Canon AE-1 Film Camera

This platform of film cameras introduced by Canon in the 1970's is certainly as versatile a product as one could want for amateur and accomplished photography buffs alike. As with most things in electronics to utilize its full potential you should use like brand lenses when possible. The ease of use and split field focus feature are tops. The single limiting option that I have found is that it is difficult to double expose on the same frame and the split frame feature is equally hard if not impossible to accomplish. There are a vast array of accessories available for this base and will let you exercise your imagination to its fullest. With the addition of a MA-1 power winder and a zoom it is excellent for shooting high speed sporting events and nature sequence photos.
If you are purchasing your first one or if you just aren't sure what to look for here are list of problems that are common to this camera. Broken latch on the battery door. (the hotfoot cover contains the tool to open the door but is usually not included in a used unit, go figure.) the light seals and mirror cushion seem to have a 10 year shelf life then they need to be replaced. This is easily visually checked. Just open the camera body up and remove the lens. Place the shutter speed in manual or infinity( thats the B setting) then operate the shutter, keep the shutter switch depressed so the mirror stays up. Now look at the black foam that is sealing the light chamber around the mirror and the edges of the lens mount and top and bottom covers of the body. If any of these look ragged or sticky and black then you need to replace them. Its not expensive a kit is about 15 dollars but you should probably let an experienced camera shop do it for you until you learn how. I personally bought one that was junk just so I could practice taking one apart and putting it back together. Cost me $10 and has saved me hundreds.
Another frequent area of concern comes in the shutter squeeking when you open it or feeling a grinding noise when you move the film advance. While this sometimes means you have serious internal issues it is usually just a cleaning and lubrication problem. The electronics on this model are rock solid and it is very rare for them to fail. More often than not it is a broken wire in battery compartment or corroded contacts. I hope you find this helpful and that it answers some of your needs when buying a canon Ae-1.