Fans of ThruMyLens will know that I recently did a review of the Canon AE-1 –  one of the most popular film camera ever manufactured.  It’s also a strongly recommended camera for film photography beginners.  In my review I talked about some of the features missing from the AE-1 that would have made the shooting experience more enjoyable.  As it turns out, the features I was looking for are found in the AE-1’s big brother – the Canon A-1.

Canon A-1: A Revolutionary Milestone in Photography

The Canon A-1, released in 1978, was a groundbreaking camera that introduced several firsts to the world of SLR photography. Known for its innovative features, sleek design, and exceptional build quality, the Canon A-1 remains a favorite among photographers, collectors, and film enthusiasts. According to the date code that’s found inside the film chamber camera, my example was manufactured in November 1981 at Canon’s Fukushima factory.  Canon stopped making the A-1 in 1985, so my example falls right in the middle of the production run and is in phenomenal condition.  I sourced it directly from one of the many vintage film camera vendors found in Japan.

Design and Build Quality

The Canon A-1 embodies the durability and craftsmanship characteristic of late 20th-century Japanese engineering. Its compact, black metal body was a departure from the chrome finishes popular at the time, lending it a professional, modern aesthetic. At 620 grams without a lens, the A-1 is lightweight enough for portability yet sturdy enough to feel substantial in hand.

The AE-1 I have has the distinctive vintage two-tone look common among 35 mm film cameras of this era – which is one of the reasons why I bought it since it was intended primarily as a product photography prop.  But I have absolutely fallen in love with the look of the all-black A-1.  Aesthetically the two cameras are quite similar in size and appearance, sharing many common components.  The AE-1 (and subsequent AE-1 Program) were marketed to amateurs and hobbyists, while the Canon F-1 was Marketed towards professional photographers, photo journalist, and war correspondents.  The A-1 bridged the gap between theses two consumer segments – it was marketed to advanced amateurs and professional users, such as wedding photographers.  You can think of it as the precursor to the Canon 5D and later the Canon R5.

The controls are laid out logically (similarly to the AE-1), with the shutter speed dial, aperture controls, and exposure compensation dial all conveniently placed for quick adjustments. The build quality is robust, and many A-1 units from the 1970s and 1980s are still used and sought after by collectors and 35mm film enthusiasts.

LEFT: Canon A-1. RIGHT: Canon AE-1

Features and Innovations

When the Canon A-1 was released, it was the first SLR camera to feature fully automatic Program AE (Auto Exposure) mode. This innovation allowed the camera to select both the shutter speed and aperture, making it a versatile choice for photographers of all skill levels. It also offered other modes that appealed to professionals and enthusiasts alike:

1.Shutter-Priority TV: The user selects the desired shutter speed, and the camera determines the correct aperture.

2.Aperture-Priority AE: The user selects the aperture, and the camera calculates the proper shutter speed.

3.Manual Mode: Full control over both aperture and shutter speed for creative freedom.

4.Program AE Mode: The camera automatically selects both settings for perfect exposure, ideal for beginners or fast-paced shooting.

In addition to its groundbreaking exposure options, the A-1 offered a Depth of Field (DoF) preview button, multiple exposure capability, and compatibility with Canon’s fantastic FD lens lineup. These features, combined with the ability to interchange focusing screens, made it a truly customizable system.

it is the variety of modes which are only found in the A-1 which makes me of the opinion that it is a better choice for a beginner film photographer than the more often recommended AE-1.  Unlike the AE-1, the A-1 offers the novice photographer the opportunity to shoot in fully automatic program mode so they can master manual focusing before having to worry about the exposure triangle of ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.  As they gain more mastery and experience, The novice user can move into other loads like Aperture Priority (AE) mode,  and Shutter Priority (TV) mode before “taking off the training wheels” and shooting in full manual mode.

Viewfinder and Display

The Canon A-1’s viewfinder was another standout feature.  It incorporated an LED display that provided clear information about exposure settings, including shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation. The use of LED technology made the display easy to read in various lighting conditions, even in low light, which was a significant advantage over older analog needle-based systems like the AE-1.  Again, because of the clearer and easier to read display found on the A-1, I consider it a much better camera for a beginner photographer than the AE-1.  I will say that I have a little trouble seeing the red LED readout in bright, outdoor conditions.  But that viewfinder is absolutely wonderful, and really makes me understand why a lot of photographers absolutely do not like electronic viewfinders (EVFs).

Another notable feature found on the A-1 is the Aperture Direct Readout (ADR) system, which displayed the selected aperture directly in the viewfinder. This innovation allowed photographers to make quick adjustments without taking their eyes off the scene.

FD Lenses

As earlier mentioned, the A-1 takes advantage of Canon’s excellent lineup of FD mount lenses.  While the AE-1 was often sold as a kit with the FD 50mm f1.8, the A-1 was similarly offered as a kit with the more upmarket and more capable FD 50mm f1.4.  My example of the A-1 was sold with this lens which was an attractive pairing for me given that I did not already have the lens in my FD lens collection.

Sample Photos

When I did my review of the Canon AE-1, it was my first time shooting film in about 25 years, In my first time doing so with a fully manual film camera.  So I used less expensive Kodak Gold 200 film.  Feeling more confident after that experience, I decided to go “big Willie” and shoot a roll of Kodak Portra 400 – widely regarded as one of the best if not the best 35mm film stock currently available.  For my lens choice, I also decided to shoot with my Canon FD 35mm f2.0 Concave.  Here are few of the photos I got from this pairing:

I also shot a role of black and white Fujifilm Acros II:

CONCLUSION

I had an absolute blast shooting with the Canon A-1. It’s a fantastic shooter with a beautiful design, super fast lenses, (FD Class is underrated) and incredible versatility.  It might not have the street cred of a Leica M6 or a Nikon F2 but in capable hands, it absolutely hold its own.

It certainly helps that I was shooting with a 35mm lens – my personal favorite focal length.  As I reviewed the film scans I received back from the developer, I could see why the Canon A-1 is so praised for the metering accuracy – I did have the exposure compensation set to “1” based on what I’d heard and read about how the combination of this camera with Porta 400.  I shot the entire roll in Aperture Priority (AE) mode, and just worried about composition.  These old film camera have pretty slow shutter speeds as compared to modern digital cameras -about 1/1000th of a second is as fast as you’ll get.  So even though it was pretty overcast the morning of the Cars & Coffee I attended, the combination of the F2 lens and the 400 ISO film that I was using necessitated the use of a good ND filter.

Here is the video supplement to this written photo review that I recorded: