Canon AE-1

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Canon AE-1
Type 35 mm SLR camera
Lens mount Canon FD
Focus manual
Exposure Shutter priority
Flash Hot shoe
Frame rate Manual lever winding, unmodified.

The Canon AE-1 was an amateur level, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by Canon Camera K. K. (today Canon Incorporated) in Japan from April 1976 to 1984. It used an electronically-controlled, electromagnet horizontal cloth focal plane shutter of rather aged design (even for the day), with a speed range of 2 to 1/1000th second plus Bulb and flash X-sync of 1/60th second. The camera body was 87 mm tall, 141 mm wide, and 48 mm deep; it weighed 590 g. Most were black with chrome trim, but some were all black.

The AE-1 is a historically significant SLR, but not because of any major technological firsts, although it was the first microprocessor central processing unit (CPU)-equipped SLR (first-generation technology that would be a cause of malfunctions later on). It is important because of one major fact: it sold phenomenally well. Backed by a major advertising campaign, the AE-1 sold five million units.

[edit] Features

Canon AE-1 with an all black body
Canon AE-1 with an all black body
Active Canon AE-1 with 50mm f-1.4 lens.
Active Canon AE-1 with 50mm f-1.4 lens.

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 criticised as being slower and more awkward than the bayonet mounts of competing cameras. In 1976, in addition to the AE-1, Canon introduced the New FD series of lenses that rotate the whole lens barrel to lock. During the late 1970s, there were approximately 40 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

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 Speedlight 155A (guide number 56/17 (feet/meters) at ASA 100) and Canon Speedlight 177A (guide number 83/25 (feet/meters) at ASA 100) electronic flashes.

The AE-1 was a battery powered (one 4LR44 or PX-28) microprocessor-controlled manual focus SLR. It supported either manual exposure control or shutter priority auto exposure. The exposure control system consisted of a needle pointing along a vertical f-stop scale on the right side of the viewfinder to indicate the readings of the built-in light meter (center-weighted with a silicon photocell). The viewfinder used by the AE-1 was Canon’s standard split image rangefinder with microprism collar focusing aids.

[edit] Design history

The AE-1 was the first in what became a complete overhaul of Canon's line of SLRs. The 70s and 80s were an era of intense competition between the major SLR brands: Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax and Olympus. Between circa 1975 to 1985, there was a dramatic departure from heavy all-metal manual mechanical camera bodies to much more compact bodies with integrated circuit (IC) electronic automation. In addition, due to rapid advances in electronics, the brands leap-frogged each other with successively more automated models.

Although Canon Camera K. K. had been making quality 35 mm cameras for decades, it had always been overshadowed by their rival Nippon Kokagu K. K. and their Nikon cameras. While Canons easily led in the amateur compact fixed-lens RF market (where Nikons did not compete), Canon SLRs had far less cachet than Nikon SLRs. Nikon, with its solid reputation for quality of material and worksmanship, held a stranglehold on the prestigious professional SLR market that competitors could not break.

The AE-1 was the vanguard of the landmark Canon amateur level A-series SLRs and led Canon’s charge into the emerging electronically controlled SLR market. The other members of the A-series were the AT-1 (released 1977), A-1 (1978), AV-1 (1979), AE-1 Program (1981) and AL-1 (1982). They all used the same compact aluminum alloy chassis, but with different feature levels and outer cosmetic plastic panels. By sharing most major components, including an inexpensive horizontal cloth-curtain shutter, viewfinder information display, and autoflash control, Canon further reduced costs and could undercut the price of the more expensive SLRs then on the market.

In keeping with its cost-cutting philosophy, Canon designed the AE-1 to use a significant amount of structural plastic for a lighter and cheaper camera at the expense of being less impact resistant. Canon went to great effort to disguise the use of plastic - the injection-molded acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) top and bottom plates were copper-electroplated and then satin chrome finished (or black enameled) to give the look and feel of metal. Extensive use of electronics also allowed simpler modular internal construction instead of mechanical linkages. Five major and 25 minor internal modules reduced the individual parts count by over 300. Modular construction, in turn, allowed automated production lines in order to reduce cost. Unfortunately, cost concerns also resulted in the use of plastic in some of the moving/operating mechanisms.

The AE-1 was never designed to be a "pro" camera. However it was made to have relatively staightforward camera controls and automatic aperture for newcomers, with various manual controls and system accessories to appeal to more experienced photographers. Persuaded by the outward features and low price, the AE-1 was the first SLR purchased by millions of amateur photographers.

In many ways, the AE-1 represented the confluence of two streams of Canon camera development. The first generation electronically controlled Canon 35 mm SLR EF (1973) merged with the final generation RF Canonet G-III QL-17 (1972). After decades of chasing Nikon for Japanese optical supremacy, Canon finally hit upon a formula for success: high technology for ease of use, cheaper internal parts and electronics for lower price, and heavy advertising to get the message out. Despite outcries from traditionalist photographers who complained about an “excess” of automation ruining the art of photography, automation proved to be the only way to entice the amateur photographer.

The AE-1 had only one pointer needle used to indicate the light meter recommended f-stop, and neither a follower needle to indicate the actual lens set f-stop, nor plus/minus indicators for over/underexposure. The shutter-priority system of the AE-1 was more suited to sports action than to preserving depth-of-field, yet the 1/1000 top speed of its horizontally-traveling shutter limited its use for such activities. The battery door design was subject to frequent breakage, and over time owners have reported instances of shutter and mechanical gremlins, including mirror linkage wear (the infamous "Canon squeal"). Canon's eventual abandonment of the FD lens mount for the EOS autofocus design also had an effect on demand for the AE-1 on the used market.

Black model with 50 mm f/1.8

Without lens

From the top showing controls

From the bottom with the black rewind button with the small white dot on the bottom left

From the back

From the back with the film cover open

With a flash.

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Canon SLR cameras and lens mounts
Lens Mount Series Model
R Flex (1959), R2000 (1960), RP (1961), RM (1962)
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 / EF-S
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

Canon DSLR cameras
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