Thx for the vid instruction. I bought an A1 couple of weeks ago and it had the squeak noise. With this vid I was able to fix it. So thank you, because I kind of falling in love with this camera
And that is exactly how that is done. I have used this method on several Canon A-series cameras and it has worked every time. Just use a light gun or sewing machine oil. Good as new. Excellent video here.
I was able to get my hands on someone's A-1 for a pretty good price (around $50). It was in pretty good condition apart from the shutter which had really bad squeak. This video helped me fix it myself in like 5 minutes. I used Ballistol all purpose maintenance oil, did the trick just right! Thanks for the video!!
I only wish my A1 looked that good. I've had mine since the 80's and it looks as though it's been in a war zone in comparison to yours. Awesome camera the A1.
A popular 'fix' it works sometimes, I've done 3 -A1's the first straightforward, the other two have taken several attempts over a few weeks. The clue is in the mirror action, if it's laboured/slow it is going to take more than one attempt. Though use oil sparingly (2 drops max) I use a ink refillable needle ...which is blunt and safer and light oil (sewing machine)
Danke für die Mühe, das Video zu erstellen. Aber warum muss das alles immer so unscharf sein? Und wenn man, wie man hören kann, ein funktionierendes Micro hat, warum wird das ein Stummfilm ?
The whole line of Canon A-series SLRs (A-1, AE-1, etc.) use the same mechanical insides and can (will) eventually have this problem. The fix is really as simple as indicated. One observation: If you have to buy a set of small screw drivers to remove the bottom plate, or if you plan to do any significant camera repair otherwise, drop the $15-20 on Amazon and buy a nicely made set of Japanese specification screw drivers. The Phillips head drivers in the US have a different head angle than the Japanese screws and drivers, so you can more easily strip these little Japanese screws with them. And, start with a minimum of oil and work up to more if needed. You are really just splashing the oil around and hoping that you get some of it in the right places - the rest goes..???, so use less rather than more. The cost of tearing down the camera to clean out excess oil from mirror, focusing screen or off shorted electrics would be far more than the poor thing would be worth.
*”The fix is real as simple as indicated.”* - Not really. The correct procedure requires removal of the mirror box. With this lazy, risky method, you’re bound to get lubricant where it shouldn’t be and may cause worse problems than you started with. I really wish people would stop making videos like this.
It seems like a dicey proposition to lubricate blind like that, but it definitely fixes the problem. I'd be worried about getting oil in places it's not supposed to be. Thanks for the video.
yep, that's why a small drop would do. at least it worked in my case. i think i read somewhere before that someone sprayed wd-40 in it. (a definite no no) :)
I used a ball needle used for inflation in place of the syringe, just dropped a drop or two right through it. Worked well and the squeak is gone. A good option in a pinch.
Thanks a lot, but I could not see where you put the needle. WD-40 is the same as gun oil? Do you have a video on how to remove and clean the ground glass? Thank you!
Thanks so much for this helpful video. Quick question, since you're marking the side of the syringe where the oil should come out, I'm assuming you want that facing the back of the camera when applying the oil? I'm just trying to get a good visual of where those gears are. Thanks again.
I'm assuming you have a syringe whose needle is angled, so yes pointing it to the back would be good, but the oil drop would blob up at the end anyways so it's fine either way. I've purchased syringes with much longer needles than what was shown in the video for some other projects and with those, you can probably roughly estimate the depth it goes in to the cavity better since they're longer, not like with this one in the video which is kinda exact.
Good info, that's exactly what I did...I have all this tools and stuff since I love doing electronic projects. One of my three Canons A1s was doing that squeaky sound when I fired the shutter and mirror was a little sloppy in it's operation. Now is much much better. This small operation can be done by anyone as long as that anyone is familiar with this electronic operations. Not difficult after all. I can do this easily...problem was that I didn't knew where to drop the oil. Only thing is, to be careful not to create a swimming pool of oil all around the inside of the camera ,which will send your camera straight to the funeral home, just very little oil. Thanks.
Does the squeek slow down the shutter? I have an a1 and was wondering if it affected the shutter or would the pictures not develop right if it wasnt fixed.
