Very advanced for its day. Superb line of lenses. Small and durable; does almost everything I want.

Metering is "average" only. "sample and hold" is fiddly. "Depth of field preview" is present, but such a pain to use that I don't! Lack of TTL flash metering. Squeaky shutter disease.

There's very little wrong with the A1, considering the age of the design (apart from the DOF preview, the designer of which should be boiled alive). I have three, and apart from the notorious "squeaky shutter" disease, none of them has ever let me down. The T90 is even better, however, which is a bit unfair as it puts the A1 in the shade.

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Canon T90.

Excellent viewfinder and metering.
Perfect shutter.
Tremendously reliable in all conditions (proven in minus 30 Centigrades in the mountains to plus 45 Centigrades in Subcontinent).
Fitted with hot shoe plus PC socket allowing you to fire two flash guns - great.
Compactness and easy to use auto exposure.
Wide shutter speeds down to 30 secs saves you calculation problems in dimm light.

The stopped down lever is a tiny and very delicate disaster. You cannot use it frequently without getting furious.
The Auto exposure lock for sure should be lockable but it's not - why ?
Definitely lack TTL flash.
Faster sync speed would be welcome.

At its time (1980) it was the best specs camera available. Almost an engineer;s dream
The right weight to carry (about 0.8 kg with 50mm F1.4 lens) and well balanced at that. My beloved camera ever just for its compactness and ease of use (except for Depth Of Field preview whose concept is surprisingly difficult and complicated for no reason).
Bright viewfinder with excellent digital display.
Wery accurate meter with wide range of EV - I used it quite often as a light meter too helping my other Canons with various optics.
Wide range of shutter speeds.
Excellent line of FD lenses.
Nice to use both in manual as well as auto (shutter speed or aperture priority) - I never used programmed exposure - tried once for fun but hate the idea - this is for people w/o imagination.
Of course I would modify it to my own need and can only regret Canon has not developped that model.
Excellent quality anyway.
Mine has broken just because of its age : the IC panel splitted in two and there's no service worlwide to repair it.
If you have a chance to buy one second-hand, buy two A-1s. You'll never regret but beware there is no single spare part for this marvel.

Customer Service

Extremely reliable camera. I never called service for any reason. After 18-and-half year of extensive operation the IC just splitted and it damaged the camera which is never to be repaired - this is my calamity.

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CHINON CE-4 (three of them). PENTAX ME-Super, MINOLTA 7000, CANON F-1 Old, CANON F-1 New

-It's a photographer's camera: once the controls are understood, the camera is a joy to use
-Metering modes: program, shutter-priority; aperture-priority; stop-down metering; manual; and flash (with dedicated flashes, no TTL)
-Accurate bottom, center-weighted, averaging meter, sensitive to low light
-Depth-Of-Field preview
-Canon FD lenses are a good bargain
-Multiple exposure capabilities
-A wide range of accessories are available
-Has ±2 stops exposure compensation
-Wide ISO range from 6/9° to 12,800/42°

-May develop infamous "shutter squeak"
-Relatively slow sync speed (1/60) compared to contemporary cameras
-AE lock button is awkwardly placed
-No mirror lock-up
-No exposure compensation indicator in the viewfinder
-No spot meter
-Canon no longer makes the FD lenses

Although the Canon A-1 was the technological marvel of its day, it lacks much of the high-tech wizardry of contemporary cameras. If you believe that the fancier the camera the better the pictures, don't bother with the A-1. If you believe, however, that excellent photographs are taken by excellent photographers armed with excellent tools, then you'll enjoy the A-1. From the viewfinder that gives you the fundamentals--shutter speed and aperture--to the selection of program modes, the camera easily allows photographers to command and control. It leaves you in charge instead of feeling like you're just along for the ride.

Were I to design the A-2 or A-1a, there are some additions I would make: an exposure compensation indicator in the viewfinder, spot-metering, a faster sync speed, TTL flash (hmmm, it's beginning to look like the T90). But I would keep the same, basic design, for the Canon A-1 serves as well today as it did twenty years ago.

Customer Service

I don't know if Canon service is still available, but local repair shops will still work on the camera. In 1999 it cost me $150 to have the camera cleaned, lubed, and adjusted and a jammed shutter repaired.

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Canon T90
Yashica FR & FX-3
Pentax K1000

If you're looking for a metal-bodied SLR with all the bells and whistles, and strictly manual-mode to boot, this is probably the best ever made. It's better balanced and easier to handle than the Nikon FM, FE, FG or FA, and looks just as good if not better. I prefer Nikkor lenses to the Canon FD series, but that's more prejudice than science and the FD series lenses produce beautiful images. The Canon A1 gives you a choices of aperature priority, shutter priority, automatic exposure (program) mode, a special flash mode and manual. All of these choices are right at your finger and can be performed in seconds. This is the Canon you should get if you're a stubborn Nikon type like myself. It really is an eye-opener.

I've yet to find any.

