iFixit - Answers With Device "Canon AE-1"

Canon AE-1: The manual winder will not advance the film.

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 11:14:30 -0700

After loading the camera with a new roll of film the manual winder will not move to advance the film after the back is closed. It will not work when the back is open either.

⟐ Commented January 01, 2025 at 11:14 MST

Canon AE-1: Why is the shutter magnet stuck?

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:52:36 -0700

After a trip to the sand dunes, I guess sand got into the camera because my camera started taking pictures as I pulled the film advance lever (and apparently this happens if dust or particles, like sand, interferes with the magnet.)

So... I decided to clean the magnet and fool around with the mechanics at the bottom of the camera. I eventually got the magnet to stick to the coils on its own.

BUT NOW... The problem is that the magnet can't detach from the coils on its own. I have to manually move the magnet if I want a picture taken. Does anyone know how to unstick the magnet without having to replace the magnet?

⟐ Answered March 31, 2025 at 22:52 MST

Canon AE-1: Why does the mirror lock up after shutter is fired?

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 07:56:14 -0700

The advance lever works, and the shutter button does too, but once I fire the shutter, the mirror stays up (it's like im doing a long exposure). So I remove the 6v battery and right away the mirror drops, but then I place the battery back in and it happens all over again.

⟐ Answered July 17, 2021 at 7:56 MST

Canon AE-1: What and where can I get the battery?

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 11:50:34 -0700

need a battery for my ae-1 canon camera. and what kind of battery?

⟐ Answer deleted December 11, 2020 at 11:50 MST

Canon AE-1: The camera keeps draining my batteries.

Wed, 04 May 2022 13:05:31 -0700

I put in a fresh 6V battery into my camera a week ago and now the shutter won't fire. I know the battery is drained because the needle is above the index (5.6 mark in viewfinder) instead of below. Is this an issue with the capacitor or corroded terminals? I bought it locally and the guy said it was his Dad's camera.

Thanks

⟐ Commented May 04, 2022 at 13:05 MST

Canon AE-1: How to clean the mirros it has a sticky stuff on it. What to use on it

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 09:28:06 -0700

how to clean the mirrors have a sticky stuff on them. what do I use to clean them?

⟐ Answered January 28, 2019 at 9:28 MST

Canon AE-1: Why is my self timer on, even with the lever on "A"?

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:06:04 -0700

My self timer on my AE-1 Canon camera is stuck even when I move the switch to "A". How do I go about fixing it myself?

⟐ Edited by author April 29, 2016 at 15:06 MST

Canon AE-1: Why doesnt a picture come out when im using the camera?

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 11:22:26 -0700

I followed the manual to see if anything was wrong. But when i take pictures with it & go revel them nothing comes out

⟐ Comment deleted June 02, 2015 at 11:22 MST

Canon AE-1: Camera fires automatically after cranking the lever.

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:02:00 -0700

I just picked up my camera after 2 weeks of not using it. I cranked the lever to take a picture and it fired automatically. Also, the light meter/on switch was off. I tried a couple more times and it kept firing automatically at the end of the crank.

I am living abroad right now with limited film and no known resources for film camera repair. Please help!

⟐ Commented November 10, 2025 at 14:02 MST

Canon AE-1: Why are the batteries discharging so quickly?

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 10:13:35 -0700

A little backstory.. I bought this camera in Japan where quality of used equipment is generally pretty high. It has worked fantastically well for 4 years, then it suddenly starting eating batteries almost within a day. I bought a couple of different brand batteries but nothing has solved it. Any ideas?

⟐ Answered April 20, 2022 at 10:13 MST

Canon AE-1: Can't change iso because ASA is stuck

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 18:15:24 -0700

Hi,

I recently buy a AE-1 Program, however the ASA dial is stuck. I made the normal procedure to dial, clicking the button but it is stuck and the dial won't move. You have any advice?! Or the only solution I have is only shoot with 200 film?! :(

Thanks in advance

⟐ Answer accepted April 26, 2020 at 18:15 MST

Canon AE-1: Diaphragm blades stuck in place

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 09:13:44 -0700

Hello,

I have a Canon AE-1 Program, and after developing three rolls of film and having them turn out blank, I realized that the blades of my diaphragm inside all of my 3 lenses are stuck. The rest of the camera appears to work fine, and when developed, the film develops correctly to show the text on the film but absolutely nothing comes out in the frames. It's as if the roll was developed straight from the box. The aperture blades on all of my cameras are stuck at a very high f stop, so the diaphragm is very closed. Any ideas? Thank you!

