This is how the wiring looks like when you decide to replace the capacitor. Most people do not want to carry a big camera around but do like to have something which takes good quality photographs. For all the negative comments Ive read, we shouldnt forget that the L35AF is nearly 40 years old. In the end it is the lens which produces the results, and why this camera is fully recommended. I mean 5 element the later versions used a 4 element Tessar design again, which are fine lenses just give a bit different character to the images. There was never a run of L35AF2s with the Sonnar lens to my knowledge. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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! It was coined due to the quality of the lens design by the Nikon team. Theres a small spring at the bottom-right corner that is connected to the lever for rewind. Check out this list of awesome gifts for photographers! Hi Richard, thank you for providing this guide. Notice that it creates 4-sided-stars with an elongated profile. If you want a cheaper deal find a Nikon L35AD instead. The only way I can get it to stop is by taking the batteries out. My guess is they knew there was an issue though because the manual has an atypically specific section on battery selection. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Nikon L35AF 35mm Point and Shoot Film Camera. I can hear the flash power up if I hold it next to my ear; that's it.</p>. It's all due to the reliable Copal shutter inside these cameras. On-line camera manual library. Inspect everything and be sure not to lose anything. It was therefore also the first in the L series. Run a test-roll with it if youre allowed to test it before you buy it. I heard from other threads that you must hear a high pitched charging . The entire apparatus is powered by two AA alkaline batteries. This is how the iris looks like, an elongated-diamond. Ive got my AF3 in mint condition recently for a few euros, shoot 3 rolls without any problem but when start loading next roll it never goes from S to 1 frame and then start auto rewinding back after a few attempts. There are many factors that go into pricing, including the products and packages offered. You could take it in for repair but honestly it won't be worth it. Now check the batteries after you have pressed the shutter release button again. If youre a Nikon shooter, that means investing in the right Nikon Landscape lens for your imagery. It loads the film and winds on after a photo. 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. It seems to behave a bit like the Nikon F3 in this respect. Hi Eddy, I got the younger brother L35AD 2 from a flea market a month ago. Alien Abduction! The Nikon L35AF comes with an autofocus. Copyright 2005 - 2023 PhotographyTalk, Inc. All Rights Reserved, www.japancamerahunter.com/2016/05/camera-geekery/, Canon Rebel T5i Review: An Oldie But a Goodie. The reputation the L35AF has gained though, is through the quality of the lens. On the back of the camera is the flash readiness indicator. But when they did, they didn't screw around. What are the problems youre experiencing? at the best online prices at eBay! Ive found the trusty yellow filter too. 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! Buy another one and make sure it's in good working order. The L35AF has become my go-to camera over the months that I have had it. A funny old camera. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. The L35AF was Nikon's first compact camera with autofocus. Apart from the battery door (which is a known weak point), I do not see an issue with the on/off switch. Very bad built quality, cannot recommend this camera at all. After taking it apart and fidgeting with the shutter, I was seeing the same thing shown in this thread's video: nikon one touch l35af - shutter button won't go down all the way. Lens: Nikon 35mm f2.8 (5 elements, 4 groups, Sonnar derivative) Shutter: 1/8s - 1/430s ISO range: 50 - 400 / 1000 Minimum focus distance: 0.8m Size: 124 x 73 x 45.5mm Weight: 346g The film ISO/ASA setting is controlled by a textured ring around the lens itself, which is inside the filter thread. Those were the days when the future felt around the corner through these cameras. It has subsequently become a cult classic among . My L35AF had a lot of corrosion around the area where the rewind mechanism is located, so it got stuck. So the problem is that i can't press the shutter / the shutter button is totally stuck. I have a nikon l35 af film camera and it's second hand so the shutter button was always a little stiff but it worked. Its not bad but it looks rather cheap if you ask me. Thanks! Disengage the flash by its lock, it should charge the capacitor if its exhausted. There are cases when it did not give me what I expected of it but that has more to do with difficult situations where I was using this at its near-limits. Thanks in advance! It does seem to have a shallow distortion-profile, a lot less than I was expecting. Cheers all.. Your L35AF can probably be fixed, it depends how much money and time you want to apply to the problem. Film after film, I have been impressed with the results. Please confirm it with a photograph. 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. Now that the value of these vintage cameras are higher, can you guys provide a detailed instruction on how to fix it, instead of just brushing us off for trying to learn how to work and appreciate such timeless piece of machinery, 2023 All trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners, in particular of the Nikon Corp Nikon SLR Cameras - news, rumors, questions and answers | Terms of Use & Contacts | Privacy Policy. Unloading is initiated by a two step button/switch process at the bottom of the camera, next to the tripod thread. 