canon AE-1 is old as dirt

Oct 12, 2011

As the pesky neighbors readied to leave for God’s waiting room (their home-away-from-home in Florida), a gem was uncovered!

This awesome SLR wonder, the Canon AE-1, was my first ‘real’ camera. Manufactured in Japan from April 1976 to 1984, it was purchased for me when I first enrolled in Ivy Tech’s Visual Communications program. The AE-1 was the first in what became a complete overhaul of Canon’s line of SLRs designed to use a significant amount of structural plastic for a lighter and cheaper camera.

Are you kidding me?

The first thing I noticed when snatching it up is how heavy it is in comparison to the newer 5D Mark II or even the EOS Rebel T3i. The difference in size/shape is extremely obvious — both in the camera body and lens.

I was really hoping I could pull the lens to pop on one of my EOS digital SLRs, but the FN lens mount isn’t compatible. *cry* The AE-1’s standard 50mm 1:1.8 seems to weigh close to what entire cameras do now. Funny stuff. Now inspired, I’m actually going to pick up a roll or two of 35mm film and see what happens next!

Stop back for future really crappy photos amazing works of art because I’ll be sure to share a few here!