Hello! The film ISO/ASA setting is controlled by a textured ring around the lens itself, which is inside the filter thread. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Next to the switch is the frame counter, under a clear window. Loading the film was quite easy. Thank you so much for this article. Then I crossed my fingers and hoped it was working. I was hooked on this camera. Stick a toothpick here to keep the shutter from closing. Also read what I wrote about thetoolsthat youll need to fix yourNikkors. Nice write-up and thank you for sharing this link. Today, Ill introduce to you something that represents this social phenomenon, it was something that people forgot but kids these days remind us of what used to be precious and how photography is supposed to be enjoyed. On top of the camera is the on/off switch and shutter release button. Cult Classic! Maybe I am just seeing optical illusions but if I were to choose, Id say that its more of a shallow barrel-type one. use either dielectric grease sold in auto parts stores or high grade silicone grease sold in scuba shops and use VERY sparingly. Where the Nikon L35AF tends to be uniformly excellent, image quality with the Canon ranges from great to substandard, depending on shooting conditions. The lens is indeed a masterpiece in its class. Youll see a slight curving of the beams and thats it. Don't let the "Nikon" brand deceive you. I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. Most people do not want to carry a big camera around but do like to have something which takes good quality photographs. This adds roughly 2 stops of exposure. Im pretty excited. Releasing it will cause the film to advance. Be sure to find those that will work with higher-ISO so you can push your film or shoot with a higher-ISO stock. 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. Less typically (ie. Chromatic and spherical aberration can be easily-seen in this photo. When I press the shutter down, the self-timer light turns on and the camera freezes. 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. "Pikaichi" L35AF 35mm f/2.8. It loads the film and winds on after a photo. I'M trying to take professional homecoming pictures. The on/off switch is considered one of the cameras weaknesses as it has been reported to break by some users. 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. but do give these simple things a try first, Contribute to 35mmc for an Ad-Free Experience-, frustrating experience with a Nikon L35-AF, How I Removed a Cracked, Stuck-On Lens Filter By Frank H. Wu, Fixing an Ailing Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B SLR By Dave Powell, Fixing a detached rewind lever on a Petri Color 35, http://theshuttergoesclick.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/nikon-l35af-shutter-release-and-onoff.html, Discovering the professional scan - Guest post by Frank Lehnen, Ricoh R1 Review (Rollei Prego Micron) An overlooked achiever - by Benn, Camera, Lens, Film and Peripheral Kit Reviews. The only advantage to the 17-35mm AF-S is a lack of corner falloff (darkening) and closer focusing. For more information, please see our The lens in both makes this line very special. It has to supply enough current to keep the shutter open, and can't do it. This was unfounded and incorrect. It doesn't. When replacing the front cover be sure to align the slot of the ISO-dial to its corresponding post. Other manufacturers made early-advances with their all-automatic cameras and Nikon had to join the race in order to show them who was the boss back then. So Eddy, you might have opened a can of wormsI was just asked on facebook for a guide to opening the camera up to get inside , Hee hee I used this guide when I opened my first one:http://theshuttergoesclick.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/nikon-l35af-shutter-release-and-onoff.html. Most of the original L35s are very persnickety about power supply. It just a shame they dont produce cameras like it quite the same any more. Change the seals with new ones if theyre dry or corroded. This camera doesnt feel the same for me without that in place. Ric. I had been wanting a L35AF for quite a while, but never seemed to find a deal which would be quite right. Best of all, the camera is plentiful and available for a reasonable price on eBay and elsewhere. Manage Settings Its possible that Nikon didnt fit a proper voltage regulator, maybe they didnt have the technical experience or opportunity to field test before release. I suggest that you read these primers before you begin (for beginners): Reading these should lessen the chance of ruining your lens if you are a novice. The button is very easy to feel where it is focus locking, which is a relief as some cameras I struggle to find it and accidentally shoot the frame when I am not ready. 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. Here is the problem. Thank you very much for your continued support! It was an immediate hit thanks to its robust design and excellent specification. Apply the contact cement to the end that doesnt move. I dont know which spring this refers to. It seems to behave a bit like the Nikon F3 in this respect. 1980s and 90s compact cameras were generally built down to a price. jammed? It is Nikon's first compact automatic camera with an autofocus. It is terrible, some of the worst Ive seen. The Leica M11 is just one model worth considering for your photographic needs. When the shutter is stuck in the down-position one thing you should look at is the part behind the depressor. That was my understanding too, which when referring to lens I indicated both, not all three. It has a lever to the side of the front barrel, you depress it in backlit situations in order to force a +2.0 reading which is helpful. I havent investigated the option of converting the lens on my broken L35AF for use on another camera but from what I have read, there is an afterlife for this amazing Sonnar design. Sharpness appears to be excellent specially when stopped-down. With the release button located on the top panel surrounded by the on/off switch and a hand grip on the right side of the camera, the Nikon SLR L35AF is comfortable to hold and maneuver. Wonderful article. I have a film roll that I use for testing, I ran it and made sure that everything works. The minimum focus distance is 80cm. 