Canon A-1 , the first SLR PASM Camera
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- Detailed hands-on demonstration and review for film camera lovers in 2023.
This video is about Canon A-1 an important piece of Camera history which is available for actual use and enjoyment today.
Canon A-1 is a 35mm SLR film camera from 1978.A-1 is the first SLR camera with the full PASM modes (Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual). It has a unique mechanical selector dial which resembles a manual version of the dials you see in every Digital SLR today. The same dial selects the Shutter speed, Aperture and the Program mode. The shutter speeds are stepless. The centre-weighted light meter is accurate and gives excellent results (see the pictures at the end of the video).
A-1 takes Canon FD mount lenses. It also takes FDn, Most FL and some older R series lenses. Lenses other than FD may have reduced automation.
We review every detail of the camera, describe them clearly and give some helpful comments. We are not tribal and have no brand loyalty. We just love these cameras like archaeological re-discoveries, that you are allowed to touch, admire and preserve.
FYI, the film test was done on the beautiful Sydney Harbour in June 2023 from late afternoon to evening. The film was CineStill 50D, which has a distinctly “Vintage” look and fine texture.
The film was processed in-house on C41 chemicals from CineStill. This was the 15th roll in the same chemicals using 4 minutes 45 seconds development time at 102-104 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
The film was scanned on Epson Perfection V600 Photo using SilverFast 9 software. Since Silverfast does not have the Negafix setting for CineStill, we used Kodak Portra 160 which gives good results for this film.
We are keen on accuracy. So, if you have any questions, comments or corrections, it will be greatly appreciated.
We have over 300 cameras from 1901 to 2015 at the TechHeritage Museum. We will produce videos like this one at the rate of at least one per week until all cameras are preserved not only in the flesh but also online.
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The technology of that time may have included pottery, jewel making, glassware, bronze and steel making, astronomy tools and various devices we cannot imagine or believe today. Currently, we re-discover such objects by digging the ground, separating them from dirt and bones, whilst speculating on how they were made and exactly how they were used.
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We have over 300 cameras from 1901 to 2015 at the TechHeritage Museum. We will produce videos at the rate of at least one per week until all cameras are preserved not only in the flesh but also online. Similarly, we have over 300 mobile phones from the time of their introduction until the release of iPhone X. We have also started to preserve late, miniature valve radios and early transistor radio/ cassette players.
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Nice video. Canon A1 was my first body and I still love it. It was a real revolution with its PASM capabilities (even if the minolta introdipuced the ASM one year before and the program mode is not used a lot if you want to manage your image) its little but so pleasant to use grip, it’s fabulous 5im/sec optional motor and numeric leds in the view finder. When I bought it - I was 15 and I hesitated a lot with the Nikon FE which was more simple but probably as efficient and perhaps better to learn reflex photography. The main issue of the canon A1 is that you can t use the dof lever when you are in aperture priority … which is for me a big issue because if you are in A mode (or Av for canon) you do want to evaluate this. This is why I said the Nikon FE was a little better for learning photography :). Then the shutter was not so good (this is the only part I needed to change on mine (a usual issue on the ’for A line which begins with a strange noise and finishes by replacement). But as you said it s piece of history which settled Canon as a very technological brand and Nikon needed to wait for the FA with its matrix exposure to generate a new important technology break in photography. Canon did it again with the t90 which is probably one of the best film camera before the autofocus area like the Contax RTS 3 or the Leica R8. But perhaps you will speak of these cameras later.
Thanks. Some excellent points made. I will be covering Nikon FE and Leica R8. I have already covered Contax RTS and Leica R6.2 (which I would also highly recommend). Unfortunately we don't have a Contax RTS 3, because the finder was faulty and had to be returned. In the next 2 days watch for the video on Canon AE-1. In my opinion, the best learner camera which also lasts one or two lifetimes is Nikon FM2n, which I also covered.
A great camera and a nicely done video. one tip, the plastic hot shoe cover has a protruding bit at the front, that is meant to be used to open and close the battery door, as you said the door is a week point and easily damaged and the plastic bit fits in the slot just right.
Thanks for the tip on the battery door. I did mot know about it. Please also watch for the video on Canon F1 which is coming soon.
Your images of Sydney Harbour are sublime.
Yes, that's Lavender Bay and Milsons Point water front.
Excellent video. The A-1 was my second camera, and definitely head-and-shoulders above the AE-1 in terms of functionality and dead-on exposure. I do not know how Nikon compared at the time (I couldn't afford them then!), but they would have been hard pressed to match the A-1 metering. For simplicity, the AE-1 was great, for more demanding work, the A-1 was more accurate. Watching the review reminded me of things I had forgotten since it's been over 40 years since I had one. Cheers!
Thanks for the great comment and for sharing your experience. I note that you use past tense, as if you no longer use these cameras. Hopefully these videos will get you fired up and energized to pick up the A-1 again and re-live the good memories. I had lost my first camera, a Rollei 35. So, I bought a new one exactly the same re-lived my high school days.
Thanks for the video! Just got myself one 😊
You have had your A-1 for 6 months now. Please share your experience so far.
Great video! I just picked up an A-1. It's a great, vintage camera.
It really is!
Actually, the Minolta XD has the P mode. You have to set the camera to shutter priority, the shutter speed to 1/125 and the aperture closed to minimum. It actually is the first SLR to feature PASM... It has to have a MD lens in order to work... I use mine all the time like that 😊
From what I’m reading that’s not the case though. You can shoot in either aperture or shutter priority mode. From everything I’m reading that’s that. Perhaps the LENS you’re using was manufactured in a way to add aperture functionality to the meter in the camera, essentially creating an accessory that allows you to shoot full auto but only in one focal length. This was the first CAMERA with full auto.
The Minolta XD (aka XD 7 or XD11) does not have a true Program Mode, but it does have ASC (Automatic Speed Compensation). For ASC to work you first set Shutter Priority to 1/125. ASC will then auto correct exposure by varying the shutter speed from 1/125 if the camera feels the aperture range of the lens can not give you the correct exposure.
Interesting concept. What was the extent of Compensation? The usual 2 stops? or more?
@@TechHeritage It should be much more than 2 stops because it will vary both shutter speed and aperture to give you a correct exposure. Much like program mode.