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Average Ratings
Photograph Quality9.8/10 Based on 16 ratings
Features9.1/10 Based on 20 ratings
Ease of Use9.1/10 Based on 16 ratings
Value for Money9.2/10
Reviewer Rating9.2/10
Overall Rating8.4/10 Based on 37 ratings
90% Recommended19 out of 21 Reviews
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21 Review Centre Canon A1 Reviews

  • Full review by
    Guest.
    on 10th Apr 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    Good Points: Best camera in its price range

    Bad Points: Nothing bad about this camera. It's perfect

    General comments: I used an A1 until poor eyesight forced me to change to autofocus or i would still be using it today
    Guest.'s review and ratings
    | 34 words

  • Review by
    beautybear Rank: Major
    on 9th Apr 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    The Canon A1 was my first 35mm SLR, I had the AE-1 Program which meant all I had to do was focus and shoot. The camera was amazing, I wish now I had kept it. The controls were really easy to use and the pictures were the clearest sharpest images I've ever seen. The control wheel on the top of the camera allowed selection of Full Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority Or Full Manual.The film advance lever worked smoothly and I could use ANY ASA Film from 12 to 3200. A 'Stop-Down' leaver al ...
    beautybear's full review
    | 139 words

  • Review by
    Guest.
    on 22nd Mar 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    As for the review i am sure if the person doesn't consider a Canon A-1 the hype or the best 35mm slr for its age or ever, then i am sure tescos has a point and shoot suited just for them! and cheap enuf to replace , and thanks to digital many good quality lenses and mint condition canon A series are now affordable and available due to persons changing to an "easier" "faster" "complicated electronic digital" cameras
    Guest.'s full review
    | 122 words

  • Review by
    Sooprman44
    on 12th Mar 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    What a camera ! ! ! I have two of the Canon A1. One was purchased by my Grandfather in the early 80's. The other by my father around the same time. I have since inherited both of them. I also have several of the AE-1's. Three to be exact. Thank god they both purchased a large assortment of lenses as well. Got them too. All of my Canon cameras take beautiful photographs. They are not as rugged as my old Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic, But that one was made in the 60's and it still works like a champ ...
    Sooprman44's full review
    | 107 words

  • Review by
    Billy Moffet
    on 2nd Mar 2008


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    I have had my Canon A1 for around 25 years I have always loved using it and it has never let me down. When I purchased it, it was expensive and as an amateur I couldn't really justify the cost. Now 25 years later the initial outlay is justified at around £0.60 per year. You can't even buy a decent newspaper for that! A classic that is still going strong and I prefer the A1 to my digital.
    Billy Moffet's full review
    | 107 words

  • Review by
    bds1958
    on 23rd Feb 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    Had mine for over 20 years now. Brilliant pictures. Just upgraded to EOS 400D and look back at my A-1 with fond memories.
    bds1958's full review
    | 26 words

  • Review by
    Guest.
    on 16th Jan 2008


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    love the Canon A1 camera so so reliable its like an old friend who goes everywhere with me.
    Guest.'s full review
    | 31 words

  • Review by
    jmrackowe Rank: Staff Sergeant
    on 15th Jun 2007


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : 0

    The Canon A1 is a superb conventional 35mm camera.
    jmrackowe's full review
    | 31 words

  • Review by
    vannbaker Rank: Lance Corporal
    expert review Expert Review
    on 3rd Nov 2006


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : +1

    I have taken thousands of photographs with my Canon A1s, with films ranging from Kodachrome 25 and 64 to medium and high speed color print film as well as a range of black/white film. The camera has a great feel and balance, and has full manual control for virtually any type of subject matter, from macro photography using bellows or experimental night photography, or "Program" mode when I just want to focus and shoot. My favorite lens is the Canon 35-70 FD lens, it's not too long or too sh ...
    vannbaker's full review
    | 519 words

  • Review by
    Stephen Anthony
    on 19th May 2006


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : +1

    Starting last year I decided to get back into photography after leaving it alone for 20 years, so I joined a local club and blended into the background and watched and learned. I purchased a couple of Nikon autofocus SLR's (F55 & F65), but the results were disappointing, then I spotted a Canon A1 on Ebay and took a risk and purchased it for £45. Also included in the sale was a Canon 28mm f2.8 wide angle lens. This combination and the amazing Fujichrome Velvia 50 slide film this year won me ...
    Stephen Anthony's full review
    | 164 words | 1 comment added.

