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Manwithbrokencanon
Tinkerer
Username: Manwithbrokencanon
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 01:39 pm: | 
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So I've got this Canon A-1 that was working fine up until today. When I hit the check battery button the LED lights up just once and then goes off. The same thing happens if I press down the shutter, the light just blinks once and the shutter wont close. The problem isn't the battery, I checked and it is reading just over 6v. I was playing with flashes the day before, and shocked myself pretty good messing with an shitty flash slave cable while it was attached to the camera, and I think that might have something to do with it. Maybe a connection got messed up somewhere. I'm not afraid to take the thing apart, and I downloaded the repair manual. But before I go at it, does anyone have any idea where the problem might be? And what it might take to fix it? |
Gez
Tinkerer
Username: Gez
Post Number: 90
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 03:35 pm: |
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Are you getting any display in the viewfinder? |
Manwithbrokencanon
Tinkerer
Username: Manwithbrokencanon
Post Number: 2
Registered: 05-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 03:54 pm: |
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nope |
Manwithbrokencanon
Tinkerer
Username: Manwithbrokencanon
Post Number: 3
Registered: 05-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 04:30 pm: |
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I guess another one of my questions is could a good size spark on the accessory shoe/flash contacts be the cause of this issue? |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 589
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 05:50 pm: |
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You have answered your own question. Over the years I have seen three A-1 cameras that were completely scrambled, when live flash units were pulled off the shoe. Admittedly the flash units were old fashioned studio units, which belonged in the scrap bin. In all cases the 'flash over' had burnt out the 'flexi' circuit over the prism.
Attempts to replace the damaged circuit ribbon failed to reactivate one camera, and a subsequent strip down revealed that the IC chips were damaged.
It also depends on when the camera in question was made - early production had internal electrical connections for the shoe that allowed the top plate to be completely lifted away, cost cutting in later production led to soldered wire fly leads. These can become miss placed/damaged, and more prone to high voltage flash over from unsuitable or faulty flash units |
Manwithbrokencanon
Tinkerer
Username: Manwithbrokencanon
Post Number: 4
Registered: 05-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 06:03 pm: |
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eek, are you saying im not going to be able to fix this on my own? There is a good camera repair shop in Raleigh I could take it to. I've got all these awesome lenses for this camera and just bought a bunch of film and developer. Did you manage to fix any of them? Do you know how much it might cost me?
thanks |
Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn
Post Number: 590
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 06:54 pm: |
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I suggest you remove the top plate and have a look at the wiring to the shoe contacts, look carefully at the circuit ribbon over the prism - 'flash over' damage will be quite obvious. You should also look carefully at the switch contacts that belong to the battery test button etc - these are revealed when the top is lifted.
If the circuit is completely 'fried' the repair will cost far more than the camera is worth, well certainly more than a good example can be picked up for. The problem is that the circuit ribbons are quite fragile, and the connectors do not take kindly to being separated. This is because the rubber pressure strip has degraded due to aging, and this means that you invariably get poor continuity on reassembly.
If you find nothing obvious when you remove the top plate, I suggest you let the repair shop have a look. Checking the circuits requires specialised equipment, and to be completely frank circuit repairs on this camera are beyond the first timer.
At the time the three cameras were damaged Canon still supplied a complete electronic spares inventory for the A-1: however, due to the costs involved only one camera was repaired by its owner. |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 23
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 07:53 pm: |
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I suggest you try a brand new battery. I had one of these that supposedly did not work with a "good" battery but did fine with another battery that tested less voltage (for some odd reason). The A1 sells for an average $50. to $70. on eBay so it may be cheaper to buy than repair. For a good service shop/estimate try SPTS (spts.com). |
Manwithbrokencanon
Tinkerer
Username: Manwithbrokencanon
Post Number: 5
Registered: 05-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 24, 2009 - 10:25 pm: |
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Thanks for the suggestions. I tried a brand new battery with no luck. Maybe I will try and remove the top plate tomorrow. I noticed that when I have the battery button pressed, if I tilt and jiggle the camera the little light blinks intermittently. I think I will take it in to the camera repair shop and see what they think. Worst case I sell this one for parts and buy a new one I suppose. |
