Congratulations upon the purchase of your new Canon AT -1, a remarkably advanced camera that reflects the latest trends in SLR photography. As a flawless product of Canon technology, its vast potential as a rewarding means of expression is assured for years to come by an incomparable system of fine lenses and accessories.
Distance Scale (in feet and meters) Focusing Ring Canon Breech-Lock Ring Depth-of-Field Scale Flash F-- - - - - - - - " A" Mark Battery Chamber Cover a.:-...:::--- Finger Grip Film Speed iiIiii....~'---Set Ring ASA Film Speed .,,..
PICTORIAL OUTLINE FOR USING THE CAMERA 1 Load the battery. Turn the main switch on . 5 Look into the viewfinder. Compose the picture and focus. Out of Focus 4 In Focus 2 Load the film. 6 Determine the exposure by adjusting the shutter speed dial and the aperture ring.
3 Set the ASA film speed . 4 Advance the film. 7 Press the shutter button.
Photography with the Canon Speed lite 155A Photography with the Canon Power Winder A 1. 1. 2. 3. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Take off the battery chamber cover and load the batteries. Set the ASA film speed of the 155A. Mount the Speedlite 155A on the acces· ~ory shoe of the camera. Turn the main switch on. Set the AUTO/MANU. switch. Set the prescribed f/stop on the lens. Focus and press the shutter button. 4. 5. 6. 7. 6 Remove the Battery Pack A. Load the batteries into the Battery Pack A.
CONTENTS SPECIFICATIONS ...... . . . ..... 8· 10 Handl ing the Case and Lens Cap .... 12-13 Mounting th e Lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 loading the Battery and Main Switch .. 14-15 Check ing the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Film Advance and Shutter Release. . . 17-18 Load ing the Film . ... ....... . .. 19-20 Frame Counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Setting the ASA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22-23 OPERATION FOR GENERAL PHOTOG RAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SPECIFICATIONS Type: 35mm SLR (Single- Lens-Heflex) Camera with focal plane shutter. Picture Size: 24 x 36mm Interchangeable lenses: Canon FD series lenses for full aperture metering _ Canon F L series lenses for stopped-down metering. Standard Lenses: Canon FD 55mm f/l.2 S.S.C. Canon FD 50mm f/l.4 S.S.C. Canon FD 50mm f/l.8 S.C. . Lens Mount: Canon Breech-Lock Mount. Canon FD, FL, and R lenses can be mounted for use. Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism . Field of View: 93.5% vertical and 96.
Shutter: Cloth focal plane shutter with four spindles. Shock and noise damping mechanisms are incorporated. All shutter speeds are electronically controlled. Shutter Speeds: 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, . 1/125,1/60,1/30,1/15,1/8,1/4,1/2,1, 2 (seconds) and B. X synchronization is at 1/60 seconds. Shutter Speed Dial: The shutter speed dial is on the same axis as the film advance lever. The number 2 for two seconds is marked in orange; other numbers as well as X synchronization are in white.
f/stop, and the amount cif light is automatically controlled for correct flash exposure, adjusting the shutter speed to 1/60 of a second automatically . Back Cover: The camera 's back cover has a memo holder for your convenience. The cover can be removed for attaching the Canon Data Back A. Film Loading: Performed by pulling up the rewind crank to open the back cover. Easy film loading with multi-slot take-up spool . 0 Film Advance Lever: Single stroke with 120 0 throw and 30 stand-off.
PRELIMINARY PREPARATION Neckstrap and Case Slide the scratch prevention ring and spare battery case wh ich houses a spare battery onto the Canon AT- 1 's neckstrap, then th read the neckstrap through the rings. Adjust the neckstrap to a length most suitable for you. Firmly attach the case to the camera by turning the screw on the bottom of the case.
Handling the Lens Cap The lens cap can be removed from the front of the lens after pressing in the tabs on both sides of the cap. The rear dust cover can b~ removed by turning the Canon BreechLock ring in the direction of the arrow. To attach the dust cover, align its slot with the positioning pin below the red dot of the Breech-Lock ring, and press it in. When the dust cover is removed, the Breech-Lock ring is locked. Mounting the Lens Remove the body cap.
