Friday, November 25, 2011


Produced in Japan from April 1976 to 1984, this is still a highly collectable camera. Has a cloth focal plane shutter that is electronically controlled. This cloth shutter limits the max shutter speed. It wasn't until Canon introduced the T-50 with its vertically travelling metal blade shutter that flash sync speeds increased.
The Canon AE-1  it was the first microprocessor CPU-equipped SLR. :-) is has a shutter speeds 2 s to 1/1000 s. This was an amateur level camera.




In 1971, the first of the new FD mounted cameras was introduced. The professional level F-1. It was avaliable from  March 1971 until 1976 when they did a mid update to the F1-n. With the motor drive the camera is able to shoot up to 9 frame per second. Still the highest speed of any motor driven camera at the time and most digital cameras today. Of course this needs 20 AA batteries ACK!!!!There was a NiCad version but.. they are still over $150 on ebay. There was a 1976 Olympics version but the only thing that is different is the olympic symbol.
I have put the F-1n differences from Wikipedia on a previous post.

In 1981, there was a NEW F-1 produced. My Naval camera is one such camera. THis was also in my previous post.

The Canon FT QL. My body has Code is O so  1974. This camera was intended to be used by the advanced amateur photographer, with many of the same features and same build quality as the F-1.

The AT-1 is a pared down AE-1. It was produced purely for export and never sold in Japan. It was produced in 1976. This camera has no shutter priority auto-exposure mode that the AE-1 has.

5 comments:

  1. I love reading about vintage cameras. Do you have any articles about the A1? :)

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    1. I could write one.., you still want it?

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  2. I LOVE my Canon AE-1. I bought this camera in 2004 for my then-six-year-old son as a Christmas present. At the time, I was shooting weddings professionally and had three EOS professional cameras and lenses but, I wanted something simple and cheap for my son. Life happens.... and I lost my photography business... had to go back to working in an office and also had to sell all my pro gear at one point to make ends meet. I was left with two cameras: the AE-1 and my Rollieflex (1953 Schneider/Xenar). I have also since lost the Rollei (it was stolen.) But, honestly, the results I get with my Canon are WAY more consistent and some of the various best images I've taken have been with this camera. I will NEVER sell it. :)

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    1. I have a black ae1-p that was a gift from my best friend, an a-1 that my son uses and my brownies that I would never sell. I have pro gear but only use that under duress. Lol I do love my 7D but for for daily fun. Usually only for trips when I am limited to one camera. Arrghh

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    2. I have a black ae1-p that was a gift from my best friend, an a-1 that my son uses and my brownies that I would never sell. I have pro gear but only use that under duress. Lol I do love my 7D but for for daily fun. Usually only for trips when I am limited to one camera. Arrghh

      Delete