Canon AE-1 Program
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Canon AE-1 Program was a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera that used Canon's FD mount lenses. It was introduced in 1981 as the successor to the Canon AE-1, five years after that camera's introduction. The major difference was the addition of the Program AE mode first seen in the A-1. This mode sets both the shutter speed and aperture automatically—albeit with a slight bias towards the shutter speed setting. The user simply had to focus the camera and then press the shutter button. For those desiring more control, the AE-1's shutter priority auto-exposure and full manual modes were still available.
Like the A-1, the AE-1 Program sported a right-hand "Action Grip" on the front of the camera. It also supported the A-1's Motor Drive MA; this required another electrical contact on the baseplate. The AE-1's Power Winder A, and a new, faster Power Winder A2, were also supported. The viewfinder used LEDs to show information to the user.
Also like the A-1, the AE-1 Program supported interchangeable focusing screens. Unlike the A-1, though, which specified that screens only be changed by the factory or experienced service technicians, those on the AE-1 Program could be user changed. The camera came standard with the new split/microprism, but seven others were available. Unfortunately, the AE-1 Program retained the dated A-series electromagnet-controlled cloth-curtain shutter, with its slow top shutter speed and flash sync. This shutter design has also proven to be more maintenance-intensive than modern vertical-travel metal blade designs. The electronics and electromagnets were powered by one 4LR44 or PX-28 6V battery.
The focusing screen on the AE-1 Program is brighter than any previous focusing screen on any Canon manual focus camera, allowing the user to focus with greater ease with "slow" lenses (up to f/5.6). It is the same focusing screen design that was used in the newest model of the top-of-the-line Canon F-1 (known as the New F-1).
The additional electronics used for the program features of the AE-1P have resulted in more electronic gremlins over the years, and the model is considered by some more difficult to repair than earlier and simpler A-series cameras.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- AE-1 Program at the Canon online Camera Museum.
- AE-1 Program at Photography in Malaysia.
| Canon SLR cameras | ||
| Lens Mount | Series | Model |
|---|---|---|
| FL | FX (1964), FP (1964), Pellix (1965), FT QL (1966), Pellix QL (1966), TL (1968) | |
| FD | F | Amateur: FTb (1971), FTbn (1973), EF (1973), TLb (1974), TX (1975) |
| Professional: F-1(1971), F-1n (1976), New F-1 (1981) | ||
| A | AE-1 (1976), AT-1 (1976), A-1 (1978), AV-1 (1979), AE-1 Program (1981), AL-1 (1982) | |
| T | T50 (1983), T70 (1984), T80 (1985), T90 (1986), T60 (1990) | |
| EF | ||
| 1 | EOS-1 (1989), EOS-1N (1994), EOS-1N RS (1995), EOS-1V (2001) | |
|
EOS 650 (1987), EOS 620 (1987), EOS 750QD (1988), EOS 850QD (1988), EOS 630QD (1989), EOS RT (1989), EOS 700QD (1989), EOS 10sQD (1990), EOS 1000F (1990), EOS 100 (1991), EOS EF-M (1991), EOS 5/5QD/A2/A2e (1992), EOS 1000FN (1992), EOS 500 (1993), EOS 888 (1993), EOS 50 (1995), EOS 500N (1996), EOS-3 (1998), EOS 88 (1999), EOS 300 (1999), EOS 30 (2000), EOS 3000N (2002), EOS 300V (2002), EOS 3000V (2003), EOS 30V (2004), EOS 300X (2004) |
||
| IX | EOS IX, EOS IX Lite | |
| Edit | ||