Loading the Battery The camera will function only when the battery is loaded and the main switch is turned on . Use a silver oxide battery for the power source. The battery chamber cover can be opened more easily by using the viewfinder cover that is inserted into the accessory shoe. Be careful to load the battery correctly with the "+" side up following the diagram on the inside of the battery chamber.
Main Switch The main switch turns on or off the electric circuits of the camera. Therefore, when taking photographs, set the main switch to the ".ON" position . The camera will not function unless it is set to "ON". • When not in use, turn the main switch to "OF F" to guard against needless consumption of the battery. Usable Batteries Silver Oxide Battery ( 6V) IEveready ( UCAR) No.544 JIS 4G13, Mallory PX28 Perform a battery check in the following situations: ,. 2. 3. When a battery is loaded .
Checking the Battery The main switch is also used for checking the battery. To see if the battery power level is sufficient, turn the main switch/ battery check lever to the "C" index on the outer rim of the film rewind, crank while looking into the viewfinder. If the meter needle rests above the battery check index mark or coincides with the index as shown in the illustration, the power level of the battery is sufficient. If the needle does not rise to the index, the battery must be changed.
Film Advance and Shutter Release Turn the film advance lever until it stops, so the film will advance one frame all in one motion. The shutter will cock, and the dia· phragm and mirror will be ready for the next shutter release, while the frame coullter advances simultaneously to the next number. By pushing the film advance lever lightly with the tip of your thumb, it will open to its 30° stand-off position away from the camera body for easy film advance.
Shutter Button and Shutter Lock The magnetic release shutter button enables smoother shutter release than the mechanical release method does. There is also less chance for camera shake. When the shutter lock lever around the shutter release button is turned to the "L" position, the shutter button will be locked to prevent unintentional shutter release. Keep the shutter release button locked while carrying the camera to prevent film waste.
Loading the Film The Canon AT-l uses color or black and white film in standard 35mm cartridges. Opening the Back Cover . To load a cartridge of film into the camera, first open the camera's back cover. Pull up the rewind crank and the back cover will pop open. The back cover can be securely closed simply by pressing it until it locks. Avoid direct sunlight when loading or unloading the film.
take-up spool making sure that the perforations of the film are engaged in the teeth of the film transport sprocket. Then, make sure that there is no film slack. In case there is, gently turn the film rewind crank in the direction of the arrow to obtain proper film tautness and the film advance lever to ensure that the leader is wound fully on to the take-up spool before the camera back is closed. When loading the film into the camera, do not touch the shutter curtain, the film rails or the pressure plate.
Frame Counter The frame counter is an additive type which counts one frame every time the film advance lever winds the film. When the camera's back cover is opened, the frame counter automatically resets itself to the "S" position. W~ile rewinding film, the frame counter counts back the frame numbers. The starting position "S", 0, and the even numbers 2 to 38 are displayed by the counter. Numbers 20 and 36 are marked in orange to call your attention to the end of commercially available film cartridges.
Checking Film Winding Operate the film advance lever while watching the film rewind knob. If it rotates, the film is properly loaded. If the rewind knob does not rotate, open the back cover and load the film again from the start. Setting the ASA Film Speed After loading the film, set the ASA film speed according to the ASA speed of the film in use.
The following ASA ratings can be set on the camera. Figures in parentheses indicate intermediate film speeds. Use of the Memo Holder The memo holder on the camera :s- back cover is useful for keeping data like film speed , location, shooting. For example, after tearing off the part of the film box which specifies the type of the film being used , it can be inserted into the memo holder as a constant reminder.
Operation for General Photography
Shutter and Aperture The opening of the shutter letting light in on the film is called an exposure . The amount of light striking the film is controlled by the lens aperture, while the length of time that light is allowed to strike the film is controlled by the shutter. Shutter Speed Dial The shutter dial is used to adjust the shutter speed. It allows for speed settings in the range of 2 seconds to 1/1000 of a second.
to help you select an appropriate shutter speed when using a standard 50mm lens . For indoor photography, with no special illumination, choose 1/30 of a second' and 1/60 of a second in a brightly lit room. For outdoor photography, select 1/125 second when cloudy and 1/250 second in sunshine. To take pictures in particularly bright sunshine such as at a beach in midsummer or in snow-covered mountains, use sh utter speeds of 1/500 sec. or 1/1000 sec.
