a Classic in any collection..... simplicity, easy to understand - just set the shutter speed and leave the aperature on the lens set to automatic = flawless results ! again - simplicity !

no motor advance/rewind. It was my fault when I snapped off the battery compartment springloaded door. Have yet to get a new one, but I also have yet to loose a battery even though it "could" fall out if it wanted to.

what more can be said about this classic ??? I was taking beautiful pictures at age 12 when it was given to me from my father - I entered a few photo contests and placed in the top 3 many times (o: how can ya go wrong ??? Highly recommended for the beginner/novice and intermediate alike. I bet many of todays pro's learned on the AE-1 and still have atleast one body in their collections. It has the basics and a little bit more!

Customer Service

have yet to call upon in the 15 years that I have owned - was my fathers camera for many years prior w/o problems

Similar Products Used:

Canon T-70, Canon Elan IIe

very useful, simple
and strong.
ideal for a beginner.
let you work with dental photos

however its strongness makes it heavier.

my camera I will never let it go

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cano ae1 program froa amfriend same advantages and disadvantages but the electronic program work as a modern camera

Mechanical and electronic robustness, reliability of autoexposure, depth-of-field preview and exposure lock features.
The lens mounting system allows changing those old good fixed focal length lenses quickly and is extremely durable.

Weight, when compared with today´s bodies. ISO setting control uncomfortable, but this is of minor importance.

A camera suitable for learning the basics and advancing quite a bit beyond.

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Pentax K1000

This camera is "my" first serious camera. My late grandfather gave it to me. It is rather cheap to buy, and has all the auto exposure gizmos you need (it's manual focus, though). Just focus and take the picture. Unlike others, I have found the battery replacement to be not that awkward. The battery can last for more a year (less if you shoot three films a day...), and it takes two minutes to replace.
I shoot in program mode almost always, as should anyone. The lighting is always good and accurate, night, day and flash. The camera is vey very reliable, made of steel. It has a miryad of lenses, very strong body, and can offer locked programmed exposure for taking pictures while facing the sun. I took a picture like this in a Bahay temple. Came out great! For me, the ISO adjusment is very easy as well, you need TWO fingers for the job. And I have left hands, if it's easy for me, it should be easy for any one without neural conditions. You do it once every time you load a film. No problem!
This camera has also easy focusing when you have plenty of light. Just get the lines straight and see if the picture is clear. I used it in England, in home, in Jerusalem, in botanic gardens, everywhere. Very very good results. It may squeak, but it usually happens because of dust under the mirror. It doesn't affect the camera's performance.

Rather heavy while facing the Minolta 700i, and the Minolta has a better 50mm lens. My flash can offer only ISO 100 and 400 compability, no 200 ISO Bummer! No red eye resuction here, but a good lab gets a rid of that for you. Hard to focus in dim lighting, compared to the Minolta 700i.
The data backs reach only the year 95! However, you have the year 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, so you can MacGiver your way data back for 9 years.

A very good camera for beginners and those who want a sturdy manual. The Minolta 700i does a better job. But it's a 'younger' camera.

Customer Service

For people from my country: the Golden Camera in Tel Aviv was the only one who could fix my 200mm lens bought at JCPenny, and it works for six years very well. They are the only shop who I can say that can give you 100% service and proffesionalism. They fix every camera known to man.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 700i

A solid, reliable camera. Great for the student photographer, or those who really want to learn about the technical in's and out's of photography.

In the era of auto-focus and film advance cameras, don't expect to nail those "fleeting moments", where such technology allows you to work fast. Abysmally slow flash-sync (this shouldn't really be held against it, considering the camera's age). Sure would have been nice to have a spot-meter...

If you are a student, you can't buy a better camera than this. It's not only solid and reliable, but if it does break down, there were enough of them made that servicing one should not be a problem. It's a camera that you you can really learn with, especially since it has depth of field preview (so many new entry-level SLRs don't, the Rebel 2000 being the exception). Because the metering is a simple center-weighted arrangement, it forces you to learn some good metering technique to ensure good exposures. It would have been nice if the camera also had a spot meter, which it doesn't. A spot meter is great if you know what you're doing, which would help with distant/difficult to approach subjects.
I still take it out sometimes, even though I've since aquired auto-focus cameras, to help make sure that my skills stay sharp!

Customer Service

N/A

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None

Aedquate features, has all the basic things you need to make a picture, and Canon makes good lenses, BUT...

The battery is oddly placed and hard to change; the camera is battery dependent, with NO mechanical backup shutter, motor is available but noisy, many controls are in "the wrong place" and overall it just feels wrong in my hands.

A lot of people love this camera but I have to say I do not know why; many other cameras have the same features without the problems I have with this model. Yes, I used to own two of them. Sold them and went with Nikon.

Customer Service

never had to use it but now there is none available from Canon.

Similar Products Used:

35mm SLR's from Nikon, Minolta, Canon, Pentax, Olympus and Ricoh

Everything you need, nothing you don't.

Film takes a little while to load, as well as set the ISO on.

This camera rocks!!!!

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Elan IIE, Eos 3, Nikon N70

Well built
Easy to use
Great camera for student

--Not for pros
--Will take winder only and not a motor drive
--For a little more, one can get either a Pro level manual Canon (A-1, F-1) or Nikon (FM-2, F3)

I bought this camera in 1983 as my first 35mm camera. It worked well as a beginner, advanced amateur camera, but came up short when I wanted to get better equipment for pro level work in the early 1990s. I sold it to a friend of mine, but I think I will buy it back from him so as to keep my collection. For a student who needs a totally manual camera (although this one has automatic exposure or manual) you can't really go wrong here if you can find one of these for $100-150.

Customer Service

Have not had a problem with Canon CS, but didn't need them on the AE-1.

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I started with the AE-1, used a borrowed A-1 and F-1, then bought an EOS and have used the 10S, 1, A2, and 1n.

Great picture quality
Puts up with abuse
Good camera to learn with

I find it hard to load
(could just be that I'm just learning how to use a 35mm)

This was the best gift I received in years. I borrowed the camera for an extended trip and the owner gave it to me for Christmas. I have never taken a course and learned most of what I know from a book that she also loaned me, so I am a layman to the furthest degree. From that standpoint I can tell you I think this is one hell of a fine camera. It makes my feeble shots so much richer than any camera I have used previously. If you can find one cheap, buy it. SLR's are the way to go.

Customer Service

yeah right

Similar Products Used:

Kodak disc, Polaroid 600, and other fine (sic) cameras

Great manual camera, especially for beginners. Gives total control over exposure. I've gotten some really great shots with this cam.

A bit heavy, even for a fully manual camera.

My first SLR, and possibly the best camera I've owned. Go for it, if you're a beginner. I bought mine used for $120, and it worked almost perfectly.

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None