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The Canon AT-1 is a 35mm FD-mount single-lens reflex camera manufactured by Canon of Japan from December 1977. It was produced purely for export and was never sold in the home Japanese market. It is a version of the popular AE-1 but without the shutter-speed priority auto-exposure mode of that camera. The AT-1 features manual exposure only. This made the camera cheaper, as some consumers did not desire or require autoexposure and did not want to pay for it.

A light meter is included, featuring TTL center-weighted average metering with a CdS photocell, and a match needle in the viewfinder.

Its viewfinder display is a simplified throwback to earlier match-needle SLRs: an analog needle floats to reflect a TTL reading of the scene brightness; and the user adjusts either aperture or shutter speed until the EV "lolipop" aligns with the needle position. There is no indication of either the selected aperture or shutter speed in the viewfinder.

Despite these appearances, the AT-1 is not a full-blown retro mechanical SLR: it is based on the innovative cost-cutting electronics of the AE-1. The shutter is electronically timed and entirely dependent on battery power. A 10 second self-timer with blinking LED indicator is activated by rotating a tab alongside the shutter release to its forward position. (Rather illogically, returning the tab to its normal position does not cancel the self-timer; instead it fires the shutter immediately.)

While never selling in the same numbers as the AE-1 or AE-1P, today an AT-1 offers photographers access to numerous inexpensive, used FD-mount lenses, in a body free from extraneous bells and whistles.

The accessories produced for the AE-1 also work with the AT-1, including motor drives.


Name: Canon AT-1
Manufacturer: Canon Japan
Made in: Japan
N°: 255717
Production Date: 1977
Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera
Series: A Series
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.
Collection Lens: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.
Lens Mount: FD mount
Focus: Manual Focus
Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with blinking LED).
Dimensions & Weight: 141 x 87 x 48 mm, 590 g
Production Period: Dec 1976 - 1985
N° Produced: 520.000
Original Price: For export only (no Japanese price)
Indexed Price (Approx.):  
Avg Ebay Value:  
Source: Canon Camera Museum, Wikipedia.org, Camera-wiki.org, knippsen.blogspot.com