Nikon L35AF
The L35AF, launched in 1983, was Nikon's first entry into the auto-focus point-and-shoot market. This wonderful shooter featured a very sharp 35mm/2.8 lens. This was another camera I rescued from my local thrift store. I don't remember now what I paid for it, but it was out on the shelf with other cheap plastic point and shoots - so no doubt it cost me about $6 or so. But being on that shelf with other modern cheapie cameras is the only thing is has in common with them - as soon as I picked this on up, I knew it was a high quality camera.
LIKES: nice sharp 35mm 2.8 lens; very solid feel, yet still small enough to slip into a coat pocket; on/off switch surrounding shutter-release button; focus distance indicator appears in viewfinder (very slick); ASA is manually adjustable up to 1000*; accepts 46mm filters which are still commonly available; takes two standard AA batteries.
*Apparently only later models went to 1000 ASA. Earlier models stopped at 400 ASA. I was lucky enough to have stumbled on the later model, so I can take indoor shots using 800 film without a flash - NICE!
DISLIKES: the only real complaint I can come up with on this one is that the flash pops up automatically in low-light situations. I tend to prefer cameras that allow the photographer to make that choice. The Yashica Auto Focus Motor-D, from the same time period, leaves flash activation up to the photographer.
Above: L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine, with giant boot. Shot with a Nikon L35AF and Kodak Ultramax 400 color print film.
View gallery of sample images for this camera
I will post full specs if I can find them or lay my hands on a manual for this camera.
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