Canon A-1 ｜One Of The Best Entry Level 35mm Film Camera

00:00 Intro
01:40 About this camera
03:53 How to use the A1
09:11 Sample photos
20:48 Likes and Dislikes
22:56 Outro
✨Check out my blog: capturedbysam.blog
📍Follow me on Instagram: @itscapturedbysam
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Other Film Photography Gear I use:
🖨️ Film Scanner: amzn.to/3Nbh84H
☀️ Light Meter: amzn.to/3Cc6zrS
⚡️ Flash Light Trigger: amzn.to/3C8pKmi
🧪 Home Film Processing Kit: ebay.us/fzJuc1
👁️‍🗨️ Black and White Film Developing Kit: amzn.to/42lQVof
📚 Photo Books I collect: amzn.to/43tvYIF
🎒 Everything in my Kit: kit.co/sam_zhang
Affiliate links: Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you :) Thank you for your support!!

[@TubaSolotheHiker]

A-1 is really one of the best film cameras ever. I have 3 of them now. Such a great film body and so easy to use.

[@itscapturedbysam]

Haha~ I have the same feeling with my X700, I also have 3 of them… I got the X700 before the A1, otherwise I believe I’d love the A1 as much!! ☺️

[@robbiecresswell7996]

Canon A-1 is my favorite film camera. Still have mine!

[@V8rgr8]

I agree with you about this camera. You make photography fun again!

[@Rezail_Uhhh]

Suns out Sams out with a new video. Looking good, love the tour of that town. Sen was telling me about everything in the town. Says the popcorn was good :P

[@chipmunkhunt]

I learned to carry an extra LR44 battery years ago with a Canon AE-1 P. Now, I keep a spare for the AE-1 and my A1.

[@robbiecresswell7996]

It was a very solid camera. I shot hundreds of rolls of film. Always dependable.

[@jjmccleary]

YES!! Awesome video. I love the behind-scenes footage of your trip to China

[@dash.-6836]

I love my A1, it was my first film camera. i bought it 2 years ago and was my number 1 camera. now im using more my FM2n

[@Xenonic2]

Can't beat that 1/4000sec shutter speed!

[@villegas24]

I love your videos Sam

[@grahamgreenwood8715]

Got my A1 in 1979 still used it till 2023 then went to a fuji xt1 first time using digital. Both my kids learned photography with my A1

[@renemies78]

The pictures look so good! Looks like you don't really need the AE-1. Great video.

[@exploringthroughthelens5127]

I really enjoyed your video. The Canon A-1 a nice camera. Maybe try another FD lens?

[@ianscarborough2357]

I inherited 3 A1s from my late grandfather which was my first introduction to film photography!

[@fhhu3167]

I really enjoy your videos Found the channel recently

[@Nautishko]

Loved your reflection on the choice between being present and capturing the present, Sam. Practically, for me, the choice is between thinking about shots I want to take and worrying about shots I might have missed, so I try to always have my camera with me. Not a perfect solution by any means!

[@DaveBowman]

My first 35mm film camera was a Praktica MTL3, way back in 1980. It was crude, clunky but reliable. I'd always wanted an A1 though, and a couple of years later I'd saved up enough to get one. It really was a fantastic camera and ahead of its time in features. Over 40 years on though I'm using an FM3a, because I just don't trust old electronics :)

[@valerintproductions]

So I kind of just missed film. my first camera was a digital camera BUT I wanted to get a 35mm photo camera and I went with the A1 myself! I love it. It worked out because I was already buying the FD lenses to mod to EF for my Blackmagic URSA. But the lenses were so cheap I bought a second set for the A1 as well!

[@awiranggayudha2063]

😮I owned both...in the 70's and 80's

[@joshua4578]

I have my Dad’s AE-1 Program and I decided to buy the A-1 because of the double exposure. I think it’s actually a better camera than the AE-1.

[@camerafusion]

I have no one and love it!

[@Mme.Swisstella]

I'm intrigued that i am so ancient that there now exist instructionals on how to load and use a film camera.

[@drewsleyy3836]

I’ve owned many cameras at this point, sold them all except the A1. My go to, though now I do dream of owning a Hassy one day

[@Brando256]

Love your pictures Sam with both camera's. I am like you in that I have the Pentax 645N and just love how those pictures turn out. I find when I shoot with my Canon AE-1 and use an external light meter my photo's turn out much better. I typically shoot Fuji film 400 or Portrait 400. One questions I have is, where did you get your camera strap for your Pentax 645N II? I need one desperately and just can seen to find the right one. Thanks so much and keep making these great videos. I have learned so much from your channel. 🙏

[@itscapturedbysam]

Mine came with the camera, I was lucky.. you can probably find one on eBay..

[@Brando256]

@@itscapturedbysam Ok, Thanks Sam. I'll search eBay.

[@Being_Joe]

The reason the AE-1 was so popular is because they were so affordable. I feel the price has gotten so up there that I really don't think it is worth paying anything over $100 if in great condition. I bought one with a zoom lens for about $40 and picked up a 50mm for about $30. Because it got so YT popular I ended up selling the kit for around $175. It was a good camera, but if you gonna pay that much may as well look at better options.

[@sophietucker1255]

I have found out the hard way that 400D really hates to be under exposed. It turns very muddy with that greenish cast. I’ve had better luck with +1 over exposure and even more if the scene is very dark. Overall I’m not that big a fan of CineStill films.

[@ianhand5006]

I have several and sold my AE-1.

