Canon “A”-Series SLR Comparison Guide

Canon’s A-series SLRs were revolutionary for the company and the photography industry as a whole. A bridge between the mechanical clockwork, a mid-century design, and full automation that modern photographers expect from the DSLR bodies today.

In this article, I’ll disambiguate the differences, compare these keystone A-series SLRs, and help you pick the best camera for your photographic style.

In this article: Historical significance. The Program mode. The viewfinder. Size, weight, and ergonomics. Exposure features. Build quality, issues, and reliability. Price. Which camera is better? Support this blog & get premium features with GOLD memberships!✪ Note: All Canon A-series cameras use the same FD lens mount; thus, I won’t be talking about lenses in this post. Instead, you can check out a few reviews of popular Canon FD lenses here.

Historical significance.

The AE-1, the A-1, and the AE-1 Program are all immensely popular SLRs back when they were first introduced but also today for those who still shoot film. The answer as to why is in their origins:

Canon AE-1 (1976) was the first SLR to use a microprocessor for exposure control. It was a major departure for the industry away from purely mechanically controlled shutters and apertures to systems that relied on an electronic processing unit.

The microchip took over the functionality of hundreds of springs and gears, making the assembly easier and cheaper for Canon without sacrificing any of the features. Canon AE-1 review.

Canon A-1 (1978) was the first SLR to implement the Program mode which automatically calculated both shutter speed and aperture. Whereas older SLRs could work in aperture or shutter-priority modes, the Program freed up the photographers for the first time from all exposure tasks.

Full electronic automation gave way for new photographers a way to immerse themselves in photography without concern about the technicalities and freed proficient shooters from having to fiddle with exposure controls before each shot. Canon A-1 review.

Canon AE-1 Program (1981) was a stripped-down refinement of the Canon A-1 feature-rich design.

The AE cameras were marketed as lower-tier SLRs compared to the A-1. They had fewer exposure controls and features. However, the Program was an update to the original AE-1 design that gave it similar capabilities as A-1 with minimal controls. Canon AE-1 Program review.

The Program mode.

The Program mode is great if you want your camera to make all the exposure choices for you. It’s activated by setting the FD lens to the green “A” or “O” mark (instead of the aperture value) and setting the shutter dial to “P” on the SLR body.

The only camera out of the three that doesn’t come with the Program mode is the Canon AE-1. But you can still use it in shutter priority mode by setting the lens to “A” or “O”, adjusting your shutter speed to a reasonable speed (between 60 and 1,000), and watching the viewfinder to make sure your exposure is within range.

Though the shutter priority mode isn’t as convenient as the full automation of the Program, it’s still faster than using an external light meter.

All AE-1 cameras can still be used in manual mode if you’d like to set exposure more precisely than relying on the center-weighted TTL metering or if you’d like to use the Sunny 16 rule.

The viewfinder.

The viewfinders on the Canon A-series SLRs saw some progressive enhancement over the years.

The AE-1 used a classic needle display system that indicated the lens aperture that the camera’s built-in meter recommended or set automatically based on the available light. If your lens isn’t set into an “A” mode, you are effectively using manual exposure on AE-1, which the viewfinder indicates with a red “M” above the metering.

Of course, your manual exposures on AE-1 are still assisted by the light meter’s suggested aperture values.

However, the problem with the classic needle display is that it’s difficult to read, especially in subdued light. I also find needle displays easier to ignore while shooting, making them a little less useful than I’d like them to be.

Thankfully, the AE-1 Program SLR addresses the low-visibility issue with an illuminated strip of aperture indicators that are significantly easier to read in dim light.

The LED backlights for the aperture display are even programmed to adjust their brightness in four stages based on the outside light — kind of like your iPhone/Android but in 1981.

AE-1 Program also comes with a focusing screen that can be swapped. Whether to replace a cracked one, use a grid-pattern screen, a crosshair screen, or a scale screen, the job can be done with some careful maneuvering at home.

Even the A-1 had to be taken to a shop to have its focusing screen replaced. However, the A-1’s LED display is the most helpful out of all the Canon A-series SLRs.

