prophet@umcp-cs.UUCP (Dennis Gibbs) (10/02/84)
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Does anyone out there own a Cannon A-1? (Not AE-1) I am considering buying a
Cannon A-1 with the f1.4 lense, and was wondering if anyone has any comments
on this camera. Any complaints, problems, or praise? Thanks in advance...
Dennis
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Call-Me: Dennis Gibbs, Univ. of Md. Comp. Sci. Center.
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ARPA: prophet@Marylanduph@fortune.UUCP (Umesh P. Hiriyannaiah) (10/03/84)
I have had an A-1 for 3 years now and have not had major problems except for the things noted below. - For some strange reason the battery life has never been more than six months at the most. I used the silver oxide type of batteries which are supposed to last for more than a year and the picture taking load was an average of 36 exposures per month. I found the same behaviour both in the cold winters of the US Midwest as well as the hot summers of Southern India. Other types of batteries gave no better results. The LED display is a major source of battery drain, but still Canon states that batteries should last atleast a year or so with "normal" usage. - The other thing to note was that I needed a step higher than normal exposure compensation for backlighted subjects. This could be because of the metering pattern of the light meter. All in all it is certainly a good camera with lots of features that you don't use most of the time. I have a f1.8 lens that I consider adequate enough compared to the extra cost for an f1.4 lens.
dan@digi-g.UUCP (Dan Messinger) (10/05/84)
I have purchased 2 Canon A1's (Someone else liked the first one so much that he stoled it). I have nothing but good to say about it. It has been solid and reliable. I have a 1.4 lens, but I think the 1.8 is probably adequate for most people. If you are going to be taking pictures in low light with no flash (stage shows, for instance, sometimes don't allow flashes), then definitely go for the 1.4. Umesh mentioned a problem with his batteries not lasting too long. I have not had this problem. In fact, my batteries last about 18 months (average about 20 exposures a month, plus one vacation per year shooting about 100 or more in 2 weeks). I have been using Duracells.