Canon AE-1 Program

Canon AE-1 Program

(Image rights) Manufacturer: Canon Date of Production: 1981-? Variants: none(?) Type of Camera: SLR Film type: 35mm Lens: FD Lens Mount Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane Shutter speed range: B, 2s-1/1000s Viewfinder: optical TTL ASA/ISO range: 12-3200 Flash: X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts Exposure Metering: TTL Center-weighted Focusing areas: N/A Continuous Shooting: N/A Custom WB: N/A Rear LCD monitor: N/A Image Data Recording: N/A (Film) Battery: 1 4LR44 alkaline battery Optional Battery Packs: N/A (?) Weight: 565g (20oz) Dimensions: -

The Canon AE-1 was an extremely popular camera, but many users wanted the program auto exposure mode found on the A-1. Canon added program AE mode, upgraded the support for a new power winder (A2), and marketed the AE-1 Program, which became even more popular than the AE-1.

Links

• Modern Classics Review
• Canon Camera Museum | Camera Hall
• Lionel's Canon AE-1 Program overview at 35mm-compact.com
• AE-1 Program and AE-1 Program chrome and French notice (pdf) at www.collection-appareils.fr
• Canon AE-1 Program Camera Manual : Photo-Manuals.com by Ben Squire
• AE-1 Program Price Data at Camera Repair dot Com's price data

Market Value

The AE-1 and AE-1 Program were both enormous financial successes for Canon, in part because they pioneered cost-cutting measures that competitors had difficulty matching. The AE-1 series of cameras employed plastics and metalized plastics pervasively in its assemblies, whereas its big brother the A-1 was built far more robustly with machined gears. As a result, the AE-1 often suffers from shutter squeal, or worse, catastrophic failure that is not economically repaired. Despite this, because of its relative scarcity and historical popularity, the AE-1 Program retains value on the used market according to KEH and other various dealer pricing data.

Canon Cameras