Cookie Notice The Nikon L35AF is a leaf shutter, auto focus, auto exposure 35mm compact camera sold in the early 1980s. Best of all, the camera is plentiful and available for a reasonable price on eBay and elsewhere. Heres another example that implies that the autofocus, focusing and metering modules communicate. It is designed for an ISO range from 50 to 1000. Authorized Photo Service Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain OP Missouri_Skies Forum Member Posts: 53 The L35AF is a simple auto everything camera but you can at least prevent the flash from firing by pushing it down once it pops up. Stick a toothpick here to keep the shutter from closing. The Nikon L35AF/AD was sold from 1983 to about a few years after that since newer, improved models were introduced frequently to keep the market interested. Here is the problem. The lens in both makes this line very special. It is terrible, some of the worst Ive seen. Loading film is by opening the back, inserting the 35mm cartridge and pulling out the film leader to the red mark. There are two ways to experience 35mmc without the adverts: Paid Subscription - 2.99 per month and youll never see an advert again! The 5-elements-in-4-groups design is tiny and bright, achieving a maximum aperture of f/2.8 when most compacts of its time only get to f/3.5 or smaller. You've already got an L35AF, with its cheap battery door with the live plastic hinge that gives out over time. Heres what you should do to check or fix the focus. Focus on something and depress the shutter button. Im actually impressed by it, the results remind me of older Nikons or maybe a bit better in some cases. They will only charge you for the number of prints they print from the roll. It even survived getting soaked in a rain storm. I was hooked on this camera. Not quite as bad as the Canon AF35 Autoboys from the same era theyre like Godzilla cutting up Tokyo with a giant angle grinder then cackling about it. *Please check photos . Best of all, you can get gorgeous prints without breaking the bank! To know more about the optical design, read Nikons official article about this camera. Its capable but its lack of resolving power made it appear less than what it shouldve been. Theres also a self-timer lever, a mandatory feature for all compact cameras. Now check the batteries after you have pressed the shutter release button again. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The Nikon L35AF may not be the most advanced compact camera. It was the first Touch camera for Nikon and was followed by many, like the Action-Touch (waterproof), Fun-Touch (really . Sometimes theres a built-in battery that can give quite a shock. Does it just involve carefully resoldering it? Recharge battery message, use one of the suggested methods to tackle this problem. It was the first Touch camera for Nikon and was followed by many, like the Action-Touch (waterproof), Fun-Touch (really basic point and shoot) and several zooming Touch models. It uses 2 AA batteries, a fresh pair will last you 100 rolls when not using the flash and merely 10 rolls when its fired every frame according to the user manual. I started getting these "shutter error, press shutter release" messages. With that said, I think it is good-enough for quick snap-shots of moving subjects so long as youre careful. Youll have to test these thoroughly before you buy them to make sure that nothing is wrong. or $18.00 for a hard to read Xerox copy. . Someone on this forum may have done that and be able to advise on specifics. The L35AF has become my go-to camera over the months that I have had it. How to take a picture of a blood super moon with Nikon D3300 with 55- 200mm lens? Flash exposure appears to be spot-on which suggests that the camera is intelligent-enough and it couples the autofocus module to the flash. The shutter button refuses to go down even a halfway. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I took it apart and didn't see anything off inside. Hi Eddy, I got the younger brother L35AD 2 from a flea market a month ago. This is not the camera to use with lowlight situations. I've recently got my scuba diving license. Its also coupled to the iris module, ensuring accurate exposure within the 4m-range. Thanks, Tim. The L35AF was Nikon's first compact camera with autofocus. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. Id say that it handles distortion quite well judging from what we see in this photo. Loosen the screws of the lens and adjust its focus. The hit rate with the focus is actually really good for such an early auto focus camera. So out of character was this move that Nikon tried to instead market this camera as "suitable for women." That really hurt to type. I highly recommend that you read myworking with helicoidspost because this is very important and getting it wrong can ruin your day. . They might go for around $100 used, so compare that to the cost of any repairs. The battery door should be tight when closed, too. Privacy Policy. once in my experience) a dodgy connection between the flash and the rest of the circuitry caused an erratic shutter. Theres a small spring at the bottom-right corner that is connected to the lever for rewind. It was because it did not carry the Nikkor branding. