A New Camera, An Old Language
I got a Canon AE-1 Program.
I’ve always believed that photography is more than just pressing a shutter. It is a way of thinking, a method of seeing. And with each camera I’ve used, I’ve learned a different dialect of the same language. Some cameras whisper, some command, and some require patience to understand. The Canon AE-1 Program, the newest addition to my growing collection of film cameras, speaks in a way that feels both familiar and foreign. It sits between automation and control, between instinct and intention.
A Lucky Find on eBay
This one came to me almost by accident. I wasn’t actively looking for an AE-1 Program, but I stumbled upon it while browsing eBay. The price was shockingly low. $135 with lens, UV filter, vintage strap, all lens caps, and shipping, the kind of deal that makes you double check the listing for hidden flaws. But as I scrolled through the photos, something felt right about it. The body looked pristine, the seller claimed it was fully functional, and the description lacked the usual “untested” red flags that often spell trouble.
When it arrived, I almost couldn’t believe it. The camera looked amazing, like it had been tucked away safely for years, waiting for someone to bring it back to life. The chrome gleamed under the light, and the dials turned with the perfect amount of resistance. It was clean, really clean, almost as if time had forgotten about it.
Testing the Heartbeat
I always check the internals of a camera before trusting it with a roll of film. The shutter, the light meter, the mirror, everything needs to work in harmony. For this, I used my PulseHPT device, a small but powerful tool that I rely on to check shutter speeds and timing accuracy. It works by using light sensors to measure how long the shutter stays open, ensuring that a camera isn’t running too fast or too slow, which could throw off exposures.
Success!!! The AE-1 Program passed the test flawlessly. The clock inside this machine, the one responsible for keeping exposures precise, was still running with perfect accuracy. Even after all these years, it hadn’t drifted. That alone made me smile.
A Camera That Carries Time
The first thing I did after testing it was to take out my Fujinon macro lens and capture its details up close. The way the light reflects off its textured grip, the crisp engraving of the shutter speeds, the elegant curve of the film advance lever, things that often go unnoticed when simply holding a camera in hand.
The irony is that this camera arrived at my house today, in 2025, yet it carries the same energy it must have brought into the home of its first owner, decades ago. Someone, somewhere, might have unboxed this very camera in the early 80s with the same excitement I felt when I held it for the first time.
First Roll: A Black and White Beginning
There was no hesitation about what film to load first. I reached for a roll of Ilford black and white film, a perfect match for a camera like this. Monochrome forces you to strip away distractions, to focus on light and shadow rather than color. It makes you slow down and think.
I took the AE-1 Program outside and clicked through the first few frames, feeling the satisfying tension of the film advance lever and the mechanical snap of the shutter. Now, the real test begins. The waiting, the developing, the scanning. Soon enough, I’ll know if this camera sees the world the way I hope it does.
The Road Ahead
A camera isn’t just a tool; it’s a collaborator. And this AE-1 Program is already teaching me something new. I don’t yet know if it will change the way I shoot, but I know it has already made me appreciate the way things last. This machine, built decades ago, still works with the precision it was designed for. It still captures light, still translates time into images, still waits for someone to press the shutter and trust the process. Gotta love Japan.
Now, all that’s left is to develop the roll, scan the negatives, and see what stories it has to tell.
I'm loving your mechanical & chemical adventure! Awesome new tool in your kit.
I guess my father’s camera was one of these. If my memory is right, my very firsts shoots were there. Wish you all the luck in this new adventure. Can’t wait to see the results.