I guess take this with a grain of salt, but it's been a while and I think even while I was shooting normally in daylight with the squeak, my exposures came out alright, even with slide film.
could this issue be why my camera wont take any pictures? ive gone through about 10 rolls of film. and maybe out of those 10 rolls, 6-7 pictures came out!
+jedibastard i don't think this issue impacts taking picture, if not it's just an annoyance i guess. try shooting at various speeds and apertures with the back open and observe how the shutter curtain operates.
Ok, thanks, cause i went to a local shop where they sell and fix old cameras, and they say not to use any lubrifiant at all for the mechanic works dry.But thanks anyway.
I'm really confused as to where you're supposed to put the needle, in another video someone puts it right behind the lens-mount, but in yours you seem to put it in a tiny gap above the U-shaped handle. Could you upload another video where your hand isn't in the way so we can see precisely where?
if you go to 3:42, that's going to be page 118 of the repair manual in the link i provided in the description. my fix is a quick fix where you just remove the bottom plate. i'm assuming you're referring to this one (nsm02.casimages.com/img/2009/11/18//091118072037149734888947.jpg) when you mentioned "behind the lens mount", that's definitely another solution.
I ruined my camera trying this. Tried to run a drop of oil down a wire and now the shutter is jammed. Shutter button totally unresponsive and it's stuck in the cocked position. Is there anything I can do? 😥 EDIT: Ok, about an hour later and shutter is releasing again 😁 Sorry for the false alarm. I guess it's just a matter of time for excess oil to migrate away from sensitive areas. But if this happens to anyone else not to despair, just wait it out.
Flary Fox hello, could you help me? I just bought a canon a1, she doesn’t have a battery yet, but I tried to make this movement (4:06-4:08; 4:14-4:15) and it didn’t make that sound, it seems slow.. is my camera with problems? If so, do you know what I could do? thank you and sorry, I’m new to cameras.
nope, this is a relatively simple fix, remove the bottom plate, apply appropriate amount of lube with a syringe having the right needle length, advance and shoot until squeak goes away.
rob b hello, could you help me? I just bought a canon a1, she doesn’t have a battery yet, but I tried to make this movement (4:06-4:08; 4:14-4:15) and it didn’t make that sound, it seems slow.. is my camera with problems? If so, do you know what I could do? thank you and sorry, I’m new to this
Thx for the vid instruction. I bought an A1 couple of weeks ago and it had the squeak noise. With this vid I was able to fix it. So thank you, because I kind of falling in love with this camera
+Edwin van Dopperen you're welcome, it is a handsome tank of a camera. :)
And that is exactly how that is done. I have used this method on several Canon A-series cameras and it has worked every time. Just use a light gun or sewing machine oil. Good as new. Excellent video here.
I was able to get my hands on someone's A-1 for a pretty good price (around $50). It was in pretty good condition apart from the shutter which had really bad squeak. This video helped me fix it myself in like 5 minutes. I used Ballistol all purpose maintenance oil, did the trick just right! Thanks for the video!!
I only wish my A1 looked that good. I've had mine since the 80's and it looks as though it's been in a war zone in comparison to yours. Awesome camera the A1.
i've fixed mine, too ! works fine now. ready for the next century :-)
A popular 'fix' it works sometimes, I've done 3 -A1's the first straightforward, the other two have taken several attempts over a few weeks. The clue is in the mirror action, if it's laboured/slow it is going to take more than one attempt. Though use oil sparingly (2 drops max) I use a ink refillable needle ...which is blunt and safer and light oil (sewing machine)
Danke für die Mühe, das Video zu erstellen. Aber warum muss das alles immer so unscharf sein? Und wenn man, wie man hören kann, ein funktionierendes Micro hat, warum wird das ein Stummfilm ?
I got my A1 from my dad and thought that was just how the shutter sounded. Looks like I’ll be fixing it now!
same here as well! LOL😁
The whole line of Canon A-series SLRs (A-1, AE-1, etc.) use the same mechanical insides and can (will) eventually have this problem. The fix is really as simple as indicated. One observation: If you have to buy a set of small screw drivers to remove the bottom plate, or if you plan to do any significant camera repair otherwise, drop the $15-20 on Amazon and buy a nicely made set of Japanese specification screw drivers. The Phillips head drivers in the US have a different head angle than the Japanese screws and drivers, so you can more easily strip these little Japanese screws with them. And, start with a minimum of oil and work up to more if needed. You are really just splashing the oil around and hoping that you get some of it in the right places - the rest goes..???, so use less rather than more. The cost of tearing down the camera to clean out excess oil from mirror, focusing screen or off shorted electrics would be far more than the poor thing would be worth.
