The AE1 is a great little SLR, it hasn't attained the "collectible" status, it's much more of a "user" camera. If you have one keep it, the FD lenses are pretty cheap nowadays and they have excellent optics.:thumbup:
A big portion of the reason it has not reached collectable status is the fact it's one of the first truly mass produced and sold cameras with some five million units sold during it's production run. It's a very common camera, and easy to aquire. It is in this that the AE-1 is one of the best entry level film based SLRs today.
The Canon AE-1 is remarkably easy to adjust and built like a tank. With shutter speed dial at the tip of the index finger right beneith the shutter release, A viewfinder display that gives you numbers information (appropriate aperture for shutter speed and stopdown metering mark) and available shutter speed priority the camera can be lifted, focused, fired and advanced without taking the camera away from the eye even to some one who has not mastered this body. The AE-1 falls a little short in night photography and considerable macro photography with no mirror lock and shutter speed ranging from 2s to 1/1000, but it can be done. This cameras construction is classic seventies construction, It's a heavy duty camera capable of surviving a drop despite it's plastic exterior.
The AE-1 does however have it's draw backs. Being the first microprocessor equipped SLR, along with several cost cutting measures it's susceptable to a variety of malfunctions including shutter drag, meter failure mirror linkage wear (the infamous "Canon squeal") to name a couple.
They are seriously inexpencive and easily replaceable if something unfortunate should happen to it. This applies not only to the bodies but also the lenses, Wile most Canon shooters around here are paying three and four hundred bucks for a 50mm 1.4 I'm paying twenty to thirty for the 50mm 1.4 on the FD mount.
Do not let the price tag fool you, Optical quality of the Canon FD glass is comperable to the current lens series in quality.
Sample photos taken with Canon FD lenses on the
Canon EF body
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Sample#6
I have a couple AE-1 bodies and bought one for my GF. I definately reccomend that camera to any one looking to get into Photography before any of the modern cameras, largely due to the price tag and it's ease of use.
My GF's AE-1
And mine