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Canon AL-1 (1982)

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Targeting users who had difficulty focusing through the viewfinder, the AL-1 featured an electronic focus-assist system besides aperture-priority AE.

The system searches for the peak of the subject’s image contrast obtained by three linear CCD arrays. The bottom of the viewfinder has arrows indicating the direction to turn the focusing ring to achieve focus. When focus is achieved, the in-focus mark between the two arrows lights.

The exposure is controlled by a TTL silicon photocell and aperture-priority AE with centerweighted averaging metering. All shutter speeds are electronically controlled and stepless. The camera is also compatible with all FD lenses.


Name: Canon AL-1
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°:  
Production Date:  
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Series: A Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, FD 50mm f/1.8
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 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 electronically controlled. Auto shutter speeds from 2 to 1/1000 sec., and manual shutter speeds from 1/15 to 1/1000 sec. and B. Built-in self-timer (with blinking LED).
Dimensions & Weight: 142 x 87 x 48 mm, 490 g
Production Period:  
N° Produced:  
Original Price: 90,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 950 EUR
Avg Ebay Value:  
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com

Canon AE-1 Program (1981)

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It was five years after the AE-1 became a worldwide hit. Many users wanted the program AE mode that was featured in the A-1. This mode set both the shutter speed and aperture automatically. The user just had to press the shutter button.

The AE-1 Program camera was developed in response to the demand for program AE and to succeed the original AE-1. The camera now had both shutter speed-priority AE and program AE modes. It also sported a palm grip like the A-1. The camera was also compatible with the A-1’s Motor Drive MA. The viewfinder featured LEDs. It was quite an advanced camera.

To make Motor Drive MA compatible with the AE-1 Program camera, it had three electrical contacts instead of only two which the original version had. Also, Power Winder A was converted into Power Winder A2 for higher performance.


Name: Canon AE-1 Program
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°:  
Production Date:  
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Series: A Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens:  
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. B, 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 beeper).
Dimensions & Weight: 41 x 88 x 48 mm, 565 g
Production Period: April 1981 - 
N° Produced:  
Original Price: 92,000 yen (w/New FD 50mm f/1.4SSC)
86,500 yen (w/New FD 50mm f/1.8SC)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 1.020 EUR
Avg Ebay Value:  
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com

Canon AV-1 (1979)

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Even though the camera would cost more, shutter speed-priority AE cameras were important to Canon since users could comprehend shutter speeds easier than aperture settings. However, in America and other overseas markets, aperture-priority AE 35mm cameras were in the majority.

Overseas distributors also clamored for an aperture-priority AE model. Canon responded with the AV-1.

When this camera appeared, a new type of FD lenses featuring instant mounting/demounting was also introduced. A low-cost FD 50mm f/2 lens was made available for the AV-1.


Name: Canon AV-1
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 860564
Production Date: 1979
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Series: A Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: Canon New FD 50mm f/1.8, New FD 50mm f/2 (Quick mount/demount type)
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 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 stepless and controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with adjustable delay and blinking LED).
Dimensions & Weight: 139 x 85 x 48 mm, 490 g
Production Period: 1979 - 1984
N° Produced: 200.000
Original Price: 57,000 yen (w/New FD 50mm f/2)
Indexed Price (Approx): 715 EUR
Avg Ebay Value: 60-120 EUR
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com

Canon AT-1 (1976)

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The Canon AT-1 is a 35mm FD-mount single-lens reflex camera manufactured by Canon of Japan from December 1977. It was produced purely for export and was never sold in the home Japanese market. It is a version of the popular AE-1 but without the shutter-speed priority auto-exposure mode of that camera. The AT-1 features manual exposure only. This made the camera cheaper, as some consumers did not desire or require autoexposure and did not want to pay for it.

A light meter is included, featuring TTL center-weighted average metering with a CdS photocell, and a match needle in the viewfinder.

Its viewfinder display is a simplified throwback to earlier match-needle SLRs: an analog needle floats to reflect a TTL reading of the scene brightness; and the user adjusts either aperture or shutter speed until the EV "lolipop" aligns with the needle position. There is no indication of either the selected aperture or shutter speed in the viewfinder.

