The Canon AE-1: 50 Years, And it Still Works

"The surprisingly affordable Canon AE-1: so advanced it's simple." that was the slogan behind an American commercial featuring the now well known Canon AE-1 SLR camera. It was such a hit because of the features that it offered, the automatic program exposure, and the variety of lenses available offered at a very affordable price point. When it launched in 1976, it cost $250--which was 40% more affordable than cameras from other companies at the time according to "Canon Historical Sketch: 1937-2007".