easy to use
very reliable

none

I have always taken fabulous photographs with my ae-1 for 23 years. never had to have it serviced. just recently bought the canon elan II.
hate it and will return it. long live the AE-1!!!

Customer Service

never had to contact customer service

Similar Products Used:

minolta

very well built.Easy to load.Good exposure system on auto.

Iso very difficult to set.Lens changing is the worst of any slr!No wonder the EOS

a wonderful camera with a great lens,50mm f1.8 which is the equal of my Leica Summicron.Nice to hold.Changing lenses and fitting back caps for protection impossible.The flash built for it is a marvel!Hardly uses batteries.Very fast recycle times.Beautiful light esp with the 50mm.Pity its discontinued,but really good lenses available cheap!

Customer Service

Serviced at independant due to Canon Discontinue.Excellent repair.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F,Pentax Sp, K1000,MX,ME,Leica M3.

Versatility

None

I have a site devoted exclusively to my work with my 1976 black body AE1 at http://members.tripod.co.uk/tonyphotos/index-1.html........I don`t really think there is anything beyond this beautiful camera. One of the all time classics.
My own refuses to expose correctly when used on auto so I only work manually. Check out it`s potential at my site.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Most

-great all around camera
-Auto exposure
-a neat teaching tool
-inexpensive used lens
-lightweight
-capable of being a systems camera

shutters are battery driven.

Make sure you test one with a fresh battery in the body! I love this camera because it was my first. This camera is so well known by first photographers to professionals, I beleive it is so capable of taking increadible images.

The optics that one can buy for this camera is so vast. One can also buy winders for it. Just the other day I saw a deticated flash(canon speedlight 199) at a Goodwill store for only $10.

Overall, this camera is still out and about. I sometimes wish i kept mine.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta x-700; Nikon FG

This camera is easy to use and great for beginners. I find that the more I use it, the more I like it.

None so far

Great camera - I'm new at this, but I would recommend it to everyone who is interested in LEARNING a bit about photography.

Customer Service

I haven't needed to service it yet. When I bought it, I brought it to get checked out and they told me it was in A-1 condition. Not bad after sitting arounf for almost three yearsé

Similar Products Used:

A couple of APS cameras that friends own.

Strong build, easy to use, quality throughout.
A very nice camera and a classic.

None that I can find for what it is to do and what it does do.

I bought this camera used in mint condition. It still is in mint condition and takes great pictures and is easy to use. I even think that focusing is easier for me than when I used an F-3. My eyes are not good and I went to autofocus but this camera seems to have an excellent screen.

Customer Service

Never seen service.

Similar Products Used:

I have 2 N90s Nikons, N8008s, Mamiya 645 1000s and various collectibles

I literally grew up with this camera. It's taken so much abuse and returned nothing but fantastic pictures and great memories. It even made it through a snow-mobile trip and a bush-whacking hiking trip.

None, except that the mirror will sometimes jam up. Not sure if this is the camera or the lens itself.

It's a great camera for beginners, casual photographers, and those more experienced users who like to get back to the basics! It gets 5 stars from me allowing for it's obvious antiquity.

Customer Service

I bet they forget they even made this camera!

Similar Products Used:

Tried other "newer" auto cameras, mostly borrowing from people to test them out. I always hate how detached I

Was my first 35mm camera. Easy to use and built to last. Center weighted meter is accurate.

None whatsoever.

Excellent starter camera. Lenses and accessories are still available. I still use this camera as a backup! This camera is easier to focus than the Minoltas I have used and is more reliable. The only thing I wish it had is an exposure lock button but thats what manual mode is for right? Locking depth of field preview is a nice feature.

Customer Service

Never needed it!

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS Elan IIe
Minolta XGM
Minolta XD11

Learn how to use it quickly. Great for school and beyond.

None yet.

Easy to use and even a beginner is able to take good pictures just by reading the manuals.

Customer Service

None needed yet.

Similar Products Used:

None

Simple, reliable, and best feel in my hand of any 35mm SLR.

None

Too bad it is not in current manufacture.

Customer Service

Great. Manuals, and some parts are still availbale.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, and Minolta. Canon A-1, AE-1P, and AV-1.