most major components, and an inexpensive horizontal cloth-curtain shutter, costs could be spread out over a larger production volumes. The A-1 represented Canon's bid to defeat Nikon through more features and cheaper pricing. The A-1 attracted much press attention when it was released in early 1978, though not all comments were positive. Some professional photographers worried about the long term reliability of its consumer-level mechanical and electronic components under heavy daily use, the relatively slow flash sync and top shutter speeds. Traditionalist photographers complained about an "excess" of automation ruining the art of photography, a criticism that was leveled at all of the newly automated cameras released in the 1980s. However, the automated features appealed to many new amateur photographers on a budget, and the camera saw strong sales. Later, as competitors brought out their own programmed SLRs, the A-1 began to show its age. This is especially true for its horizontal cloth-curtain shutter, viewfinder information display and autoflash control. The A-1 was due for replacement when the Canon T90 came out in 1985. Canon's abandonment of the FD lens mount for the EOS design also had a significant effect on demand for the A-1 on the used market. Notes References Anonymous. Canon A-1 Brochure. "Canon A-1." Lake Success, NY: Canon USA, Inc., 1978. Anonymous. "Canon A-1: New Era in SLR Automation" pp 6–11. Modern Photography's Photo Buying Guide '86. reprint from Modern Photography, July 1978. Anonymous. Canon A-1 Advertisement. "See beyond the ordinary." p 29. Modern Photography, Volume 47, Number 7; July 1983. Anonymous. "Modern Photography's Annual Guide '84: 48 Top Cameras: Canon A-1" p 71. Modern Photography, Volume 47, Number 12; December 1983. Matanle, Ivor. Collecting and Using Classic SLRs. First Paperback Edition. New York, NY: Thames and Hudson, 1997. Shell, Bob translator and Harold Franke. Magic Lantern Guides: Canon Classic Cameras; A-1, AT-1, AE-1, AE-1 Program, T50, T70, T90. Sixth Printing 2001. Magic Lantern Guides. Rochester, NY: Silver Pixel Press, 1995. External links The A-1 at the Canon Camera Museum Canon A-1 vs F-1. Retrieved December 26, 2015. The Canon A1 – Preface at Photography in Malaysia A-1