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. For more information, please see our Thanks again. They are even cheaper because nobody cares to look for them. You can delay that by depressing the shutter and not releasing it until you think its safe for people to hear the camera buzz. There is another guide online somewhere with scans of a repair manual and loads of detail about dismantling individual parts. I found this to be quite handy in being able to see what was just outside the frame and prepare for someone walking into it. It was released in 1983, a few years after Nikon's competitors had opened up the point and shoot market. in nikon,lens repair,lens maintenance,nikon repair,, Nikon,museum,classic lenses,, Uncategorized. Its fantastic 35mm f/3.5 Zeiss Tessar lens is far and away better than the lenses found on many of today's top-end digital compact cameras. Is a Panasonic Lumix GH5 Still Worth Your Money? You may like it depending on how much you pay for your coffee and how many letters its name contains. Its plastic chassis is tough and the back is made from metal. Id say that it handles distortion quite well judging from what we see in this photo. There are 2 springs here. 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. It has 85% coverage with 0.52x magnification. 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Here is the problem. By once in my experience) a dodgy connection between the flash and the rest of the circuitry caused an erratic shutter. 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. Glad that i came across one. This camera is larger than other popular compacts, not really a pocket camera. This is a labor of loveand I intend to keep it that way for as long as I can. Authorized Photo Service Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain OP Missouri_Skies Forum Member Posts: 53 Thankfully, theres nothing wrong or at least it doesnt seem to exhibit any major problems. For this very reason you should never work on this because you will need special tools and knowledge in order to diagnose whats wrong with it. Heres another example. Frame advance is automatic after each frame is taken. It is a matter of preference as some people prefer the small form factor, or like me, others prefer something a little substantial to hold. 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. Does anyone know of any places that can fix this type of issue or any . I shot this by focusing on the lantern and then recomposing my frame. Nikon Corporation, known just as Nikon, is a Japanese company specializing in optics and imaging products. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. I am not against this, in fact, its a sign of a healthy market. Nikon released it in 1983 and nicknamed it Pikaichi which means "top notch" in Japanese. Here is the problem. <p>I subsequently bought an 50mm AI-S Series E, figuring that the program mode problem was due to the 35-135mm zoom included with the camera not being an AI-S lens, but while dry firing the camera before loading a roll of film it seemed to ignore my shutter speed setting in all modes but manual, just like the zoom.</p> It is a very easy camera to use. 35mmc is a blog authored, edited and published by Hamish Gill featuring daily articles submitted by readers. I put the two. (LogOut/ That post you see here should couple to the ISO-dial, it can be difficult to align it with the dial but Ill tell you how thats done at the end of the article. From memory there were a couple of extra screws and some protective tape to lift around the flash to get at the right place. It has a guide number of 10 (ISO 100, m) and has a range of 0.7m to 2.5m through to 4.0m depending on the film speed. 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. Essilor vs Carl Zeiss which one is better? What you see in the viewfinder should match the assumed distance. This has now given me an excuse to load up the LF35AF (Yep still got it), with some ORWO-UN54 and go and shoot some images. I put a spot of duct tape to as a precaution and have not had an issue since. But please bear in mind what Daniel says about safety there can be a high voltage and very dangerous charge from the flash capacitor. 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 latter is presented as a person, two people, a group of people and a mountain for infinity. Thanks! Remember this so you could expose your subjects better, have them move instead in order to get a better reading. More Nikon Manuals . 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. Some of these things might apply to other compact cameras as well. Free shipping for many products! Im pretty excited. |Nikon L35AF | Kodak Portra 400 ago Check grey levers on the top left of the lens can move freely. (Nikon should be covering this re-repair even if it is outside the warranty period. The metering seems to be spot-on but the huge blob ruined this shot. 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. If it didnt then the flash would have fired with more power and the lantern would look overblown. The L35AF looks like a brick, and I love it. I am not sure but this looks like the first time Nikon implemented this feature, were now familiar with the switch in all of Nikons cameras and this is probably the first camera to have that. The button still pops up, so I don't think it's a spring problem. Pressing down (very) hard on the flash for every shot worked (and gave me a hint about root cause) but was a total pain. Its not easy to discharge this without peeling the capacitor off from the chassis. 