The Canon AE-1 was one of the first film cameras of its time to use a central processing unit (CPU), through the lens flash (TTL flash), and automatic exposure settings. The rest of the camera is all good old manual. I am extremely happy about these updates on the camera. They make life a little easier for someone who is switching from a completely automated digital camera to a manual film camera. Further, it gives the photos a much higher quality, and at the end of the day, good results are all that are asked for.
The camera is fairly easy to handle. It is made of metal and faux leather, making it extremely durable, and a little heavy. Some may look at the weight as a problem with the camera, but the extra weight seems to help me keep the camera steady when hand firing shot after shot. Nothing is worse than shooting without a tripod and all of the photos come back blurry because of shaky hand holding, so the weight is a huge plus for me.
The split prism focus screen is the best feature on this camera. The manual focusing split screen, though a little time consuming at times, makes for the clearest shots. They truly do come out beautifully. It is also easily mounted on tripods, eliminating any movement blur for extra sharp pictures. The rewinding of the film is simple as well. There is no fear of the film becoming injured during the rewind.
The battery life on one of these cameras can last years. A single tiny little battery will keep this machine going for up to three years, and replacements are easy to find when it finally does run dry. While it does run, it has a light metering system that recommends the appropriate aperture to the photographer depending on what shutter speed it is already set to. This element is viewable by looking through the viewfinder while shooting. It makes for shots that are not overly brightened or darkened, so the photos turn out pleasing to the eye.

There are very few complaints I have about this product. The smaller issues are its weight, and parts for repair may be difficult to find. Some larger issues are that the fastest shutter speed is 1/1000th of a second, not allowing too much room for experimentation where movement is concerned. The manual focusing can be a problem. It is quickly realized how many shots are missed while focusing the camera and setting the shutter speed and aperture. The largest problem with this camera is the slight inaccuracy with the stopped down metering.
Overall, this product is a wonderful use of my time and money. It has made my pictures clear, pleasing to the eye, and interesting to take as well. The few frustrations that come along with the camera are nothing in comparison to the huge bonuses that follow in its wake. I would easily give this product to anyone wanting to learn a little more about cameras or someone who just wants to take a great shot. I am utterly pleased with this product, and hope it is a joy for many to come.

The Canon AE-1 has made me feel blessed to know what it is like to experience film photography. This older film camera, though relatively simple in composition, has made photography a new experience for me, a person born into the digital world. It is great for a fist time film user. It has taught me how to use the manual setting with an even greater confidence, and has widened my experience on picture taking, film developing and camera working. Overall, it is a great product, with minor complications.

29 years on and it still works great. The faux leather case has rotted but the rest is fine.

Split prism focusing screen, which is a blessing for manual focus.

Old school metal and faux leather, good for durability and could make a self defense weapon in a pinch.

Batteries can last for years.

Simple enough I was able to figure it out and use it as a 12 year old.

Pretty good "kit" lens.

After using a Pentax MXE Super with auto shutter I find I prefer that over auto exposure. Call me strange.

Slow max shutter speed of 1/1000 second.

After using newer digital SLR's or even late film cameras you realize how many shots you'll end up missing with a manual focus/manual film advance.

The Canon AE-1 was a top amateur 35mm film SLR circa 1980, and was the first SLR controlled by a CPU. Exposure (F stop) is automatic and TTL, but the rest is good old manual.

As with most cameras of the time it came with a 50mm "normal" lens with a maximum aperture of F1.8. It can take excellent pictures although some of it's features seem pedestrian today, such as a maximum shutter speed of 1/1000 second. It was calibrated up to ASA 3200 film, although finding that film was another matter.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Pentax MXE Super

sturdy
easy to use and master
bright TTL images and meters
easy to mount on tripods
fast (especially with 1.2 lens)

may be difficult to have repaired or find parts

Originally purchased the camera in 1979 so my daughter and I could spend some quality time together. We would take the photographs and develop/enlarge them in our darkroom. The camera is indestructable. I used a 1.2 basic lens (rather than the standard 1.4) which allowed a little more opportunity for dawn and dusk shots. I then added a fixed 135 mm that went to F64, which REALLY provided unbelievable depth of field. Then a 28 mm wide angle, Speedlite flash, and finally a 200 mm telephoto (now that was heavy!). I then added the full set of Cokin filters for some splendid shots of the Grand Canyon. I learned that kids, when given the chance, can be very creative. It was great fun and I hope to do some more with my grandkids.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE-1 Program
Agfa 35 mm (don't recall model #)

Bright viewfinder, fast respond from lightmeter, automatic works fine, good lenses with sharp and contrast image.

