode, then the white numbers are for 1/x second shutter speed and the yellow numbers are x second shutter speed? And what does the flash symbol by the 60 mean and the B at the bottom?

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you! You got most of it right! Yes, P is program mode (just make sure that the aperture ring on the lens is set to the green A when you use any fully or semi automatic exposure mode). White numbers are reciprocals of shutter speed, so 500 is 1/500s. Yellow numbers are also shutter speed, but full seconds, so yellow 2 is 2 seconds, not 1/2s. The B is bulb. In Bulb mode the shutter will stay open for as long as you hold down the shutter release button. You could keep the shutter open for hours if you want using B, but this will use up your battery. Use this if you want a shutter speed longer than 30s. Every camera has a flash sync speed. This is the fastest shutter speed you can use the camera with a flash without the shutter curtains appearing in the image. Nowadays, it is typically 1/200s or 1/250s. With the A1 the sync speed is only 1/60s. The flash symbol is there to remind you of the sync speed.

@colbyshelton4796 10 месяцев назад

Dude thanks so much just got one for my first photo class and was a little confused

@PhilUKNet 10 месяцев назад

Glad it helped!

@05Kilo Месяц назад

Thanks for the video- i got an A1 from a relative (the manual was to an AE1, 😂), and then got another, better functioning A1 for actual use. Thanks!

@PhilUKNet Месяц назад

It seems that quite a few A1s are inherited! One of my A1s has recently started playing up, and I've just sent my T90 to the States for repairs. All these cameras are very old now, and finding the right people to repair and service them is becoming increasingly difficult. Anyway, happy shooting!

@05Kilo Месяц назад

Thanks, happy shooting to you too!

@larryfarr Год назад

Very well done. Thank you for this.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you!

@dsblairphotos 9 месяцев назад

Excellent video and explanation!

@PhilUKNet 9 месяцев назад

Kind words. Thank you!

@mootazjouini371 2 года назад

Wonderfully explained ! thank u :)

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Glad it was helpful! Thank you 🙂

@shawsr7 7 месяцев назад

Thank you for your expertise.

@PhilUKNet 7 месяцев назад

Experience more than expertise! Thanks!

@mikaylaharding934 Год назад

This is so helpful! Thanks 😊

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thanks for letting me know. I'm glad that it helped. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

@brownkr Год назад

Outstanding! Thank you!

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you too!

@jomp4 Год назад

Thank you for video! Very informative !

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you!

@rkjelseth 2 года назад

Thanks for the video Phil! I work as a photographer, and even though my first ever camera in early 2000s was a film camera, that's a long time ago, and I am now just getting back into film, and so far only been shooting with a few point and shoot cameras! Finally ordered a Canon A1 the other week, and this video definitely helps a lot and makes me a bit more confident so I know a few ins and outs before getting started! PS: I was waiting to see that selfie of yours 😉

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thanks for the comment! My A1 was a 21st birthday present at the end of 1981. It makes me feel really old 🙁 Have fun with your new camera. I'd like to do more film shooting, but at the moment with the kids at home all the time studying on-line I just never seem to have any free time. The selfie thing is an interesting phenomenon. With smart phones these days all I ever see is people taking selfies. I've been keen on photography since 1981, but one subject I have never considered taking photos of is me! I have taken tens of thousands of photos over the years, but photos of me are very few and far between. No doubt this has been driven by the advent of social media, which seems to have made people much more vain and narcissistic.

@rkjelseth 2 года назад

@@PhilUKNet I get your point! So the A1 you own now is the very same you got back in 81? I bet you've told some great stories together! :)

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

@@rkjelseth Long story, but I moved to Thailand in 2003 and left all my film gear in the UK. I went back in 2017 and managed to retrieve some, but not all, of my gear. The A1 body I have now is actually my brother's, which he gave me, and it's slightly newer than mine. I'm not ever sure that I will see my original A1 ever again 🙁 You're right, though. Back in my single days I travelled a lot and the A1 went everywhere with me! When I retrieved some of my film gear I also retrieved some of my negatives. The process of scanning them in brought back lots of memories. I'd love to get my hands on the other negatives, but I'm not sure I ever will. I couldn't find them when I went back to the UK. Anyway, good to hear from you!

@rkjelseth 2 года назад

@@PhilUKNet that's too bad about your negatives, but great you hear you have such a nice brother that gave you his A1! :)

@ronanderson9960 2 года назад

Great job! I plan on purchasing one of this camera! Thanks

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you! Take your time and try to find one that has been looked after. Parts are almost impossible to find now, as are the skills to fix them.

@ronanderson9960 2 года назад

@@PhilUKNet yes! I totally agree! Thank you

@madelinleonphotography61 3 года назад

Thank you so much for this video, very helpful.