Whereas AE-1 and AE-1 Programs could only indicate an aperture, the Canon A-1 showed aperture and shutter speed on a large illuminated display beneath the screen. The large blocky numbers are hard to ignore and yet not distracting for photography.

Most point-and-shoot cameras will make their shutter speed and aperture selections while keeping the photographer in the dark. But A-1’s helpful display gives a proficient photographer an opportunity to take advantage of the automation with the knowledge of when to override it.

For example, the above display shows that the camera chose 1/250s shutter speed with an 𝒇11 aperture. But perhaps that lens could perform better at 𝒇5.6 or add a bit of foreground separation. We know that the camera’s shutter can fire as fast as 1/1000s. A quick flip into manual mode solves this. Making the same decision on the AE-1 Program would be more difficult as the camera would not divulge its chosen shutter speed.

Size, weight, and ergonomics.

Practically speaking, all of the A-series SLRs are similar in size and weight:

AE-1 weighs 590g (21oz), AE-1 Program weighs 565g (20oz), and A-1 weighs 620g (22oz). All three cameras measure about 14cm × 9cm × 5cm or ~5½” × 3½” × 2”.

Both AE-1 and AE-1 Program cameras were available in silver or black but A-1 was only made in all-black.

All A-series SLRs use the 4SR44 6V batteries.

AE-1 Program and A-1 accepted an optional grip next to the battery door, making those cameras significantly more ergonomic than the non-Program AE-1 (when the grip is attached).

Out of the three, I’d say that the AE-1 Program is a winner in this category, thanks to its optional grip mount and a stripped-down set of features/buttons/dials that make it a simpler camera to operate.

Exposure features.

Out of the three cameras, the A-1 undoubtedly gives the finer control over exposure. It can be used in a full manual mode, Program mode, aperture priority, and shutter priority. The A-1 also has an exposure compensation dial.

However, I found those features only slightly useful in my practice compared to the Program’s massive improvements over the original AE-1. Aside from an illuminated viewfinder, the AE-1 Program has also added exposure lock buttons, a more refined control layout, and a greater film ISO sensitivity range: 12-6400 (instead of the more limited 25-3200 on the original AE-1).

The A-1 has an even greater range of accepted film ISOs (6-6400) and a shutter that can stay open for 30 seconds (the AE-1s could only muster 2 seconds as the longest exposure). It also has two exposure timers (2 seconds and 10 seconds), a double-exposure mode, and a viewfinder blackout curtain. These advanced features may be useful for astrophotography and for shooting slow films like Lomography Fantôme Kino 8.

I still prefer the Program camera over the more feature-rich A-1 for its simple design, though I cannot deny the attractiveness of additional possibilities and a better viewfinder.

Build quality, issues, and reliability.

Canon’s A-series SLRs were groundbreaking achievements for the company. Not only did they implement advanced electronics not found in any cameras of the type at the time, but they were also immensely popular and ended up making Canon a lot of money.

The cameras’ popularity was possible in no small part due to the cheaper assembly, which replaced various moving parts with a microprocessor. This made Canon’s most electronically advanced SLRs relatively affordable compared to the competition. Unfortunately, there were other ways Canon saved on production, which meant more plastic components.

The A-1 is probably the best-built camera of the three; it uses more metal in its gearing mechanism, but it’s not free of faults. The most common one is meter reading drift (which can be corrected without taking the camera to the shop, though that would limit your ability to use the exposure compensation dial).

The AE-1 and AE-1 Program may have issues with its mirror return mechanism, which may squeak due to drying lubricants. All three cameras have a flawed battery door that can snap after years of handling.

Thankfully, all these issues are easy to identify, especially once the camera has been tested with film. You can learn more about worry-free shopping for vintage film cameras in this guide.

Price.

All three cameras are priced similarly, usually between $200 and $300, depending on condition. This makes picking the best camera out of the bunch a little easier.

Which camera is better?

I like the Canon AE-1 Program the best out of the three, but I could see how A-1 may be a better choice for most photographers thanks to its excellent viewfinder display and additional features.

The original AE-1 has its charms. It’s not a significantly “worse” camera by any measure, but it’s not nearly as capable as the other two. I’d pick it for aesthetics as it uses an older, unique design and a simple control layout.

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