Canon A-1 for the uninitiated

lrochfort said:
How can I tell what version of the 50mm it is?
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If it is a 50/1.2 on the A1 it is most likely the FD(n) 50/1.2. Ok fast lens with poor corner performance. Red ring = 50/1.2 L. All other Canons of similar speed and focal length are 55mm and much bulkier.

Might as well be a budget 50mm f2 btw.
 
The A-1 was one of my first SLRs and I love it, personally. I've taken a lot of great photos with it. Doesn't really make for a good street camera if you're trying to be stealthy as the shutter is pretty loud, but I've used it on the street in more crowded situations. I primarily use it for taking portraits of friends and family.

Not really understanding the dig against the ergonomics. Feels fine to me. It has a good heft. I often carry it around in one hand, but maybe I just have big hands and it doesn't bother me.

I stuck with the kit lens, which is a 50mm f/1.4 I believe. I ended up purchasing a Canon FD 35mm for it at one point, which took some great photos, but I felt it made the camera extra heavy so I chose to sell it in the end and keep the 50mm.

I think it's a good starter camera, because it's pretty cheap. I got mine for $60 with the lens included. Like others have mentioned, though, it wasn't designed in mind for using the manual mode. When in manual, the light meter shows you the suggested shutter speed and fstop, not the settings you're set to. A little annoying.
 
My F-1N bodies were much better designed and built, but also much heavier and less convenient w.r.t. AE functions.
But I've sold the F-1Ns, and my A-1 is the last FD body I have left, and the 50mm f/1.2 L is the last lens I have for it. The A-1 used to have a squeaky shutter, but I had that serviced a decade ago, and it's been fine since.
If your kit includes the 50/1.2 L lens, then you're a lucky so-and-so -- that may be my favorite lens ever, including classics from Leica.
And if you've lucked onto a copy of the 24/1.4 L, then you've found an exotic treat! I used to have one, but foolishly sold it.
Enjoy!
 
Well it's all opinion of course, but I fail to see how the levels of vitriol used by people who are hatin' on the A1 are justified. I have had three and would instantly get another if I required an excellent camera, especially at some of the ridiculous prices that have been quoted. Some of my best pics from the 1980s were taken with one, and it kept going even when my F1 crapped out.
 
Fadedsun said:
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Not really understanding the dig against the ergonomics. Feels fine to me. It has a good heft. I often carry it around in one hand, but maybe I just have big hands and it doesn't bother me.
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The "dig" is not so much the overall ergonomics, though it has its flaws as many many cameras do, but is with the control layout. Switching modes is not very straightforward and some shifts require changing more than one control.

The ergonomic flaws are mostly the small control wheel and various small switches used for exposure controls along with the very centered lens placement. This latter "flaw" is best seen by comparing the A-series bodies with the Nikon FM/FE series. The Nikons' off-center lens placement (short "rewind" side and longer wind/takeup side) gives more space for holding the camera with the right hand.
 
Never had a problem with the centered lens design. It was the same as my TX, and though I don't have them anymore, I think it was the same on the F-1n and F-1N (NEW) that I used to own.

I find the "action grip" is a must, and I find it makes the camera very easy to hold.
 
I ended up with two F1N and two T90 cameras as my work horses for many years. I kept a F1n for long exposure shots with MLU in place.
 
Mine was given to me by a good friend, it was her father's and he gave it to her to give to someone who would use it...
Since I got it I have added the 50mm 1.4 FD SSC, Vivitar 28mm 2.8, Canon 100mm 3.5 FL and Vivitar 75-205mm 3.8 and the A-2 Power Winder.
It may not be the best design ever but it's a camera, it works, I like the lenses and I get to enjoy something new to me...
Enjoy using yours...if it works out for you it could be one of those cameras you can take anywhere and not have to worry too much about it...

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Dwig said:
The "dig" is not so much the overall ergonomics, though it has its flaws as many many cameras do, but is with the control layout. Switching modes is not very straightforward and some shifts require changing more than one control.

The ergonomic flaws are mostly the small control wheel and various small switches used for exposure controls along with the very centered lens placement. This latter "flaw" is best seen by comparing the A-series bodies with the Nikon FM/FE series. The Nikons' off-center lens placement (short "rewind" side and longer wind/takeup side) gives more space for holding the camera with the right hand.
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Ah, I understand what you're saying now. Yeah, I mean, I would have to agree on that. I try to fiddle with the controls as least as possible when I'm out with the camera, usually only keeping the camera in aperture priority and quickly adjusting the dial if need be.

I initially started to use the camera in manual mode to learn, but soon realized the camera was sort of clunky in this regard, so I started to rely more on keeping it in shutter/aperture priority, or using auto settings entirely.
 
My first photographic mentor, a professional movie stills photographer used Canons, and among the plethora of bodies were two motorized A-1's.
In the late 1970's, when he'd lend me Canon lenses to play with, often along with an A-1 body, I found it (as he did) to be an excellent camera.
My only complaints were it's slow flash synch, and a shutter that topped out at 1/1000th unlike the faster F-1which had an extra stop of shutter speed.
I very nearly traded in my Nikon gear for an A-1 but the financial loss on the swap stopped me in the end.
It was only in the mid 1980's that Nikon finally brought out a comparable camera, the FA which I currently own and use.
To my mind, the A-1 was one of Canon's most innovative designs of that period.
 
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