I recently dug out my old Canon AE-1 from the attic to try shooting some film again. It worked perfectly last summer, but now that temperatures have dropped below freezing, the shutter occasionally sticks halfway open and won’t advance until I fiddle with it for a few minutes. I’ve kept it in my heated apartment overnight but then took it outside to shoot, so maybe that’s part of the issue. I haven’t tried opening it up myself since I’m a total newbie with camera repair, and I don’t want to mess it up. Has anyone experienced this kind of cold-weather shutter sticking with vintage cameras? Would lubricating the shutter mechanism help, or is it better to just keep the camera warm before shooting? Also, any tips on safely warming the camera without risking condensation inside?

On 02/09/2026 at 11:55 AM, pg271 said:

I recently dug out my old Canon AE-1 from the attic to try shooting some film again. It worked perfectly last summer, but now that temperatures have dropped below freezing, the shutter occasionally sticks halfway open and won’t advance until I fiddle with it for a few minutes. I’ve kept it in my heated apartment overnight but then took it outside to shoot, so maybe that’s part of the issue. I haven’t tried opening it up myself since I’m a total newbie with camera repair, and I don’t want to mess it up. Has anyone experienced this kind of cold-weather shutter sticking with vintage cameras? Would lubricating the shutter mechanism help, or is it better to just keep the camera warm before shooting? Also, any tips on safely warming the camera without risking condensation inside?

That shutter sticking sounds like classic cold-weather sluggishness - old lubricants can get gummy or stiff when temps drop. Before diving into lubricating, which can be tricky without the right oils and tools, I'd recommend trying to keep the camera in a sealed plastic bag when moving between warm indoors and cold outdoors. This helps prevent condensation from forming inside, which can cause even more issues.

Also, letting the camera gradually acclimate to the cold rather than a sudden temperature change might help. I’ve had luck just keeping my vintage gear in an inside pocket close to my body for warmth when shooting outside in winter. If the sticking persists, a professional cleaning and lubrication might be worth it to avoid accidentally damaging delicate parts.