Viewing and Focusing Focusing is performed in the small round area in the center of the viewfinder. The smaller central circle is a split-image focusing s~reen and around it is the microprism ring. The split-image rangefinder ascertains that the image is "in focus" when the image divided horizontally in half merges and becomes one complete image. The microprism rangefinder presents a clear and steady image when in focus. The microprism conveys a broken, shimmering image when not accurately in focus.
Dioptric Adjustment Lens S Dioptric adjustment lenses can be attached by inserting them from above into the grooves in the viewfinder eyepiece to compensate for the individual eyesight. With them, near-sighted or far-sighted persons can perform photography without glasses. The built-in eyepiece lens of the AT-1 has -1 diopter. The following 10 kinds of dioptric adjustment lenses are optional accessories : +3, +2, +1.5, +1, +0.5, 0, -0.5, -2, -3 and -4 (diopters).
Angle Finder A2 and B The angle finder is a magnify ing glass which can be attached from above into the grooves of the viewfinder eyepiece . It rotates ~O degrees so that the image on the viewfinder can be viewed directly from the side or above whenever it is inconvenient or impossible to look directly through the eyepiece. This is very helpful in copying, close·ups, macrophotography, and photomicrography .
Viewfinder Information The Canon AT-1 is a camera offering full aperture metering with FD lenses where the aperture needle is coupled to the shutter speed, aperture and film's sensitivity when FD lenses are used _ Furthermore, when using Canon FL lenses on the AT-1, the exposure reading is performed with stopped-down metering.
Determining the Exposure Turn the camera toward the subject and look into the viewfinder to insure that the meter needle swings and rests still somewhere between the upper and lower exposure metering index marks. Then, turn the shutter speed dial and/or the aperture ring until the circular aperture needle bisects the meter needle . These are the steps for getting the correct exposure . On most occasions, it is more conven ient to predetermine the shutter speed then turn the aperture ring.
Operation of Shutter Priority Exposure Metering With F L Lenses 1. 2. 3. 4. When Canon F L lenses are used on the AT·1, it is necessary to take a stopped-down meter reading . After pressing in the stoppeddown lever until it locks, adjust the aperture ring and/or shutter speed dial until the meter needle inside the viewfinder is aligned with the aperture needle to obtain the correct exposure .
Meter Coupling Range If the circular aperture needle does not align with the meter needle by turning the aperture ring, it means that the shutter speed is not properly set. If this is the case, reset shutter speed dial so that two needles can be aligned with each other. And when these two needles cannot be aligned with each other by turning the shutter speed dial, change the aperture.
Holding the Camera The electromagnetic shutter release button has a short, soft touch. The shutter can be released by lightly depressing the .shutter button to help prevent camera shake . But, unsteady holding of the camera will cause camera shake in spite of the electro· magnetic shutter release system. Therefore, be sure to hold the camera firmly. Rest the camera on your left palm and grasp the lower part of the lens focusing ring between your thumb and forefinger or middle finger.
Releasing the Shutter When you press the shutter button, try to squeeze the shutter button gently with .your finger. Avoid hitting or pressing the shutter button suddenly particularly when using slow shutter speeds, otherwise blur may result. At the moment of shooting, you should exhale slowly while the shutter button is being pressed. Rewinding the Film When the film advance lever cannot travel all the way to the end of it s stroke, the frame counter tells you that you have reached the end of the film .
unfold the rewind crank and turn it in the direction of the arrow on the rewind crank. When the frame counter has reached the "S" mark, you should stop rewinding. Then pull up the rewind knob to open the camera back and lift the cartridge out. If you stop rewinding the moment the frame counter has reached the "S" mark, the· film will not be completely rewound into the cartridge and the film leader will still be outside the cartridge .