⟐ Answered January 28, 2019 at 9:13 MST

Canon AE-1: Where can I find a replacement shutter release magnet?

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 10:29:26 -0700

I have identified the issue, the shutter release magnet doesn't release the shutter so it stays open after I press the shutter release button. I have cleaned the magnet and its contacts with alcohol but to no avail, so I would like to replace the magnet but I can't find any online. I live in the Netherlands.

⟐ Commented November 02, 2023 at 10:29 MST

Canon AE-1: I Can't see through my viewfinder and I've tried everything online.

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 08:04:24 -0700

I was taking alot of pictures on fourth of July, and right before we left I realized I couldn't see through my viewfinder anymore. It was black. I thought it had something to do with being outside in the wind and smoke from the fireworks. So I looked up different ways to fix it online, but none worked. When I slide over the bar that holds the lever in place that holds down the mirror doesn't do anything but the lever is all the way to the left. I can move the lever over so it will show the mirror, but it won't stay there.

⟐ Answered July 17, 2021 at 8:04 MST

Canon AE-1: photos turned out blue , purple or red color after getting developed

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 01:11:05 -0700

I bought my cannon AE1 Program from Amazon and shot with expired kodak color plus 200 film. The photos turned out blue , purple or red color after getting developed. Is it because of the expired film or the camera ?

⟐ Answered September 22, 2020 at 1:11 MST

Canon AE-1: Rewind Knob Screw Replacement.

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:33:54 -0700

Hello all,

I have a Canon AE-1 Program and the little screw attaching the rewind knob (gray bit) to its base (black bit) mysteriously fell out and I was wondering if anyone knows the size of the screw and/or a website I can find a replacement screw for it.

Thank you!

⟐ Answered September 16, 2020 at 14:33 MST

Canon AE-1: Some photos are not devloping on my film camera

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:57:21 -0700

So I've had this problem which has happened with my last two rolls of film. And basically some photos aren't developing. They don't appear on the negatives, nothing. I really can't understand why nor have I found the answers online. I didn't know if it's a problem with my camera (canon ae1 program) or how I'm loading the film, something else I could be doing. One roll of film only developed 12 of the 36 and the othe roll I think developed 24. For my recent roll it was photo 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, that did not develop. Also, I was wondering why some photos that I got developed have the number (for example if it was the 4th photo it would be called "4a" but maybe the 17th photo would be called "17" so there sometimes is an "a" there??)

⟐ Answer deleted September 13, 2020 at 15:57 MST

Canon AE-1: Weird problem, the shutter curtain goes up after advancing the lever.

Sat, 16 May 2020 14:40:35 -0700

When I advance the lever the shutter curtain goes up by it self without releasing the shutter, the weird thing is that the shutter still fires and the curtain comes down after that certain time. This does not happen every time but after a few advances it goes up and stays there until I release the shutter. I checked the magnets all seem to work fine and also the battery level is normal.

@danj It works exactly as you said, the problem is when I pull the lever the first curtain goes aside and when the second curtain arrives to its place, it goes up and stays there until the shutter is released. Like this photo:

https://i.imgur.com/mDVU8sh.jpg

I was wrong about how the shutter works so here is a video of the problem: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fYiGHHo...

⟐ Commented May 16, 2020 at 14:40 MST

Canon AE-1: How do I replace the film door?

Wed, 01 May 2019 18:47:11 -0700

my film door latch got messed up and doesn’t close properly and long story short i need to replace it. i bought a replacement door on ebay, how should i go about replacing the film door?

⟐ Answered May 01, 2019 at 18:47 MST

Canon AE-1: How to replace Battery contacts?

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 19:33:58 -0700

Hi!

I bought an old A1. It doesn‘t fire. I think it´s because the battery contacts corroded. I already tried to clean it with alcohol but no chance. Is there a possibility to get to the battery contacts. Maybe to replace them or to remove it and put it into alcohol overnight.

Greetings

⟐ Answer edited November 06, 2018 at 19:33 MST