The Canon AV-1 was introduced at the same time as the New FD bayonet lens mount. The camera was noteable for its fully automatic Aperture Priority only operation.
The Canon AV-1
Av mode and only Av mode
Before we get into the AV-1 let’s do
a bit of review. The F Series cameras
were “manual” cameras with built
in light meters. The user adjusted
the aperture and shutter speed
manually to match the meter
needle to a mark on the ground
glass or to another needle.
But developments in the industry pushed for more automatic exposure. Canon’s F-1 camera had the Servo EE Finder as an option which gave the camera the ability to set the aperture for the shutter speed chosen by the user.
The shutter speed was set and the camera did the rest. This was called “Shutter Priority” because the shutter speed determined what the aperture would ultimately be. Canon calls this the Tv mode. The initials are for Time Value referring to the length of time the shutter was open.
The New F-1, with the right accessories, had the ability to work the other way around: the user could set the aperture and the camera would set the shutter speed. Canon called this the Av mode, the initials standing for Aperture Value.
The AV-1 is built on the frame of the AE-1 and the general layout is the same. Notice the battery compartment door which has been considerably strengthened.
The back of the AV-1 is not user removeable which means that the Data Back A cannot be used on the camera. Also note that the Memo Holder has not been included on this camera. Otherwise the back looks like an AE-1 back.
I think that the mechanism for controlling the shutter was easier than controlling the shutter speed and so early automatic cameras used Shutter Priority. This was the case with the AE-1 and AT-1. Controlling the shutter allowed users to control how long the image fell on the film which was important for freezing motion or creating creative blur. This was important for sports photographers or those taking pictures where speed was important.
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However, aperture controlled the quality of the image falling on the film. Stopping down the lens reduced faults in the image thrown by the lens and opening it up controlled the depth of field and the creation of dreamy backgrounds that emphasised the subject of the picture. Landscape or still life photographers wanted to control the aperture and they cared less about the shutter speed. And so there was a demand for cameras with Aperture or AV control.
When Canon released the A-1 in 1978 they gave the user the option to chose either the Av or Tv method of exposure. But the A-1 was an expensive camera which many were unable to afford. Canon felt they saw a niche in the camera market for a less expensive camera offering Aperture Priority or Av control.
The Introduction of the AV-1
And so in May of 1979 Canon introduced the AV-1 ( AV being “Aperture Value”) which offered Aperture Priority in a somewhat strange camera. At least I think it is out of the ordinary. As a side note, at the same time Canon released the New FD lenses with the updated bayonet mount and did away with the silver lock ring. No changes were made to the actual lens mount on the cameras. The AV-1 is an “A” Series camera built on the frame of the AE-1. They have the same footprint but the AV-1 is a bit taller and the controls are quite different.
You cannot operate this camera in manual mode. It is an automatic camera only. It is possible to manipulate the shutter speed by adjusting the aperture but that can be a pain in the neck.
AV-1 Ad from Popular Photography of June 1979
The shutter speed dial has no speeds on it. It has B, 1/60th for flash, two self timer positions, one of which is for flash, and it has “A” set in a red background. This “A” is where most of your photography will occur.
The user set the aperture he wished and the camera automatically set the shutter speed. Because the shutter was electronically controlled the shutter speeds were continuous and could fall between the usual speeds, anywhere from 2 seconds to 1/1000th of a second. In the viewfinder there were the usual shutter speeds listed down the right side and the meter needle pointed to the speed to be used but if you watched you would see the needle settle anywhere on the scale and that would be the shutter speed.
Metering used an SPC (Silicon Photo Cell) sensor which is more accurate and sensitive than the older CdS element. Sensitivity was Canon’s “Center Weighted Averaging” which took light from the whole of the scene but gave more weight to the light in the center of the screen than at the edges. This was an attempt to keep the center properly exposed but to adjust the exposure to accommodate the edges if they were of a substantially different brightness.
Canon says the meter sensitivity at ASA 100 was EV 1 to 18 whci means the meter should function in light levels equal to early dusk on a clear day to full sunlight on the beach. The user could dial in film speeds from ISO 25 to 1600.
To accommodate backlit situations there was a Backlight Control Switch, a button actually, on the left side of the front of the camera which adjusted the shutter for an extra stop and a half.
The standard lens for the AV-1 was the FDn 50mm f/1.8 but Canon came out with an FDn 50mm f/2 especially for this camera. This lens is show below on an AV-1 with a Power Winder A. FD and FDn lenses all have an
The battery door on the AV-1 has been considerably impproved over the AE-1 and AT-1 and is much less subject to damage. The redesign even provides a small finger grip on the body.
The AV-1 viewfinder is similar to that of the AE-1. The ground glass has the same Micro Prism circle with a split image for focusing. The scale on the right are the possible shutter speeds and the needle points to the one the camera will use. The red areas indicate not enough or too much light.
Before using this camera you should read the Canon AV-1 Instruction Manual
(Pub. No.: C-IE-069S) from cover to cover.
The Dealers’ Notes for the AV-1 provide a quick summary of the AV-1’s features and the available accessories.
Automatic setting, the green “A” or “o”, but on this camera that setting simply set the aperture to the smallest the lens had which resulted in long shutter times. A small wrinkle you should be aware of.
The AV-1 takes the same battery, the 6v 4LR44 or equivalent, as the other “A” Series cameras and the battery compartment is in the same location The battery door is considerably improved and not so liable to damage as on earlier models. Like the others in this series, the camera will not fire without a battery installed.
