Canon's iconic film SLR — the AE-1 Program that defined a generation of photography.
The Canon AE-1 Program is the second generation of Canon's landmark AE-1 film SLR, introduced in 1981 as an update adding Program auto-exposure mode alongside the aperture-priority mode. The original AE-1 (1976) revolutionised the consumer camera market with its mass production efficiency; the Program continued the formula with broader auto-exposure functionality.
The AE-1 Program uses the Canon FD bayonet mount (not the later EF mount), provides Program, Aperture-priority, and Shutter-priority automatic exposure modes, a manual mode, and standard 35mm film operation. The FD mount accepts all Canon FD and FL lenses with full metering coupling.
The AE-1 Program was enormously popular — Canon sold over a million units and it remains one of the most commonly found used film SLRs. The FD mount's strong lens ecosystem and the camera's reliability make it practical for film photography today. FD lenses are also popular for adaptation to modern mirrorless cameras.
Test all exposure modes including Program, Av, and Tv. Check the mirror mechanism and viewfinder. Test film transport and rewind. Inspect the FD mount for wear. The shutter squeak common in older AE-1 cameras indicates a need for CLA service — check for it specifically.