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. I have a L35AF, and the shutter doesnt release unless I remove the batteries. I hope that helps! The Nikon L35AF is a perfect example. When I taught 35mm film photography, I loaned these inexpensive Nikon compact cameras to students who . It's 2020 and the price of the Nikon L35AF is rising. Once Im satisfied with everything its time to put all of the parts back. Then, you can aim the camera where you'd like to take an exposure reading, press the shutter half-way, and it will lock in the exposure and focus. Hi Eddy, I got the younger brother L35AD 2 from a flea market a month ago. Id appreciate it more if the display shows numbers instead because the icons could mean anything. <p>When you depress the shutter release the AF will kick in with a needle visible in the viewfinder. Reading some of the other comments on here. Or should it safe to follow your way? Initially there was some concern and rumours that the lens on this camera was not manufactured by Nikon. The potentiometer you see here adjusts the rangefinder, never alter it unless you know what you are doing. 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. Can I become a pro photographer in India if I tried? As I like pushing film, I choose the version that lets one select ISOs up to 1000 over the version that tops out at 400. 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. The spring allows the chrome arm to return when the rewind function is disengaged. Interestingly, rather than the usual Tessar style design this lens has a Sonnar design. When I shake it I usually get a few more, but never more than a quarter of the roll gets rewound. Can the Nikon D3100 charge through the computer? And it's fast, too, with an F2.8 aperture that lets in loads of light for cameras in its class. Trigger the flash by covering the meters window with your finger and see if it fires once the ready-light is lit. Powered by Invision Community. Theres a small spring at the bottom-right corner that is connected to the lever for rewind. You mentioned that it was a bit stiff before but it worked Sounds like the effect of dirt (air borne dust setting in the shutter lubrication oil OR some air borne dust or dirt or grime from fingers finally got into the shutter release button shaft and hardened). The shutter button refuses to go down even a halfway. 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. Maybe trying a really small amount of light watch oil under the metal to make sure it's not sticking to the brass plate under it. Key Features. When I clicked the shutter button down, the shutter clicked but the button stays down. The button still pops up, so I don't think it's a spring problem. Be careful opening electronics. It is designed for an ISO range from 50 to 1000. In the late 1970s the compact camera market started its trajectory into being the dominant camera form factor in terms of sales volumes. The first roll I used was Kodak Pro Image 100, a film at the time I had to specially order as it was only available for the South American market but still inexpensive. 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 flash pops-up when the shutter-speed is too-low but you could trick it by covering the meters window and depress the shutter-button. Its not bad but it looks rather cheap if you ask me. Its also coupled to the iris module, ensuring accurate exposure within the 4m-range. On the front right top corner is the self timer lever. As well as I understand it, the battery test for these cameras is, if it works the battery is good. One of my favorite cameras. But when they did, they didn't screw around. Film after film, I have been impressed with the results. Im actually impressed by it, the results remind me of older Nikons or maybe a bit better in some cases. Have you removed batteries? Your safety is also at risk, you may get shocked and cause something fatal if you have a condition may not be aware of. 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! See which one is the best in this guide! The exposure is set automatically by the camera. This wheel can be accessed on many Nikon cameras by removing the floor plate . Unloading is initiated by a two step button/switch process at the bottom of the camera, next to the tripod thread. The Panasonic Lumix GH5 might be nearly six years old, but when it arrived in 2017, it had incredible features, particularly for video. It was unscientific trial and error and on a beater of a camera that was more or less unusable probably wouldnt have done it otherwise. Their supply of Nikon L35AF has been depleted because youngsters all want them. The human-icon corresponds roughly to 1m and the one with 3-humans is probably around 3m and the mountains mean infinity according to my experience with it. Check if the focus is accurate or at the very least, acceptable. Free shipping for many products! This is how it looks like with the flash on-and-off. Later models have ISO up to 1000. It has 85% coverage with 0.52x magnification. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. After seeing this I hope that I convinced you that this is not a job for a beginner. All seems normal, but the viewfinder bit foggy inside. Luckily, both cameras work perfectly. 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. If you find this manual useful, how about a donation of $3 to: M. Butkus, 29 Lake Ave., High Bridge, NJ 08829-1701. and send your e-mail address so I can thank you. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site relies heavily on traffic and clicks, downloading my work will prevent me from earning a few more cents! How does the shutter button come off when disassembling the camera? The original L35AF lens used five elements in four groups, while the AF2 and AF3 used four elements in three groups. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. |Nikon L35AF | Kodak Portra 400 Change). In this Panasonic GH6 review, youll learn about the essential specs and features that make it a high-quality option for photo and video work, including superb image quality and a great price! It feels like there is something solid blocking its path because it will go down a little bit and then stop. There was never a run of L35AF2s with the Sonnar lens to my knowledge. Glass photo prints are an unusual and beautiful way to display your photos. Nikon went big with this lens, in the sense that they used some of their tried and trusted techniques, dipping into their strengths. You are also helping me purchase, process and scan film. The Nikon FE has a nice set of features, it has automatic exposure and speeds from B up to 1/1000s, the flash sync's at 1/125s which is decent compared to the Nikon F3's 1/80s. I knew of the forums where there is a following due to the rendering of the lens by being a wide angle Sonnar design. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. The cover of the compartment is the second weak spot of the camera, in that it is well known to break off or just not close. 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! It is not stuck up, like most problems are, but the button is stuck down and will not come back up. Anyway, getting back to the real world !! The Canon Rebel T5i is a budget-friendly entry-level DSLR. Or, if you want it working, look into sending it to an authorized service center for a refurb. For a review of a camera which is a direct and close descendant of the L35AF readMike Eckmans review of the Nikon One.Touch AF3. Some other automatic compacts which have been reviewed here include theNikon Lite.Touch 140 Zoom, theCanon Sure Shot 70 Zoom, and theCanon Sure Shot A1. Recharge battery message, use one of the suggested methods to tackle this problem. 2012-2022 ManualsLib. Whats peculiar about this is its lens, its a Sonnar-type, something you dont see much in compact cameras. 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 minimum distance to the subject is 80 cm. Analog Workflow Forums (100% Analog/Traditional). About this time, the market started maturing, with an established set of features. James Tocchio of Casual Photophile has written a very enjoyable review inNikon L35AF Japans Pikaichi Point and Shoot. Bas, you are correct that they moved to a tessar, but like Ed I understood there was a run of L35AF2s with the Sonnar. Its this version Im referring to and is identical to the original camera including the Sonnar lens and the ability to take filters. Theres a spring underneath the button so be careful not to misplace it. Cookie Notice Helping support this site will ensure that this will be kept going as long as I have the time and energy for this. And as with most compacts, if youre having problems with your shutter or motor the chances are youll have to open the camera up for prodding/adjusting/cleaning etc. Privacy Policy. How Much Does Professional Photography Cost? Disengage the flash by its lock, it should charge the capacitor if its exhausted. Thanks for the article, its very helpful. But recently the shutter button jammed completely and I can't press down and I can't turn the camera on and of without a whole lot of force. First of all the fault aren't the batteries, they're new and fully charged. Here is a link to its user manual. Between its striking boxy looks, the great results from the reliability of the exposure meter and the look from this lens, this is a camera I can recommend anytime! Cheers Wyatt. I opened up the front of the camera but I can't see what would be blocking the shutter mechanism. Problem: The L35AF won't turn. Ive found the trusty yellow filter too. It is motorized and has auto-focus and auto-exposure features. The L35 was a 35 mm P&S camera and should not have cost you more than $10. I was expecting that this will be underexposed due to the lamp but it handled it well. Surprisingly, the flash will only go off in bright daylight. You can choose from a large selection of Sony compact cameras, but not all are made alike. Great little classic. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Find out more about 35mmc here. I've done multiple successfully repairs but this one is quite difficult. This included the L35AD (autodate) and led into the .Touch series. That could be stuck half way through its cycle. 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. My Nikon L35AF flash is stuck up and won't lock when pushed down. A funny old camera. This is a simple camera but its not easy to diagnose it. It comprises of 5 elements in 4 groups. You can also shoot with it in lowlight without the flash by depressing it so it wont pop-up but the results wont be as good because you are overriding what the camera thinks will give an optimal exposure. Nikon released it in 1983 and nicknamed it Pikaichi which means "top notch" in Japanese. 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. It has subsequently become a cult classic among collectors. I have the same problem, if you find a way to solve it I would really appreciate it if you shared it. You did mention the one thing that really attracts people to this camera, the lens. (All pics: Lucy Lumen) A long time ago I dreamed of owning a Yashica T4 or maybe even a Contax T2.This is a shared camera dream, one that has become more like a fantasy in recent years due to the ever-increasing popularity and price of these aspirational point-and-shoot film cameras.