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Pleasure! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

@cristiantrushin 2 года назад

Thank you, this was an amazing video!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you!

@michaelbuckley8986 Год назад

Excellent video.Thank you👍

@PhilUKNet Год назад

My pleasure. Thank you too!

@bokehone7211 Год назад

great video walk through

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you!

@bleuebetaplume2916 2 года назад

I love my A-1. Got it when I was 20 something in the mid-90's as an upgrade from the Practika MTL-50 which had been my faithful (and very sturdy, if not exactly subtle) companion since I was 13. A-1 looked scary. Very very complicated and pro-looking after the simplicity of MTL-50. Soooo many buttons, gimmicks , incomprehensible numbers around the basic knobs I knew so well, multi-priority modes.... I feared i would never be able to master the sophisticated black beast. And I didn't. Never fully. Especially how to use correctly the semi-automatic modes and correctly set the aperture/shutter priority versatile knob. Same with the exposure compensation fraction scale. No idea on earth what that was for. One of the reasons being that the shop could not give me the actual user guide. And I had to make do with the guide of the AE-1 instead. Close enough, but not enough^^. Especially in those days when there was no internet around to download the unfindable from dedicated sites. And this is where your video is perfect. A few of the A-1 buttons and inscriptions were still a mystery to me. Besides, I had lost touch with photography as I entered active duty in.society, and with film photography and film cameras in general as A Nikon Bridge I was offered for my 40.th birthday had made me veeeeeeery lazy. Not bothering with its stupid and über-annoying menus, I used it as a point and shoot on automatic [scene] mode. I.m grateful to it as it got me back on the 'let's take photos' wagon but It also made me long for the feel you get when operating a film camera and the beautiful eyesight of my FD lenses. And when I got A-1 out of its bag after years of abandonment, I found out that it was now almost as strange to me as when I first got it. Besides my head is now slow at computing exposition variables, it's no longer second nature. I have to reacquire the reflexes and it starts with refreshing on the specifics of my camera. Which this video does marvelously in a simple and concise way. Thank you for making and posting it. I will most certainly watch your other video on A-1.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thanks for your comment! I remember thinking how complicated the camera was. I also clearly remember feeling overawed with the technology back in the early 80's. Nowadays, the functionality seems quite basic, as does the technology due to the way technology has advanced since then. You're so right about the pre-Internet age. We take it for granted now that any information we want will be instantly available, but it was all so different just a few years ago. Without a user manual it would have been difficult to figure things out.

@cassandrathowenshu 3 месяца назад

Just bought an A1 secondhand and was wondering how to use it properly. I chanced upon your video and I think after watching it I’m quite set to shoot my first roll! :-)

@PhilUKNet 3 месяца назад

I'm pleased to hear it. Thanks for letting me know! Happy shooting, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

@raitisbekeris4052 Год назад

Thank you so much about this tutorial! :)

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Pleasure. Glad it helped!

@user-qq9vp1qo3e 2 года назад

Great camera I'm using it since '93. Just a tip, in order to open the battery door, canon is using the hot shoe cover, that small tooth is for that.

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

It really is. Thanks for the tip. I knew this, but forgot to mention a few things in the video.

@N7Ghost13 2 года назад

Great video. Do you have any suggestions on how to remove an apparently stuck camera body cap without breaking the cap?

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you! I've never had that problem and I'm struggling to think of suggestions. I store my film cameras with lenses attached. I'm sorry 😪

@fosil21 10 месяцев назад

thank you, thank you and thank you for this video.

@PhilUKNet 10 месяцев назад

Pleasure!

@giraffe8980 2 года назад

Thanksss! I am thinking to buy this A-1! Want to step into film world!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

They are good, reliable cameras - even after all this time. The only weakness is the metering. The A1 has a tendency to overexpose, but this can be compensated for. Hope you can find one for a good price!

@Kondylenia 3 года назад

Thank you! Excellent and very usefull video.

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you!

@francesbealusabia9264 2 года назад

I just got the camera today! :) few questions though, if I put the camera on Av, should the lens be on A too? and that means it selects the shutter speed automatically right? also, should the camera be on Tv to be on manual mode? just wanna make sure 😅 thanks for the video!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Av mode - you select the aperture using the dial and the camera will set the shutter speed. Tv mode - you select the shutter speed using the dial and the camera will set the aperture. For both of these semi-automatic modes and for Program (fully automatic) mode the aperture ring on the lens needs to be set to the green A. Manual mode (M appears inside the viewfinder) - set the mode to Tv and select the shutter speed using the dial. Select the aperture using the aperture ring on the lens - that is, away from the green A. You are now in full control. The LED inside the viewfinder will tell you the aperture the camera thinks is correct for the shutter speed you select, but the actual aperture is the one you set using the aperture ring. Happy shooting!

