This #ThrowbackThursday goes waay back. The Canon AE-1 Program was introduced in 1981, well before I was born, and was an immense success. Celebrated for its ease-of-use, large viewfinder and its extremely accurate "Program" or auto mode, this camera continues to be in the hands of amateurs and professionals who are looking to step away from digital and revisit the world of film photography.
When purchased as a kit, the AE-1 Program comes with a 50mm 1.8 FD prime lens. Keep in mind that the system dates before Canon's switch to EOS, so this lens will not be compatible with your digital body unless you get an adapter which will grant you limited functionality. Fortunately an inexpensive EOS version exists, which you can get on Amazon here.
The AE-1 Program's setup favors the aperture-priority setting. When you set your f-stop on the lens to "A" or auto, all you have to do is choose a shutter speed and go! Speeds go up to 1/1000 and the LCD indicator in the viewfinder will display the exposure and blink if settings need to be adjusted. Additionally, if you set the dial to "Program" the camera will figure out all of the settings for you... just snap and go! If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, take the f-stop setting off of "A" and try setting it yourself in full manual mode. The LCD will still display the recommended settings so you will know if you are following the meter or not.
The camera accepts your regular 35mm sized film. My personal recommendation is the Kodak Tri-X 400 film, which is good for photographing a variety of lighting situations and produces rich black and white tones. Color film also works spectacularly on this camera, and you can experiment with different types of film, expired film and double exposures.
The price of the Canon AE-1 can vary based on the vendor and the condition. Online, you can find them used for anywhere between 50-100 dollars in good condition. Adorama sells good-condition bodies for $74. Amazon and Ebay are also good sources and may include additional lenses, although there's always a risk when buying from potentially inexperienced sellers, so shop carefully and always read up on the seller's return policy! I got my own AE-1 Program at a local thrift store for $15 dollars in great condition. If you decide to go this route, make sure to inspect the camera thoroughly before purchasing.
Happy shooting!