It is not specifically strong and has a subtle graduation, but if you are looking for edge to edge constant exposure, this may not be to your taste. . Background and Identification. More than Canons, Olys or Ricohs of the same vintage I think. If youre anticipating something like this, buy the ones that will allow you to change your ISO up to ISO1000. F.A.Q. I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. I have a film roll that I use for testing, I ran it and made sure that everything works. Loading the film was quite easy. Their supply of Nikon L35AF has been depleted because youngsters all want them. Its possible that Nikon didnt fit a proper voltage regulator, maybe they didnt have the technical experience or opportunity to field test before release. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Theres no information about the shutters range but its assumed that it wont go very-fast and it doesnt support long-exposures either. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This might be because they use more metal components than most and so are more prone to seizure after years of inactivity. Unfortunately, nobody knows what the icons in the viewfinder means or what they represent. Thanks for the post eddie. Any idea what may cause the camera to automatically advance through the film roll? That, along with the Nikon & a Minolta AFZ, are probably my favourite point and shoots. It doesn't. If you want to buy me a beer or a roll of film then that would be great,too! Youll see a slight curving of the beams and thats it. Thank you for the great story behind your camera, I love to hear these. You must log in or register to reply here. Be sure to find those that will work with higher-ISO so you can push your film or shoot with a higher-ISO stock. When I clicked the shutter button down, the shutter clicked but the button. I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. The first results with that film reinforced what I had read. I have had this little point and shoot since 2017 and since YouTube is absolutely loving doing reviews on the best possible point and shoot and if it compares to your Leica M10, I thought it would be great to point out some other neat-o things about this camera. Change). I hope that helps! It has 85% coverage with 0.52x magnification. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I am a fan because it just feels right in my hands and, if the price of film was not a factor, it makes me want to take more photographs, more often. His excellent review spurred me to write a few notes on some simple but sometimes effective things to try if you find yourself with a less-than-top-notch Pikaichi. The L35AF always gets a bit dark at the corners, regardless of aperture. Or your batteries have expired. It was coined due to the quality of the lens design by the Nikon team. Even the later, improved models will do. On top of the camera is the on/off switch and shutter release button. It doesnt have a sleep-function so turn it off when youre not using it or the batteries will get exhausted easily. They insert easily enough, but the compartment feels like it can open or break very easily and takes a bit of effort to get it to stay in place. Heres another example of a tricky situation. Is it possible to disassemble the lens of the Nikon L35af and clean it? For me though, it really adds to the look. This was unfounded and incorrect. To keep the shutter open, depress the shutter button to activate it but dont let go so it wont advance and close the shutter. When I clicked the shutter button down, the shutter clicked but the button stays down. Most of the original L35s are very persnickety about power supply. See you again in the next article, Ric. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Unfortunately it wont be as accurate specially when youre shooting through glass or other things that dont have a distinct form or is tinier than the AF-point inside the viewfinder. Not so with the L35AF. As most compacts in that period utilised Tessar style lenses, the L35AF has a unique look to it. With the flash, compacts from the 1980s well into the 2000s had flash auto on as standard, which while annoying, you cannot point to one specific camera and say it is a build issue. It is not called that because it is a Pokmon. Putting all that together, I was quite excited to load it up and start using it. Im a big 60s/70s rangefinder fan and generally grab one of those for a pleasurable film photography experience. If you think that it has helped you or you want to show your support by helping with the sites upkeep, you can make a smalldonation to my paypal.com at richardHaw888@gmail.com. The pictures came back great as I didnt have a clue what I was doing. A version with an "autodate" function was . That was one of the days where my ex Mrs could be such a lovely person. Loading film is easy, you simply put the leader above the spool and close it and let the camera do its job winding to the 1st frame. The rest can be found under the frame-counter mechanism. So out of character was this move that Nikon tried to instead market this camera as "suitable for women." That really hurt to type. and our Anyway, getting back to the real world !! but do give these simple things a try firstif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'35mmc_com-box-3','ezslot_0',179,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-35mmc_com-box-3-0'); A stuck or unreliable shutter could be caused by any number of mechanical or electronic problems, especially if theres any evidence of past moisture damage, but it is worth a quick check of the battery contacts first. It's a compact point and shoot rangefinder, originally released in 1983. . The flashs GN is unknown but the user manual said that the flash is only able to give accurate exposures up to 4m at most. If you like Photo Thinking please support us on Ko-fi. Most people do not want to carry a big camera around but do like to have something which takes good quality photographs. I bought a broken L35AF in the hope to fix it. Apply the contact cement to the end that doesnt move. I dont know which