Despite these appearances, the AT-1 is not a full-blown retro mechanical SLR: it is based on the innovative cost-cutting electronics of the AE-1. The shutter is electronically timed and entirely dependent on battery power. A 10 second self-timer with blinking LED indicator is activated by rotating a tab alongside the shutter release to its forward position. (Rather illogically, returning the tab to its normal position does not cancel the self-timer; instead it fires the shutter immediately.)

While never selling in the same numbers as the AE-1 or AE-1P, today an AT-1 offers photographers access to numerous inexpensive, used FD-mount lenses, in a body free from extraneous bells and whistles.

The accessories produced for the AE-1 also work with the AT-1, including motor drives.


Name: Canon AT-1
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 255717
Production Date: 1977
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Series: A Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.
Collection Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 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 blinking LED).
Dimensions & Weight: 141 x 87 x 48 mm, 590 g
Production Period: Dec 1976 - 1985
N° Produced: 520.000
Original Price: For export only (no Japanese price)
Indexed Price (Approx.):  
Avg Ebay Value:  
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com

Canon AE-1 (1976)

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The Canon AE-1 is a 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) film camera for use with interchangeable lenses. It was manufactured by Canon Camera K. K. (today Canon Incorporated) in Japan from April 1976 to 1984. It uses an electronically controlled, electromagnet horizontal cloth focal plane shutter, with a speed range of 2 to 1/1000 second plus Bulb and flash X-sync of 1/60 second. The camera body is 87 mm tall, 141 mm wide, and 48 mm deep; it weighs 590 g. Most are black with chrome trim, but some are all black.

The AE-1 is a historically significant SLR, both because it was the first microprocessor-equipped SLR and because of its sales: backed by a major advertising campaign, the AE-1 sold over one million units,[1]:66 which made it an unprecedented success in the SLR market.

Features

The AE-1 has a Canon FD breech-lock lens mount and accepts any FD or New FD (FDn) lens. It is not compatible with Canon's later Canon EF lens mount, though adapters made by independent manufacturers can be found. The camera will also accept Canon's earlier FL-mount lenses through the use of stop-down metering.[2] Original FD lenses, introduced in 1971, do not rotate in the mounting process; instead, a locking ring at the base is turned to attach the lens. This was often criticized as being slower than the bayonet mounts of competing cameras.[1]:201 The counter argument, though, was that as the lens/body mating surfaces did not rotate, there was no wear that could affect the critical distance from lens to film plane. In 1979, Canon introduced the New FD series of lenses that rotate the whole outer lens barrel to lock. The inner lens barrel remains stationary, and thus the signal levers and pins still do not rotate. During the late 1970s, there were over 50 Canon FD lenses available for purchase. They ranged from a Fisheye FD 15 mm f/2.8 SSC to a FD 800 mm f/5.6 SSC, plus special purpose lenses such as a 7.5mm circular fisheye and a 35 mm tilt and shift lens.

Accessories for the AE-1 include the Canon Winder A (motorized single frame film advance up to 2 frames per second), the Canon Databack A (sequential numbering or date stamping on the film), and the Canon Speedlite 155A (guide number 56/17 (feet/meters) at ASA 100) and Canon Speedlite 177A (guide number 83/25 (feet/meters) at ASA 100) electronic flashes. The later Power winder A2 is also compatible, but the Motor Drive MA is not.

The AE-1 is a battery-powered (one 4LR44 or 4SR44) microprocessor-controlled manual focus SLR. It supports either manual exposure control or shutter priority auto exposure. The exposure control system consists of a needle pointing along a vertical f-stop scale on the right side of the viewfinder to indicate the readings of the built-in light meter (center-weighted with a silicon photocell). The viewfinder used by the AE-1 is Canon's standard split image rangefinder with microprism collar focusing aids.