You can still pick these up for low prices. In fact, I've noticed that recently more SLRs from the 1970-80s are showing up at flea markets, and even at yard sales as the country goes digital. So don't just look on ebay, where you'll find A1s going from $180-$350, depending on condition. I got mine at a flea market for $170 including a 50mm 1.4 FD lens, a 199A Speedlite flash and an Underground Photo tripod. If you're already digital and not going back, then you should get an A1 to use as backup when you d*** batteries fail. The A1 performs all its tricks with just one battery that usually lasts a year. An all around great camera.

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I have several Nikon Fs, including and FE and an FM. I also have several rangefinder cameras.

Versatility
Quality of construction
Durabiltiy

Shutter "squeek"
Lack of mirror lock-up

Bought this camera in the late 70's after my Olympus had a fatal accident. I have shot photos with this camera is literally all types of conditions from scorching heat to sub-zero. Aside from the now infamous shutter squeek, this camera has performed flawlessly.
I purchased the camera with the 50mm F1.8 lens and though I sometimes wished the lens were faster, it always produces excellent quality pictures. Anyone considering buying a camera (be they beginners or experts) would do well to locate an A-1 at a garage sale or flea market.
The abiltiy to run the gamut from fully automatic through shutter and aperture priority right on to fully manual operation is a real plus. It is still the only camera I own. I have thought about going digital, but to get a digital camera with anywhere near the features on the A-1 would cost several thousands of dollars!

Customer Service

Never needed it.

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Olympus OM-1

1) Durable
2) Solid Feel
3) Flexible
4) Great Selection of
Good Cheap Used Lens
5) Good Metering

1) Noisy Shutter
2) Obsolete
3) No new Lenses

One of the best manual SLR you can find in the market. Greatly disappointed that Canon have stop the production of the Canon A1 and making of FD lenses. It will be a great sensation if one day, the A1 can be redesign like the Nikon FM2n to accept present day's Canon AF lenses. I have already given this camera to my girlfriend who love to collect good old camera, and I am glad it went to someone who will take good care of it. It is a classis.

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1) Nikon FA
2) Nikon FM
3) Nikon F2
4) Nikon F3
5) Nikon F
6) Nikon FM2n
7) Nikon FM3A

fast motor drive
ergonomics
seductive design
wide range of affordable lenses
light weight
fast MA drive

discontinued lenses

I cannot recall a bad shot with this camera. Kept it on apperature priority. I would drag it around everywhere and click as if film was free. The metering was always just right. It had to be; i didn't do anything but compose and hit the shutter release. I still have this beauty and take it out when I find time. Now i'm knee deep in EOS equipment and drunk with richness of selection. But, i'll never forget the great service my A1 provided for years. I don't have the heart to sell her; one day my kids will enjoy the classic lines more that i can use the cash anyway.

Customer Service

At an airport I dropped the camera with a 28-85 f/4 lense attached. The lense split in two (with the exception of a few metal tendons still intact-sicking) at the mount. I sent it away and 2months & $75 (1985-ish) later I was reunited. The camera body and motor drive suffered no injuries. Other than the inflicted damage, it's never blinked.

I could take it out today, load some fresh batteries and she would operate as new.

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AE-1, Rebel, EOS A2E, EOS 1V & EOS D30.

I think I held a friends Minolta once, but, cannot remember anything about it. Guess I didn't want to put my A1 down long enough to try his.

The A-1 is perhaps my favorite "original style" camera body with its intuitive controls and multi-mode shooting capabilities. Its LED indicators in the viewfinder are well designed and easy to see in low-light situations.

The absence of mirror lock up coupled with lack of manufacturer's support for replacement parts.

Perhaps the best all-around camera I've ever owned. For beginners to pros wishing for total control over the camera functions, this camera is very tough to beat.

Customer Service

Non existent from Canon.

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I've used many different camera bodies from Nikon, Mamiya, Yashica, Pentax and Konica (manual focus). My experiences with auto focus cameras are limited to the Canon and Pentax line. I am not a fan of auto focus as I almost always have to "touch up" the focus manually. I do use an EOS-RT for fast motorsports however.

Great Photography

Canons poor desision to stop manufacturing FD lenses, Amonst the best 35mm lenses available.

It is a pity that Cameras like this are not made like this anymore. The FD lenses are the equal to Nikkor lenses and the camera itself is well built. For a simple SLR camera you cannot go past the A1 or AE1.

Customer Service

Never needed

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Canon AE-1,T-70, various Nikons and Hasselblads

excellant picture quality, accurate read out,nice advanced features: multi exposures, timer, availability of lenses

No major issues while owning for over 21 years. The take up spool does need adjustment now however

after using my Dad's AE-1, I was rewarded with the Canon A1. A very high end to use as I learned to shoot pictures. It has been a very versatile camera given me lots of satisifaction. My wife has an auto-focus Minolta and I much prefer my manual focus version.

Customer Service

fine

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Canon AE-1
Minolta Maxuum 7000