The AV-1 is Canon's aperture-priority answer to the AE-1. Instead of choosing shutter speed first, you choose the aperture and the camera chooses the shutter speed.

AV refers to aperture value. The camera is designed around aperture-priority auto exposure, which is great for controlling depth of field.

Choose it if portraits, travel and general photography matter more than action. Aperture priority is a very natural way to shoot with prime lenses.

It is not a full manual exposure camera in the same way as an A-1. If you want lots of modes, choose the A-1; if you want simplicity, the AV-1 is lovely.

A Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 or 35mm lens pairs beautifully, because aperture priority lets you shape depth of field quickly.