Reliable and rugged.
CAMERA FINDS #2: CANON AE-1 PROGRAM
Continuing with ‘Camera Finds’ and taking a look at the cameras I have collected over the years, we next come to what was likely my most used. Lugging about my Canon 5D MkII was rather a lot of effort, and the bag I used at the time didn’t allow for much else besides a spare lens and the assorted ephemera that you need on shoots – spare batteries, CF cards, and the like. One slot remained in the bag however, and it was just about the right size for this camera – the Canon AE-1 Program. Other than the 5D, which was my main digital camera, this camera, or variations of it (I’ve been through a few of them, some sans-program) was definitely the workhorse of my analogue photography. Below is an obligatory semi-twatty self-portrait taken around 2014. You’ll notice if you look closely, and beyond my pathetic excuse for stubble, that I’m using a Nikon strap with the camera. Probably causes some die-hard fans of either brand to combust with fury, but fuck ‘em, the strap was far softer on my neck. Just to mention too, that my neck was always getting sunburnt during summer shoots, and a rough camera strap is just about one of the least comfortable things… why are they ever created from that horrible plasticky faux-leather stuff?
Anyway, back on topic… Like most of my acquisitions, this one was an eBay find, and unlike most, it is entirely reliable. My first exposure to the A-Series cameras was the AV-1, which I only used briefly, the A-1, which lasted quite a while, but eventually died, and lastly the AE-1 Program, which saw me through almost a decade of photoshoots. Occasionally it would let in a little bit of light, or would expose in a strange way, but most of the time that was user error, rather than anything wrong with the camera. The AE-1 Program was introduced in 1981, being a successor to the AE-1 and added several features on the overhauled design, which went a long way to bringing Canon into the fray as a competitor to Nikon in the 35mm SLR market. Aesthetic-wise, the AE-1 Program is largely the same as its predecessor, and this is no bad thing. The design is classic for a single lens reflex camera, and it is rather beautifully made. The A-Series did make use of a lot of plastic and other cheaper components compared to earlier all metal designs of previous generations, but the cutbacks in this regard do little to lessen the rugged qualities of the camera. It is incredibly durable, requires little maintenance and, with just the standard 50mm prime that you’ll normally see it paired with, creates fantastic photographs.
Like I said, this was an eBay acquisition, and along with the various models, I ended up with more than one AE-1 Program body over the years. This was surplus to requirement however, as the one I used then, I still use now (albeit rather infrequently). If you, or someone you know is getting into photography, I can’t recommend this camera enough. The main feature of the camera, as opposed to the previous model, is the inclusion of the ‘program’ mode, which will set both the shutter speed and aperture automatically – a fantastic feature for students, or those new to photography, and, with film prices so high these days, a welcome safety net to avoid wasting rolls of the precious stuff. If you’re more confident with the controls, you can switch to manual at a moment’s notice, allowing you to use the camera to its fullest potential.
Back when I was setting off to London every weekend for photographic adventures, I was always sure to keep at least one analogue camera with me, and as I’ve said, it was most often the AE-1 Program. I always liked capturing my photoshoots both digitally, and on film. Digital was the primary for publication then, and for clients too, it was by far the more convenient option, and the more versatile, and definitely cheaper. However, the ethereal magical properties of film, be it 120, 35mm, instant, or whatever other format… there is something so beautiful about it, and it infuses whatever scene is captured by it with its grainy, slightly off-colour beauty. The soft focus, the dust on the lens, the drastically different effects of the lighting. It all culminates to create something different, something that can coexist with the digital. It’s MP3s and cassettes. There is plenty of room for both, so why not have them? I always enjoyed capturing a different perspective with my analogue cameras, I shot primarily with an 85mm on my 5D, and the AE-1 paired with the 50mm 1.8 gave me a wider view, and more often than not, the AE1-Program captured those perspectives better than any other camera I owned.
As an aside, to link with a previous post on my photographic adventures within the virtual world, I also made use of the Canon AE-1 Program during that project, utilising it when I needed to capture images on film in the 35mm format, and as such I can also recommend it for photographing difficult subjects, such as monitors and televisions.
Righty-ho, that’s all the tosh I can muster for this post, hope you enjoyed! Have you ever shot with the AE-1 or one of the variant? If so, what did you think? And if you enjoyed this, you can find my previous ‘Camera Finds’ post below, perhaps worth a read too…
And as always, thank you for reading. If you’d like to support the blog, you can do so over on Patreon, or by subscribing and sharing!