[@shiftymeister]

Just as a info: I think these are good cameras and they used to be great options but got really expensive (too expensive imo). These days I recommend the Canon 300n or 500n to people because they are only a 5th of the price, use the EF-Mount (access to all „modern“ canon lenses) and have similar features to a 2000/2010 DLSR. Those will brake down eventually due to the much more complicated electronics but they got so cheap that it‘s definitely worth checking out. Edit: Or you could go all in and buy a Canon 1V ;)

[@itscapturedbysam]

Thank you for the info :) I have the 1V, the image quality out of the 1V is for sure better than the A1, but it’s also bigger and bulkier.. I’m always interested to try something in between like the Canon KISS or something though~

[@scotthibbard5746]

Love it! I have the Canon A-1. For all of the features I do not know why the AE-1 Program is so popular. Maybe the A-1 is too advanced for them.

[@itscapturedbysam]

Me personally loves the AE1 because I saw this camera is a movie 😂.. I guess the A1 is too automatic, it lacks the analog tactile feeling to it~

[@swampscott2670]

They’re essentially the same. The A1 has Av and Tv modes, while on the AE1p you have to use the dial manually to emulate Av mode. I prefer the AE1p as it’s slightly more reliable and has the better viewfinder (even though technically the A1 was newer and more advanced per marketing).

[@averytheamazingone]

I have the AE-1 and it's honestly my favorite 35mm, even over my Nikon F2. All of the photos taken with it are just incredible. I honestly don't even want a Leica bc this thing is just a tank for me. The only issues I ever had was bc of user error lmao The A series has such an iconic design though, I want an all black one but due to the summers where I live get to triple digits I have to have a silver one. I went to a lake and all of the black tolex glue started melting in my hand lol

[@itscapturedbysam]

Sometimes it really just comes down to the timing, I got my X700 first, and for a very long time I only have the X700, it was my favorite despite how easy it breaks.. it’s like an old friend, sometimes they are grumpy, but they are always closer to you than the new friends who came later.. ☺️

[@dflf]

I've owned several A series Canon cameras. The A-1 is the one to buy. Two things I don't like. No interchangable focusing screens and setting the ISO is hard to do

[@Caballeroshot]

I'm so torn with shooting 35mm anymore. I keep a point and shoot and my F5 which rarely gets used but my go to is always my medium format cameras. As far as wanting a half frame, save yourself the hassle and just keep shooting 35 mm especially if you already see an issue with the image quality compared to your medium format cameras.

[@frstesiste7670]

The Canon A-1 was by far the most advanced and expensive of the A-series and the only pro or prosumer level model in that series. The F1-serie was a significant step up in build quality and with more accessories but the A-1 was more advanced in electronic features.

[@Xisbrezatsgzormd]

What is the difference between 'entry level' and 'profi' film cameras? I have Canon AE-1 and Minolta X-700 and they both have great choice of all possible lenses and accessories to them. (yes, AE-1 lacks some functions in comparison to A-1 but let imagine I have a latter one) The only pro level camera I know is Nikon F 1,2,3. And the only difference there is that they have 1/2000 and 1/4000 shutter speeds (which you would barely use once a year)

[@itscapturedbysam]

I guess when I say entry level, I refer to the price, and the size, and how user friendly it is… cameras like the Canon 1V, or later flagship Nikon cameras that uses Nikon DLR lens, I refer them pro level??…

[@Xisbrezatsgzormd]

@@itscapturedbysam also true :) I just was curious in general how people refer to pro or entry level cameras because I heard and saw a lot of such references but the differences are very slight 😅

[@alessandr_0]

With that intro, I expected smt about forgetting to bring a tripod 😋

[@itscapturedbysam]

lol one day we will get sponsored from a tripod company coz I’m obviously known for “the tripod girl” lol

[@sixteenbitter]

the shutter slap sounds like a sneeze

[@itscapturedbysam]

It needs some maintenance 😂

[@swampscott2670]

There is really nothing “entry level” about the A1. It was a professional tool at the time. Yes, the F1 and F1n were one step up with the more robust shutter that would even work without power.

[@peterkin1010]

Well pros certainly used them as they did its successor the Canon T90 . However the Canon A1 was not marketed nor designed for pro use although it certainly was capable of pro results.

[@aindoorsman]

看照片第一眼想到了羊肉泡馍。

[@Mme.Swisstella]

The a1 is definitely not 'entry level'.

[@janw.jensen2490]

Yup, half frame will give you "great" image quality😂. Btw, have you seen pictures by Walther Hirch or Jacob Holdt? Both used half frame Canon.

[@itscapturedbysam]

Emmmm… no, I’ll look into them..

[@duratorque]

I shot with A1 and AE1. I much prefer A1. I hate shooting ing shutte priority mode!

[@itscapturedbysam]

When I wanted the AE1, I know nothing about cameras lol~ now knowing the difference between the 2, if I ever buy a AE1 it would be for sentimental reasons 😂

[@ChrisDarnell]

I have an AE-1 I would trade you for your A-1 😏

[@xianglol8473]

河南话太带劲了😂

[@liyu_cn]

我的天呐 中国人么 ❤❤ can’t believe it because all the time i think you are asian American😂😂

[@liyu_cn]

哈哈 听到陕西话一下子反差大了起来

[@itscapturedbysam]

噗哈哈哈哈哈哈哈 是河南话～

[@johnlaw6735]

Don't make your cameras mad at you....they will streak your film 🤣

[@itscapturedbysam]

I had so many issues with this camera, battery dead, forgot to load film, open the back with film in it… LoL all with this camera… he for sure doesn’t like me!!

[@johnlaw6735]

BLASPHEMY...Nikon cap on a Canon🤪

[@itscapturedbysam]

All my cameras has other brand cap on hahahah~ Canon cap for Pentax, Sony cap for Canon, Nikon cap for Minolta… 😂