The Canon AE-1 was an interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by Canon Camera K. K. (today Canon Incorporated) in Japan from April 1976 to 1984.

It used an electronically-controlled, electromagnet horizontal cloth focal plane shutter of rather aged design (even for the day), with a speed range of 2 to 1/1000th second plus Bulb and flash X-sync of 1/60th second. The camera body was 87 mm tall, 141 mm wide, and 48 mm deep; it weighed 590 g. Most were black with chrome trim, but some were all black.

The AE-1 is a historically significant SLR, though not necessarily because of any major technological firsts (although it was the first microprocessor CPU-equipped SLR). Its notability is based in its sales. Backed by a major advertising campaign, the AE-1 sold five million units, an unprecedented success in the SLR market.

The AE-1 has a Canon FD breech-lock lens mount and accepts any FD or New FD (FDn) lens. It is not compatible with Canon's later Canon EF lens mount, though adapters made by independent manufacturers can be found. Original FD lenses, introduced in 1971, did not rotate in the mounting process; instead, a locking ring at the base was turned to attach the lens.

This was often criticised as being slower and more awkward than the bayonet mounts of competing cameras. In 1976, in addition to the AE-1, Canon also introduced the New FD series of lenses that rotate the whole lens barrel to lock. During the late 1970s, there were approximately 40 Canon FD lenses available for purchase.

They ranged from a Fisheye FD 15 mm f/2.8 SSC to a FD 800 mm f/5.6 SSC.

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