Canon AE-1

The Canon AE-1: My beloved and (kind of) reliable SLR.

So, let's talk about my trusty Canon AE-1, my third film camera and one of my all-time favorites. It's a classic 35mm SLR and this one has a few quirks, but we'll get to that in a sec.

This AE-1 was a gift from my dad, who also owned one back in the day. It's not the exact same model, but it's pretty darn close. I love this thing. It's got a timeless look and feel. It's a pretty standard 35mm SLR. You've got your rewind knob, battery check, viewfinder, locked shutter button, self-timer, film counter window, advance knob, shutter speed dial, ISO dial, lens mount, and battery compartment, and the placement of each makes sense. Nothing out of the ordinary. It also has a depth-of-field preview button and a flash sync port. Plus, it offers auto-exposure without even pressing the shutter button. Neat, but I’ve never used it. It also has a backlight overexposure button. Again, never used it, but that’s just my style of photography I guess. One thing to note is that the AE-1 doesn't have auto-shutter speeds, but it does have auto-aperture on compatible lenses. So, you’re limited to shutter priority or manual. Most FD lenses have this auto aperture feature, marked with a green “a”, but the older FL series lenses do not. You can still use them, and I do all the time, just without auto exposure.

The AE-1 can handle ISO speeds from 25 to 1600, and it was the world's first consumer camera with a microchip. It takes 4LR44 batteries, which are essentially four LR44-type batteries stacked on top of each other and sold as one. They’re easy to find and relatively cheap.

Now, here's where things get a little interesting. My specific AE-1 has a bit of a problem with the light meter. There's supposed to be a pin that indexes with the lens to help the meter get accurate readings, but mine is missing. This can lead to some wonky exposures, especially with certain lenses.

I tried to fix it but ended up breaking (and losing) the pin. Oops! So now I have to double-check my metering and sometimes adjust the ISO to get the correct meter readings. Not ideal, but it's still a fun camera to use.

I have two AE-1s, but the other one is at my dad's house. He's been having fun shooting star photos with it.

Let's discuss some of the photos I've taken with this camera. I've got a few darkroom prints, some inkjet prints, and a bunch of digital scans. The AE-1 can produce some stunning images, especially when paired with the right lens.

Overall, the Canon A1 is a fantastic camera. It's reliable, easy to use, and produces great results. If you're looking for a classic film camera that's still relevant today, the AE-1 is worth considering, even though it will demand a little bit more of a premium due to its popularity.