Concerning the Exposure (Shutter Speed and Aperture Coupling) In order to obtain the correct exposure, it is necessary to correctly match the shutter sp~ed with the aperture . The shutter speed and the aperture are the main factors in controlling the amount of light which is allowed to strike the film, and when they change, the quality of the image upon the film also changes.
the moving main subject in the viewfinder. You then release the shutter while still twisting. When you use this technique, the main subject should be sharp even at slow shutter speeds and the image of the background is blurred according to the speed of the panning movement. This hightens the feeling of motion in the picture. Effects of Changing the Aperture The lens aperture does not only control exposure but it also has an effect on the photograph as follows : In example C, the aperture was set at f/5 .
Depth-of -Field When a certain subject is brought into focus, there is only a limited range in the foreground and background of the subject which can be kept clearly in focus. This zone of sharpness is the depth-of·field. There are two methods of confirming the extent of the depth of the field : by stopping down the lens diaphragm or by reading the depth-of-field scale on the lens. Confirming the Depth-of-Field by Stopping-Down the Lens Diaphragm Press the stopped-down lever until it locks .
· 51 !.§i , .".,;; ;. ," 7 2 '" ... 10 15 30 3 5 10 1111 16 I.8i 2:816 411 It5.64 I8 4· 1116 ···--'=-·-A· ~. I II I I. I I • j Generally, the depth-of-field will become deeper as the aperture becomes smaller, and shallower as the aperture becomes larger. A shorter focal length as well as a greater camera-to-subject distance will also deepen the depth-of-field. Comparing a 2Bmm lens with a standard 50mm lens set at the same flstop, the 2Bmm lens's depth-of-field will be greater.
Using the Self-Timer Obvious uses for the self-timer are selfportraits and the inclusion of the photographer in a souvenir picture_ The self-timer can also be used in place of a cable release to release the shutter gently and smoothly in close range work like photomicrography or copying. Push the electronic self-timer lever forward, then press the shutter button, and the shutter will be released 10 seconds later. While the self-timer is in operation, the selftimer lamp flashes on and off.
Cancelling the Self-Timer Operation If you should want to cancel the self· timer operation after having pressed the shutter button, set the main switch to OFF on the top side of the camera. Then, the self· timer lamp stops blinking and the self-timer operation will be cancelled. If the main switch is not set to OF F and the self-timer lever is returned to its original position, the shutter will be released .
Flash Photography with the AT-1 The Canon AT-1 can be used with two different type of flash units; a directly coupled contact type and a synchronization cord type . Use the Canon Speedlite 155A of a directly coupled contact type for exceptional flash photography. (See page 61 concerning the 155A.) When using an electronic flash other than the Speedlite 155A or a flash bulb , you can select the appropriate shutter speed in reference to the table of "Flash Synchroni· zation Range" indicated below.
Long Exposures and "B" (Bulb) Setting When you need shutter speeds slower than two seconds such as for shooting night scenes or fireworks, set the shutter speed dial at "8". Then, the shutter will remain open as long as the shutter button is pressed. In long exposures, it becomes essential to mount the camera on a tripod and use a cable release preferably with a lock to prevent camera shake and attain best results.
Film Plane Indicator This mark is engraved on the top of the camera beside the film rewind crank, just to the left of the pentaprism, to indicate the exact position of the film plane. The distance scale on the lens shows subject distances measured from the film plane indicator. This mark is not used in general photography, but in close-ups and macrophotography it can be used to obtain the exact film-to-subject distance.
Stopped-Down Metering When the AT-l is used with Canon FD lenses, photography can be performed with match needle type full aperture metering . Even when the lens automatic aperture lever is locked in the manual position, FD lenses should not be used on the AT-l with stopped· down metering. This will cause improper meter readings.
mirror, this stopped-down coupling lever becomes visible, as does the red mark in the case described above. The Extension Tube FD 25 and FD 50 eSRecially designed each for the FD 50mm and FD 100mm macro lenses should be used with full aperture metering. In this case, depth of the field can be assured in the viewfinder by pressing in the stopped-down lever.
(2) Lock for Manual Aperture Control (2) There are some FD lenses with the manual lock lever requiring a different procedure for manual control setting. With these particular lenses, the automatic aperture lever must be turned fully counterclockwise while the manual lock lever is brought to the "L" position. Once this has been done, when the lens is mounted on the camera, the diaphragm blades will open or close by turning the aperture ring.
