The Canon A-1 Revisited | Days of Knight

[@Skux720]

My favourite manual focus Canon SLR, it has just the right balance of retro coolness with electronic automation.

[@AzrielKnight]

That's a great way to put it.

[@joshuafrias2415]

What? This is new, as I have never seen you revisit another camera before until right now. Besides, what's the difference between the normal A1 and the AE-1 besides the electronic bits?

[@AzrielKnight]

I personally think they age better.

[@joshuafrias2415]

@AzrielKnight I see. I can agree with that. Only a good number of film cameras survive the passage of time, and this is one of them, I suppose. Then again, I have a Minolta Maxxum series camera from the 90s, and that one was built like a tank.

[@goldenhourkodak]

The A-1 was the top of the line non professional SLR from Canon at the time. The AE-1 was more of a mid level camera, if that.

[@ldstirling]

Hi Azriel. I also have a Canon A-1 that was a hand-me-down. My mother used her A-1 from the early 1980s to early 1990s as part of her own advertising business. She gave it to me after she found it in her attic, having sat for 20 years. I too had my A-1 serviced and it works great now. I love the flexibility the A-1 offers and its ease of use. I've traveled to Ottawa, Sherbrooke QC, and the Dominican Republic with my A-1 and taken some lovely photos. Unfortunately, my mother didn't have any lenses for the camera, so I bought a few for myself. Mostly looking for budget options that have good value for money. I ended up with an FD 28mm f/2.8, an FD 50mm f/1.4, an FD 135mm f/2.5, and Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5. They are all very decent lenses that I enjoy using. I even managed to shoot some indoor hockey in Sherbrooke using the 70-210 and Lomo 800 rated at 3200 ISO. I don't think I'll ever get rid of my A-1 as I am somewhat sentimental about it too. Lovely images in this video too. I love how you integrated the grain elevator into the images of the town. Nice work!

[@btrdangerdan2010]

So refreshing to watch another azriel video again 😃

[@AzrielKnight]

Thanks sunny :)

[@cjsansoo7]

I've had my A1 since 1981 and I also had mine in storage for about 15 years. I love it!!! Your shots are very nice. I promise you that the more you use your A1, the more you'll fall in love with it. Thank you for your channel. I'll definitely subscribe, and I plan to donate soon.

[@gelderlandproduction]

I still have mine from 1980. Still use it. Still love it. 28mm f2.8 & 50mm f1.4 Still looks new.

[@AzrielKnight]

Has it ever been serviced?

[@haroldishoy2113]

Hang on to your A-1, there will be many times you are glad you have it. The A-1 is the camera I had always wanted when I was in college photography classes and doing odd newspaper and auto racing shots. I managed to pick up my first and within a year was offered a second at an incredible bargain. I did do the method to silence the squeaky shutter mechanism. I shall be busy with photography this summer.

[@AzrielKnight]

Thanks Harold, I will.

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! I used a A-1 in the past and other than the battery issue where the camera will drain the battery in the winter and the very odd shutter speed lock button on the side I had a great time with the camera! I ended up upgrading to a canon f1n and gave ny a-1 to a friend.

[@AzrielKnight]

F1n is a respectable model.

[@Shanesshiit]

This is my go to camera, i also use the lenses on my Sony A7. It was my Grandpas, and i was given another from a friends mom years ago!

[@AzrielKnight]

That's awesome :)

[@f1shs4lmon]

The a1 has been one of my favourites despite owning other cameras. The finger scroll wheel to control the aperture or shutter speed is really underrated and better imo compared to other fd cameras. It is also lightweight for carrying around. My only gripes are I wish the shutter can go faster, and also a better viewfinder display with a light meter scale.

[@grahamfil777]

Purchased my Canon a1 because of your videos. Been loving film photography for 3 years now.

[@AzrielKnight]

Awesome! That makes me happy!

[@johnlarsson4437]

After watching a disappointing hockey game I hopped on youtube. Much to my surprise, this video actually appeared in my feed. I'm so happy it did too. Nice work! Also, thanks for the heads up on Paramount Camera Repair.

[@AzrielKnight]

Thanks John!

[@gregwardecke]

I too am a Nikon shooter. But I have an A-1 I just keep holding on to. Like you the A-1 scratches an itch for me. Can’t explain why it just does. Other than the Canon F1-N the A-1 is the best FD Canon camera. Continue to enjoy the channel!

[@AzrielKnight]

Thanks for the comment Greg!

[@goldrace10]

Interesting ! I own 2 and use them both.

