Canon AE-1
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Maker | Canon Camera K. K. |
| Type | 35 mm SLR |
| Lens | |
| Lens mount | Canon FD |
| Sensor/Medium | |
| ASA/ISO range | ISO 25 to 3200 [manual] |
| Focusing | |
| Focus | Manual |
| Exposure/Metering | |
| Exposure | Shutter priority, manual |
| Exposure metering | EV1 to EV18 @ ASA 100 |
| Flash | |
| Flash | Hot shoe, PC socket |
| Flash synchronization | 1/60 s |
| Shutter | |
| Frame rate | Manual lever winding, unmodified. |
| Shutter speed range | 2 s to 1/1000 s |
| General | |
| Battery | 4LR44/4SR44 6V battery |
| Dimensions | 87 × 141 × 47.5 mm |
| Weight | 590 g |
| Made in | Japan |
The Canon AE-1 is a 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) film camera for use with interchangeable lenses. It was manufactured by Canon Camera K. K. (today Canon Incorporated) in Japan from April 1976 to 1984. It uses an electronically controlled, electromagnet horizontal cloth focal plane shutter, with a speed range of 2 to 1/1000 second plus Bulb and flash X-sync of 1/60th second. The camera body is 87 mm tall, 141 mm wide, and 48 mm deep; it weighs 590 g. Most are black with chrome trim, but some are all black.
The AE-1 is a historically significant SLR, both because it was the first microprocessor-equipped SLR and because of its sales. Backed by a major advertising campaign, the AE-1 sold over one million units, which made it an unprecedented success in the SLR market.
The AE-1 has a Canon FD breech-lock lens mount and accepts any FD or New FD (FDn) lens. It is not compatible with Canon's later Canon EF lens mount, though adapters made by independent manufacturers can be found. Original FD lenses, introduced in 1971, did not rotate in the mounting process; instead, a locking ring at the base was turned to attach the lens. This was often criticized as being slower than the bayonet mounts of competing cameras. The counter argument, though, was that as the lens/body mating surfaces did not rotate, there was no wear that could affect the critical distance from lens to film plane. In 1979, Canon introduced the New FD series of lenses that rotate the whole outer lens barrel to lock. The inner lens barrel remained stationary, and thus the signal levers and pins still did not rotate. During the late 1970s, there were over 50 Canon FD lenses available for purchase. They ranged from a Fisheye FD 15 mm f/2.8 SSC to a FD 800 mm f/5.6 SSC, plus special purpose lenses such as a 7.5mm circular fisheye and a 35 mm tilt and shift lens.
Accessories for the AE-1 included the Canon Winder A (motorized single frame film advance up to 2 frames per second), the Canon Databack A (sequential numbering or date stamping on the film), and the Canon Speedlite 155A (guide number 56/17 (feet/meters) at ASA 100) and Canon Speedlite 177A (guide number 83/25 (feet/meters) at ASA 100) electronic flashes. The later Power winder A2 was also compatible, but the Motor Drive MA was not.
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