Canon A-1
The Canon A-1 is a 35mm SLR introduced in 1978, using the FD manual-focus lens mount. It was positioned as the advanced model in Canon's A-series, notable at launch for offering shutter-priority, aperture-priority, programmed and manual exposure modes in a single body with an LED digital viewfinder readout.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Canon A-1 have ranged from around £40 to £280, with a median close to £100 — figures that reflect wholesale saleroom levels rather than dealer retail. As of today in 2026, most clean working bodies with a standard FD 50mm lens sell for between £70 and £120, while rough or untested examples can fall below £50 and exceptional outfits with multiple lenses push toward the top of the range. Condition, cosmetic wear and whether the shutter is quiet on firing are the main factors that decide what an A-1 is worth on any given day.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
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| Apr 2026 | £106 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 129) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 805041, body G, shutter works, with a f/1.4 50mm lens, barrel G but a section has been removed from the filter ring, optics G |
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| Mar 2026 | £112 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 242) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR CAmera
Description:
black, serial number 1484783, body VG, shutter works, meter responds to light, with a Canon FD f/1.4 50mm lens, barrel VG, optics G with light haze. |
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| Nov 2025 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 134) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, serial no 4511058, shutter woring, meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer working, body G, slight wear, some |
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| Sep 2025 | £25 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 234) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 271739, body G, shutter not working, advance jammed, with a FD f/1.8 50mm lens, Note: For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is |
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| Sep 2025 | £94 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 228) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 1247308, body G, light brassing, shutter works, metering responds, with a Canon data back "A", and a Canon FD f/1.8 50mm lens, |
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| Sep 2025 | £75 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 233) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 576559, body G, lightly brassed to bottom plate, with a FD f/1.8 50mm lens, Note: For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is |
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| Sep 2025 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 268) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with FD 50mm f/1.4 lens, barrel G, elements G and front |
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| Sep 2025 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 267) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with FD 50mm f/1.4 lens, barrel G, elements G and front |
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| Jul 2025 | £69 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 106) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
comprising Canon A-1, black, serial number 400930, body G, shutter works, Tv/Av switch seems stuck, metering responds, with a f/1.8 50mm lens, barrel |
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| Jul 2025 | £88 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 107) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 1447963, body G-VG, shutter works, meter responds to light, with a Canon FD f/1.4 50mm lens, barrel VG, optics G, with cap. |
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| Jul 2025 | £45 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 406) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working (shutter squeak), meter responsive, self timer working, body G, some brassing to edges, with FD 50mm |
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| Jul 2025 | £45 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 199) Title: Two Canon Cameras
Description:
Two Canon Cameras, a Canon A-1, black, shutter working (slight squeak), meter responsive, responsive in P, self timer working, body G, with FD |
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| Jul 2025 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 18) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, serial no 1367227, shutter working, meter working, responsive in settings, self timer working, body G-VG, with FD 50mm |
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| May 2025 | £138 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 119) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
black, serial number 196280, shutter works, meter responds to light, with a Canon FD f/1.8 50mm S.C. lens, black, barrel G, optics G, and a Canon FD |
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| May 2025 | £120 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 111) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera Body
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera Body, black, serial no 2142895, shutter working (light squeak), self timer working, meter working, responsive in settings, |
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| Apr 2025 | £106 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 214) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
black, serial number 1474093, body VG, shutter works, viewfinder display works, metering responds to light, with a FD f/1.8 50mm lens, barrel VG, |
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| Mar 2025 | £162 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 168) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm Camera Outfit
Description:
comprising a Canon A-1, black, serial number 1079245, body VG, shutter works, has a minor squeak, metering responds to light, with a FD f/1.8 50mm |
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| Mar 2025 | £40 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 155) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter erratic, meter responsive, self time not working, body G-VG, with FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G-VG, elements |
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| Feb 2025 | £275 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 91) Title: A Comprehensive Canon A-1 Camera Outfit
Description:
to include a Canon A1, black, body VG, shutter working, meter responding to light, with a f/1.4 50mm lens, barrel VG, optics VG, a f/2.8 135mm lens, |
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| Feb 2025 | £62 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 162) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1127282, body G, shutter works in Av mode, but doesn't complete on Tv mode. |
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| Jan 2025 | £44 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 185) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body F, some corrosion, LEDs in the viewfinder illuminate & show correct values when the battery is inserted, shutter not working, with Canon (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2025 | £94 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 130) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera and Accessories
Description:
black, serial number 570905, body VG, shutter works, meter responds to light, with sports grip, and FD f/4 70-210mm lens, barrel G, optics G with |
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| Jan 2025 | £119 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 129) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera and Accessories
Description:
black, serial number 1731550, body G, brassing to bottom plate, shutter works, meter responds to light, with sports grip, and FD f/1.8 50mm lens, |
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| Jan 2025 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 504) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working (shutter squeak), meter responsive, camera responsive in settings, self timer working, body G, some |
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| Jan 2025 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 505) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working (light shutter squeak), meter responsive, camera responsive in settings, self timer working, body G, |
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| Oct 2024 | £100 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 133) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 252768, body G, light brassing to top plate, shutter works, internal display works, appears to meter, with a Canon FD f/1.8 50mm |
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| Sep 2024 | £106 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 69) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 1235574, body G, shutter works well, viewfinder display working and meter responds to light levels, with Canon FD f/1.8 50mm |
