Canon AE-1
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| Canon AE-1 with FD 50mm f/1.8 lens. image by blind puppet (Image rights) |
The Canon AE-1 is a 35mm SLR with shutter-priority automatic exposure and manual override, produced by Canon in Japan, introduced in April 1976.
By using a microprocessor, Canon was able to simplify the design, and by using a highly automated production process, they were able to keep costs low. The AE-1 offered a modest reduction in body size compared to earlier models like the FTb, and the use of a metalized plastic top panel saved a few ounces. The result was one of the first affordable TTL autoexposure SLR cameras to hit the market. The majority of consumer-level cameras at this time had, at best, manual TTL exposure metering. After its introduction in 1976, the Canon AE-1 quickly became a very popular camera worldwide, eventually selling millions of units.
The AE-1 used Canon's FD mount, and a typical setup would include the extremely popular Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 lens. The lens on the camera shown here has the original FD mount, with a chrome twist-ring to fasten the mount; later examples of the AE-1 have the new FD mount, in which the whole lens is twisted to fasten the bayonet. The focal-plane shutter travels horizontally, and has speeds 2 - 1/1000 seconds, and 'B'. All the fixed speeds are electronically timed. Flash synchronisation is at 1/60 sec with auto-switching, available through both PC connector and a hot shoe with a contact for dedicated flashguns. The self-timer is electronic with a delay of 10 seconds.
The exposure meter system is activated by pressing either the shutter release halfway or exposure preview button. It uses a silicon photo diode with a range of 1 to 18 EV (ISO 100). The ASA setting is changed on the shutter speed dial with a range of 25 to 3200 ASA. The finder has a matte screen with split image rangefinder surrounded by a microprism collar. The meter display has under exposure LED and over exposure indicator. Holding the back light button while pressing the shutter release increases the exposure 1.5 EV. The film is advanced with a single-stroke advance lever that sits on top of the shutter speed dial. Film rewinding is by a folding crank on the left shoulder of the body. The exposure counter sits by the film advance lever; it counts upward, and resets automatically when the film chamber is opened. Rewinding the film also decreases the counter. The camera back has a film type memo holder. The camera is powered by a 6V 4R44 battery with the battery compartment in the front of the camera. It can be opened easily with the hot shoe cover. The camera does not function at all without a battery.
Links
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| AE-1 black image by squirreltimes (Image rights) |
- Canon AE-1 at the Canon Camera Museum
- Modern Classics Review of the AE-1
- Manual Camera User's Opinion
- Repair notes for the "Canon Squeal" at Rick Oleson's website.
- AE-1 and the user's manual (in French) at Sylvain Halgand's [www.collection-appareils.fr Collection d'Appareils]
- Canon AE-1 user's manual at Ben Squire's Photo-Manuals.com
- The A Team an article about the SLR A models, AE-1, AT-1, A-1, AV-1 and AE-1 Program at Classic Cameras by RaúlM.
- Repair notes (in German) for "Canon Squeal"