spring this refers to. Digital Camera Camera Lens Camera Accessories Microscope Camera Flash. It is terrible, some of the worst Ive seen. They might go for around $100 used, so compare that to the cost of any repairs. Tonight, I would like to discuss a lens for different tastes that was not given the prefix "NIKKOR." It was a "Nikon lens" rather than "NIKKOR" that was mounted in Nikon's first AF point-and-shoot (lens shutter: also known as compact) camera. I am also glad the article inspired you to take the L35AF out again! Even if you did, it doesnt look bad at all and is actually quite tolerable. Where the Nikon L35AF tends to be uniformly excellent, image quality with the Canon ranges from great to substandard, depending on shooting conditions. Do not flush it with lighter fluid though. "Pikaichi" L35AF 35mm f/2.8. Its easy to misplace, Id advice applying a bit of contact cement to it so you wont lose it. I bought the second version with the extended ISO range to 1000 but with the same Sonnar lens when it first came out in the early 80s and have used it for my fishing trips before digital. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. You are of-course welcome to your opinions and recommendations, that is what makes this hobby interesting, and I would never suggest you dont share. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. But the first version had an increase to ISO 1000 during mid-production. I don't hear any noise like from the flash charging. They are even cheaper because nobody cares to look for them. 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. I had been wanting a L35AF for quite a while, but never seemed to find a deal which would be quite right. Before opening up anything, always look for other people who have done so in YouTube or the internet. If it wont rewind, look at the bottom-right part of the camera and see if anything is jammed. This was shot with ISO400, I was surprised that the flash didnt pop-up and the camera allowed me to shoot this with available-light. 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 . When I clicked the shutter button down, the shutter clicked but the button stays down. Operate it ang see if it works, the film should advance without problems and the viewfinder display should also indicate the correct distance. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. Press the film rewind button and rewind the film back into the cassette. Thanks again for your review and keep shooting/enjoying the Nikon. The battery door should be tight when closed, too. Be sure to confirm if everything works as they should before you reinstall the shell. It was therefore also the first in the L series. This is how the iris looks like, an elongated-diamond. I recently purchased a used L35AF and nothing actually happens when you turn it on. Pressing it all-the-way will adjust the focus and fire the shutter (and flash). Also read what I wrote about thetoolsthat youll need to fix yourNikkors. Ive tried cleaning the contacts and using new batteries. It has to supply enough current to keep the shutter open, and can't do it. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. I must of read somewhere before the trip to buy a yellow filter as its supposed to help with mono film. For a buck, display it as an art piece if you can't get it working. Next to it was sitting the L35AF and was being thrown in for free! I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A Nikon L35AF warming up under a halogen light. I know that you can only press the button when it gets power but i have new batteries and pressing down the batterie compartment didn't Help. I opened up the front of the camera but I can't see what would be blocking the shutter mechanism. I have a Fuji DL300 and that is a fine compact. Thats where the contacts and levers for rewinding is located, at least parts of it. It even survived getting soaked in a rain storm. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Nikon L35AF 35mm Point and Shoot Film Camera at the best online prices at eBay! It is Nikon's first compact automatic camera with an autofocus. It is a camera I have become very attached to. For more information, please see our In my camera shop, there's a rather sad rack of broken cameras that we use for parts, occasional repairs, and to remind us of the temporaneous nature of our mortal existence. I was nervous because I didnt know if I could trust the camera since it has no display to show you which settings its going to be using but it did the trick, most of the time. I wish I could say the same about the batteries. It was an immediate hit thanks to its robust design and excellent specification. The original L35AF lens used five elements in four groups, while the AF2 and AF3 used four elements in three groups. This site promotes the use of film so were all in this together. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. (Nikon should be covering this re-repair even if it is outside the warranty period. 5 out of 5 . Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation. 1980s and 90s compact cameras were generally built down to a price. But for some reason it has become the compact that I have become most attached to. My Nikon L35AF flash is stuck up and won't lock when pushed down. It exposed this quite well, I am impressed by how it was only off by a bit, maybe around 0.7 stops. For more advanced topics, you can read myfungus removalpost as a start. Three Top Options for the Best Nikon Landscape Lens, Glass Photo Prints (and Other Beautiful Print Options). with f/2.8 through to 1/430 sec. 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. Previous Repair: AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mmf/3.3-5.6G Next Repair: AF Zoom-Nikkor 24-50mmf/3.3-4.5. All photographs and text appearing on 35mmc.com are the exclusive property of the named author (except where stated otherwise) and are protected by copyright. Press the lever for the ND filter to move the tiny, smoky film over the slit to alter the meters reading. The only difference a Nikon L35AD has compared to the base-model is its inclusion of a date-back. Its easy to misplace, Id advice applying a bit of contact cement to it so you wont lose it. I can hear the flash power up if I hold it next to my ear; that's it.