NIKON L35AF - The Perfect Point and Shoot?

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

I bought an L35 AF some years ago for less than 5 pounds here in Brasil. The seller delayed to ship it hoping that I would give up, for he noticed that it was very cheap. I haven't loaded any film on it yet. I am impressed by the quality of the photos you took with it. I hope it will do well on Fuji and Kodak films, for these I have. You showed a tiny Rollei point and shoot. I have some and the ones I like a lot are the Olympus Trip and Pen EES 2. Thanks for the video.

[@chriscaarnold]

I just got given a mint one of these So doing a lil research. Thanks for the video

[@pdtech4524]

Nice little camera, I like the focus indicator. 👍 The AA battery usage is always a plus.

[@clean.parker]

I actually had one of these packed away for years (I'm the second owner). I haven't used it, so I'm not sure if it has issues. It's extremely clean, so I'm hoping it will work without fail. I had a DSLR in my KEH account, but I will most likely buy film and batteries instead . The photographs you took with yours are beautiful, so I'm pretty excited to get out there and see what I can do. Thank you for posting this video, it was extremely helpful.

[@wandering_seconds9741]

I sell film cameras for a living. If you can't find this Nikon model, I also suggest the Pentax PC35AF. Very similar specs, adjustable ISO, f/2.8 lens and a distance scale in the finder to double check the focus before firing. Much cheaper as well 👍 On the reliability front, it's worth mentioning that yes, these cameras do have quite old electronics in them, but the plastic can also be brittle due to age and can be quite delicate, hence Goughie's broken rewind. If possible, always give the camera a quick shake before buying. If you can hear a rattle, stay away from it as it probably means something has broken off inside and can hinder performance. This issue can happen to anything from £10 point and shoots, all the way up to the. likes of Hasselblad XPAN dials which are extremely hard to find parts for, especially for cheap.

[@Goughie]

I’ll have to take a look at the PC35AF! Thank you for the helpful insights!

[@chrisandrews1529]

I LOVED my L35AF... before it died. My problem was that 1) the battery door snapped off, 2) the self timer button was stuck completely, and then 3) the shutter got stuck down completely. All very common faults. I'm tempted to take the whole thing apart to try to fix it but when it worked it was a brilliant camera, with sharp contrasty photos and a nice flash. I've got the version with the ISO that goes up to 1000 which is so handy. I think they are just too faulty to be worth the £150-£200 they are going for now - but they are FANTASTIC when they work!

[@Goughie]

Interesting to know! Agree about the 1000iso being very handy! Big problem with point and shoots isnt it, this one’s nearly 40 years old now, it’s almost more surprising that it works than that it doesn’t!

[@essabioumayma2205]

Hi ! I have such a camera, but I have not purchased the film tape yet, but the shooting button is not working. Is the problem with the camera? or only because the film tape is not available?

[@97nelsn]

I took this camera with me recently to a seashore town and the pics that came out of this camera are some of my favorites. Sharp quality and easy to carry. Only thing that annoyed me was the battery compartment and how loose the door is at times.

[@Goughie]

When making the review I was looking at the battery door and thinking that it looked like a bit of a weak point!

[@97nelsn]

@@Goughie that’s the flaw with this camera but other than that, it’s still great.

[@hotdogsonline]

I bought one of these brand new (never used) for £400 and I am in love with it. So so so worth it even for the extra markup.

[@kencarnley7101]

Received one yesterday. Anxious to use it.

[@y2ktube]

Video @ 2:22 " all the electronic parts are going to die at some point" - Actually, the electronics are almost military spec : I service these wonderful AF P&S Nikon's, and the MAIN service issues are related to aging plastic that breaks. Just like how your rewind 'fork' broke. But besides folks storing the camera away with batteries that have leaked their chemistry (migrating corrosion etc.), the breakage of rather STRONG advance related springs that 'tug' on plastic anchor posts. These plastic posts when they give-way, now put the camera out of sequence etc. (many than call them 'bricked' or a paperweight). But, if one has a working unit, proactively get it to a qualified technician who understands these weaknesses and allow them to reinforce (dabs of Epoxy) these weak points, At the same time there are switches that can use a bit of cleaning after-which an application of DeOxit electrolube will keep annoying electronic glitches from showing up (Basically a C L A). My favorite of these Nikon P&S models is the rugged & weatherized NIKON L35 AW/AF...

[@robertknight4672]

Another similarly built camera to the Nikon AF is The Ricoh AF-5. However The Ricoh just warnsvyou in the veiw finder it it thinks you should use flash but won't force it to pop up and fire. I haven't used it yet.

[@pierelechere]

I've the same problem with the rewind, you just need to press/hold down the back where the film roll/canister sits in....because ofe the mechanical problems i own 4 of them.

[@luxdalet]

Awesome video! Really surprised by the quality of the camera, given the size and age. Your photos from it were amazing, very sharp and colorful!

[@Realletsplaygrey]

What is the difference between this and the Nikon L35 AD? is the date function the only difference? i'm having trouble finding info.

