Al Kassam

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $266.00 from Online

Summary:
I am extremely happy to own this camera. It is in my opinion, one of the finest SLR's ever designed. (LeicaR4S mod.p, Nikon F4, and the Leica M6ttl) are the best ones. However, the A1 is a continuous joy to use. The exposures are perfect everytime. The only camera of the bunch that I regularly shoot in the Program mode with superb results. One disappointment is the dreaded...
shutter squeek. Ok someone, HELP>>>>>>What is it? and how do you get rid of it?
I certainly could use some advice as how to overcome this nuisance.

Overall, a masterpiece which doesn't need to stay on a shelf. - Use It !

Strengths:
Build quality, ergonomics, well balanced, ease of use, many available accessories, Lenses are plenty and quite easy to find on E Bay.
The overall feel in your hands suugest a precision photographic instrument.

Weaknesses:
The Shutter squeek, Some ones gotta know how to rid that irritating niose.

Similar Products Used:
Leica r4sP, Nikon F4s, Nikon FA, Leica M6

Customer Service:
DOn't have any need yet.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $450.00 from NZ

Summary:
Bought the Canon A1 13 years ago, fixed the "Squeak" with online advice and have acquired extras galore as the masses flock to "megapixels"!
I love it each time I hear, "your photos are so clear, whAT kind of camers do you use?"
Here's hoping film processing does not go the way of Black & white!
Malachy

Strengths:
Exposure accuracy.
Able to blow up to 'infinity'!
Ready availability of cheap but excellent accessories
No need to worry about "sensor dust"

Weaknesses:
Weight
Occasioanal miss load of new film roll.

Similar Products Used:
Pentax K 1000

Customer Service:
Phototronics

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
There is no doubt that the newer canons have all the bells and whistles and are on the cutting edge of technology, but you cannot discount the purity of the canon A1. I am hard-core film base and I still use my A1 for all of my outdoor landscape and some portrait work. I love having to think my way through various shots with regard to exposure because it keeps me sharp. The A1 may be old but she still delivers great images. The work and technology(at the time)that Canon put into this 35mm SLR was not in vain as that technology was the jump off point for what we have now. The A1 is my absolute favorite hands down. A beautiful work of art (in my opinion). The weight of the A1 makes you feel like you are holding a quality piece of equipment as opposed to a toy (no offense intended). The lens selection is varied and inexpensive and in combination with this great camera, will deliver some outstanding images. THREE CHEERS FOR THE CANON A1!!

Weaknesses:
Cloth Curtain, Shutter Squeak, no auto rewind

steve marino

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Price Paid:  $175.00 from E-Bay

Summary:
This is such a beautiful camera! A work of art. Canon should reintroduce this camera with auto focus and make a digital model and they would blow the competition away. The viewfinder is bright. LED readouts are unobtrusive, yet easy to see. Controls fall easily to hand. The sound of the shutter is perfect (unless it eventually starts squeaking, and that can be fixed for not a lot of money). The build quality, while not up to pro standards, is very, very good.My first real camera was an AE-1, and this camera is even better.The lenses are sharp and plentiful on the used market. With a 50mm i.4 lens on it it will shoot in available light in nearly any situation you can see in. Although it has automatic settings for exposure, it is a photographer's camera. You need to understand things like depth of field and exposure lock, and with it's simple light meter you need to know when to bracket. Mine once fell from the top closet shelf onto the floor and still meters perfectly.Put a power winder on it and you can snap continous shots without taking your eye from the shutter. This may sound strange for a camera, but women love it! Can a camera be sexy? Buy this and some FD Canon lenses, and a Nikon F4 and a few lenses for it,and your 35mm needs are met for life.

Strengths:
The epitome of design and engineering in a manual focus camera. Great lens mount design.Top quality construction.A real joy to use, and it takes great pictures as well. Perfectly balanced.Self timer and multiple exposure modes.

Weaknesses:
Has a few bits of plastic in it.I'd like to get my hands on the person that designed the depth of field "mechanism"!

Similar Products Used:
AE-1,K1000,N6006,N80,F4

Customer Service:
Not any more!

Jeremy2

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
4 votes

Price Paid:  $115.00 from ebay

Summary:
I love this camera. I bought it in early January. I have now used it for about six months. It is the best camera I have used. My dad had an ae-1 and told me I should buy one of these. I found it on ebay relatively cheaply with two lenses- a scratched 50mm f/1.8 and some cheap tamron wide angle. I put the 50mm lense my dad had from his ae-1 on it and it worked great. I plan on taking it on a trip to Arizona later this month. I know it will take great pictures. Also, I have never had a problem with the a-1 eating batteries. You have to turn it off by putting the swith to "L"

Strengths:
-Price -Ease of Use

Weaknesses:
1. Not as easy to use as some new cameras 2. No autofocus (I don't know if this is a weakness or not. Manual focus makes you think about the picture more.) 3. Can't read DX labels (have to remember to set the film speed.)

Similar Products Used:
1. Can develop shutter squeak. 2. My hotshoe broke.

Customer Service:
The camera is 27 years old. How would I get any customer service.