*”The fix is real as simple as indicated.”*
- Not really. The correct procedure requires removal of the mirror box. With this lazy, risky method, you’re bound to get lubricant where it shouldn’t be and may cause worse problems than you started with. I really wish people would stop making videos like this.
Does this also apply to the A35F rangefinder? Because mine squeaks like a mouse when winding and firing
And thank you sir, you saved me $175 at my local camera repair shop! Liked 👍
Thank you, it´'s so easy and works, my A-1 is perfect again! I used a standart syringe from my doctor with 40mm needle. I used ESSO Universal Oil.
can you give a long term review, is it still good? Because i see that people say, that in the end there is oil, allover the housing.
It seems like a dicey proposition to lubricate blind like that, but it definitely fixes the problem. I'd be worried about getting oil in places it's not supposed to be. Thanks for the video.
yep, that's why a small drop would do. at least it worked in my case. i think i read somewhere before that someone sprayed wd-40 in it. (a definite no no) :)
I used a ball needle used for inflation in place of the syringe, just dropped a drop or two right through it. Worked well and the squeak is gone. A good option in a pinch.
what a great idea! I don't like the idea of oiling blindly like many videos show. great tip. thanks!
Thank you for the tips, it works but when I put the camera lens back, the sound reappears, any suggestions ?
Thanks a lot, but I could not see where you put the needle. WD-40 is the same as gun oil? Do you have a video on how to remove and clean the ground glass? Thank you!
It's in 3:32. Don't use WD-40. The focusing screen? Nope, I haven't tried that yet.
@@DigitizedChaos i can't see where you put the oil in still
Hey there, I am in europe and gun-oil is not very common here lo, does anyone know about a non-US substitue for the oil/lubricant? thanks!
Worked like a champ. Thanks.
another canon ae-1p fixed here, thanks!
Thanks so much for this helpful video. Quick question, since you're marking the side of the syringe where the oil should come out, I'm assuming you want that facing the back of the camera when applying the oil? I'm just trying to get a good visual of where those gears are. Thanks again.
I'm assuming you have a syringe whose needle is angled, so yes pointing it to the back would be good, but the oil drop would blob up at the end anyways so it's fine either way. I've purchased syringes with much longer needles than what was shown in the video for some other projects and with those, you can probably roughly estimate the depth it goes in to the cavity better since they're longer, not like with this one in the video which is kinda exact.
Thanks, it is very simple and your instructions are clear.
you're welcome. :)
That A-1 is in great condition! What camera do you use to shoot these videos? It really looks good!
Does this squeak affect the way the camera works? Or is it just annoying to hear every time you shoot?
Great! Now I know how to get rid of the squeek, but do you know how I can tighten the lens mount? It moves every time I push the shutter button.
Worked like a charm. Thanks a lot!
Good info, that's exactly what I did...I have all this tools and stuff since I love doing electronic projects. One of my three Canons A1s was doing that squeaky sound when I fired the shutter and mirror was a little sloppy in it's operation. Now is much much better. This small operation can be done by anyone as long as that anyone is familiar with this electronic operations. Not difficult after all. I can do this easily...problem was that I didn't knew where to drop the oil. Only thing is, to be careful not to create a swimming pool of oil all around the inside of the camera ,which will send your camera straight to the funeral home, just very little oil. Thanks.
Followed this and fixed mine, thanks! (used gun oil)
Easiest fix out there!
great! worked like a charme
Does the squeek slow down the shutter? I have an a1 and was wondering if it affected the shutter or would the pictures not develop right if it wasnt fixed.
I guess take this with a grain of salt, but it's been a while and I think even while I was shooting normally in daylight with the squeak, my exposures came out alright, even with slide film.
Very nice. I just fixed mine. Thanks a lot!!
Can you do this with the lens on or is having the lens off part of the process?