No mechanical speed. Too heavy.

Classiic 35mm SLR.

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Olzmpus OM-1/OM-2
Praktica MTL 5B

Decent build quality Cheap price used

Older model may be hard to get parts for repair depending where you live

I inherited this camera from my mom. I've used this camera for many years, even borrowed it when it was my moms camera. Its a solid camera and takes decent pics. The exposure can be under at times, but this can be a learning curve for this body. This would make a great beginners camera. I've dropped this one onto pavement and had it repaired. It still works. Also the FD lenses for this thing are very cheap these days. I like the big bright viewfinder in this camera, something the newer EOS models leave to be desired. The functions are basic and easy to use. I use this camera as a backup to my EOS setup now.

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Canon T-70 Canon T-90

Easy to use, the ideal beginner SLR. Quite sturdy. Easy to change shutterspeeds.

Poor lightmeter. The metering range also is just too small, at some shutterspeeds it doesn't do a thing. Poor vieuwfinder info. No interchangable mattescreen or vieuwfinder. AE lock button clumsy, lack of functions. Not really a match for the A1, EF or F1

This camera was my first Canon FD one. At the beginning it was amazing, because of it's shutterspeed priority and handeling and ofcourse being a decent SLR. But when I started to take more effort in making pictures al sorts of shortcomings came into daylight. The lightmeter isn't really good enough for making slides, the AE-lock button is not handy either. No interchangable vieuwfinder or mattescreen.

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Canon F1, A1, EF. Praktica TL, Ricoh 35ZF, Olympus C3000.

All manual except the light metering, you can learn a thing or two about photography when you have to adjust everything for each picture. It's tough. It's resilient. It has tons of accessories. It's not your new age plastic point and shoot soccer mom camera. It's a freakin ROCK.

-Some people say it's heavy. I say work out more. Heavy camera = steadier shot Not really a weakness I guess. -Repairs to this camera may be costly

The first maintenance I did on this camera was change the battery. It finally died after 20 years. I took it to Ecuador and used it constantly, in the rainforest, the tropical jungles, beaches, weekly at high altitude volcanic hikes, and through the Galapagos. In 6 months it went through every temperature range and climate extreme known on Earth (well, not Everest or the Mariana Trench) and came out SMILING. Best of all, no one tried to steal it since it looked so much older than the sleek automatic stuff they sell today. Great for beginners who want to learn how to really use a camera and for the experienced who want great pictures. And for anyone who needs to effectively beat a zapatista ladron during an insurgency.

Strong body. Loads of lenses and acc's available at reasonable prices. Easy to use.

None that I can think of. It's a bit heavy to lug about across the country, but it's worth it. Stopped down metering not very accurate

I moved up to this body from a Pentax Spotmatic II. It's a great little body with a good range of shutter speeds, and will take ISO's (ASA) up to 3200 - great if you specialise in low light photography. Mine is a little battered wound the edges - several drops over the years - but still goes on. It's a good solid machine that just keeps going. Whereas my other Canon bodies (EOS 50E and 5) eat battereies, this had a new on when I bought it, and it's never been changed in eight years. I have now gone over to digital, but still return to this to remind me what photography is about. With digital it's very easy to point and shoot until your battery runs out, but with this, you have to stop and think - I've only got 36 exposures... use wisely! Still takes good pictures

Customer Service

Never used them.

Similar Products Used:

Canon A1, F1n, Pentax Spotmatic II, Pentax SFXn

Clarity of the pictures and the look of the camera.

A bit heavy to carry if you are hiking.

I've had this camera for about 7 years now and I have to say that I'm very impressed with it. My passion is flowers and sceneries and I just can't believe the clarity. My friends and family are alwas amazed by the beautiful photos I have all over my house. They think I took a photography course.

Customer Service

I contacted Canon and they sent me a user's manual for free.

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Digital camera.

Easy to change lense Nice body asthetics Easy to focus, good light meter

None

This has been a great camera and I've never had any problems with it. It has lots a features, many of which I never use, but are nice to have all the same.