Changing the Lens FD lenses incorporate a safety mechanism to prevent the Breech-Lock ring and the diaphragm blades from moving when the lens is not mounted on the camera . To bypass this safety mechanism, press the lock pin in the top recess of the breech-Lock mount while turning the Breech-Lock ring. Once this safety mechanism has thus been cancelled, you can see the diaphragm blades move when activated by the automatic aperture lever.
Lens Signal Coupling EE Switch Pin Reserved Pin Automatic Aperture Lever Full Aperture Signal Pin Aperture Signal Lever This lever transmits the actual f/stop to the exposure meter. It is coupled to the aperture ring . Full Aperture Signal Pin This pin transmits a signal indicating the maximum aperture of the lens. Automatic Aperture Lever This lever closes down the aperture. It couples w ith the stopped-down coupling lever.
Distance Scale The distance scale is for distances measured from the film plane. This scale is not generally used except for confirming the depth·of·field , performing guide number calculations in flash photography, or photo· graphing with infrared film . Read one-digit distances in the middle of the number marked on the scale. Two-digit distances should be read at the point in the middle of the two digits.
instance normally, when the focus is adjusted at 5m on the distance scale, you turn the focusing ring slightly so that the 5 on the distance scale matches the red dot infrared index mark. When photographing with infrared black and white film, visible light rays must be kept out by means of a deep red filter (R1) over the lens. The position of the infrared index mark is fixed for infrared film most sensitive to the 80Om~ wavelength and use of a red filter.
Canon Speedlite 155A When the Speedlite 155A is used with the AT-1, it is not necessary to set the shutter speed on the camera as is the case with or~inary electronic flash units. At any shutter speed except "8", the shutter speed is automatically adjusted to the X synchronization speed of 1/60 sec. at the time the 155A is charged. To perform automatic flash photography , set the prescribed flstops on the lens manually.
Canon Power Winder A The Canon Power Winder A is an automatic film winder _ It can be attached to any Canon AT-' directly, without any other accessory or attachment. When you attach the Power Winder A to the Canon AT-' and press the shutter button, the film will be immediately wound after being exposed. Furthermore , with the Power Winder A you can catch subjects' movements and changi ng expressions because you are able to take continuous or single frame photography at your pleasure .
Data Back A This is an interchangeable back cover with a built-in data imprinting mechanism. It can imprint the day, month and year on the IOl(ller right hand corner of the photograph at the moment of the shutter's release, as well as other data to identify or classify the pictures you take. It imprints letters of the alphabet and Roman numerals for greater versati I ity and convenience . Canon Bellows F L This is an adjustable bellows for high· magnification photography .
Accessories 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 . 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21 .
0 15 19 22 22. Extension Tube M Set 23. Dioptric Adjustment Lens S for Eyesight Compensation (10 kinds) 24. Speedlite 155A 25. Power Winder A 26.
Care and Storage of the Camera No matter how exceptional the camera may be, it will not give you all it can unless it is taken care of properly. Please make sure to keep the camera clean all the time. Acquire a blower brush, cleaning liquid, cleaning paper, silicone cloth, etc. Care of the Camera Dust on the lens or the viewfind'e r should first be blown off with a blower brush.
. To guard against the inconvenience of loss, theft or other unforeseen problems, fill in the form below to keep as a record of your camera for use in such circumstances.
Self -Timer Lamp - - - - - --i-- - --- - - - - - - S h u t t e r Speed Index ~------- Frame Counter Memo Haddl!r-------:.
Canon CANON INC. USA 11 · 28, Mlta 3 ·cheme, Minato -ku, Tokvo 108, Japan ---- Tt~e?a~aUri~~~·l!~eCsu~~~,DL~~::~:nd. N . Y . 11040, U .S.A. CANON U.S.A., INC . MANHATTAN OFFICE 600 Third Avenue, New York, N . Y . 10016, U .S.A . CANON U.S.A ., INC . ATLANTA' SERVI C E STATION 160 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, U .S.A. CANON U.S.A ., INC . CHICAGO OFFICE 140 Industrial Drive, Elmhurst, Illinois 60126, U .S . A . CANON U.S.A., INC .