@user-wq7jj9zr9r Год назад

Really nice tutorial.

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you!

@bobimilosevic 2 года назад

Thanks very much for your great video !

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Thank you 🙂

@benoit2900 Год назад

Hi great review, could you tell me what lense you put on for more bocah (portrait lense) f4 aperture, thanks

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thanks! The only f/4 lens I have is the FD 70-210mm. My best lens for bokeh, by far, is an FD 135mm f/2. The bokeh effect is increased by big apertures and longer lenses.

@neko.85 3 года назад

very useful. Thanks!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you!

@strawtownhero 3 года назад

Best tutorial I ever seen. Will get this camera from my mother and i didn’t know anything about old cameras. Thank you sir ☺️

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Praise indeed, thank you! Your Mum had good taste 🙂

@calebstocking4397 3 года назад

Thanks, immensely helpful!

@PhilUKNet 3 года назад

Thank you!

@lography6917 2 года назад

Thank you so much omg. Incredible!

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

You're welcome!! 😀

@shelbiehyland198 4 месяца назад

Hi! I have a 52mm lense for my cannon A-1. What film do you recommend using? Just got handed this camera down from a friend and want to learn it before my trip in a couple weeks.

@PhilUKNet 4 месяца назад

It's really up to you depending on your preferences and what is available. Black and white or colour? Negatives or slides? The ISO value is important with film because it can't be changed on the fly, as it can with digital cameras. 100 ISO has good detail but is quite slow indoors or when the sun disappears. Higher ISO values are more light sensitive, but have more grain. ISO 200 is quite a good compromise. Regarding film manufacturers, they are all good, but some people prefer the look of certain film. If you shoot a lot of portraits, Kodak Portra is nice for skin tones. Do some experimentation to see what you like!

@tobby15 Год назад

great video thanks!! im looking to pick one on ebay! is it possible to remove the hig viewport rubber? or is that firmly attached? thanks!

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thank you! That piece of rubber just clips on, and comes off easily. Hope you find a decent one at a reasonable price.

@tobby15 Год назад

@@PhilUKNet perfect! thankyou so much!!

@stefangrubesic2708 Год назад

I've never tried a film camera but something took over me and I want to, first I'll go for a point and shoot that I've got from my parents to see how film feels Then my plan is to go for an SLR, first planned AE-1 but here their prices are ridiculous I guess because of the popularity and most novices going for them and there's not that many of them selling. I need to add because of lenses and other accessories I think my best bet would be Canon as Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Minolta seem to be quite rare and expensive in Bosnia (not that FD lenses are much more common but at least there are some) Cheapest option seems to be AT-1 and as interesting as it would be going for a fully manual one for my first SLR to really learn hot to do it I do think it could be a big bite. AV-1, AL-1 and AE-1P are non-existent on this market so that leaves the A-1, surprisingly not that much more expensive than AT-1 yet cheaper than AE-1, gives me the choice to go fully auto and just do the focus myself which should be hard to fuck up but also to go manual and learn, kinda made my mind on it to go for A-1 even though it seems to be actually the semi-pro choice but I'm open for advices, thanks for this video it really helped me understand the A-1

@PhilUKNet Год назад

Thanks for the info on the used market for film cameras. I had no idea. I'm surprised that A1s are cheaper than AE1s. It sounds as though you don't have a lot of choice where you are, so just get what is available at a fair price. Something else that surprises me is why there is so little love for the T90, which is a far superior camera to the ones you mentioned. I agree that Canon would be a good choice. Not only because of availability, accessories and lenses, but also reliability. Good luck tracking something down!

@putridewi8329 2 года назад

Hi i would like to ask, why did my canon a1 shutter dooesn’t work if the lens in auto mode? And Thankyou for the tutorial video, this help me so much

@PhilUKNet 2 года назад

Hi Putri, I'm not exactly sure of your question and some more information would be useful. When you talk about the lens being in auto mode, do you mean setting the lens aperture ring to the green 'A'? What mode do you have the camera set to? When you say the shutter doesn't work, do you mean it doesn't release when you press the shutter release button? If you can give me some more information I can try to determine whether it's something you are doing, or whether there is a fault with the camera.

@maxb306 9 месяцев назад

When you are shooting in Av mode, do you have to leave the lens on A, and just adjust the aperture via the top dial? or do you have to set the lens aperture on the lens and match it to the top dial?

@PhilUKNet 9 месяцев назад

You must have the lens aperture dial on A. When it's not on A, the camera can't control the lens aperture. When not on A, you are in manual mode, and an M is displayed in the viewfinder to indicate this.