Canon A-1 Instructions Manual page 21

The battery check button also serves to
cancel the self-timer or to cancel t he s hutter
in long exposures. The circuit is cancelled
the moment you press the button , and t he
second shutter curtain will close when your
finger is removed from the button. The
shutter w ill not be released if you press the
shutter b u tton while pressing t he battery
check button.
-21-
Getting a Feel for Y our A-1
Now that the battery is 1 .oaded, your
A -1 will function. Before loading the
film or doing anything else, play with
it a
little. Operate the shutter butto n .
and the film advance lever until they
feel like natural extensions of your
fingers.
Shoot and
dcv~lop
at least one roll of
film with a new camera before using it
on a shooting expedition or on a trip
to make sure you know how to
operate it properly.