After 10 years of digital cameras, I felt the urge to go back in time and shot pictures with real film. I can describe in details how much I love the feel of celluloid and raw materials, but I know a lot of you think the same. What I intend to do here is to review a few cameras from the old time, and show you the results I’ve got. I hope it will give you the extra push to search the closet for that old camera you stored back then in the days when it took a few long hours between pushing the button and looking at the final result. I just finished the first roll of my old/new Canon AE-1. This camera, manufactured between 1976 and 1984 is a great fun and not so difficult to handle. It took me some time to find her a 6V 28-PX battery, which is essential for operating, but once I got it powered up, it was as good as new. In fact, one of the things that made this camera such a big success in the early 80′ is it’s automatic exposure when using FD Lenses. The rest of the job is been done with a very easy to learn light detector, which indicate which shutter speed is best. When I were scheduled for a production in Kibbutz Ein-Gedi by the Dead Sea, I took it as an opportunity for some testing. I used FD 50mm 1:1.8 and a FD 75-200mm 1:4.5 lenses, and 200 ASA Kodak film. Here are the results: http://royalrat.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/my-photographic-time-tunnel-canon-ae-1/

A friend gave me an Canon AE-1 body in the mid 80's, told me to buy a lens, which I did (Canon 35-70mm) and my amateur photographic career began. Its never let me down, and now with an A-1 and T-90, in my camera bag, as well as several FD lenses, I have no intention of going digital, so long as Fuji and Kodak keep making top quality film.

I do not know what else to say. If I could convert it to a digital without the expence, that would be great. I am a causual home user. The canon AE-1 I have ,has the normal 55mm lens as well as a 135mm, but I wish I had a (70/80---200/210mm) zoom lens.

My dad has a hobby store and last year someone traded him a Canon AE-1 for some model aircraft parts, then he gave it to me. It is my first real SLR and it is a beaut! I get lots of compliments on my photos, and I've only been working with this SLR for a year. When I got the first roll of film I shot developed, I was amazed at how well the photos turned out. Now, people ask me to do portraits and I only use the AE-1. In my opinion, it takes pictures way better than standard digital cameras. I love my AE-1, and I like to think of the people who may have owned it before me and probably also loved their photos. Thank you, Dad!!!

I have been learning to use my AE-1 Canon for a few years. I know in the future I will have to go digital, but not as long as I have this camera. I enjoyed reading from other's about their feelings on this particular camera.

I LOVE my Canon AE-1. My father gave it to me for my high school graduation (1987)and it has taken thousand's if not a million pictures from my graduation, thru college, graduation again, marriage and the birth of my two children (and everything in between)(2003). I have had it cleaned thoroughly 2 times in it's life, once due to my own carelessness. I didn't notice the bottom panel was loose and I put it down in the sand and sand got up into the mechanism. I had it cleaned and it was like brand new. It takes sharp pictures and is extremely sturdy and reliable. I am searching for a camera that I will be equally as pleased with with the manual settings and the auto settings. Any suggestions?

A fine classic SLR with programmed features or fully manual (for the true camera buff). A treasure with Canon wide angle, Canon 55MM, Tamron 38-200 telephoto lenses and filters. Great for B/W, Sepia, Color pics. Would sell to interested party. A real investment quality collector's camera.

Had an AE-1 years ago that I eventually traded for a Nikon. Canon's lenses for this mount are very good, but you'll only find them on the used shelf as Canon obsoleted this entire lens mount (not the first time they've abandoned older Canon owners). For this reason and because of reliability issues I switched to Nikon.

Only buy this camera if it's in excellent working condition and you have access to lenses, because there is no parts support from Canon for this old dog, and lenses for the mount are climbing in price as their rarity increase.

Hey, I am a Nikon_guy. But I always wanted, an AE-1. Well, I got the AE-1, and a Vivitar 283 flash, for $25.00, from a neighbor, who was given the camera on a trash route. I put batteries in the flash, and POW!!, then, I ran a roll of 200 speed in the AE-1, to my surprise, the shots were....POW, a big hit. I have run a few rolls through this baby, and the shots, are great. I just love this camera. And guess what, I went out and got a Canon A1. This is a horse. But the AE-1, is so amazing. A top quality find, for any level of photographer. Find one and give it a shot. Take it from me, it kicks.....as I was saying, it's GREEEEAT!!!!!

I have (and still) use my Canon A1 and AE-1 35mm SLR cameras. I have owned the AE-1 since the 1970s and cannot complain. The A1 was purchased in 1982. I have toured the world with both and they have never let me down (except the original battery of the AE-1 has just -today- given out).

I use 28mm / 50mm/ 35-70 zoom / 80-210 zoom and so the cameras are subject to the wear and tear of lens changing.

The cameras do look used but there is little point in having them and leaving them in the box.

First Canon AE-1 35mm SLR camera was bought new in '86. Loved using it and travelled throughout asia with it. It never failed or caused me any problems. Was stolen in '91. Have missed using a truly reliable manual SLR camera and bought a used AE-1 last week for $105.00 (with a 35-200mm Tokina zoom)at a used camera shop. I am once again truly pleased with it's performance. I just don't know how to select the ASA settings!

I think the Canon AE-1 is an excellent 35mm SLR camera. I have taken very good pictures with it. It is too heavy to carry if you take it hiking or mountain climbing as I did, belive me with 0 degrees celcius and 120km/h of wind, as I had one weekend, it was not the perfect camera. It also has many problems with the cold. Nevertheless, it is an excellent camera and you get good pictures with it, what is what I expect of a camera.

I bought this Canon AE-1 35mm SLR camera a few years ago used back in 1999 I believe. My father actually has one that he bought new when they first came out. Anyway I use it everywhere! I am very much into Outdoor Photography and this camera seems to be indestructable! We live in a very cold climate and have extreme weather conditions ranging from -35 - 40 celcius to (for a few short weeks)+30 in the summer! This camera is like a ROCK with it's old school metal body design and the ability to change any setting in an instant. It takes great pictures! Just check out my website for a few as mentioned above! Every photographer I meet always talks about how good a camera the AE-1 is! It deffinetly has to be one of the best cameras ever manufactured!

The Canon AE-1 35mm SLR camera is a real collectors item, always there for the serious action for fun or work.