The A-1 was the top-of-the-line A-series camera. (The AE-1 was the first in this series.) It was a sophisticated electronic camera with all-digital control.
Besides the shutter speed-priority AE and aperture-priority AE modes, it featured the first fully automatic program AE mode, preset aperture-priority AE, and Speedlite AE mode.
The viewfinder information was also easy to read with a 7-segment red LED readout. The control settings were displayed at the same time which made it very useful.
Besides Power Winder A, developed at the same time as the AE-1, accessories for the A-1 included the compact Motor Drive MA which attained a maximum shooting speed of 5 fps. This Motor Drive had a convenient vertical-grip shutter button. Also, there was the Speedlite 199A which had bounce flash capability.The A-1’s body had a fine black finish.
| NAME: | Canon A-1 |
| MANUFACTURER: | Canon Japan |
| MADE IN: | Japan |
| N°: | 990846 |
| PRODUCTION DATE : | - |
| TYPE: | 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera |
| SERIES: | A Series |
| PICTURE SIZE: | 24 x 36 mm |
| NORMAL LENS: | FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C |
| COLLECTION LENS: | Canon new FD 50mm f/1.4 |
| LENS MOUNT: | FD mount |
| FOCUS: | Manual Focus |
| SHUTTER: | Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with 2- and 10-sec. delay and blinking LED). Multiple exposures enabled with a lever. Electronic shutter release. |
| DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT: | 141 x 92 x 48 mm, 620 g |
| PRODUCTION PERIOD: | April 1978 - 1985 |
| N° PRODUCED: | 2.430.000 |
| ORIGINAL PRICE: | 114.000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4SSC) |
| INDEXED PRICE: | xx EUR |
| AVG VALUE: | x EUR |