Canon AE 1 Program in too much detail, with photos!

The Canon AE-1 Program was a very popular 35mm SLR back in the day but may be a bit daunting to those used to touchscreen controls. This is a How to use video looking at all the main controls plus and good and sometimes less good points of this legend.
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Canon AE 1 Program in too much detail, with photos
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[@johnmatchett3548]

Wow, that's a blast from the past and lovely to see. People get so obsessed with camera bodies but these old Canons did everything you need. I started with AE1, AE1-P and the very beautiful A1. I'm a technical and scientific photographer and loved the interchangeable screens on the AE1-P. Still doing the job 40 years on and have always used Canon for 35mm. Now they are primary studio cameras - lovely hi-res. 5DS bodies, which I'm grateful are now regarded as 'old' and 'crap', which makes them wonderfully cheap for people who actually care! 40 years ago, 35mm camera were regarded as 'miniature cameras', as we mostly used 10x8, 5x4 and 6x7/6x6/645 cameras. Frankly, I am amazed these old Canons are still firing. Bless them. Lovely Japanese engineering. Nice, thanks. John M.

[@mostlyvintagecameras4323]

Hello John M, Thank you for your comments and sharing your experiance of photogrpahy over the years. I just got an A-1 so at some point I expect there to be video! Kind regards MVC

[@danielgillies8801]

Thanks for the detailed overview. It was definitely of use to me!

[@Shaken_not_stirred]

I have a nice AE-1 Program unit. There is something undeniably satisfying about the tactile experience of shooting with it.

[@shinymetalvids]

Great video! I was trying to figure out the depth of field preview myself. The manual says to always open the aperture to its widest, then smallest (which would naturally happen) before returning the lens to “A”. It also mentions pressing the “AE-Lock pin” too before and after. I couldn’t follow the manual there and didn’t understand the reasoning if these two steps

[@KennethJohnsenDK]

Excellent Video! I just ordered one of these. I normally use a Yashica FX-3, but I am very much looking forward to using the Canon.

[@apistosig4173]

Awesome cameras - I have four. Base plates on mine are brass.

[@joeybela4581]

Got an AE1 program as my first film camera and absolutely fell in love. I've now expanded my collection to a point and shoot and a few more modern canon SLRs, but there's still something so satisfying about this camera and the way it capture. Will save this video for reference!

[@mostlyvintagecameras4323]

Hello Joeybela, Thank you for your comments. I hope you continue to expand and enjoy your collection. Kind regards MVC

[@unchartedthickets]

extremely useful. thank you.