CANON AE-1, old school question

Hey all,
I've always been a fan of Canon digitals, but I recently decided to purchase the classic Canon AE-1 film camera (plus 4 lenses), which I'm sure a lot of you still have stored in a box somewhere. I was wondering if I could change lenses through the course of one roll of film, and if so, how do I do it? I'm worried that if I take the lense off the camera to swap another, light will flood in and overexpose my film. How do I deal with that problem? Sorry, I'm a total noob with these film cameras. Thanks in advance for your help.

Did you get the cameras already? If I were getting a manual film camera I'd get anything except the FD mount because it simply doesn't fit the current EOS mount.

Some of your options are: m42, pentax screwmount, Leica, Contax, yashica, nikon, N mount, and one other...

You just change the lenses. Take one off - put another one in.

Remember that the lenses by itself let the light in. There's always a shutter between the lens and the film unless you're exposing.

Here's the one I bought: http://www.mir.com.my …ources/SLRs/ae1​/index.htm

I learned it was one of the most popular cameras of its time. It came with four lenses already...either canon or vivitar lenses. I'm afraid to change the lense I already have on the camera when I'm in the middle of the film roll. When I look into the camera without the lense, it seems like it hits the film directly. But if there's a shutter like you say so, I guess I shouldnt worry to take em off? I appreciate any help.

JSub,

You can gain some understanding of how the camera works by opening the back when there's no film in it. You'll see the shutter right in front of where the film goes. With the back open, turn the dial to M mode, set the shutter speed to something slow like maybe 1 second, cock the shutter and push the button to take a picture. You'll see the shutter open and close. Now do the same thing looking through the front of the camera with the lens off. You'll see the mirror go up and the shutter open and close.

Just be careful not to touch the internal parts. Some of them are pretty delicate.

When you learn how the camera works, you'll be able to put your mind at ease. Then you can change lenses mid-roll fearlessly, the way photographers have done for decades.

Have fun with your vintage equipment!

The curtain prevents light from hitting the film plane directly and the mirror is also in the down position thus blocking more. I would not change a lens then shine a flashlight in there but changing lenses in the course of normal daylight shooting poses no problem at all. I did make it a habit to point the camera down while changing lenses and still do to this day. Mostly to keep blowing dust from getting in there. Enjoy your new camera. My two film Canons served me for 26 years without any problems and I'm sure yours will serve you just as well.

JSub, welcome to the forum. Enjoy your "new" film camera. As noted by the others, no problem at all with changing lenses with film in the camera. If it causes problems, then there's light leakage somewhere in the shutter or the internal box.

Two quick mentions about shooting film vs. digital -- and these are two of the many little changes in mind set us old-timers have to adjust to when going the other way -- you can't change the ISO (or ASA as it was known back then) value of the film in mid-roll. Set it correctly when you load, and don't change it until you put in a new roll with a different sensitivity. And there's no "auto" white balance capability... although some newer films were a little more flexible in different light, and processing/printing got colors closer to normal, the only reliable ways to get the correct colors were by using filters, or overpowering room lighting with flash.

Oh, one other big change in mindset: every shot counts in film, because it costs money, and uses one of a very limited number of images on a roll. But there's nothing like that anticipation of getting your pictures back to see if they turned out OK!