C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile35mm SLR
Canon AE-11976
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Canon FD
- Years
- 1976–1984
- Weight
- 590 g
- Shutter
- 2s – 1/1000s
- Meter
- center-weighted-silicon
The AE-1 was Canon's 1976 push to bring SLR ownership to the family-photographer market. It introduced shutter-priority autoexposure, a CPU-controlled shutter, and an injection-moulded copper–aluminum body that cut manufacturing cost without feeling cheap. The famous "tennis match" TV ad campaign — "so advanced, it's simple" — pushed sales past five million units, the first SLR to clear that bar.
Reference
Find film for your Canon AE-1
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
ISO 400
BW
Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profileC41
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
- **Shutter squeak** — almost universal, harmless to image quality but fixable with a teardown and lubrication of the mirror damper.
- **Battery** — uses 6V; modern equivalents (4LR44, PX28A) work fine. Cheap zinc-air substitutes hurt meter accuracy.
- **Light seals** — replace.
- **Foam mirror bumper** — usually disintegrated; replace.
- **Meter accuracy** — drifts; calibrate against a phone meter app or known body.
- Service availability: high. Parts plentiful from donor bodies.
About this camera
The camera that made the SLR a mass-market product. Five million sold, a generation taught.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Canon AE-1 use?
- The Canon AE-1 shoots 35mm film.
- What battery does the Canon AE-1 take?
- The Canon AE-1 uses a 1x 4LR44 / PX28 battery.
- What lens mount does the Canon AE-1 have?
- The Canon AE-1 uses the Canon FD mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Canon AE-1 offer?
- The Canon AE-1's shutter speeds range from 2s to 1/1000s.
- What light meter does the Canon AE-1 use?
- The Canon AE-1 meters with center-weighted-silicon.