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. I can say that that this version is robust and has none of the issues that you describe. Thanks for the article, its very helpful. I got this one wrong. The 35mm camera has a built-in light meter. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Nikon L35AF Japans Pikaichi Point and Shoot, The Nikon L35AF a mini review by Giacomo Zema, Mike Eckmans review of the Nikon One.Touch AF3, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX07 Pocket digicam. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The original L35AF lens used five elements in four groups, while the AF2 and AF3 used four elements in three groups. When the shutter is stuck in the down-position one thing you should look at is the part behind the depressor. More than Canons, Olys or Ricohs of the same vintage I think. For me though, it really adds to the look. For the record, the L35AF-3 (One-Touch Macro) is also a great camera, with its macro . Your safety is also at risk, you may get shocked and cause something fatal if you have a condition may not be aware of. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. It appears that the camera will choose a higher-speed if the flash pops-up. 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. I knew of the forums where there is a following due to the rendering of the lens by being a wide angle Sonnar design. And if you do decide that you need to open one up make sure you pause to admire the innards. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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? 4. As most compacts in that period utilised Tessar style lenses, the L35AF has a unique look to it. 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. The L35AF became a constant companion every day including business trips to New Zealand. The minimum focus distance is 80cm. I agree that the second L35AF2 version has the Tessar lens. Find out more about 35mmc here. Most of the original L35s are very persnickety about power supply. If I can force you to read this, I would. Thank you so much for this article. I'M trying to take professional homecoming pictures. NIKON L35AF One-Touch 35mm Point & Shoot Film Camera PARTS/REPAIR ONLY Powers On (58) C $168.58 C $23.22 shipping SPONSORED Nikon L35AF 35mm Point and Shoot Film Camera - Missing Battery Door - READ C $148.38 C $22.73 shipping SPONSORED READ [MINT] Nikon L35 AF Pikaichi Point & Shoot 35mm Film Camera From JAPAN N363 C $404.73 C $47.22 shipping Nikon L35AF - Camera Nikon's first autofocus compact camera, released in 1983. This one appears to have been shot with a smaller aperture judging from how the sun-stars look. The first results with that film reinforced what I had read. It even survived getting soaked in a rain storm. The lens appears to be lovely, with a lot of character but I wont rate it close to the Nikkors. Also, the flash has a 30% accuracy of going off when I press the shutter. While my copy has a bit of a hazy lens, I actually like the look and i. Theres no information about the shutters range but its assumed that it wont go very-fast and it doesnt support long-exposures either. 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! 1980s and 90s compact cameras were generally built down to a price. If youre anticipating something like this, buy the ones that will allow you to change your ISO up to ISO1000. All seems normal, but the viewfinder bit foggy inside. This led the camera to think the flash was up but didnt actually engage the flash charger so locked down the shutter. The Nikon L35AF is something the size of an ice cream sandwich. The L35AF made an appearance in 1983 and was the first of a line of cameras coined the L series. The L35AF is a very beautifully built camera. This will help me to continue to host this . 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. Here is a link to its user manual. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for [Near MINT--] Nikon L35AF 35mm f2.8Pikaichi Point & Shoot Film Camera From JAPAN at the best online prices at eBay! You must log in or register to reply here. 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. This camera doesnt feel the same for me without that in place. Its possible that Nikon didnt fit a proper voltage regulator, maybe they didnt have the technical experience or opportunity to field test before release. The L35AF3 uses a throw-away lithium pack, so there will be no issues with corrosion in the battery bay. All top brand camera companies also put out "point-and-shoot" cameras that are made by smaller companies they contract to manufacture cheap, plastic, consumer point-and-shoot cameras for vacationers or those who take photos once or twice a year. 