The A-1 sat at the top of Canon's A-series when it arrived in April 1978, and it was the first SLR with a fully automatic program mode. It was also the first camera to offer all four of what we now call PASM modes, plus stopped-down auto and dedicated Speedlite flash, set with an unusual dual-function dial. Shutter speed and aperture show in the finder as red seven-segment LED numbers, and the shutter runs from 30 s down to 1/1000 s, much longer than the AE-1's 2 s limit. Canon sold it only in black, which was unusual for an SLR then. A removable action grip fits over the battery door. Everything is electronic, so it won't do anything without its 6 V battery. Critics worried about its long-term reliability, and used bodies do show the squeal and the broken battery doors.
The variants
Over the AE-1 and AE-1 Program, the A-1 adds aperture priority, stopped-down auto, a 30 s top end and a red LED readout in the finder. All three take FD lenses and the same 6 V battery.
Even moderately used A-1s develop the A-series squeal, which re-lubricating the mirror brake fixes. Broken or taped-up battery doors are common, and on older bodies the LED finder display can show its age.
Buying guide
We'd buy an A-1 titled tested, and $178 to $240 delivered gets one with a lens. There are at least 200 listed, and most ask $170–310 delivered, with Japan dealers filling the page with black bodies and FD 50mm f/1.4 kits graded Near Mint to Top Mint on their own scale. Nothing works without the 6 V 4LR44, so ask for a photo through the finder showing every red LED digit and a video of a few shots with no squeal as the mirror returns. Look at the battery door in the photos, since taped or broken ones are common. Untested bodies start at $100 delivered, and that's gamble money.
$177.94est. delivered
The lowest-priced A-1 titled tested, at $178 delivered from a US seller, with an FD 35-70mm zoom. Ask for a photo through the finder to check the LED digits are all there.
TESTED Canon A-1 35mm SLR Film Camera Black With Canon FD 35-70mm /3.5-4.5
$239.99delivered
Titled tested, with the FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C., at $240 with free shipping from Japan. It's the cheapest tested kit with the faster 50mm here, so ask for a backlit photo to see the glass is clear.
Canon A-1 Black 35mm Film SLR Camera w/ FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Lens Tested Japan
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$177.94est. delivered
$169.95 + $7.99 shipping
Buy It Now$169.95
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Good buy
Titled tested, with an FD 35-70mm zoom.
Seller: g_tarro
99.6% positive
Used$239.99delivered
$239.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$239.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
With FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C., titled tested.
Seller: fujiyama-roc
100% positive
Used$99.77est. delivered
$89.99 + $9.78 shipping
Buy It Now$89.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Titled untested. No lens named.
Seller: zaka_vintage
99.9% positive
![READ Maintenance comp [NEAR MINT] Canon A-1 35mm SLR Flim Camera Body from Japan](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YygAAeSwYjtqrWM8/s-l500.jpg)
Serviced$154.99est. delivered
$99.99 + $55.00 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Our take
Body only, titled maintenance completed. The title also says to read the description.
Seller: tarmanpuk_0
99.7% positive
Used$212.45est. delivered
$162.45 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$162.45
Our take
With FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. and a Data Back A. Not titled tested.
Seller: miyahjp2013
99.5% positive
![▶ [Exc.]Canon A-1 SLR 35mm Film Camera Black ＋ FD 50mm f/1.８ 2914653](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QXkAAeSwkkVqKKUx/s-l500.jpg)
Used$220.00delivered
$220.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$220.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
With FD 50mm f/1.8. Exc. is the dealer's grade.
Seller: nomu-86
100% positive
Serviced$344.85est. delivered
$330.00 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$330.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled CLA'd by a pro tech, with a 35-70mm zoom. Not titled tested.
Seller: syracusecamera
99.9% positive
![[Top MINT] Canon A-1 35mm SLR Film Camera Body NFD 50mm f1.4 Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/r4gAAeSwwlhqpmM9/s-l500.jpg)
Used$364.98est. delivered
$299.99 + $64.99 shipping
Buy It Now$299.99
Our take
With NFD 50mm f/1.4. Top MINT is the dealer's grade.
Seller: hrk.k-21
100% positive
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