I'd prefer it with the lens off.
Any suggestions on how to unstick the negative Terminal at the Bottom of the Battery Chamber?
corrosion? white vinegar and baking soda?
could this issue be why my camera wont take any pictures? ive gone through about 10 rolls of film. and maybe out of those 10 rolls, 6-7 pictures came out!
+jedibastard i don't think this issue impacts taking picture, if not it's just an annoyance i guess. try shooting at various speeds and apertures with the back open and observe how the shutter curtain operates.
Hello, i would like to fix mine, what product did you use?Thank you.Michel
What do you mean by product?
I meant lubrifiant
i just used gun oil, try researching about nye clock and instrument oils too.
Ok, thanks, cause i went to a local shop where they sell and fix old cameras, and they say not to use any lubrifiant at all for the mechanic works dry.But thanks anyway.
yup, they're right, not any lubricant would work. you're welcome, good luck with the repair.
I'm really confused as to where you're supposed to put the needle, in another video someone puts it right behind the lens-mount, but in yours you seem to put it in a tiny gap above the U-shaped handle.
Could you upload another video where your hand isn't in the way so we can see precisely where?
if you go to 3:42, that's going to be page 118 of the repair manual in the link i provided in the description. my fix is a quick fix where you just remove the bottom plate. i'm assuming you're referring to this one (nsm02.casimages.com/img/2009/11/18//091118072037149734888947.jpg) when you mentioned "behind the lens mount", that's definitely another solution.
I can't actually make out what that diagram is of xD I can't tell heads or toes from it.
:) well, your best bet is to look at the image in the previous comment. the lower right portion of the image is the one you'll want to lubricate.
So it's not where you put the needle in the video?
Thank you
Gun oil?
Yup, there are better lubes out there but gun oil is readily available here in the US.
It's work, terimakasih banyak! (thanks a lot!)
It worked
thanks
I ruined my camera trying this. Tried to run a drop of oil down a wire and now the shutter is jammed. Shutter button totally unresponsive and it's stuck in the cocked position. Is there anything I can do? 😥
EDIT: Ok, about an hour later and shutter is releasing again 😁 Sorry for the false alarm. I guess it's just a matter of time for excess
oil to migrate away from sensitive areas. But if this happens to anyone else not to despair, just wait it out.
Flary Fox hello, could you help me? I just bought a canon a1, she doesn’t have a battery yet, but I tried to make this movement (4:06-4:08; 4:14-4:15) and it didn’t make that sound, it seems slow.. is my camera with problems? If so, do you know what I could do? thank you and sorry, I’m new to cameras.
Obviously a large part of this video is missing?
nope, this is a relatively simple fix, remove the bottom plate, apply appropriate amount of lube with a syringe having the right needle length, advance and shoot until squeak goes away.
What's the right needle length?
i use servisol super 10, works fine its a Lubricated switch cleaner.. do NOT use WD40
rob b hello, could you help me? I just bought a canon a1, she doesn’t have a battery yet, but I tried to make this movement (4:06-4:08; 4:14-4:15) and it didn’t make that sound, it seems slow.. is my camera with problems? If so, do you know what I could do? thank you and sorry, I’m new to this
Your hand blocked where the needle went.
if you pause at 3:32, that's the gap where you put the needle in.
Using a wrong screwdriver. These aren't PH screws they are JIS
Don’t do that squirting oil blindly can spill on the focusing glass and on the shutter
send your camera to a serious repair person .
Glad I know how to fix it now but I kind of like the cute sneeze. Adds personality in my opinion 🤷🏻♂️
I kinda like the squeak
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍
Starbucks, Walmart, gun oil... Are You from USA? :D
lol. guilty! ;D
All that and you didn’t even show you inserting the syringe. What a waste of time
if it doesn't affect the camera's performance, why bother? I rather like the
sound!
Someone's it can cause the shutter to be delayed on the way down, causing overexposure of an image.
Also, if you are doing nature photography, the squeal could frighten the animal and it might fly/ run away.
OIL STAINSSSSSSDD
No Canon no squeak. Take Nikon.
shove your Nikon up your Ass !
Can this help me to fix the slow mirror problem with my Canon A-1¿¿