Film Cameras

35mm Focal-Plane Shutter SLR Camera

AE-1

AE-1

AE-1

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
  • AD
Marketed April 1976
Original Price 81,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4SSC),
4,000 yen (case)

Introduced in April 1976, the AE-1 was a very successful camera worldwide.
When the AE-1 came out, TTL manual-metering models (including the Canon FTb and FTb-N) were still the mainstream in the 35mm SLR market. Autoexposure models were still at the very top end of the SLR market. They were expensive and produced in small numbers.

The AE-1, however, was designed from the ground up with five major units and twenty-five minor units. They were centrally controlled by a microcomputer. By incorporating electronics, the parts count could be reduced by 300. The manufacturing of the camera was also highly automated. This made it possible to produce a low-cost camera having high-end features.

Type 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Picture Size 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC, FD 50mm f/1.8 SC
Lens Mount FD mount
Shutter Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, 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 blinking LED).
Flash Sync X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe.
Viewfinder Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.86x magnification (EX 50mm), 93.5% vertical coverage, 96% horizontal coverage. Split-image rangefinder encircled by microprism rangefinder at center with a fresnel matte screen. Exposure meter needle, aperture scale, overexposure warning, stopped-down aperture metering needle and battery check indicator, and underexposure warning LED provided.
Exposure
Control		 SPC for TTL full-aperture metering with shutter speed-priority AE or TTL stopped-down match needle manual metering (centerweighted averaging). Exposure compensation range of +1.5 EV. Metering range at ISO 100 and f/1.4: EV 1 – 18. Film speed range from ISO 25 to 3200.
Power Source One 4G-13 6 V mercury oxide battery or 4LR44 alkaline battery
Film Loading &
Advance		 Slotted take-up spool. Advances with camera-top lever’s 120° stroke (partial strokes enabled). Ready position at 30°. Winder A also optional for power winding.
Frame Counter Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened.
Film Rewind Camera-top crank
Dimensions &
Weight		 141 x 87 x 48 mm, 590 g
AD