Everything

None

I have used this camera for just about anything you could imagine, from action shots to professional portraits with all stops between using both film and slides. I still use it after almost 30 years and it performs as well as it did the day I bought it. It has several of the capabilities of today's digitals. The only possible down side is that you must use 35mm film, plus the added expense to have the pictures developed.

It is what I consider to be an excellant camera rwgardless of price. I also purchased additional lenses, filters, special effects filters, remote flash equipment, etc. over the years to enable professional studio portraits.

Customer Service

Never had to use it

Similar Products Used:

None

This is a nice camera. I got it with 3 lenses (50 mm f/1.4; 135 mm f/3.5 and 300 mm f/5.6). On some pictures are some shines (I don't know why). I hope the next film will be O.K.

Simplicity of Operation (Program AE)
Ease of operation.
Quality of Photographs.
Price
Feel and Fit

NONE

A friend asked me to purchase a basic 35mm camera system (Under $500)for his 17 year old son (slightly mentally challenged) with no photogrphy experience. I came up with the folllowing based on my experiences with the A1. All items were purchased online and are in excellent or better condition. Canon A1 ($140); FD 28-85mm f4 ($159); FD 70-210 F4 ($79.00). Winder A ($21.00); and Speed Lite 177A ($25.00). Total cost of $424.00. A comparable used system in the Canon Auto Focus would have cost him in excess of $600.00. After giving him a short lesson on how to use the camera (mostly in program AE) he started taking pictures, and after taking a photography class at the local Junior College he started taking fairly good photographs.

Last week I told him that my son wanted a 35mm camera and that I would give him $500 for his system. His reply was not printable but in essesence he said no way. This young man is in love with his A1, and is saving for better lenses. When I asked him to rate it 1 to 5 he said a strong 10, and asked me to write a review for him, because he can not write very well.

Rugged
Durable
Smooth winding action

None.

This camera was given to me as a gift, with a whole range of lenses.

I haven't been disappointed at all with this setup. I have a 28mm, 50mm, 35-70mm, 70-210mm and x2 TC. These cover the full focal range for me and offer the versatility that I need.

The exposure is fine for most occasions, and is able to take some punishment when being slung around.

I would highly recommend this camera for anyone wanting to shoot 35mm film.

Customer Service

Not required.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax Spotmatic

One of the best informational viewfinders ever put into a camera.
5 simple to use AE exposure modes and full manual modes.
Well built - despite some shutter squeal on some models.
Multi-exposures lever.
Great range of acessories and lenses.
Long battery life.
Cheap s/h prices.

No autofocus.
Uses older FD mount rather than newer EOS mount.

One of the world's classic film SLRs.
Ideal for the pro-photographer or even a newbie amateur.
Probably THE best camera of the 70s era. It's the camera that 'converted' me to Canon.
Two words sum it up:-
Totally brilliant.

Customer Service

NA nowadays unfortunately.

Similar Products Used:

OM2, OM40, Various Nikon F series.

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.

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

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 !

Customer Service

DOn't have any need yet.

Similar Products Used:

Leica r4sP, Nikon F4s, Nikon FA, Leica M6

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

Weight
Occasioanal miss load of new film roll.

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

Customer Service

Phototronics

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K 1000

Cloth Curtain, Shutter Squeak, no auto rewind

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!!

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.

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"!

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.

Customer Service

Not any more!

Similar Products Used:

AE-1,K1000,N6006,N80,F4

-Price -Ease of Use

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.)

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"

Customer Service

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

Similar Products Used:

1. Can develop shutter squeak. 2. My hotshoe broke.