BebuLamar

It was the reason I hate Canon but really now since Nikon no longer makes camera so my next one may have to be a Canon.

srt101fan

Nikon stopped making cameras?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Canon AE-1 is a historically significant SLR: it was the first microprocessor-equipped SLR and (backed by Canon's major advertising campaign) it was the first to sell over one million units, making it an unprecedented success in the SLR market.

Based on shutter-priority automatic exposure, the AE-1 was one of the first affordable TTL autoexposure cameras, introduced in 1976. For the mid 70s, the AE-1 delivered high-end functionality and versatility along with an affordable price tag, breaking another barrier-to-entry for everyday amateur photography. For Canon it meant millions of sales over the course of the camera's eight-year production run, and its subsequently legendary status.

An interesting AE-1 write-up:

https://www.678vintagecameras.ca/blog/the-canon-ae-1-a-new-kind-of-slr

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup.
I worked part time at a camera shop then and bought an AE-1 body. (Had the Ftb)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I inherited one. I believe in autofocus, or focus aids like the MILC EVF. The legend of the AE-1 is best left as legend.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I believe in auto-focus also.
Auto-focus is a crutch for those who can't.
One reason why I like it.

Yes, the AE-1 IS a legend.

medphotog Loc: Witness protection land

I "sealed the deal" with my AE-1 in the middle of an orthopedic case (I think it was a knee). The doc had one stolen and both his wife and parents bought him a replacement. He mentioned having 2 and was wondering what to do with the extra and I raised my hand. IIRC I paid $125. Now, back to the match needle... who remembers the Polaroid Swinger camera? You squeezed the sides of the shutter and it either sais yes or no for you shot. I never "technically" owned one. There was one in the department where I worked. After I got there I wanted to replace some of the equipment. It seemed Uncle Sam wasn't going to let me purchase "new" equipment at the time but I could purchase "replacement" equipment and seeing the Swinger was still on the inventory it got turned in for a Nikon F3T. (Supply folks weren't happy, but I followed the rules. Anyone that has dealt with the screwy rules they have for photographic purchasing with the government will understand. It's probably not as bad now, and it's certainly easier in the digital world)

jlg1000 Loc: Uruguay / South America

Hah!

The first camera I've bought was a Soviet made "Zenit E".

It had an awkward system in which by turning the exposure dial it would move a needle with a hole in it, then a solar cell (no batteries needed) in the front moved a second needle and you had to match both. Then you read the number on the position of the needle.

Then to select the iso, there was a printed table in the back which converted from that number to the "correct" aperture. Look at the bottom left of the photo below.

Taking a photo with that gizmo was more a zen art than photography.

Nowadays I hear rants about complicated menu systems, again I say HAH!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Miranda Sensorex - my first good camera, about 1967.

no12mo

I think the underdog of match the needle was the Canon AV-1. It was an aperture priority camera. The trick was to match the needle to the shutter speed you wanted by moving the aperture ring on the lens. A very intuitive and easy procedure.

I got it for my daughter when she took the photography class in HS. later when she went to cell phone photography she gave it me 'cause it was spending most of its time in her closet.

I have to get back to using it with my FD lens collection. I'm all taken up with the the T90 these days.

Al

no12mo

jgudpns Loc: Pensacola, FL

Actually, the Z6 (and Z6 ii), has what is similar to a match needle, it resides in the bottom of the viewfinder in manual mode (and think it is there in A and S)

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Some had "match needles" some had red light green light (green in middle), combined with split image merge for focus, or some similar indicators, etc. They were simple but effective, the camera didn't do all the thinking for you, it simply assisted you in your quest....and you had to manually focus/set film speed.......I enjoyed them, it was what I learned to shoot with...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Al, consider a mirrorless body for your FD lenses. I inherited an AE-1 from a family member after not using my 1980s Canon T50 since sometime in the late 90s. This led to an investigation of 'what was the pro model in the 70s?' and getting an F-1 (new) and more FD lenses. Then an T90 for more of the automation. I was testing EOS film bodies at the same time that let me seamlessly share my EF lenses. When it got down to image to image compares at a per frame cost in film, I was getting much better results from the AF lenses / bodies than I could do with the FD lenses.

I ended up selling all the manual focus bodies and got to within a few mouse clicks of selling the FD lenses too. But, while I had been investigating FD candidate lenses, I was finding lots of examples of these lenses on mirrorless digital bodies. I decided to try a used a7II, a Sony full-frame 24MP mirrorless body. The FD to E mount adapter can be as cheap as $20.

The results have been amazing. It still takes some work to manually focus, but the "focus aid" of the mirror electronic view finder lets me "see" what / where I'm focusing better than any SLR / DSLR ever could. These FD lenses are just as good as anything AF and modern, but only when they're actually in focus. And, you can get them in focus when you can actually see the details.

Bayou

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ricoh/kr-5/body09.jpg

One of the needles moves with the aperture, the other with shutter speed. Match 'em up.