  • Review by
    Ieuanfawr Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
    on 17th May 2006


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : +1

    The Canon A1 35mm SLR is a classic camera, surpassed only by the F1. I have had mine since about 1980, and have four lenses: 2 zooms and two fixed focal length. I also have the 199 Speedlight which is very powerful, and will work with lenses as wide as 24mm. I did have the motor drive (now sold) which was quite remarkable. It would consume 36 frames of film in about 5 secs, and the batteries didn't last much longer. The Speedlight could keep up for bursts of 4 or 5 frames before needing t ...
    Ieuanfawr's full review
    | 341 words | 2 comments added.

  • Review by
    Andyg009
    on 5th Dec 2005


    User Rating : 7
    Respect : 0

    I have had my Canon A1 35mm SLR camera for 25 years. It is a good camera, and I have taken many good pictures. I have considered buying a second one.
    Andyg009's full review
    | 41 words

  • Review by
    Chris Orwell Rank: Lance Corporal
    on 31st Oct 2005


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    I have been using a Canon A1 camera for my coursework on photography at college. It has never let me down once and the last owner used it for 15 years very regularly and never had any problems.
    Chris Orwell's full review
    | 54 words

  • Review by
    steve marino
    on 8th Sep 2005


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    The Canon A1 SLR may be the best manual focus camera ever made. It had features that were way ahead of its time, like the LED readout in the viewfinder, that shows aperture and shutter speed, and the ability to change both with just one knob on the top of the camera. The 'snick' of the shutter is a great sound. It can take beautiful images, and is compatible with many, many great FD lenses. With a power winder, it can be focused without taking your eye from the viewfinder. A fine piece of engine ...
    steve marino's full review
    | 156 words

  • Review by
    jcollins30 Rank: Lance Corporal
    on 13th May 2004


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    When my Canon A1 35mm SLR camera appeared to give up the ghost I put it in a cupboard and forgot about it. That was 2 years ago. I recently got the photography bug again and started to scan the net for inspiration on what camera (digital I suppose) to buy. low and behold all this praise for the antique and humble A1!. Mine is now being serviced and I hope to carry on using it for a few more years with renewed enthusiasm.
    jcollins30's full review
    | 108 words | 3 comments added.

  • Review by
    wannsee
    on 3rd Apr 2004


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : +4

    A EOS10D, EOS 5 and a T90 before that my Canon A1 was not getting any use. Then just for fun I put a roll through the A1 35mm SLR Cameras!! All of a sudden I became a photographer again, yes the A1 is my main camera again !!! So if you can get one or even 2 it will never let you down and maybe your photography will even improve !!
    wannsee's full review
    | 78 words

  • Review by
    basebleed
    on 10th Nov 2003


    User Rating : 8
    Respect : 0

    I purchased a Canon A1 this summer when I was deploying to Iraq with the U.S. Army. I Have an EOS Rebel 2000, but on previous trips to the desert I have seen Auto Focus systems fail because of sand and rough conditions. I don't agree that this is a delicate camera. it survived a 300 mile road march being bounced around in a humvee. The sand was terrible and we hit bumps that bounced my head off the ceiling. The camera was being stored in a .50 cal ammo can and must have taken a good pounding. It ...
    basebleed's full review
    | 121 words

  • Review by
    oniko Rank: Major
    on 8th Sep 2003


    User Rating : 9
    Respect : +2

    The Cannon A1 is a great camera for general photography.you have AV for landscapes. TV for sports and movement. full manual that you can see and control in the viewfinder. as well as programme that your pet cat could use. it uses the same lenses that the F1N and AE-1 use, and look how many of those cameras are still giving great service. its able to take a huge range of cheap s/hand lens and runs on a cheap 6 volt battery. it has metal in the body and guts of it, not lots and lots of plast ...
    oniko's full review
    | 309 words | 1 comment added.

  • Review by
    Manje Richardson.
    on 24th Jun 2003


    User Rating : 3
    Respect : -8

    I used an A-1 years ago. I remember at that time Canon was still marketing its clumsy two-handed breechlock mount system as 'superior'. But when EOS arrived, Canon immediately dropped the breech ring for a bayonet lock like of its competitors! Back in the late 1970s this was a modern camera, but today there are more modern systems on the market that provide more shooting options. Because it's long since been discontinued, only used cameras and lenses are available. Canon dropped all bodies ...
    Manje Richardson.'s full review
    | 254 words | 7 comments added.

  • Review by
    john willick.
    on 4th Aug 2002


    User Rating : 10
    Respect : 0

    I love the Canon A1 camera too, I've taken some amazing pictures with it.
    john willick.'s full review
    | 32 words | 11 comments added.


Canon A1 Web Sites



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