ft Loc: New York, USA

Would anyone have a recommendation for a camera repair person or shop that could repair a Canon AE-1 film camera with a shutter problem? Asking for a friend in New Mexico.
Thanks for your help!

BebuLamar

Does this camera have a lot of sentimental value to you? If not it's better to buy replacement or simply get rid of it. Having someone repair it is not economically feasible. But then sometimes there is nothing wrong with the camera, it may just need a new battery.

ft Loc: New York, USA

It has great sentimental value to the owner — reportedly has a shutter problem. Thanks for your prompt response.

BebuLamar

Did you check the battery? What the shutter does?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I've had work done by http://www.slr35.com/ in Englewood, Florida. That was more than a decade ago, so email / call to confirm Joe Careta is still working on cameras. Personally, though, give serious consideration to the suggestions to get a working replacement, not a repair, if interested shooting this ancient model of film camera.

When I later sold the AE-1, I didn't get back the value spent on the repair. Moreover, I kept the FD lenses and mounted them to a Sony mirrorless camera with an FD adapter. These lenses are much, much more useful on a digital mirrorless body, producing better images than ever captured on film with the AE-1.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Buying a replacement body on the used camera market is generally much less expensive than repairing one that is not working. Finding parts for film cameras in 2024 (other than a Leica M6) is improbable. Finding repair shops with expertise is equally difficult.

The lack of new film cameras, repair parts, and service shops is what will kill off film at some point in the future. If you like film photography, enjoy it while you can.

BebuLamar

When people bought used cameras many people recommended to have them CLA saying anything that old must need some maintenance but in my opinion such CLA isn't really possible. A true and worthwhile CLA would require to almost totally disassemble the camera an reassemble it assuming that no part is needed. Such a task should cost a few hundred dollars if the tech would want to make a living doing it.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

My EOS 1v HS is built like a tank. I've in inadvertently dropped it more than once. It just keeps going, probably will outlast me. I bought it used and possibly the film roll counter goes back to the original owner, meaning our combined usage has only just crossed into 400 total rolls.

When I look at properly metered and fully in-focus results with AF-capable EF lenses, I wonder why I fixed that old AE-1 and even played with a F1 before giving up totally on manual-focus film results.

photonaut Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA

I can highly recommend AP-T Camera Repair in Albuquerque. AP-T is located at 4503 Menaul Blvd NE, the phone is 505-881-6600. The owner has been in business for at least 30 years and I have used them many times for film to digital repairs. Here is what they do: "Repair and cleaning of film and digital photography equipment. Sensor cleanings. Sales of quality film and digital gear. Photography classes on how to use your camera. Studio rental space available." Give them a try.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

That's a good wonder. I have an A-1 and a couple of FD/FL lenses, and a Nikon FTn and F3 with some lenses. They all work, but the meter on the FTn is whacked (literally). MyLightMeter on the iPhone would suffice for that.

Yearbook candid photography suffered highly from early automatic SLRs. The AE-1 original was so popular, it probably was responsible for more blurry and badly-exposed yearbook candids in the late '70s and early 1980s than any other camera. Kids didn't read the manual and didn't understand exposure, so... they made a mess! (I was working for a yearbook company from '79 to '87, so I saw a LOT of yearbooks. They got better as automation improved. But they were really good BEFORE automation. Go figure... Sometimes HAVING to think makes you stop and think.

ft Loc: New York, USA

Thank you! This is helpful.

Badgertale Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

In Albuquerque, I've had great work done at:
Albuquerque Photo-Tech (AP-T)
(505) 881-6600
4503 Menaul Boulevard, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110

gwilliams6

Back in the late 70's when i was a young staff photographer at Newsday Newspaper on Long Island, NY, we were the first major US Newspaper staff that was coaxed by Canon to switch from our Nikons and Leicas to Canon A1 and AE1 cameras and lenses. And at that time, Newsday was in Garden City, LI, right across the street from Ehrenreich Photo, the first US importer of Nikon cameras, LOL.

We put those A1 and AE1 through professional hell, and suffered all the growing pains of those cameras and their failings, especially if they got wet. But Canon wanted so bad to get a foothold into newspaper staffs where Nikon and Leica totally dominated, that they just replaced any of our broken Canon gear with new gear, didn't bother to waste our time repairing it. Canon's USA headquarters is on Long island.

But our top notch staff also made award winning photos with them. I will always have a found spot in my memory for them, trying to forget the times they didn't work, or broke.

I went to join the Philadelphia Inquirer as a staff photographer , and eventually sold my personal A1 and AE1 to a young photographer, and never saw them again. My favorite Canon film camera of all time was the legendary and rock solid F1, which I used to cover the war in the jungles and mountains of Nicaragua between the Contras and the Sandinistas. That F1 carried so much sentimental value for me that when my original F1 couldn't be repaired anymore, I bought a pristine F1 which I still use today when I teach my 35mm B&W film course at a state university.

So I totally get the sentimental value the OP's friend in New Mexico has for their AE1. I hope it can be repaired somehow, whatever the cost and trouble.

Cheers and best to you.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

This type of post is why i'm buying old cameras to teach myself how to repair them.

BebuLamar

The AE-1 was the best seller...