Design history

The AE-1 was the first in what became a complete overhaul of Canon's line of SLRs. The 1970s and 1980s were an era of intense competition between the major Japanese SLR brands: Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax and Olympus. Between 1975 and 1985, there was a dramatic departure from heavy all-metal manual mechanical camera bodies to much more compact bodies with integrated circuit (IC) electronic automation. In addition, due to rapid advances in electronics, the brands leap-frogged each other with successively more automated models.

Although Canon Camera K. K. had been making quality 35 mm cameras for decades, it had since the late 1950s been overshadowed by their rival Nippon Kokagu K. K. and their Nikon cameras. While Canons easily led in the amateur compact fixed-lens market (where Nikons did not compete), Canon SLRs didn't have the professional features of the top-end Nikon SLRs. Nikon, with its solid reputation for quality of material and workmanship, held a stranglehold on the prestigious professional SLR market that competitors could not break.

The AE-1 was the vanguard of the landmark Canon amateur level A-series SLRs and led Canon's charge into the emerging electronically controlled SLR market. The other members of the A-series were the AT-1 (released 1977), A-1 (1978), AV-1 (1979), AE-1 Program (1981) and AL-1 (1982). They all used the same compact aluminum alloy chassis, but with different feature levels and outer cosmetic plastic top panel. By sharing most major components, including an inexpensive horizontal cloth-curtain shutter, viewfinder information display, and autoflash control, Canon further reduced costs and could undercut the price of the more expensive SLRs then on the market.

In keeping with its cost-cutting philosophy, 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. Canon went to great effort to disguise the use of plastic - the injection-molded acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) for the top panel finished with either satin chrome (or black enameled) to give the look and feel of metal. The bottom plate were made of brass and then finished with satin chrome (or black enameled). Extensive use of electronics also allowed simpler modular internal construction instead of mechanical linkages. Five major and 25 minor internal modules reduced the individual parts count by over 300. Modular construction, in turn, allowed automated production lines in order to reduce cost. Unfortunately, cost concerns also resulted in the use of plastic in some of the moving/operating mechanisms.

The AE-1 was never designed to be a professional camera. However, it was made to have relatively straightforward controls and automatic aperture for newcomers, with various manual controls and system accessories to appeal to more experienced photographers. The AE-1 was the first SLR purchased by millions of amateur photographers, persuaded by its feature list and low price.

In many ways, the AE-1 represented the confluence of two streams of Canon camera development. The first generation electronically controlled 35 mm SLR Canon EF (1973) merged with the final generation rangefinder Canonet G-III QL17 (1972). After decades of chasing Nikon for Japanese optical supremacy, Canon finally hit upon a formula for success: high technology for ease of use, cheaper internal parts and electronics for lower price, and heavy advertising to get the message out. Despite outcries from traditionalist photographers who complained about an “excess” of automation ruining the art of photography, automation proved to be the only way to entice the amateur photographer.

The AE-1 had only one pointer needle used to indicate the light meter recommended f-stop, and neither a follower needle to indicate the actual lens set f-stop, nor plus/minus indicators for over/underexposure. The shutter-priority system of the AE-1 was more suited to sports action than to preserving depth-of-field, yet the 1/1000 s top speed of its horizontally traveling shutter limited its use for such activities. The battery door design was subject to frequent breakage, and over time owners have reported instances of shutter and mechanical gremlins, including mirror linkage wear (the "Canon squeal"). Canon's eventual abandonment of the FD lens mount for the EOS autofocus design also had an effect on prices for the AE-1 on the used market.

Legacy

Apple sound designer Jim Reekes recorded the screen snapshot sound used on Macintosh computers and iPhones from the AE-1 he used as a high school student.


Name: Canon AE-1
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 4295291
Production Date: Dec 1980
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Series: A Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 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 blinking LED).
Dimensions & Weight: 141 x 87 x 47,5 mm, 590 g
Production Period: April 1976 - 1984
N° Produced: 5.730.000
Original Price: 81,000 yen (w/FD 50mm f/1.4SSC)
Indexed Price (Approx.): 1.200 EUR
Avg Ebay Value:  
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com

Canon A-1 (1978)

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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
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com