Canon A1 vs AE1 program

Isaiah Dominguez · Aug 12, 2021

I know there is slight difference but which would you guys suggest over the other ?

wiltw · Aug 12, 2021

The Canon A-1 was their top-of-line SLR, meant for the professional market, and built to withstand the rigors of professional useage, and with features suited to pro needs. The introductory US list price for the body plus Canon FD 50 mm f/1.4 SSC lens was $625

The Canon AE-1 was built for the amateur market, was the lowest price SLR from Canon. It is designed for needs in which automation makes up for the lesser skills of the shooter. Many discount houses were able to sell the AE-1 for as little as $300.00. Canon designed the AE-1 to use a significant amount of structural plastic for a lighter and cheaper camera at the expense of being less impact resistant.

MattKing · Aug 13, 2021

I sold both, back in the day. I never sold the F1 (in any version). Nor did I ever sell the Canon EF.
At the risk of disagreeing with wiltw, I would say that the A-1 was not a professional usage designed camera - the various versions of the F-1 filled that role. While it may have had a list price of $625 with lens, it actually sold competitively for $50 - $100 more than the AE-1 program.
The AE1/AE1 Program shared most of the design and structural parts - particularly the shutter - with the A-1.
We saw similar reliability between the two at the retail level.
In their heyday, and in our market, slide film was very popular with people who used 35mm SLRs, with Kodachrome 25 and Kodachrome 64 being particularly popular. The shutter speed preferred automatic exposure offered by both was well suited to those relatively slow emulsions - boy did I sell a lot of Kodachrome 64 to a lot of AE-1 and A-1 users.
The addition of aperture preferred auto exposure metering to the AE-1 program improved that camera, and made it probably too much of a competitor to the A-1.
If I had to choose between the two, I would base my decision entirely on condition - they are both very good cameras.
FWIW, well selling all those A-1s and AE-1s and AE-1 Programs, I was using an Olympus OM-1.

BobD · Aug 13, 2021

I wouldn't recommend either one but not because I think they're bad. I just think they're over-priced right now.

ronnies · Aug 13, 2021

MattKing said:
The addition of aperture preferred auto exposure metering to the AE-1 program improved that camera, and made it probably too much of a competitor to the A-1.

Actually the Aperture Priority mode was missing from the AE-1 Program which only had Shutter Priority, Manual and Program modes. I think that's the main difference to the A-1 which does have Aperture Priority.

Ronnie

CMoore · Aug 13, 2021

Isaiah Dominguez said:
I know there is slight difference but which would you guys suggest over the other ?

I did own both at the same time, but that has been 5 or 6 years.
I shot the A-1 much more often. Not exactly sure why.....no help to you,sorry ..... but the A-1 did feel better to my hands and i DID use the Ap Pri on occasion... a feature the Program did not have.
If you need Aperture Priority, then you only have one choice.
If you will be in "Manual Mode" 97% of the time, either camera will serve you well.
Consider sending it for a CLA unless the owner HAS a receipt for a recent one.
Good Luck

wiltw · Aug 13, 2021

MattKing said:
I sold both, back in the day. I never sold the F1 (in any version). Nor did I ever sell the Canon EF.
At the risk of disagreeing with wiltw, I would say that the A-1 was not a professional usage designed camera - the various versions of the F-1 filled that role. While it may have had a list price of $625 with lens, it actually sold competitively for $50 - $100 more than the AE-1 program.

Oops, I confused the A-1 with the F-1!
I was shooting with the Olympus OM-1 as well, and remember the TV ads and print ads with John Newcombe for the original AE-1 and appealing to the mass market.

But back to difference between A-1 and AE-1 build quality:

"Build quality is good, certainly better than any other A-series camera. And this isn’t just apocryphal blithering, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. My Exploded View feature delves into the juicy innards of classic cameras, and I’ve seen for myself the rather cheap, plastic gearing found in the AE-1. The A-1’s design, while still showing Canon’s cognizance of cost-cutting through the use of plastic components, uses substantially more metallic internals, resulting in a more reliable machine. The A-1 is stronger, faster, better, than any other A-series machine, and you can feel that fact when you hold it and shoot it."

