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 you pick this one up you know it's 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, is a good example of a similar camera that 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 from this camera
Specifications:
- Type of Camera
- 35mm leaf-shutter camera with automatic: focus, exposure, flash control, film load, film wind, film rewind and rewind stop
- Film
- Cartridge-packed 35mm film
- Picture Format
- 24mm x 36mm
- Lens
- Nikon lens 35mm f/2.8, five elements in four groups; 46mm filter attachment size
- Shutter
- Programmed electronic shutter; also serves as diaphragm blades
- Viewfinder
- Reverse-Galilean Albada-type bright-frame viewfinder; 0.52X magnification; approx. 85% (at infinity) frame coverage; -1 dioptry
- Viewfinder Information
- Picture frame marks, parallax compensation frame marks, autofocus frame marks, focus symbols and focus indicator needle
- Focusing
- Active autofocus system (0.8m to infinity); focus locks when shutter release button is depressed halfway
- Exposure Metering
- Using CdS, programmed automatic exposure control from EV 6 (f/2.8 at 1/8 sec.) to EV 17 (f/17.5 at 1/430 sec.) with ASA/ISO 100 film
- Backlight Compensation Lever
- Approx. +2 EV when backlight compensation lever is held down while shutter release button is depressed
- Film Speed Range
- ASA/ISO 50 to 1000
- Film Loading
- Easy load system, automatically advances to first frame when shutter release button is depressed once
- Film Advance
- Automatically advances one frame when shutter release button is released; 0.8 seconds per frame*; automatically stops when all frames have been exposed
- Film Rewinding
- Via sliding rewind lock switch and rewind button; approx. 20 sec.* per 24-exposure roll; automatically stops when film is rewound
- Frame Counter
- Additive type; automatically resents to "S" when camera back is opened; counts back while film is rewinding
- Self-Timer
- Activated when self-timer lever is set and shutter release button is depressed; 10-second delay with indicator light
- Built-In Flash
- Automatic pop-up type with ready-light; guide number 10 (ASA/ISO 100, m), 16 (ASA/ISO 25, ft.); shutter locks if flash is not charged; recycling time approx. 7 sec.*
- Battery Life
- Approx. 100 rolls* of 24-exposure film (without flash); approx. 10 rolls* of 24-exposure film (with flash for each exposure); shutter release locks when batteries are exhausted
- Power Source
- Two 1.5V alkaline-manganese AA-type batteries (NiCd batteries cannot be used)
- Dimensions
- 124mm(W) x 73mm(H) x 45.5mm(D)
- Weight
- Approx. 345g (without batteries)
*with fresh alkaline-manganese batteries at normal tempertures
Thanks James for scanning and mailing me the specs!!
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