[@merlinmarquardt]

Another good one. Thanks.

[@AzrielKnight]

Thanks :)

[@apistosig4173]

Hey man - fab presentation. At one point I had 5 AE1+P bodies, two since given away. I adore these. I never use the priority modes. Recently I got a Canon EF which "love". The A-1 has always held appeal but....

[@GraemeSimpsonPhotography]

It was because of your first A-1 video that I purchased my own copy. It really is an awesome camera but have since moved to the F1n

[@AzrielKnight]

Maybe i should do an F1n video :p

[@MichaelRusso]

I am shocked the A-1 only has a 60th flash speed. Some of the FL, FD lenses are nice. I never thought the FL/FD wide lenses are special but the longer end is fantastic.

[@AzrielKnight]

It didn't surprise me. I think what those lenses lack in razzle dazzle, they make up for in numbers.

[@robertspeicher5047]

Grain elevators....I like watching videos of trains, mostly steam, and I watched one that mentioned the use of grain elevators are being torn down. What is the replacement?

[@AzrielKnight]

More modern grain elevators/plus fewer train tracks are the main reasons I believe.

[@randallstewart1224]

Many years ago, A friend from college asked me to select a camera for him to take along on his job assignment, which would be some 6 years in Barrow, Alaska. He knew nothing about photography, but he did learn the basics. Over the years, he took a number of color photos going along with native tribes on walrus hunts. I printed a set of 11x14 prints for him. Technicals were always spot on, and compositions were okay given the limits of a 50mm lens. He was never good with his toys, Over that decade, he let the A-1 get stolen, never replace, and wrecked two cars and a motorcycle. When he died a few years ago, one of his listed attributes was "photographer". I chuckled and gave a nod to the Canon A-1.

[@Allen-Trav]

The A1 was my first "real" camera (circa 1988) I shot a band tour / college photojournalism project with it. That body is long gone, but I just picked one in near mint condition that arrvied this week. The 20mm looks interesting. Just hit the subscribe button.

[@cameraman655]

Loved the A1, shot with it throughout much of the 80s until I replaced it with a T-90.

[@AzrielKnight]

I did a complete history of the T90 if you want to have a look!

[@cdl0]

Azriel Knight's documentary on the T-90 is a great video, definitely worth seeing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmPGgnydepucpMk.

[@starlight25ism]

hi a1 its my fav camera fd mount, has it all u need, at first could be confusing but its a very good camera very small, not so light ja.

[@cyberqid]

I bought my A1 when it first came out. Between the A1 and the F1n I would consider these the finest cameras of this era.

[@ldstirling]

As a Nikon shooter, the AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D is a great option for ultrawide lens that works well on both AF and manual focus Nikon bodies.

[@AzrielKnight]

Oh very cool :)

[@photonfantastic]

The 14-24 mm f/2.8 is awesome! Happy to know you have one!

[@AzrielKnight]

It's a bit big for that F80 but great on the F100 :)

[@michaeltuffin8147]

I have the Sigma 14mm. It’s a niche focal length, but I enjoy using it.

[@michaeltuffin8147]

Also, I’ve owned my A-1 since 1986 and it still hasn’t needed a cla-- never developed the infamous squeaky shutter and light seas still intact

[@NandR]

I have an A-1 that a customer gave me. He had a stroke and is unable to speak words. His wife called me and had me come over. He gave me his box of photo gear. My A-1 is solid and came with the 50mm f/1.4 SSC. Just a solid camera. Goes well with my XD-11 and FE2, all solid Aperture Priority cameras. And the added sentimental value.

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

Nice pictures, grain elevators seem to be a nice subject for pictures. I own a A1 too, I was serviced last year and looks as mint as yours does, but it lacks the FD 20mm, but a nFD 50 f/1.2 (non L) is also a wonderful piece of glass. Regarding wide angle, I have a modern MF Samyang 14mm f/2.8 with Pentax L mount. Despite being a modern lens it has an aperture ring. Tomorrow is a holiday in the Netherlands, I'll mount the 14mm on my (also serviced) Pentax LX and go to an old blast furnace. It will be accompanied by my Rollei 3,5F that came back from service yesterday 🤩

[@AzrielKnight]

Right on. It's funny, I love ultra wide but not fish eye. even I have my limits :)

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

@@AzrielKnight it's not fish eye, just an ordinary ultra wide angle.

[@AzrielKnight]

Oh yeah sorry i knew that bit i was jist thinking about fish eyes.