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. Wonderful article. That was my understanding too, which when referring to lens I indicated both, not all three. Theres a spring underneath the button so be careful not to misplace it. A version with an "autodate" function was . This is a compact so Id let it slide. Just in case it was a partially cocked shutter wind on problem. Heres another example that implies that the autofocus, focusing and metering modules communicate. Whatever the reason, fixing slow wind-on motors, a failure to wind beyond a particular frame or a completely stuck shutter usually means opening them up and googling for detailed repair instructions but I did get one will it/wont it shutter going by repeatedly sitting it near a radiator or under a bright hot halogen lamp for a few hours then shaking it then putting it in the fridge and reshaking, shooting the shutter a few times between each cycle. Pre-focusing by half-pressing the shutter release works quite well too. Its slow, winding takes about a second or so and rewinding is a lot slower compared to a Nikon F4. The next generation of the L35AF, the L35AF-2, was known in the US as the One-Touch. Luckily, both cameras work perfectly. The meter appears to be quite good for its time. Loosening the screws of the lens will enable you to adjust its focus. Manage Settings You may destroy it and waste your camera. I highly recommend that you read myworking with helicoidspost because this is very important and getting it wrong can ruin your day. Thanks in advance. I've done multiple successfully repairs but this one is quite difficult. It is great for the times when I want to shoot with a small, simple, inexpensive, easy to operate camera that takes decent quality photos. Some of it has to do with celebrity usage, but in reality, it is the convenience factor which drives the popularity. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Works fine now! It is not called that because it is a Pokmon. Or, if you want it working, look into sending it to an authorized service center for a refurb. The viewfinder has a scale with icons to display which distance the camera is focusing at. 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. Releasing it will cause the film to advance. I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. The front and rear lenses shouldnt be removed, they were forced-fit and they couldnt be removed easily. The film only advances AFTER you take the picture and release the shutter button. I have the same problem, if you find a way to solve it I would really appreciate it if you shared it. And it's fast, too, with an F2.8 aperture that lets in loads of light for cameras in its class. The Nikon L35AF, commonly known as Pikaichi, is a compact autofocus camera. 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. The lens is indeed a masterpiece in its class. This link really helped. with f/2.8 through to 1/430 sec. The spring allows the chrome arm to return when the rewind function is disengaged. Im not familiar with how it meters but I knew I had to use that lever in this scene and this is what I got. Helping support this site will ensure that this will be kept going as long as I have the time and energy for this. Have you removed batteries? The hit rate with the focus is actually really good for such an early auto focus camera. The pictures came back great as I didnt have a clue what I was doing. Not so with the L35AF. To know more about the optical design, read Nikons official article about this camera. Then you can recompose and shoot. Two things will make a manual shutter stick, not winding the film on because you've reached the end of the film, and not replacing the two AA batteries. If the distance youre focusing at doesnt correspond to the distance you see in viewfinder this is where it can be adjusted. The camera youll see here is the Nikon L35AD but its also applicable for the Nikon L35AF, too. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Not even the quietest (not even close). 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. Another thing thats interesting here is how the stars look, its ugly due to the shape of the iris. Maintaining this requires resources and a lot of time. Youll have to test these thoroughly before you buy them to make sure that nothing is wrong. Learn how your comment data is processed. It has subsequently become a cult classic among collectors. Before opening up anything, always look for other people who have done so in YouTube or the internet. 35mmc have a great quick read inThe Nikon L35AF a mini review by Giacomo Zema. It was because it did not carry the Nikkor branding. Its difficult to adjust it but I will show you how its done later. Nikon's first AF, AE 35mm (135) format lens-shutter camera, offering 35mm f/2.8 lens and 9 fully automatic features. Theres a small silver spring that has two long arms and only a couple of coils so it doesnt look like the stereotypical spring, but one arm is against the body, the two middle coils are on a post, and the other arm pushes the chrome arm that runs along the strap side of the camera to trigger the rewind. Pressing it all-the-way will adjust the focus and fire the shutter (and flash). 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. 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. Do you have an experience with loading/winding malfunction of these cameras. I have been shocked numerous times and I never learn my lesson. All models are nice cameras on a sunny day. Can anyone recommend me a good underwater setup for my nikon d3100 with 18-33mm kit lens? It usually only does this for the first shot after you turn it on. This helps confirm there is film and it is advancing. #1 I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. There are frame markings for parallax compensation, a focus spot and focus distance information indicator. The meter appears to be center-weighted and heavily-biased towards the center, too. In my case it was corrosion all over the place under the flash itself and around the electrical connections. Landscape photography requires certain gear to get the best results. The camera has a 35mm, five element lens.