Canon SLR camera

arzumand

Hello ,I don't know where to post this thread so I request the moderators if I haven't posted it in a proper place please move it so that I can get sufficient help and informations
I have a canon SLR camera model AE-1 which I used several times.I got this camera with a flash light and a zoom lens from my father-in-who died few years ago.
I don't know the use of Zoom lens and it has no signs of aperture as the normal lens has.I have seen many beautiful photographs in this forum so I expect that some people know the use of zoom lens who can help me .I have read some informations that are given in wikipedia etc.I need some practical informations.

I want to know:
how to use
when to use
where to use
where not to use

Hoping for help
Regards

devorenm

The AE-1 is a full manual SLR Camera, the zoom lense must have an aperature ring on it somewhere, likely closer to the body then the zoom ring. The only other possibility I can think of is that the lense you have is a fixed aperature zoom lense and that your only option is to control exposure with shutter speed but that seems HIGHLY unlikely to me. Indeed I've only ever heard of such a beast as a super specialty lense. Are you POSITIVE there is no aperature ring? Perhaps the zoom lense is a more recent model (ie not made for that camera) that expects the aperature to be controlled via camera body, but in that case it shouldn't mate with the camera at all.

It's hard to tell without seeing it. Sorry mate

Nick-H

If you click Forums on the menu bar at the top of the page, and look through the listings, you'll find Photography.

It's a big site, and like a big city, it's worth taking a look at the map to help in getting to know it

I expect a moderator will move the thread in due course...

arzumand

After reading your post I have watched the lens carefully and found where the aperture is written
Now please give other informations

Merchant

arzumand

I want to know about the zoom lens but not the camera .I have used the camera I possess several times successfully .

Nick-H

Now watch it more carefully and you might find the focus and the zoom!

Otherwise, please, at least tell us lens manufacturer, model, specification. Or maybe upload a photo of it...

arzumand

In the front part of the lens it is written zoom 1:4.5 ,f= 80-200 mm,8143005 55 φ ,AUTO MAKINON MC



what do these things mean 1:4 ,1:5 f=200mm ,1:6 macro

Merchant

The zoom lens will work just like any other lens but with a few caveats:

With a 4.5 maximum aperture, this would be considered a "slow" lens, in the sense that its light-gathering capacity is limited. This means you will need to use higher ISO film. Shooting 400 speed film would be a good idea, unless you are working in really bright daylight.

You will also have to be careful of the shutter speeds. The longer the lens (zoomed out for telephoto), the faster the shutter speed you will need in order to ensure sharp pictures. Long lenses magnify camera-shake, the natural motions you can't avoid when holding the camera and shooting. The useful guideline is to use shutter speeds 1/x, where x is your focal length. So, if you zoom your lens all the way out to 200 millimeters, you should set the shutter speed to 1/200 (1/250 if that's what your camera offers). Likewise, when using the lens at the short end (80 mm), set the shutter speed to 1/80 (1/100 on your camera).

Of course, these are just guidelines, and the light will determine your exposures. Just be aware that using longer lenses requires faster shutter speeds.

Those markings:

Zoom lens, 4.5 is maximum (widest) aperture. 80-200 are the range of focal length (telephoto). 8143005 is probably a serial number. 55 φ is the lens diameter -- you need this number to purchase a filter to protect the front lens element. Makinon is the brand (Japanese).

The other things at the bottom of your post -- these seem to indicate the apparent magnification based on how far in or out you have zoomed = 1:5 (five times life-sized) at 200 millimeters, etc. Macro means that the lens focuses very close and blows things up large. You can use it to take pictures of bugs, for example.

arzumand

Thanks Merchant and Nick-H, I understood to some extent .I think it will be better for me to spend some money and waste a roll of film for getting some practical experience before I use it on my trip.

Nick-H

Your getting advise from a pro from Merchant!

Yes... of course you should try it out ---and 35mm may involve more cost than digital, but still SLR is going to give you a fairly good idea of what you should get.