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| Aug 2024 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 485) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working (with squeak), meter responsive, self timer working, body VG, in maker's box, with FD 50mm f/3.5 Macro |
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| Aug 2024 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 469) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer working, body G, with FD 28mm f/2.8 lens, barrel |
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| Aug 2024 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 468) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer working, body G, some brassing to base plate edges, |
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| Aug 2024 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 336) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working (with squeak), meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer working, body G, with FD 50mm f/1.8 |
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| Aug 2024 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 335) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working (with squeak), meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer working, body G-VG, with FD 50mm f/1.8 |
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| Apr 2024 | £119 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 95) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body G-VG, shutter working when batteries are inserted, LEDs in viewfinder illuminate, together with a Canon Lens FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, body (Qty: 1) |
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| Feb 2024 | £162 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 97) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera with Two Lenses
Description:
1978-86, serial no.498172, shutter working, body G with a FDn f/2.8 28mm lens, date code 1981, serial no.342933, a FDn f/4.5 70-150mm zoom lens, date |
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| Feb 2024 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 326) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, light wear, with Canon FD 50mm f/`1.8 lens, barrel G, |
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| Feb 2024 | £110 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 239) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, some light brassing to top plate, with FD 50mm f/1.4 |
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| Jan 2024 | £106 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 177) Title: A Canon A-1 and a Canon FTbn QL 35mm SLR Cameras
Description:
comprising a black Canon A-1 camera, 1978-87, serial no.1419354 with a FDn f/1.8 50mm lens, serial no.2617546, date code 1980, shutter untested, body |
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| Jan 2024 | £55 | David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Decorative Antiques & Collectors (Lot 299) Title: Canon A1 35mm camera body serial no 741264, with 'Tokina AT-X 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5' lens seri...
Description:
Canon A1 35mm camera body serial no 741264, with 'Tokina AT-X 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5' lens seri... |
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| Dec 2023 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 31) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, viewfinder display working, body G, with 50mm f/1.8 FD lens, |
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| Dec 2023 | £40 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 216) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, shutter & meter responsive, self timer working, body G, battery door missing/damaged, with Tamron |
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| Dec 2023 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 29) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, viewfinder display working, body G-VG, with 50mm f/1.8 FD lens, |
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| Dec 2023 | £90 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 30) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, viewfinder display working, body G, with 50mm f/1.8 FD lens, |
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| Nov 2023 | £112 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 237) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
1978-86, serial no.940952, with a Canon FDn f/1.8 50mm lens, serial no.4679151, shutter working with characteristic squeak when battery inserted, not |
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| Oct 2023 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 329) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, serial no 142491, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, some paint wear to battery door edges, |
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| Jul 2023 | £70 | David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Maritime, Scientific Instruments & Cameras (Lot 3046) Title: Canon A-1 camera body, serial no. 341014, with 'Canon FD 50mm 1:1.4 S.S.C.' lens, serial n...
Description:
Canon A-1 camera body, serial no. 341014, with 'Canon FD 50mm 1:1.4 S.S.C.' lens, serial n... |
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| Jun 2023 | £69 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 156) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body G-VG, shutter working when batteries are inserted, no other functions checked, with a Canon FD f/1.8 50mm S.C. lens, optics G, some light (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2023 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 359) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, nody G, some light wear, with 28mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8 and |
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| Jun 2023 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 248) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with 50mm f/1.8 FD lens, barrel G, elements G |
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| Jun 2023 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 84) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, AT dial guard damaged/missing, otherwise body G, with FD 50mm |
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| Jun 2023 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 477) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, battery door catch not catching, with 35mm f/2.8 FD |
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| Apr 2023 | £80 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 187) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon A-1 SLR Camera, black, serial no 1085447, shutter working, meter working, self-timer working, body G, damage to bottom corner of battery door, |
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| Jan 2023 | £138 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 241) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body G-VG, LED values show in the viewfinder when the battery is inserted, mirror is down, shutter curtains stuck open, with motor winder, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2022 | £225 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 432) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Outfit
Description:
black, body G-VG, shutter working, tested with batteries, speeds all sound accurate, A-mode selects sensible shutter speeds, viewfinder clear & (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2022 | £106 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 421) Title: Canon A-1 SLR 35mm Camera
Description:
with Canon FD 28mm 1:2.8 lense (a lot) |
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| Mar 2022 | £150 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors sale (Lot 490) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body VG-E, shutter working, prism clear, with original packaging, together with a Canon Case L A-1, also with a Vivitar 80-200mm f/4.5 lens, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2022 | £285 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 115) Title: A Canon A-1 35mm SLR Outfit
Description:
black, serial no. 892782, body VG-E, shutter working, times sound accurate, tested with batteries, viewfinder very bright and clean, with a Canon FD (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2021 | £161 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras, Scientific & Collectables (Lot 291) Title: A Canon A-1 SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 2072316, with Canon FD f/1.8 50mm lens, body G-VG, shutter not tested, lens, VG-E, elements are clean, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2015 | £40 | Harper Field Auctions | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 491) Title: A Canon A-1 camera outfit including various lenses and other accessories,
Description:
A Canon A-1 camera outfit including various lenses and other accessories, |
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