Canon AL-1 - 1982
• Canon's first focus-assist SLR
• $466 with 50mm f1.8 lens in 1982 ($1053 in 2010 dollars)
The AL-1 was Canon's response to the Pentax ME-F: not autofocusing, but rather with an electronic indicator that showed when the image was in focus.
As the Modern Photography article below explains, the AL-1 doesn't provide an accurate focusing indication any closer than what the depth-of-field would be for f4. But, it works very well for telephoto lenses. In fact, my old 100-200mm f5.6 zoom (which I bought in the late 1970s) is difficult to focus manually with a rangefinder focusing screen (on an F-1, say), but the AL-1 indicator is very effective.
Read More• $466 with 50mm f1.8 lens in 1982 ($1053 in 2010 dollars)
The AL-1 was Canon's response to the Pentax ME-F: not autofocusing, but rather with an electronic indicator that showed when the image was in focus.
As the Modern Photography article below explains, the AL-1 doesn't provide an accurate focusing indication any closer than what the depth-of-field would be for f4. But, it works very well for telephoto lenses. In fact, my old 100-200mm f5.6 zoom (which I bought in the late 1970s) is difficult to focus manually with a rangefinder focusing screen (on an F-1, say), but the AL-1 indicator is very effective.
