Been scanning a lot, and grabbed two interesting shots to share… In 2002 my Canon AE1 was 22 years old and had still never failed me once… that was until I got permission through a contact to see the Ferromex shops in Mazatlan. The camera kept firing off the shutter every time I advanced the film. PANIC… I finally figured out I could shoot frames by setting the image up, then cocking the shutter, which also resulted in it firing. Here’s the first shot I took that way… a patched FNM C30-7…
http://freericks.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1243414
Four days later, I was back home, and gave the old camera one last workout at Carson and got this shot that I really like of three trains at the throat of Dolores Yard. I used to hang out in this spot, but it’s not really safe anymore (due to the traffic).
http://freericks.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1243415
The majority of images on both of these rolls (and all of my Mazatlan trip, family pics too) had at least some light bleed. Some were unusable. The AE1 had two huge problems.
Thanks for looking and corrections are welcome… as a postscript, I bought a Canon 7e the next weekend… which I loved, but it wasn’t quite the AE1 to me (which could take a beating and keep on ticking), so I went ahead and spent $200 to get the AE1 fixed anyway (which is probably twice what it was worth… but hey, it’s my camera…)
Charles
Charles,
Thanks for the pictures and the story. You actually mentioned two of my favorites from my film days: the lovely Canon AE1 and the Elan 7e. I had an F1N and a T90 when I had my FD gear. When I wanted something small and unobtrusive for hiking, though, I always reached for my Canon AE-1 Program. They are simple but lovely cameras.
I didn’t have the Elan 7e too long before I upgraded to my (now Chad’s) D60. Still, when I did use it, I really liked it. Barring a Leica M6, it has to be the quietest film camera I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. It’s not built like the AE-1, but it’s certainly a good shooter!
Thanks again!
Chris,
I still take the 7e with me sometimes, and I do agree with you, it’s the quietest camera. I really love it, and had I not moved into digital for 99% of my shooting, it would probably be my main camera. When I consider I only really used it as my number one shooter for about two years, it’s got a lot of miles left on it.
My AE1 is now 100% fuctional again. It’s just quietly waiting to be used. I have to admit that I like knowing it’s there, but I don’t know when or if I’ll actually take it out with me again.
Charles
Charles,
You might want to take it out and put a roll of film through it every once in awhile. If they sit unused too long, the lubricants can get hard and cause a lot of problems. I do the same with my few remaining film cameras.
I’ve got a similar camera to your AE-1 that I consider my camera, an old Mamiya Sekor 500 DTL. Not only was it my first SLR, it was also my dad’s first SLR, so it has a lot of meaning to me. If it ever dies, I’ll definately pay whatever it takes to get it in operating condition again. Beyond the sentimental value of it, sometimes it’s just fun to take a fully mechanical camera out and listen to the sweet sounding “ka-chunk” that the shutter makes when it fires. It ranks right up there with an ALCo 244 burbling contentedly at idle for pure acoustic bliss!
…Charles…I too have an Elan 7e and I’d say I’ve not used it in over a year…Isn’t that a shame. Use a less expensive digital now so I can easily put the results on the computer.
I was looking to purchase a Canon digital EOS Rebel XTi but got cold feet as the economics turned south. So haven’t done anything.
I really don’t like myself for letting the Elan in it’s case and not use it any more…What a waste…
Chris,
Advice well taken… I will do that… although it’s not just the AE1. I’ve still got my Fujica ST801 and now I have all of my late father’s cameras (about three of which are decent cameras).
Quentin,
I know where you are coming from. Buying my 7e was a really big deal… I saved up for it and I was frugal for a while after because of it… then I used it for 2 1/2 years… but times changed on us.
I will say this… it’s sort of like having an All Star on the bench though… I know if my Rebel XT goes out (which it will, everything breaks at some point) that I have this great quality camera to back it up.
In the meantime, I keep thinking about getting a medium format Mamya (sp?)… because I am so jealous of the quality.
Charles
I am very fond of my Elan 7 [:)]