Chan Tran · Aug 13, 2021

I own both in recent years, (I didn't have Canon back in the days), I sold the AE-1P a couple years ago. I never used either one of them with film. I would pick the A-1. It does have more features than the AE-1P but I pick it I guess more for its look.

ozphoto · Aug 13, 2021

Owned both, and the AE-1P was a great camera. I achieved some brilliant shots, but the A1 just felt better when paired with the MA motordrive. I used both to shoot sport, eventually trading in the AE-1P for an old F1.

If the two were up for sale for similar prices, I'd choose the A1, it just provided more bang for my buck.

Don_ih · Aug 13, 2021

From what I can tell, the main difference between those two cameras is an E. They're virtually identical inside and out - it's hard to say any of the differences between them actually matter. People judge the AE-1 harshly now due to how hyped it is, but it fits the same lenses and takes exactly the same pictures as the A1.
The only difference between the ones I had: the A1 was a little off. For whatever reason (maybe mysterious damage), the focal plane didn't match the view, so the photos would all be a little soft. That could have been caused by someone flipping the mirror with their finger, though.

Chan Tran · Aug 13, 2021

MattKing said:
I sold both, back in the day. I never sold the F1 (in any version). Nor did I ever sell the Canon EF.
At the risk of disagreeing with wiltw, I would say that the A-1 was not a professional usage designed camera - the various versions of the F-1 filled that role. While it may have had a list price of $625 with lens, it actually sold competitively for $50 - $100 more than the AE-1 program.
The AE1/AE1 Program shared most of the design and structural parts - particularly the shutter - with the A-1.
We saw similar reliability between the two at the retail level.
In their heyday, and in our market, slide film was very popular with people who used 35mm SLRs, with Kodachrome 25 and Kodachrome 64 being particularly popular. The shutter speed preferred automatic exposure offered by both was well suited to those relatively slow emulsions - boy did I sell a lot of Kodachrome 64 to a lot of AE-1 and A-1 users.
The addition of aperture preferred auto exposure metering to the AE-1 program improved that camera, and made it probably too much of a competitor to the A-1.
If I had to choose between the two, I would base my decision entirely on condition - they are both very good cameras.
FWIW, well selling all those A-1s and AE-1s and AE-1 Programs, I was using an Olympus OM-1.

I sold the AE-P (because someone paid $100 for it) but I did own it for a while. I still have the AE-1 and A-1 and 2 EF's. I think I would prefer the EF over any of the A's .

dynachrome · Aug 13, 2021

I have two A-1s and one AE-1 Program. For me, the main advantage of the AE-1 Program is that it has user interchangeable focusing screens. The standard screen in both cameras is not very useful for macro work or with slower lenses. My AE-1 Program now has a plain matte screen in it. I also have the standard and grid screens for it. I was lucky enough to find an A-1 body with a grid screen and had it overhauled. That's the one I use more. Screens in the A-1 are considered factory interchangeable. Some intrepid A-1 owners have attempted to do it themselves but those screens are not easy to find. If changing screens often is desired, an F-1 is preferable.

I have examples of both Winders as well as three Motor Drive MA units. Both cameras are capable of good results. I think I now prefer the A-1. I recently put a set of AA lithium batteries into the battery holder of a Motor Drive MA and that lightened things up a little. I get a kick out of using the Motor Drive MA but rarely use it at the higher speed. Film isn't as cheap as it used to be.

gone · Aug 13, 2021

The AE-1 Program has some cool features like a very bright focus screen that I believe may be user replaceable, AE-Lock, etc. But the ones I owned had film advance levers that felt like grinding coffee. The odd way that Canon chose to make the film advance lever isn't a success. The A1 is also a neat camera, and the FD 50 1.4 and FD 85 1.8 lenses are fantastic, so there's good glass available.

I like the original AE 1 for a daily shooter. It feels smaller in your hands, and has plenty of features for most people. The only pro camera that Canon made w/ the FD mount was the F1, and at some point the op should try one. They're big and heavy, but also a lot of fun to shoot.

MattKing · Aug 13, 2021

ronnies said:
Actually the Aperture Priority mode was missing from the AE-1 Program which only had Shutter Priority, Manual and Program modes. I think that's the main difference to the A-1 which does have Aperture Priority.

Ronnie

You are correct!

Canon A1 vs AE1 program

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