[@spirg]

Nice review !! I shoot occasionally with my dads Minolta SRT

[@AzrielKnight]

Oh nice, which one?

[@CanoeToNewOrleans]

A photographer from Western Canada who likes to shoot elevators - subscription earned!

[@AzrielKnight]

Thanks for thr sub my dude :)

[@CanoeToNewOrleans]

No worries. Looking forward to seeing content from this part of Canada.@@AzrielKnight

[@drdufault]

Over the last few years, I've picked up six Canon A-1's... almost all were "untested, parts only." Of those, three were beyond repair, but being that I picked them up for rather cheap, I've cannibalized them to help support the remaining (and working) three. I do think that the A-1 is a great little camera, even better than my F-1, mostly because it's a bit lighter and compact. I have no intention of selling any of my A-1's. Grin.

[@AzrielKnight]

That's the way to do it, if you know how to DIY!

[@cdl0]

This is such a good video that I recommend not eating dishes that contain whole super-hot chilies while watching it. That Canon A1 and 20 mm FD lens are absolutely beautiful, and make fantastic photographs (with a little help from the photographer). Mostly I prefer manual focus, by the way.

[@btpuppy2]

I used to think you needed to pick a side and stay there because of compatibility, but I no longer do that. I did start out with a Canon FTb in the mid 70’s, then went to the Minolta Maxxum when they came out with AF. Then with digital, Canon handled high ISO noise really well, better than anybody at the time, so my first DSLR was the Canon 20D. To be followed by a 7D (which I never liked the images from it) then went to FF with my darling Canon 5D M3 which I am “one with”. Then more recently to Canon mirrorless FF. But had someone made something that handled noise and color better than Camon (Nikon had no clue during those years) I would have gone with them or anyone else who did things better. Every camera manufacturer makes good cameras and bad cameras over the space of time so especially in the later days of digital I have always loved my Canons but I have added Sony and Nikon when they had a really special camera that did something my Canon doesn’t. So you don’t always have to limit yourself to one brand even if you just get one or two at the most lenses for the additional brands that you use that’s plenty. you don’t have to dedicate tons of lenses for each camera body that you buy

[@borderlands6606]

I remember the A-1 coming out, it seemed ridiculously complicated compared to 3-control cameras. The T90 went a step further, and modern cameras make them seem as simple as an abacus.

[@AzrielKnight]

Sounds about right.

[@northof-62]

Great to see u back again. Nice shots! Canon's FD lenses sure are good, much better contrast than the Nikkors of that era. Some said (back then): Nikkors for colour, Canon for B&W. I tend to agree. Cheers .

[@AzrielKnight]

Interesting, why is that?

[@northof-62]

@@AzrielKnight Well, I remember thinking my chromes and colour negatives from my pre-AI Nikkors were very nice, but I always thought my B&Ws looked a little softer than the Canon's at that time. Each to their own I guess. I guess we can still test that theory to some degree. Sadly Kodachrome 64 is gone.

[@earvinquero2037]

Review all the cheapest cameras and hype it up. Like the Minolta, fujica, vivitars etc etc. The camera that people will Not look after. I think you're good on that.

[@aag24]

I don’t know why but my mother (who I inherited my camera from) always had Nikon cameras. I’ve never had a Canon … they seem more interesting somehow. Or maybe it’s a grass is greener on the other side”

[@AzrielKnight]

They both have their charm and i think eras wjere one is better than the other.

[@aag24]

@@AzrielKnight very true.

[@aarontown]

i HATE manual mode on the A1

[@AzrielKnight]

lol, how come?

[@aarontown]

​@@AzrielKnight it doesn't show the aperture you set it on. i prefer the AE1Program

[@MikeSowsun]

⁠@@aarontown I hate Manual mode on BOTH the A-1 and AE-1 Program. The AE-1 Program doesn’t show the set aperture either. At least with the A-1 you can see what the shutter speed is set to while looking in the viewfinder. The AE-1 Program lacks a shutter speed display.

[@aarontown]

@@MikeSowsun i ignore the shutter speed on the Program. if i know the aperture is, say, F4, i move the dial until i see "4" in the viewfinder display. it's like a poor man's aperture priority. still annoying, but i don't hate it

[@MikeSowsun]

@@aarontown So you set the aperture ring on the lens to f/4 and then move the shutter speed dial until you see f/4 in the viewfinder? The A-1 can also do that, plus you can see what the shutter speed setting is in the viewfinder. Wouldn’t you agree that the A-1 is better?