Canon AE-1 Program

1981

The AE-1 Program of 1981 was the successor to the hugely successful AE-1 of 1976. Sometimes considered a lower-budget option over the highly-spec’d A-1, the AE-1P offered the user a full-program exposure mode just as the A-1 did.

Technicals Specifications:

Original Street Price (1981): $225.50
Price in 2025 Dollars: $783.00*
Manufacturer: Canon
Model: AE-1 Program
Year Introduced: 1981
Film Format: 35mm
Lens: Canon FD, FDn
Shutter: focal-plane
Self-timer:
Shutter Speeds: 2″-1/1000, B
Shutter Release: on top
Built-in Meter: yes
Film Speed/ASA Range: 12-3200
Flash Sync: 1/60, Hotshoe, PC terminal
Film Advance: lever on top
Frame Counter: yes
Exposure Modes: manual, shutter-priority, program AE
Double-exposure capable:
Finder: fixed eye-level pentaprism
Focusing Screens: split-image w/micro-prism collar
Mirror: instant return
Battery: 4LR44
Other points of note:

*Based on current information at
in2013dollars.com

1981

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