A Canon AE-1 Program Review

February 6, 2025

The Canon AE-1 Program with a Tokina 28mm f/2.8 FD lens, showing its classic silver and black SLR design. A lightweight 35mm film camera ideal for all photography styles.

A top-down view of the Canon AE-1 Program, showcasing its shutter speed dial, Program mode switch, and film advance lever. A well-designed SLR for 35mm film photography.

A front-angled shot of the Canon AE-1 Program with a Tokina 28mm f/2.8 FD lens, emphasising its vintage aesthetic and balanced proportions.

First Impressions of the Canon AE-1 Program with the Tokina FD 28mm f/2.8

The Canon AE-1 Program, paired with the Tokina FD 28mm f/2.8 lens, is a fantastic setup for photographers looking for a simple yet rewarding 35mm film camera. It has helped me reconnect with the process of photography, making each shot feel more intentional. Shooting film with this camera feels like a personal experience—one where I’m creating for myself rather than just producing images for others. I’ve been capturing more 35mm film shots lately - if you’re curious, you can see more in my Film Photography Portfolio.

This is just the beginning of my film photography journey, and I’m excited to explore what’s next. Whether you’re stepping into film photography for the first time or revisiting it after digital, the Canon AE-1 Program proves why it remains one of the most loved SLRs of all time.

A full-body shot of Mabel standing on rocky terrain with lush greenery behind her. The Canon AE-1 Program captures fine detail and depth in this 35mm film image.

A front-angle action shot of a golfer striking the ball, with a sweeping landscape behind him. Shot on 35mm film using the Canon AE-1 Program and Tokina 28mm f/2.8 FD lens.

A 35mm film shot of the historic Sign of the Takahe, featuring an old stone building with a red sports car parked outside. Captured on the Canon AE-1 Program with the Tokina 28mm f/2.8 FD lens.

A wide-angle 35mm film image of a golfer taking a shot while another watches beside him. The Canon AE-1 Program captures the scene with natural contrast and rich film tones."

Shooting Experience: Fully Manual & Intuitive Controls

I’ve shot the Canon AE-1 Program completely in manual mode so far, skipping the Program feature. Coming from years of shooting manual on digital, it feels like second nature. The light meter is simple to read and adjusts quickly to changing conditions, making it one of the most intuitive film cameras I’ve used. While film forces me to slow down and be more intentional, my Digital Photography work has given me a strong foundation in exposure and composition—skills that translate seamlessly to shooting on 35mm.

The shutter sound is fantastic—I’m not sure if that’s a selling feature or not, but it should be. There’s something satisfying about that mechanical click that makes each shot feel more deliberate.

Loading the film is simple—I’ve had no issues there, which makes it beginner-friendly while still being a camera that experienced photographers can appreciate.

Colour, Contrast & Sharpness

The Canon AE-1 Program delivers rich golden tones, with incredible depth in both highlights and shadows. The Tokina FD 28mm f/2.8 lens produces impressive foreground sharpness, making it a great match for landscapes, portraits, and everyday shooting.

A side-on close-up portrait of Mabel, bathed in rich golden tones, overlooking a vast landscape. Captured on 35mm film with the Canon AE-1 Program and Tokina 28mm f/2.8 FD lens.

A rock face in the foreground with Lyttelton and its surrounding bays stretching into the distance. Shot on 35mm film with the Canon AE-1 Program and Tokina 28mm f/2.8 FD lens.

A wide-angle 35mm film shot of a golfer hitting the ball toward the green, with a scenic landscape in the background. Captured on the Canon AE-1 Program with the Tokina 28mm f/2.8 FD lens.

Mabel standing beside a large patch of golden grass, illuminated by natural light. Captured on the Canon AE-1 Program, highlighting the warm colours and soft depth of field.

I haven’t pushed the aperture past f/11 yet, so I’m curious to see how image quality holds up at f/16 to f/22. Some vintage lenses tend to soften at smaller apertures, so it will be interesting to see if diffraction affects sharpness in high-detail scenes.

Dynamic Range & Exposure Considerations

One thing that surprised me was how bright the highlights appear in certain shots. Film naturally handles highlights differently than digital, often with a smoother roll-off, but I’ve noticed that in some high-contrast situations, highlights can clip more than expected.

Moving forward, I’ll pay closer attention to exposure adjustments, possibly metering for highlights to maintain better detail while still keeping the shadows rich. This is something I rarely think about with digital, where highlight recovery is more forgiving in post-processing.

Image Quality: Close-Up vs. Landscape

The quality of the images is fantastic, though I’ve noticed close-up objects are far more detailed than distant ones. A shot of Mabel compared to a landscape from the same spot shows a clear difference in depth and sharpness. If you’re interested in seeing more of my film photography—including landscapes and portraits—you can find them in my Print Store.

A 35mm film portrait of Mabel standing in front of a rock, bathed in the golden glow of sunset. Captured on the Canon AE-1 Program, highlighting warm tones and natural textures.

A large boulder in the foreground with the Pacific Ocean and Christchurch visible in the distance. The Canon AE-1 Program captures the wide-angle landscape on 35mm film.

A portrait of Mabel in front of a large rock, taken on 35mm film with the Canon AE-1 Program. The natural tones and soft film rendering enhance the scene’s textures.

The Port Hills illuminated by a golden sunset, with rich contrast and deep shadows. Captured on 35mm film using the Canon AE-1 Program, enhancing the natural landscape tones.

This difference in detail is likely due to the Tokina FD 28mm f/2.8’s optical characteristics, where it excels in rendering sharp foreground details while distant elements can take on a slightly softer, more atmospheric look. It’s something I’ll explore more as I continue shooting with this setup.

Final Thoughts: Is the Canon AE-1 Program Worth It?

The Canon AE-1 Program, paired with the Tokina FD 28mm f/2.8 lens, is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a classic 35mm film camera that balances ease of use with manual creativity.

This camera has already helped me reconnect with the fundamentals of photography, making each shot feel more deliberate and meaningful. Shooting film with this camera feels like a personal experience—one where I’m creating for myself rather than just producing images for others. This is just the beginning of my film photography journey, and I’m excited to see where it leads. If you’re interested in discussing film photography, commissioning work, or just geeking out over vintage cameras, feel free to get in touch.

Film-Photography 35mm-Film Canon-AE1-Program Analog-Photography Film-Camera-Review Manual-Photography Tokina-28mm Vintage-Cameras Landscape-Photography Golden-Hour-Photography