Canon AE-1
The Canon AE-1 is a 35mm SLR introduced in 1976, built around the Canon FD manual-focus lens mount and offering shutter-priority automatic exposure. Positioned as an enthusiast-accessible body at launch, it became one of the best-selling SLRs of its era and remains one of the most commonly encountered Canon film bodies on the used market today.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Canon AE-1 have ranged from about £25 to £120, with a median around £81 — these are saleroom results and reflect wholesale levels rather than retail dealer asking prices. In 2025 the better clean examples with a 50mm FD lens have sold for £90–£120, while rougher or untested bodies continue to change hands for £25–£60. What an AE-1 is worth today is highly condition-sensitive: working shutters, clean foam and clear viewfinders push a camera toward the upper end of that range.
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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| Mar 2026 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 135) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G-VG, with FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G, elements G-VG |
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| Mar 2026 | £50 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 5) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, black, serial no 2929314, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, advance lever not springing back, body G, |
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| Oct 2025 | £101 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 260) Title: A Canon AE1 SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
A Canon AE1 SLR Camera Outfit Serial No: 2060995 Body: G Shutter: working Lenses: Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 (5866568) Canon FD Zoom 35-105mm Optics: VG ... read more |
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| Sep 2025 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 270) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G-VG, with Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G, elements G-VG |
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| Sep 2025 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 499) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G-VG, with Canon FD 70-210mm f/4 lens, Tamron 24-48mm f/3.5-3.8 |
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| Jul 2025 | £38 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 113) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 3065936, body F-G, bottom plate brassed, shutter works. |
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| Jul 2025 | £25 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 109) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 3735737, body F-G, shutter works, meter may not respond, battery door missing, with a Canon FD f/1.8 50mm lens, barrel VG, |
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| Jul 2025 | £45 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 180) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera.
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera. shutter working, meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer working, body G-VG, with FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C. lens, barrels |
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| Jul 2025 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 407) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, chrome, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, some dulling to top plate, chip to bottom corner of |
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| Jul 2025 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 499) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, black, serial no 2145921, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with FD 28-55mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, |
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| Jul 2025 | £120 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 20) Title: Four Canon AE-1 SLR Camera Bodies
Description:
Four Canon AE-1 SLR Camera Bodies, shutters working, meters responsive, three with working self timers, bodies G |
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| Jul 2025 | £120 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 19) Title: Four Canon AE-1 SLR Camera Bodies
Description:
Four Canon AE-1 SLR Camera Bodies, shutters working, meters responsive, self timers working, bodies G |
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| Jun 2025 | £75 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 114) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, body G, shutter working, grip/power winder working when batteries are inserted, camera battery cover in good condition, with Sun 24-42mm wide (Qty: 1) |
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| May 2025 | £81 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 134) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 2928554, body G, shutter works, viewfinder needle responds to light, with a Canon f/1.8 50mm lens, barrel G, optics G. |
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| Feb 2025 | £100 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 95) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 3351338, body VG, shutter speeds all work, viewfinder meter needle responds to light, with a FD f/1.8 50mm lens, barrel VG, |
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| Jan 2025 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 82) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, some brassing around strap lugs, with FD 50mm f/1.8 |
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| Jan 2025 | £90 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 83) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, chrome, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C lens, barrel G, elements G-VG |
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| Oct 2024 | £81 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 139) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
silver, serial number 4412542, body G-VG, shutter works, meter responds to light, with a Canon FD f/4, 35-70mm zoom, barrel F-G, optics F-G, and a |
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| Oct 2024 | £88 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 141) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 1158634, body G, shutter works, internal display works, appears to meter, with a Canon FD f/1.8 50mm lens, barrel G, optics F-G |
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| Oct 2024 | £94 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 135) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 5536416, body VG, light marks to base plate, shutter works with audible squeak, meter responds to light levels, with a Canon FD |
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| Aug 2024 | £38 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 88) Title: A Canon AE-1 Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 4513303, body F-G, some usage marks to bottom plate, battery inserted, the shutter fired and the mirror stayed up, not further |
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| Aug 2024 | £138 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 84) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
comprising an AE-1, silver, serial number 2295135, body VG, shutter works, metering works, internal display works, with sports grip, with Canon FD |
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| Aug 2024 | £90 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 771) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G, elements G-VG, FD mount |
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| Aug 2024 | £90 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 56) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G-VG, elements G-VG |
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| Aug 2024 | £90 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 57) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, black, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, barrel G-VG, elements G and |
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| Aug 2024 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 737) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter issue, only responsive while shutter button pressed, meter responsive, body Gm with FD 50mm f/1.8 lens, 28mm f/2.8 |
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| Jun 2024 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 317) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, chrome, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G-VG, with Sigma 28-84mm f/3.5-4.5 MC lens, barrel G-VG, |
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| Jun 2024 | £100 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 338) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
to include a Canon AE-1 camera body, silver, body G, internal displays work when battery inserted, powers up and takes a photo, all shutter speeds |
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| Mar 2024 | £50 | David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Decorative Antiques & Collectors (Lot 145) Title: Canon AE-1 SLR camera, serial no 3314657, with a Canon FD 70-210mm 1:4 zoom lens, together...
Description:
Canon AE-1 SLR camera, serial no 3314657, with a Canon FD 70-210mm 1:4 zoom lens, together... |
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| Feb 2024 | £75 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 99) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Camera and Two Compact Cameras
Description:
a chrome AE-1, 1976-81, serial no.2378113, shutter untested, body G-VG, with a FDn f/1.8 50mm lens, serial no.973999, date code 1979, G-VG and a |
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| Feb 2024 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 327) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, chrome, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, crack to bottom of battery door, with Hoya 24mm f/2.8 |
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| Feb 2024 | £140 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 339) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with Canon FD 28mm f/2.8 lens, barrel G-VG, elements G-VG and |
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| Feb 2024 | £50 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 284) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with Vivitar series 1 28-105mm f/2.8-2.8 lens, G |
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| Aug 2023 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 454) Title: Two Canon SLR Cameras
Description:
Two Canon SLR Cameras, a Canon AE-1, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, some wear, with Sigma MC 35-70mm f/2.8-4 lens, G |
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| Jun 2023 | £81 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 165) Title: A Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Body
Description:
IR 776798, 1976-84, chrome, serial no.2815311, tested as working, body G, with maker's retail box, packaging and 2-part manual |
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| Jun 2023 | £70 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 307) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, with 35-70mm f/3.5-5.6 FD lens, barrel G, elements G, with |
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| Apr 2023 | £94 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 170) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera Body
Description:
chrome, body, G-VG, shutter working IR981016 |
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| Apr 2023 | £90 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 197) Title: A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera
Description:
A Canon AE-1 SLR Camera, chrome, serial no 2140973, shutter working, meter working, self-timer working, body G, some light pitting to top plate, with |
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| May 2021 | £70 | David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Musical & Scientific Instruments, Cameras & Maritime (Lot 3112) Title: Canon AE1 camera, 'no. 4403757', fitted with Canon 'FD 50mm 1:1.8' lens, Hoya 'HMC Wide-Au...
Description:
Canon AE1 camera, 'no. 4403757', fitted with Canon 'FD 50mm 1:1.8' lens, Hoya 'HMC Wide-Au... |
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| Aug 1998 | £80 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 140) Title: Canon AE-1 no. 4044353
Description:
Canon AE-1 no. 4044353 Estimate: £20 - £200 |
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| Jul 1998 | £80 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 233) Title: Canon AE-1 no. 5370227
Description:
Canon AE-1 no. 5370227 Estimate: £20 - £120 |
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