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. I have used the backlight compensation on a couple of occasions, and this has also helped in the strong sunshine in Sydney during the day when shooting upwards. That was one of the days where my ex Mrs could be such a lovely person. The film only advances AFTER you take the picture and release the shutter button. Flushing it and applying a little bit of oil helped. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MINT Nikon L35AF L35 AF Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera w/ Batteries - Film Test at the best online prices at eBay! 35mmc have a great quick read inThe Nikon L35AF a mini review by Giacomo Zema. Dont forget which one came from where since not all of them are identical. This camera doesnt feel the same for me without that in place. HOW TO SOLVE NIKON D3100 SHUTTER PROBLEM | NIKON D3100 REPAIRING | ADNAN CAMERA INFO How to solve Canon 600D Card Problem | Card slot repair | Canon EOS 6. My L35AF had a lot of corrosion around the area where the rewind mechanism is located, so it got stuck. This is how it looks like at its worst. Very bad built quality, cannot recommend this camera at all. This camera is larger than other popular compacts, not really a pocket camera. It appears that the camera will retain what it saw at the time you half-press the button, locking focus and exposure settings. It has subsequently become a cult classic among collectors. When I taught 35mm film photography, I loaned these inexpensive Nikon compact cameras to students who . I got the Nikon L35AF as a bonus when I bought another camera. This link really helped. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I have a NIKON D5000 AND D3100. That was my understanding too, which when referring to lens I indicated both, not all three. Theres another one underneath the front cover. The Nikon L35AF is something the size of an ice cream sandwich. I have an LF35AF and its remembered as the camera I used to shoot my 1st black and white film at the Emirates cable car going over the Thames to the London O2. Yes, suddenly there was automatic operation in what felt like tiny cameras! Nikon L35AF - Camera Nikon's first autofocus compact camera, released in 1983. Its always hit-or-miss when it comes to repairing compacts because youll never know if it will work unless it has been tested in real-world use. f youre having problems with your shutter or motor the chances are youll have to open the camera up for prodding/adjusting/cleaning etc. If youre a Nikon shooter, that means investing in the right Nikon Landscape lens for your imagery. There was even a waterproof version in 1986, the L35AWAF. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. You did mention the one thing that really attracts people to this camera, the lens. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Just in case it was a partially cocked shutter wind on problem. Putting all that together, I was quite excited to load it up and start using it. This copy has a UV filter fitted. 1980s and 90s compact cameras were generally built down to a price. Open the back door by pressing a small button on the back-door and see if they are any internal damages to light seals, backdoor, pressure plate and cartridge chamber Turn on camera and press the shutter speed if it is working properly (Click here to hear how shutter click should sound - Starts at 4:15 min) In recent years the Nikon L35AF has gained a bit of a cult status. It is a good thing because it keeps the industry alive and the appreciation for older equipment ensures that the little mom-and-pop shops selling used cameras stay open. I don't hear any noise like from the flash charging. Its nonsense since the icons inside do not mean much, a human, 2-humans, 3-humans and a mountain range. Free shipping for many products! When I am wanting a compact camera, where I do not want to think about process much, it tends to be on top of my list. Operate the delayed action function. Also used a L35AW AF and that one is much better built and nicer to use, its lens is not 5 elements though Actually most impressed by another brand first compact AF camera from 1983: the Fujica DL100, which has a sturdy battery door, better on/off switch, and a flash that doesnt automatically pop up all the time. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The battery door is a bit flimsy on most plastic-bodied cameras from the 1980s and the L35 is no exception if your shutter is temperamental even with new and powerful alkaline batteries try pressing on the battery door and retesting if that makes a difference either shim the batteries with a bit of folded tinfoil or build up the contacts themselves with a few drops of solder . Which Sony Compact Camera is Best for Travel Photography? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I went to go shoot the shutter and it wouldn't fire, the auto focus only went to the first icon in the viewfinder but . Here is the problem. I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. This is a labor of loveand I intend to keep it that way for as long as I can. This is the capacitor, careful when touching anything close to this thing as it will definitely give you a shock. Hello! The meter has been able to handle most conditions including fog in the morning. The L35AF rewinds the film, but leaves the little leader out, which is fantastic if you would like to try and do some double exposures. I was wondering what is involved in fixing the dodgy connection between the flash and the rest of the circuitry you mention in the article? Nikon released it in 1983 and nicknamed it Pikaichi which means "top notch" in Japanese. Nikon L35AF 3 Pikaichi RARE 35mm f/2.8 Lens | FILM TESTED | TOP10 of the best Point & Shoot film cameras ad vertisement by RetrostShop Ad from shop RetrostShop RetrostShop From shop RetrostShop. Previous Repair: AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mmf/3.3-5.6G Next Repair: AF Zoom-Nikkor 24-50mmf/3.3-4.5. Initially there was some concern and rumours that the lens on this camera was not manufactured by Nikon. The on/off switch is considered one of the cameras weaknesses as it has been reported to break by some users. It takes a couple of minutes to look for one in the unorganized heap of old, junk cameras, that is if they still have any in the shop. batteries are hard to get." Ok, so grab your TV remote, pull out the two AA's in there and plug'em into your Nikon . And if you do decide that you need to open one up make sure you pause to admire the innards. It seems to behave a bit like the Nikon F3 in this respect. Thanks for the article, its very helpful. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. For that visually pleasing, yet imperfect analogue look, collectors of mechanical rangefinder cameras, like myself, can pay dearly for Leica and L39 mount glass based on similar lens designs. Its slow, winding takes about a second or so and rewinding is a lot slower compared to a Nikon F4. This photo demonstrates how inadequate the resolution can be at times. Cheers again and I hope you have some luck with your camera. The two issues I seem to be having with the L35AF are that it will pop the flash up when focusing regardless of whether or not the exposure calls for it and then refuse to press the rest of the way down and take the photo. This included the L35AD (autodate) and led into the .Touch series. For a buck, display it as an art piece if you can't get it working. It is Nikon's first compact automatic camera with an autofocus. Removing this clip with allow you to free the power witch. Its also wider than many of its peers which makes it even more versatile. L35s are also a very sociable camera, they hate dark cupboards. I picked up a filthy L35AF (iso 1000 version) at a car boot sale this morning for 2. Whats peculiar about this is its lens, its a Sonnar-type, something you dont see much in compact cameras. Once theyre going they usually stay going as long as they see the light every now and then. I have a L35AF, and the shutter doesnt release unless I remove the batteries. Operate it ang see if it works, the film should advance without problems and the viewfinder display should also indicate the correct distance. First of all the fault aren't the batteries, they're new and fully charged. The motor does just fine when Im taking photos, however when the roll is finished and I try to rewind it can only muster rewinding a few frames. Im having trouble with the motor and I wanted to take a look, but I cant open it past the L frame that houses the flash capacitor and count wheel. I wish I could say the same about the batteries. You may like it depending on how much you pay for your coffee and how many letters its name contains. Not even the quietest (not even close). I've had two L35AF's but never experienced that problem. Run a test-roll with it if youre allowed to test it before you buy it. Landscape photography requires certain gear to get the best results. Happy hunting. Data Recovery Tool. #1 I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. Youll have to adjust the dial yourself and see how high it goes because theres no visual indication apart from that. . Find out more about 35mmc here. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Stick a toothpick to the hole described earlier. It feels like there is something solid blocking its path because it will go down a little bit and then stop. It appears that the camera will choose a higher-speed if the flash pops-up. For all the negative comments Ive read, we shouldnt forget that the L35AF is nearly 40 years old. It was released in 1983, a few years after Nikon's competitors had opened up the point and shoot market. If it is a known distance such as infinity, look at viewfinder. Here is a link to its user manual. This site earns around $1.10 a day, its totally reliant on views. Ive got an as is ebay L35AF that is a little wonky that Im going to try these repairs on. See which one is the best in this guide! Delicious, fun, a bit quirky. About Us . You can choose from a large selection of Sony compact cameras, but not all are made alike. Mirrorless Cameras. This is a 3-step-sequence that many people who program user-interfaces are familiar with (like Qt and ScriptUI). Ric. Ive recently acquired an L35AF with the same issue, very clean otherwise. Adding a dot of solder to the battery contact. This is a simple camera but its not easy to diagnose it. At least the wind motor on the Nikon doesnt run until *after* youve released the button. I would appreciate it if you just leave out your nameordetails like your countrys name or other information so that the donations will totally be anonymous.