[@OliverMay1]

Great little video 🙂 I love these old point and shoot style film cameras (although not sure I can call this one old as it is younger than me!) as I like to use them to get away from the crazy high tech modern cameras every now and then. I use a Canon R5 for my job, but will often prefer to grab one of my old film cameras (Olympus Trip 35, Olympus Pen EE-3, etc.) Or I will even grab my Fuji X100F, set it to fully auto, and use a film simulation and off I go. Allows me to escape the technical side of things and simply enjoy the process of taking photographs. This little Nikon looks a fun bit of kit, so I will have a look around and see if I can find one that doesn't have too many faults (I'm not afraid to take cameras apart to try and fix them 🙂). Thanks again.

[@tannerolthoff4219]

If I’m shooting 200 ISO film what should I bump the ISO dial to to overexpose it by a stop? Also is it normal that the camera doesn’t really make a shutter click sound when you press it down to snap a photo? My dial to show what it is auto focusing on doesn’t always move until the photo is being taken

[@robertalexander2478]

I got mine from Japan in mint condition, and I’m in love!!! The only weird thing is once I put the film in, the door doesn’t close perfectly all the time hahaha, I have to finagle it

[@MrAnticaArte]

I cannot think of another point and shoot that can beat this little beast. I had a Contax T2 and a T3 and I sold both of them after I purchased the L35AF, which to me is a much better camera. Immage quality is outstanding, you can put filters and hood, it has a kind of a "stealth mode" that until you keep the releasing button pushed the next frame does not advance which mean if you want to avoid the subject hear you took a picture, well you can. And the biggest to me it's the autofocus, which is accurate and insanely fast, much faster than any other point and shoot I ever tried. This is the king of all of them 👍

[@etienneportail5122]

Hm. I think that the CONTAX (not Contax 🤗) T2 gives better resulta in terms of image quality, but perhaps the handling of the Nikon might be easier. Another good comparison is the Yashica T4, which I prefer to the Nikon, mainly because of the difference in size and image quality. On the other hand, you’re right: stealth mode and filter are GREAT features!

[@MrAnticaArte]

@@etienneportail5122 I can post you pictures taken the same day, same film, same development. The L35AF had better results than the T2.

[@etienneportail5122]

@@MrAnticaArte of course, a mix-up at the development may happen from time to time 🤗

[@David-mv8ge]

How do you protect the lens when it’s in your pocket?

[@kevlarnegative]

I've been looking at one but ultimately got the EOS 3 and a 40mm pancake. Best point and shoot ever!

[@Goughie]

Very good choice!

[@hariparmar]

I have this as one of my film cameras and have to say it's the best one I have especially considering image quality.

[@essabioumayma2205]

Hi !I have such a camera, and i have not purchased the film tape yet, but the shooting button is not working. Is the problem with the camera ? or only because the film tape is not available ?

[@JP1050x]

The flare issue you have is with the filter. The flare looks different with the bare lens. I like using mine with a vented lens hood, so I really only notice any flare when the sun is directly in the frame.

[@elektrik4]

I'm wondering if the UV filter could cause some of the flaring (considering getting one for my L35AF to use as a lens cap)

[@pogolas]

Great colors.

[@HermannSander-v3x]

Thank You very much - great video!

[@deemcevoy353]

I have had the Contax T2 and the Yashica compacts...this Nikon brick has less hype about it but its the best of the bunch!

[@shawnell316]

It’s so beautiful man

[@Art-cq1zy]

I’ve had zero issues with mine granted Ive only put a few rolls through it over the years. I prefer my contax g2

[@shuttermar2132]

Hi does this camera shoot 36 exposures? I used 36 exposure film but the camera seemed to have stopped at 24, complete novice here thanks in advance

[@Goughie]

Did you put a 24 exposure roll of film in it? Have a look at the canister

[@isfint]

The BEST P&S film camera ever made. Much, much, much better than the Contax T series.

[@shawnell316]

Same thing happens to mine

[@clonkex]

I'm 27. When I hear "point-and-shoot", I think of those compact digital cameras. I would never in a million years have associated "point-and-shoot" specifically with film, yet I've now seen a few YT videos where they refer to film point-and-shoots as just "point-and-shoot" as if it's unambiguous. Is it just me or is that really weird?

[@Goughie]

Maybe just the “KZbinsphere” but the compact digitals now seem to be called “digicams” 😂 and they seem to now be making a resurgence too

[@clonkex]

@@Goughie Weird, I've never heard that term. I do love my little G7Xii though!

[@fredericvittel4547]

❤

[@shawnell316]

I love this camera imma use it till it dies 😢

[@norbert_engel]

Had one, but sold it after one roll. It’s pretty chunky for a supposedly pocketable point & shoot, and feels more plasticky than most alternatives. It did also have some reliability issues, which seemed to be solved by cleaning the battery compartment (but I didn’t really trust it after that). Image quality was fine, but nothing special imho.

[@Goughie]

Everyone that’s commented so far has had issues! Appears they don’t hold up too well after 40 years!