20 Most Recent Canon EOS-AE-1 35mm SLR Camera - Page 5 Questions & Answers

You may be out of film. If you used too much leader to load the film, the counter would not know to keep up so you would be off a bit. On the rewind side, check to see if there is any slack in the film, If you can turn the rewind 2 or 3 turns then it is not loading error but mechanical problems.

Camera has a bad magnet, the A series were plagued by this.
Repairs will cost more than probably what it's worth.
The AE-1's used an electromagnet system to activate the shutter for a smoother press and less shake from the camera system.

I got lucky and recently purchased an AE-1 program that doesn't have this problem, it seems to be a hit and miss with these.

The shutter could be stuck or the mirror could be stuck. (Guessing you have an SLR.)
The film advancing is normal; means it is cocked and ready to go but something is stuck.

Take off the lens and see if anything is keeping the mirrors/shutters from returning.

Your camera probably needs a new battery.
The light meter needs sufficient power (5.5v to 6v) to work correctly.

Your ISO could have moved, even a double or halving of it will over/underxpose a full stop.

Your camera has a bad magnet in the body.
Repairs will cost more than probably what you paid for it; I'd suggest getting a replacement (I got a Canon AE-1 Program for $40 on craigslist, ebay has good prices)

Is there film in it ? Remove it if there is,
If not you need to take it to a repair shop nothing you can do ... KC

if its a full auto you cant do anything with it, if you have manual over ride try turning the dile on the film wing knob or the know inside between the film wind and the top of the penterprism

I seriously, I mean, really, suggest you get the owner's manual if you don't have one. Look online. Somehow, find one you can download.

The other post said you had a M in the viewfinder. Your camera is set on Manual. You have total control, and the camera cannot react to different light levels. Take it out of Manual mode. Put it in Program mode, or Av. Program mode is identified on the dial as a P. If the dial does not turn easily, do NOT force it. There's likely a small button nearby. press it and turn the dial to P. Now the camera's internal computer can sense the light from the light meter and set exposure accordingly.
The manual will tell you if you need to set the lens a certain way in order for the camera to set aperture for you. If you don't do that, the camera can only set shutter speed for you.
Camera controls exposure, the amount of light that reaches the film, by aperture and shutter speed.
I also suggest you get yourself some basic photography books, and join a local camera club. The library has lots of books you can read for free.

Assuming that you've connected the colour-coded leads correctly to the matching tv input sockets then you just need to use the tv remote to select the correct AV input and ensure that you switch the camera on. If you don't know how to to this then check the instruction book for your tv remote.

Note that you should make/remove the cable connections when the camera is turned off.

If this has helped then please return the favour by rating my answer, if not then please add a comment with the exact make and model of tv (and remote control if it's not the original one) and I'll do my best to provide further help.

On the bottom you have the Film rewind button. On the top you have the film rewind knob with crank . Here are the instructions on how to rewind the film. You can tell you have reached the end of the film by the frame counter and the film advance lever. Either the film advance lever will not turn at all or it will not turn all the way. First press in the rewind button, you may immediately let go of it, its on the bottom as shown before. Then turn the rewind crank clock wise until the frame counter, which counts backwards as you rewind, reaches "S" then open the back cover, remove the film, place it back in its canister and have it developed as soon as possible.

If you're asking how do you set it, you should have a light meter. You can also use the automatic settings to eliminate the guesswork. Fir the manual use, the smaller the number, the larger the opening. An average setting is f8. f16 or f22 for a sunny day.

There is a large circular cover on the bottom of the camera. Inside is a button battery. Yours is dead and should be replaced with one of the same I.D.number.

Hi,
First of all you check the batteries.Most film advance levers have an offset position whereby they can be pulled out a small amount without actually advancing the film. This is to enable you to hook your thumb under the advance lever.
The lever will not move past this position unless the shutter has been fired.You can't fire the shutter unless you have a good battery installed.
So, I'd suggest instal a good battery and attempt to fire the shutter.
Hope this helps
Thanks
Smith.

I suggest a good camera repairman, unless you want to embark a new career. Fortuantely Canon made so many AE-1s, that every repairman has some for parts and the prism seldom breaks ( I have 7). It could just be a broken viewing window / lens (about half inch by three quarter inch window you look into), but that still requires taking off the cover (with speacialized tools), to replace. 

Yes, it could. Try to shoot with 125x-mode to check if the shutter works on manual. If there are no lights coming up in the metering pillar it is very probable that hte batteries are gone.

Light leak, definately a light leak. You need to change or add foam around the chamber to prevent any light from entering.

First check for corrosion on the two battery contacts, and that the lower contact is still spring loaded and moves. Be sure you have a good battery by inserting it and checking with the battery test button by the rewind knob. If the lights and meter needle are working you're getting power. Remove the bottom cover and you'll see an electromagnet under a whitish plastic cover at the rewind end of the camera. Pull the magnet away from the coil by rotating the L shaped metal lever - you don't have to remove the white cover. Sometimes the magnet gets sticky. That should release the shutter. If it's really dirty, it might stick again. Be careful if you remove the white plastic since the magnet has fine wires that are easily broken, but you can clean the magnet interface.