Light and compact (compared to my eos-1v with booster) Good handling. Built like a tank.

none yet

I bought this at a pawn shop immediately when I saw it (after bargaining it down of course). I have 2 AE-1 bodies and a decent collection of FD lenses but finding an A1 has been near impossible. I may never go back to my EOS-1V after shooting just 5 rolls with this camera. The photos are all nearly as tack sharp as any I've shot with my "L" lenses on my EOS bodies, and carrying this camera and 2 zooms is a lot lighter than packing my EOS-1V and my two "L" lenses. The only thing I miss autofocus on are fast moving objects like my son. For everything else I'll use this camera :-)

Customer Service

haven't needed

Similar Products Used:

AE-1, EOS 630, A2, EOS-1V

SUPERIOR PHOTOS FROM THIS CAMERA. EXPOSURES ARE ACCURATE. USING CAMERA IS STRAIGHT FORWARD.

HEAVY WITH A ZOOM LENS AND A FLASH. THEN ADD THE (OPIONAL) MOTOR DRIVE WITH IT'S BATTERIES INSTALLED AND YOUR BACK WILL BE OUT OF PLACE AFTER CARRING THE CAMERA FOR SOME TIME.

FILM LOADING IS A PAIN.

SUPERIOR PHOTOS. 100 ISO COLOR/SLIDE/B&W
FUN TO USE.
GETS YOU BACK TO THE BASICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
LAYOUT OF THE CAMERA MAKES IT EASY TO USE, READ THE MANUAL ONCE AND YOUR READY TO GO. I FEEL THIS IS A EXCELLENT CAMERA FOR THE BEGINNER/AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER, IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN 35 MM PHOTOGRAPHY TO TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Customer Service

NEVER NEEDED

Similar Products Used:

EOS REBEL G
EOS ELAN IIE

Good metering, I like the display at bottom of viewfinder not at the side. Light weight. Every feature a manual focus camera needs.

Failure of shutter and electronics after about 10 years. Needs battery to operate.

The A-1 is a high end camera with great features it is a very accurate and comfortable to use. These are getting older now, beware of electronic failures.

Customer Service

When it came time for service the cost of repair was more than the value of camera at time. Did not repair, camera was parted out.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE-1, FX, FTbn, Minolta X700

The leds to read the lightmetering. The great lenses.The design.
The speed- and diafragm selection.My first one is still working after 21 years.

Canon stopped to support the A-1.

After my first I bought a second one and a third one. And I'm always close to buy my fourtht and fiftht. This is a great camera. I did a lot of photojournalistic work with it.Everyone who likes to be a serious photographer can buy this camera. See all the reviews on this page. This camera is a classicer. Just great.

Similar Products Used:

I never tried anything else, I'm so happy in love with my A-1.

Fantastic camera. Ahead of its time in many respects, in terms of features, ease of use, styling. Fantastic array of lenses.

Classic camera "shutter squeak" - $150CDN to repair. Can't operate w/o battery. Slightly heavy by today's standards. As with all Canon A-series cameras, mirror foam deteriorates, leaving crumbs on mirror.

Fantastic camera! A great camera for a student, or a second body for emergencies. Mine is 22 years old, and I run 5 rolls of film through it PER DAY! I am endlessly enthusiastic about this camera. If you find one, BUY IT! History will smile on this great example of camera craftsmanship.

Customer Service

Easy to service, as it shares many parts with Canon AE-1, and AE-1 'program'; most abundantly produced camera series ever. Simple to work on.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE-1, Olympus OM-10, Canon EOS 1n, Hasselblad 500C, others.

Rugged, takes a lickin and keeps on tick'n! I've been using this camera for over 21 years and it has survived over a 120 different countries with minimal problems. Some of the areas I have taken pictures in would be considered hazardous to say the least and I have never had to grab a backup camera with my A1! This camera took a fall once that would of probably have made mince meat out of me if I had followed it, when I got back down and found the camera the lens was shot but the camera still worked with just a couple of dings.

The shutter squeek, but it's been doing it now for about 10 years with no noticable problems.

I wanted the best when I bought this camera and I got it. I'm hard on cameras and the A1 will surely take any punishment you give to it. Reliability is something you NEED when you are in the field and dont have a second chance for that perfect shot. They are getting harder and harder to find in good condition though, so if you can find one, pick it up! I would recommend this camera for all levels of photographers because it can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. All these fancy dancy AF cameras are great, but I'm afraid to see what would happen if I dropped one of those down the cliff.

Customer Service

Havent needed it. How many other things have you ever bought that still work perfectly after 21 years?

Similar Products Used:

F1N (Another 20yo camera that just rocks!), Contax(Various)

Multiple automatic modes, plus full manual capability. Uses the full line of Canon FD lenses plus most FL lenses.

100% battery dependent. No mirror lockup.
FD lenses not useable on Canon's AF cameras, so you'll have to upgrade everything if you choose AF.

I started using Canon cameras with an AE-1 over 20 years ago. When I got an A1 a couple of years ago I liked it so much I bought another as a backup and sold my AE-1. Although the design is now 20 years old, even now there are very few manual focus cameras that have better features than the A1. Canon's FD lenses still compare well with most of the best lenses made today. The A1 is a terrific value at current used prices. Should retain its value as long as people are buying and selling Canon FD equipment.

Customer Service

Never used Canon customer service, as none of my Canon cameras ever needed service until at least 10 yrs old.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE-1, Pentax, Ricoh, Exa

Tough, durable, reliable, takes great photographs. Accepts accessories such as motordrives/winders.

Battery-dependent

It's the top of the line Canon A-series body. It has a great meter that handles almost all situations, and can take adversity as well as any camera made. It's also a simple camera to learn to use; once through the manual should do it, including shooting in manual mode. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Customer Service

Never needed except for service after initial purchase, since all were bought used.

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Minolta auto/manual focus systems.

Don't know as it has never worked.

I bought my Canon A1 new in 1984-85 circa. As I had an AE1 which has been brilliant for over 30 years. Have taken many cover shots with that old AE1. I kept the new A1 in the box and did not use it until 1989 when my mares foal was born. The camera froze and the film advance lever would not budge
the little rewind button at the bottom got stuck in and will not come out. So the camera is brand new and has never been used but I don't know whats wrong with it. The battery is fine I was really angry that this camera was so unreliable as I paid a great sum of money for it and have never had any use from it. Still use the old AE1 though and it is a real beauty.

The Canon people quoted a fortune just to look at it- over $125 before work is even attempted.

Any tips anyone?

I bought this camera after such great experiences with the AE1 however I hate seeing a brand new camera going to such a waste. Canon should have repaired the fault gratis even although the camera was out of warrenty as it had never been used.

Customer Service

Outrageously expensive.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE1.

Reliable, quiet(apart from occasional shutter squeak). Excelent features

D.O.F preview is next to useless, neads batteries

This was my 1st SLR and I still lend one out from time to time for people to 'try' photography. Great camera for it's time it handles well and does everything you want of it as long as you don't need easy D.O.F. I moved on to T90s and (very recently EOSs) The A1 still gets an outing now and then when I don't want the noise of a motor drive (come to think of it why have I kept the motor drives?) still needs batteries for everything though, always meant to get an F1 maybe I will now. If you don't need Autofocus and built in winder a second hand one of these could be a real bargain. You won't loose money on it!

Customer Service

Very Good (not supported)

Similar Products Used:

Canon T90
Canon EOS 1V