Internally the AV-1 is pretty normal. The shutter curtains are the usual fabric that travel left to right when the shutter is fired. The back of the camera is not removable and so the Data Back A accessory is not available for it. Otherwise this is a standard “A” Series camera inside.
AV-1 Variations
The only major variation of the AV-1 was the black version. The camera was offered in standard chrome and black leatherette or it could be ordered in the less common black paint over black leatherette making it look very like the Canon A-1. Both versions were identical in every respect except for color.
I know of no records for how many of each were released but I have found reference on the internet for a total production of 200,000 AV-1’s and that number would include the black versions. The chrome finished cameras would have substantially outnumbered their darker bretheren but there were a substantial number of them because they are not uncommon on the collector market today and they do not command a substantial premium.
AV-1 Accessories
If you go the Page 63 of the AV-1 Instructions (Pub. No. C-IE-969S) you will get an introduction you will find an introduction to the accessories available for the AV-1. Simply put any accessory that works with the FD lens mount will probably work on the AV-1. That includes bellows units, extension tubes, and of course, Canon’s wide selection of lenses.
There are two Power Winders, the A and the A2 which advance the film after each shot. They will shoot contiuously at about two frames per second if the shutter button is held down.
Unfortunately, the back is not removeable from the camera so the Data Back A is not an option.
Using Canon Lenses
Using FD and FDn lenses on the AV-1 is very simple. Mount them on the camera, set the aperture you want and take pictures. However, if you want to use FL or Canonflex lenses the story is a little diffrent and you can read about starting it at Page 57 of the Instructions.
The AV-1 has no provision for locking the mirror up out of the light path and the Instructions warn that 2 FL lenses cannot be used on this camera: the FL 19mm f/3.5 and the FL 58mm f/1.2. The manual points out that two other
This is the black version of the AV-1. It is a beautiful camera reminiscent of the more expensive A-1. In this picture the camer has the Power Winder A2 attached to it.
This AV-1 has the FDn 50mm f/2.0 economy lens introduced for the AV-1 mounted on it. In addition it has the Power Winder A attached which advances the film automatically after every shot.
FL lenses may not give reliable meter readings: the FL 35mm f/2.5 and the FL50mm f/1.8. No reason is given.
Otherwise, when these lenses are mounted on the AV-1 stop down metering is required and it is largely automatic. First you open the lens all the way and focus on the scene. Then you set the camera to the aperture you want to use. The aperture will actually close to that setting but on some of the lenses you have to use the Automatic Aperture Release Ring to ensure that it closes to the selected aperture and on others you have to set the Automatic/Manual switch to “M” for manual. The light meter will pick the appropriate shutter speed when it fires. The camera senses that the lens is not an FD lens and adjusts accordingly.
This is the black AV-1 with a Canon Speedlite 177A mounted on it. On the front of the Speedlite you can see the round sensor for measuring light reflected back from the subject.
Flash Photography with the AV-1
The Canon Speedlites came into their own with the “A” Series of cameras. The AV-1 instructions list 6 Speedlites that will work automatically with the camera: the 011A, 155A, 166A, 177A, 188A, and the 199A. All of these Speedlites are electronic flashers that read the light from the flash that is reflected from the subject and turn the flash off when the unit determines that the subject has received the correct amount of light for perfect exposure. In the section that lists available accessories the Speedlites 533G and 577G are also listed.
There is a Calculator Dial on the back of the 177A. You set the film speed and then, using one of two scales depending upon distance to the subject, you read the aperture that you are to set on the lens. Then take your picture and the camera will do the rest.
It is not intended that this website be a source of instruction for how this equipment works but the Instructions for the Speedlite 177A are provided here and between the Camera’s Instruction Manual and the Speedlite Manual you can figure it out.
The Instructions for the AV-1 say that flashbulbs cannot be used with the camera. I suspect that this is not strictly true but I have not played with it to find out.
The Instructions also recommend using only Canon flash units on the AV-1. Again, I am sure this is not stictly correct. If you were to set the speed to 1/60th and used the flash units guide number that you could take acceptable flash pictures.
Without a neck strap to attach to this AV-1 can fall out of the Soft Case bottom very easily as it does not attach to the camera with a screw into the tripod socket.
Shooting with the AV-1
eLike all of the “A” Series cameras the AV-1 is a delight to hold. It is compact and has the solid feel of a precion piece of machinery. All of the controls are where they should be and using the camera is intuitive for an experienced photographer.
At first the lack of film speeds on the shutter dial seems odd but you quickly get onto it. The camera for most photography stays on the “A” setting and all the user has to do is chose the aperture and the camera does the rest. There is no option for manual control of aperture and shutter speed.
The aperture you are using you know because you set it manually. The shutter speed the camera choses to use is clearly displayed in the viewfinder. You can watch in the viewfinder and as you change the aperture you will see the shutter speed change as well.
I would caution you if you intend to use the AV-1 in its “Semi-Hard Case”: Do not do this without a neck strap on the camera and the two leather tabs on either side of the case bottom around the straps and fastened.
This case bottom does not screw into the tripod socket but simply hangs onto the camera by these two little straps. If you have no neck strap the camera is just sitting in the case and can easily fall out. There is nothing to stop it. This is a poor arrangement and a danger to the camera. There! You are warned. It is for this reason that I do not use the Soft Case with the camera.
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