Canon AE-1 Program

Canon AE-1 Program
	Canon AE-1 Program with all-black finish
Overview
Maker	Canon Camera K. K.
Type	35 mm SLR
Released	1981
Production	1981-?
Intro price	¥60,000 (equivalent to ¥77,852 in 2019), body only
Lens
Lens mount	Canon FD
Sensor/medium
Film speed	ISO 12 to 3200 [manual]
Recording medium	135 film
Focusing
Focus	Manual
Exposure/metering
Exposure	Program, shutter priority, manual
Exposure metering	EV1 to EV18 @ ASA 100
Flash
Flash	Hot shoe
Flash synchronization	1/60 s
Shutter
Shutter speed range	2 s to 1/1000 s
General
Battery	4LR44 6V battery or 4 LR44 1.5 volt batteries
Dimensions	87 × 141 × 47.5 mm
Weight	575 g
Made in	Japan

The Canon AE-1 Program is a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera that uses Canon's FD mount lenses. It was introduced in April 1981 as the successor to the Canon AE-1, five years after that camera's introduction.^[1] The major difference was the addition of the Program AE mode first seen in the A-1. This mode sets both the shutter speed and aperture automatically—albeit with a slight bias towards the shutter speed setting. The user focuses the camera and then presses the shutter button. For those desiring more control, the AE-1's shutter priority auto-exposure and full manual modes are still available.

Features

Like the A-1, the AE-1 Program has a right-hand "action grip" on the front of the camera. It also supports the A-1's Motor Drive MA; this requires another electrical contact on the base plate. The AE-1's Power Winder A, and a new, faster Power Winder A2, are also supported. The viewfinder uses LEDs to show information to the user.

Also like the A-1, the AE-1 Program supports interchangeable focusing screens. Unlike the A-1, though, which specifies that screens should only be changed by the factory or by experienced service technicians, those on the AE-1 Program can be changed by the user. The camera came standard with the new split/microprism screen, but seven others were available. The focusing screen on the AE-1 Program is brighter than any previous focusing screen on any Canon manual focus camera, allowing the user to focus with greater ease with "slow" lenses (up to f/5.6). It is the same focusing screen design that is used in the newest model of the top-of-the-line Canon F-1 (known as the New F-1).

The AE-1 Program retains the older A-series type electromagnet-controlled cloth-curtain shutter that limits top shutter speed to 1/1000 of a second, together with a rather slow flash sync speed of 1/60 second. In the years since the AE-1 Program was introduced, this shutter design has also proven to be more maintenance-intensive than modern vertical-travel metal blade designs. The camera's electronics and electromagnets are powered by one 4SR44, PX28A, A544, K28A, V34PX, 4LR44, or L544 alkaline battery.

The additional electronics used for the program features of the AE-1P have resulted in more electronic gremlins over the years, and the model is considered by some^{[by whom?]} more difficult to repair than earlier and simpler A-series cameras. In its day, however, the AE-1 Program's automated features and simple controls helped introduce many new consumers to the SLR camera.