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- Outline
- Specifications
| Marketed | April 1981 |
| Original Price | 92,000 yen (w/New FD 50mm f/1.4SSC) 86,500 yen (w/New FD 50mm f/1.8SC) 60,000 yen (body) |
It was five years after the AE-1 became a worldwide hit. Many users wanted the program AE mode that was featured in the A-1. This mode set both the shutter speed and aperture automatically. The user just had to press the shutter button.
The AE-1 Program camera was developed in response to the demand for program AE and to succeed the original AE-1. The camera now had both shutter speed-priority AE and program AE modes. It also sported a palm grip like the A-1. The camera was also compatible with the A-1’s Motor Drive MA. The viewfinder featured LEDs. It was quite an advanced camera.
To make Motor Drive MA compatible with the AE-1 Program camera, it had three electrical contacts instead of only two which the original version had. Also, Power Winder A was converted into Power Winder A2 for higher performance.
| Type | 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera |
| Picture Size | 24 x 36 mm |
| Normal Lens | Canon New FD 50mm f/1.4, New FD 50mm f/1.8 |
| Lens Mount | FD mount |
| Shutter | Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. B, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with beeper). |
| Flash Sync | X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe. |
| Viewfinder | Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.83x magnification and 94% coverage. Microprism rangefinder-encircled new split prism rangefinder with double diffraction prism at the center of Laser Matte screen. Eight focusing screens interchangeable through the mirror box. |
| Viewfinder Information |
Exposure meter needle, aperture scale, manual settings, program AE, Flash-ready, flash confirmation, camera shake warning, and overexposure and underexposure warnings. |
| Metering & Exposure Control |
SPC for TTL full-aperture center-weighted averaging metering or TTL stopped-down metering. Exposure compensation with AE lock switch. Four AE modes: Shutter speed-priority AE, program AE, preset aperture-priority AE, and Speedlite AE. Metering range at ISO 100 and f/1.4: EV 1 – 18. Film speed range from ISO 12 to 3200. |
| Power Source | One 4LR44 alkaline battery. Battery check with button and beeper. |
| Film Loading & Advance |
Slotted take-up spool. Advances with camera-top lever’s 120 stroke (partial strokes enabled). Ready position at 39. |
| Frame Counter | Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. |
| Film Rewind | Camera-top crank |
| Dimensions & Weight |
141 x 88 x 48 mm, 565 g |