olcoach Loc: Oregon

I'm hoping some of the older folks can give me an answer to this problem. I just had the chance to get a good deal on an AE-1 Program camera, and I decided that going back to basics would help me with some photo issues. All went pretty well and I bought a couple of lenses. One lens I bought from a well known used dealer is a Canon 70-210 that looks as if it is brand new. My problem is I can't get it to focus. There a some other lenses that came with it but this is the only true zoom. Is there a secret, did I get a bad lens, or, and I suspect this is probably my problem, am I doing, or not doing, something. As always thank you for any and all help.

murm Loc: Adelaide, Australia

Are you back far enough from the subject your trying to focus on.
I still got one of them old babies, loved it before digital.

Cheers.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

They made several models of the 70-210. If your has a macro mode make sure it's not in macro. :thumbup:

pc39

Is your Canon 70-210 lens an FD lens, and not one of the Canon autofocus lenses? The AE1P takes FD lenses.
I still have Canon AT1 and A1 bodies which take FD lenses. The best FD lens I have is a Vivitar 28 - 200 mm lens which gave me better results than the Canon lenses. Although well-worn it gave good results until I went digital.
I have tried to sell both cameras and all the associated equipment - but nobody is interested in film cameras anymore. Therefore, olcoach, you should not have to pay much for a Canon AE1P camera body. Best wishes & good luck!

ggttc Loc: TN

It only takes FD lenses...check and make sure which version of the lens you have.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Back some almost 40 years ago, my brother bought me an AE1 as a gift. I immediately took it back and got an Olympus OM-10 with the Zuiko 50mm 1.8. I still have it [plus the OM-2 and OM-4t I bought later]. Never regretted the swap. Before I went Nikon digital, I had a winder and a 'potato masher' Sunpak 622 w/the ttl adapter]. It made amazing slides.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

Thanks all as the problem was the macro. Now i understand and all is well. Mike