Canon AE-1

The Canon AE-1 is a 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) film camera for use with interchangeable lenses. It was manufactured by Canon Camera K. K. (today Canon Incorporated) in Japan from April 1976 to 1984. It uses an electronically controlled, electromagnet horizontal cloth focal plane shutter, with a speed range of 2 to 1/1000 second plus Bulb and flash X-sync of 1/60 second. The camera body is 87 mm tall, 141 mm wide, and 48 mm deep; it weighs 590 g. Most are silver, with black grip and chrome trim, but some are black with silver and trim.

Its name refers to the fact that it's an electronic camera using the aperture for automatic exposure (shutter speed priority). It's sometimes stated that the AE-1 was the first microprocessor-equipped SLR, but this is incorrect. Canon's competitor Nikon introduced 1972 the Nikkormat EL, the world's first camera with an IC. However, Canon was able to integrate more functions into the microprocessor and hence make the camera smaller. Both the microprocessor-controlled automatic exposure and the small size helped to make the camera a success: backed by a major advertising campaign, the AE-1 sold over 5.7 million units, which made it an unprecedented success in the SLR market.