Canon AV-1

{"overview":"The Canon AV-1 is a 35mm SLR introduced in 1979, using the FD lens mount and offering aperture-priority automatic exposure. Because these are wholesale auction figures rather than retail prices, dealer or private-sale asking prices are usually higher than what the camera fetches under the hammer.","buying_guide":"Inspect the foam light seals and mirror damper, which perish on cameras of this era, and listen for the well-known Canon \"squeak\" from a dry shutter\/mirror mechanism — a sign service is due. Confirm the meter responds and the auto-exposure system steps the shutter speed as you change aperture; the AV-1 relies on a 6V battery (4LR44\/A544) and will not fire correctly without one. Outfits with a 50mm FD lens tend to sell at the upper end of that range."},{"q":"Is the Canon AV-1 worth buying?","a":"For a beginner who wants aperture-priority shooting on a budget, the AV-1 offers good value given how cheaply clean examples change hands and the abundance of affordable FD lenses. Factor in the cost of a CLA if the shutter is sluggish or squeaks."},{"q":"What battery does the Canon AV-1 use?","a":"It uses a single 6V battery (4LR44 or A544 equivalent), and the auto-exposure system will not function correctly without a fresh cell."}],"confidence":70,"reasoning":"Fourteen UK auction records give a reliable price picture, and the AV-1's format, mount, introduction year and aperture-priority operation are well-established public facts."}

Generated summary, 19 Apr 2026 — not checked by hand; prices on this page come from the sales, not from this text.