</p>. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. The L35AF looks like a brick, and I love it. If you want a cheaper deal find a Nikon L35AD instead. I picked up a filthy L35AF (iso 1000 version) at a car boot sale this morning for 2. I am not against this, in fact, its a sign of a healthy market. You could take it in for repair but honestly it won't be worth it. It will fail but when working, the images these plastic 1980s cameras make, provides a compelling reason to treasure them and keep them working (your Abandoned Chair picture showcases this point for me). Loosening the screws of the lens will enable you to adjust its focus. Nikon's first AF, AE 35mm (135) format lens-shutter camera, offering 35mm f/2.8 lens and 9 fully automatic features. Ive got a Nikon L35AD but the date display doesnt work. Nikon went big with this lens, in the sense that they used some of their tried and trusted techniques, dipping into their strengths. I believe I have the same problem with my one touch, ended up buying a second l35af until I have time to tinker with it more lol hfjh5 1 min. The L35AF opened the door for Nikon into the world of consumer point-and-shoots, the way the Yashica T2 and then T4 did for that company. Essilor vs Carl Zeiss which one is better? It should not blink slightly, look weak or have any unusual properties. It was an immediate hit thanks to its robust design and excellent specification. The potentiometer you see here adjusts the rangefinder, never alter it unless you know what you are doing. There are lots of more serious reasons why things might go wrong but its definitely worth checking the above (especially the battery bits) before opening or giving up on an L35AF. The flash also pops up when its needed. It feels like there is something solid blocking its path because it will go down a little bit and then stop. Later models have ISO up to 1000. Be careful with this, you may damage any of the delicate parts underneath it and jam the camera, making things worse. I recently took the Nikon One Touch L35AF2 on a trip overseas, and it has revealed itself to be a worthy companion. The minimum focus distance is 80cm. . Maybe it will help you, but the chances are something stick got into the shutter release button and has caused it to stick. Check what the lens actually sees by using. But when they did, they didn't screw around. It is not the smallest. How do I fix this? This is a labor of loveand I intend to keep it that way for as long as I can. The Nikon L35AF is a leaf shutter, auto focus, auto exposure 35mm compact camera sold in the early 1980s. I was expecting that this will be underexposed due to the lamp but it handled it well. Got a broken l35af and thought i can fix it (have done a few repairs before) but in this case i don't really know how i can fix this camera. It was released in 1983, a few years after Nikon's competitors had opened up the point and shoot market. You can choose from a large selection of Sony compact cameras, but not all are made alike. The camera has a 35mm, five element lens. Hi Sir Rick. Cookie Notice Check out this list of awesome gifts for photographers! It just a shame they dont produce cameras like it quite the same any more. A second thought. Carefully remove the top cover. Cookie Notice In recent years the Nikon L35AF has gained a bit of a cult status. The film ISO/ASA setting is controlled by a textured ring around the lens itself, which is inside the filter thread. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The Canon Rebel T5i is a budget-friendly entry-level DSLR. Find out more about 35mmc here. 7 6 6 comments Best Add a Comment The exposure is set automatically by the camera. The button still pops up, so I don't think it's a spring problem. The rangefinder is activated when half-press, it also stores exposure information at this point. if only it wasnt so darn noisy. I came across this copy online where the seller was selling a Nikon F65 (N65 in North America) with a kit lens for the ridiculously low price these sell for now. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The L35AF was Nikon's first compact camera with autofocus. If its old, expect issues. Thanks Frank and yes, it is a noisy one. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I risked it because the camera had been sitting unused and uncharged for a long time and because Im a fool. Its nonsense since the icons inside do not mean much, a human, 2-humans, 3-humans and a mountain range. What Are The Common Faults Of The Nikon L35AF Camera? Manage Settings When I clicked the shutter button down, the shutter clicked but the button stays down. Lets change topic while were looking at this. Id say that it handles distortion quite well judging from what we see in this photo. Nikon released it in 1983 and nicknamed it Pikaichi which means "top notch" in Japanese. Nikon L35AF ; Nikon Categories. Hi Richard, thanks for the in depth review. Its a handsome camera, the body shell was designed by no other than Giorgetto Giugiaro himself so it incorporated some of his design philosophies that you could see in a Nikon F3. Ive got an as is ebay L35AF that is a little wonky that Im going to try these repairs on. I took it apart and didn't see anything off inside. This is respectable but you should assume that it will deplete the batteries faster since older cameras tend to suck power more than new ones thanks to corrosion. Most other places would charge you $7.50 for a electronic copy. Id appreciate it more if the display shows numbers instead because the icons could mean anything. Cult Classic! I've done multiple successfully repairs but this one is quite difficult. L35s are also a very sociable camera, they hate dark cupboards. Please confirm it with a photograph. Nikon Corporation, known just as Nikon, is a Japanese company specializing in optics and imaging products. The lens appears to be lovely, with a lot of character but I wont rate it close to the Nikkors. Thanks!