Bought this Canon A1 online that was described as being in "excellent" condition. Checked out a few Youtube tutorials to understand the workings of the camera. The viewfinder of my Canon A1 has a dark curve on the left side of the viewfinder. In comparison, the Canon A1's featured in two different youtube tutorials didn't have this. I've contacted the seller for additional information, however, I thought it best to reach out and see if someone can identify what this is. I haven't loaded the camera with any film as of yet, so I don't know if this will affect picture quality. Pictures I took of the viewfinder with my phone are attached with the post.
This is rather peculiar, if the curve was the barrel of the lens it wouldn't be transparent. If you put aside all the specific features, an SLR camera is quite simple here, you have a prism that allows the viewfinder to look down into the body, and a mirror at 45 degrees which looks straight through the lens. It should be pretty easy to take off the lens and see if anything looks crooked. You can fire the shutter and see if the mirror is flipping up out of the way of the film/shutter and coming back down clean. I kinda wonder if there was a very heavy layer of dust on the mirror or prism inside and they did a bad job of cleaning it? That would explain the fact you can still see image through it, and that it looks like it was wiped with a finger and cloth and a slight curve. If the darkness is between the mirror and your eye it won't show on images. If the darkness is related to the lens itself that would be a problem.
My guess is that the camera has been dropped, and the pentaprism has been knocked out of position. I don't have this camera, but I do have one or two film slr's, and I can assure you that the view that you are showing us is not right. It shouldn't effect the final image if you use the camera. But what does also come to mind is that if the camera has been dropped what other damage has been done to it internally. I would send it back if possible. Gary
Azlion, as a hoarder of cameras and lenses I would suggest you look at it as damaged, if the camera was a cheap purchase keep it as a parts camera and buy another one, if it was a more expensive purchase then you have not received what was described, so get your money back, there are plenty of them around.
While we have stated it shouldn't affect image if you have something obstructing view between the eye and mirror, If you do have a prism jolted out of position from a drop or if the mirror is crooked/not coming down all the way, anything out of alignment there would actually adversely affect the image in one way. You focus the lens through all this so if they are not aligned properly you would get in accurate focus. How much did you end up getting the camera for if you don't mind? Did you get any other lenses or accessories? It may help to assess if it makes sense to send back.
