The Canon AE-1 and AE-1 Program are classic cameras.
They are consumer-grade cameras, which means they were mass produced. But if you have been in the film game long enough, you know the most important things in this kind of photography are the lens and the film. This means you can use a canon AE-1 for professional grade work with the right film/lens combo and no one will question you.
The really good news about all of this: the AE-1 is easy to find because there are so many, and everyone has one so additional information, including videos, are readily available. The downside of its popularity is the price tag.
Since its rise, the price is hard to justify. You can get pro cameras for the same $200-300. Personally, there are a few cameras I would look at before getting a Canon AE-1 or AE-1P purely based on price (and maybe Nikon loyalty).
With that being said, any time I find one for under $100, I buy it. eBay is littered with this model and the next, and with some patience, you could find a good deal.
There is no guarantee that these will end with a low dollar amount, but here are camera listings I would look at buying if I were getting it as my first camera (or another for the collection).
The Cheapest Canon AE-1 Listings on eBay I Could Find Today
You don’t need any further selling if you’ve made it this far. This camera is nice, it’s fun, and worth trying, even if you don’t plan on keeping it forever.
Listing One: A Classic Silver Body and 50mm f/1.8 Lens
First off, nice and flashy is a fairly clean silver body AE-1.
Purely based off of a visual inspection, the photos, and description, this is a safe camera to purchase. The seller included a battery, which gets you rolling the second you pull it out of the box.
The lens looks clean and comes with a filter, which the seller says has been used to protect the lens the whole time they have had the camera. The functionality is basically guaranteed here. In the past if I ever got a camera with this kind of description and it did not work, either the seller refunded me, or eBay refunded me. It is super easy to do and eBay always sides with the buyer, provided you have reasonable evidence.
If I were to purchase this camera, I would put a 24 exposure roll of film in and very quickly take the photos and get them developed, to make sure it is really working like the seller said. The return window is usually a month or less, so you can’t leave the roll in for weeks.
In this scenario, I would be optimistic that it works well, but you never know. At the time of this post going up (28th of January) there are just under seven days left to bid on this camera and lens combo.
Listing Two: Canon AE-1 Program With A Nifty Fifty Lens and Motor Drive
Right off the bat, the listing says “READ.” We like these. The “read” message means they either don’t know what the problem is, they don’t want to put any negative buzzwords like “damaged” in the header, or there is a small issue that most people are unwilling to fix. Lucky for us, the third is true here.
The only issue is it is missing a focusing screen. Focusing screens for the AE-1p are cheap, they are plentiful, and they take less than two minutes to put in.
They require no special tools (though a tool can be helpful, if you have it). There is a special tool that comes with screens if you buy one in box, but you can easily replace the screen without the tool.
If you have the tool here is the video to help the process. That aside, the camera looks good and worth the risk. Only five days left on this one, at this time.
Important note: The Canon AE-1 Program camera has a different access point to the focusing screen, and a different screen than the previous model AE-1. Make sure to buy the Program focusing screen.
Listing Three: Another Canon AE-1P Camera But With A 35-200mm Lens!
Right away, this is a cool camera with a moderate shipping cost. The body looks nice, but the lens is third party.
If I were to purchase this camera, the very first thing I would do is replace the lens with a prime. Vintage glass with a zoom function does not tend to be too sharp, and prime lenses are far better training for positioning and framing.
My own personal preferences aside, the camera does look well cared for. It does come with a flash and a carrying bag, so you know it will be well packed when it is shipped.
The seller does mention that buyer pays return shipping if there is any kind of issue. Since they mention it has been tested and is working well, there is a good chance you do not have to worry about that.
Nothing overly special about this one, just a good price. It’s worth watching to see if the price stays low! In less than seven days, the bidding will be over.
Final Remarks
There is always some risk involved when it comes to buying on eBay. That is part of the reason some cheap items come through.
Always check to see if they tested it or if they have it marked “as-is” since this will determine if you can return it.
Part of the excitement is getting a 40+ year old camera that works just fine.
Always do your due diligence, ask questions, and keep learning.
Have fun looking for Canon AE-1 and AE-1p Cameras!
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