Do this a few times until the button works as expected. I was able to shoot a few rolls successfully before it ruined my last one due to this malfunction. The internal mechanisms were where cuts in quality were made, plastic drive train gears, membrane shutters, etc. Its a handy camera for travel photography, Id imagine that this is the actual purpose of this camera. It has a lot of useful information, it will be beneficial for you to read this. Hey guys! Going back to its conception, this was made in order to give Nikon something to sell in this part of the market. Then you can recompose and shoot. 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. You can delay that by depressing the shutter and not releasing it until you think its safe for people to hear the camera buzz. What is nice about the third version is that the automatic flash can be cancelled just by pushing a button, it also has macro (70cm) and the autofocus has many more steps then the original. Unloading is initiated by a two step button/switch process at the bottom of the camera, next to the tripod thread. If youve had life out of your flash recently be extra careful (fire flash first then immediately remove batteries, use non-conductive tools or google discharge capacitor for more knowledgeable advice Im a mere hacker and bodger. 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. Carefully remove the top cover. Continue with Recommended Cookies. But when they did, they didn't screw around. NIKKOR Lenses. I heard from other threads that you must hear a high pitched charging . document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. It was therefore also the first in the L series. On the good side, I dont see any blobs, not even under the worst situations but this doesnt mean that its immune to it. The exposure is set automatically by the camera. Here is the problem. Just recycle it and find another one. Just in case it was a partially cocked shutter wind on problem. If the distance youre focusing at doesnt correspond to the distance you see in viewfinder this is where it can be adjusted. |Nikon L35AF | Kodak Portra 400 It was therefore also the first in the L series. Before opening up anything, always look for other people who have done so in YouTube or the internet. (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. Just a suggestion. About this time, the market started maturing, with an established set of features. 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. Do those features still hold up? 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) be careful not to misplace any of them. Theres a spring underneath the button so be careful not to misplace it. The original Nikon L35AF from 1983 was Nikon's first attempt at a fully automatic auto focus point and shoot camera. Ive not film tested it, but it seems to be working ok. Would an AD without the button cells fitted work just the same as an AF? The Nikon L35AF is a leaf shutter, auto focus, auto exposure 35mm compact camera sold in the early 1980s. Ive tried cleaning the contacts and using new batteries. Hello! Analog Workflow Forums (100% Analog/Traditional). 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. The lens is super sharp, too, especially for a camera that's nearly 4 decades old. Reading some of the other comments on here. Heres another example. The L35AF was produced for 2 years until 1985 which is when the L35AF2 was released. Spherical aberration can be observed in this photo around the overblown areas of the scene despite this being shot at a smaller aperture. Need a quick gift to give your loved one this holiday season? Since its viewfinder similar to the older bro, Is there any way to clean it? I put the two. What I dont understand is it shows a barrel-type profile in some of my photos but some exhibit a slight pincushion-type one. 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. AD stands for Auto Date (currently referred to as QD) Digital SLR Cameras. Thanks! 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. For more advanced topics, you can read myfungus removalpost as a start. Its capable but its lack of resolving power made it appear less than what it shouldve been. I have a Fuji DL300 and that is a fine compact. How can I fix this why is this happening and who can fix this! 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. 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. Please confirm it with a photograph. It's a compact point and shoot rangefinder, originally released in 1983. . Alien Abduction! Some of these things might apply to other compact cameras as well. Easy to fix but does mean dismantling and being very careful around the flash capacitor. 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. Youll have to adjust the dial yourself and see how high it goes because theres no visual indication apart from that. Does it just involve carefully resoldering it? If youre a Nikon shooter, that means investing in the right Nikon Landscape lens for your imagery. Looking forward to seeing the results. 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. ago Check grey levers on the top left of the lens can move freely. If you want to see more of the shadows exposed properly you simply depress the lever beside the lens protective barrel. This place has the most compact cameras in every condition found in Tokyo. One of my favorite cameras. It appears to fire from around 1/250s to 1/30s judging from the sound that it makes but dont quote me on that. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Working ones usually sell for $100.00 and up, I found mine for a lot cheaper because I only look for junks. When the shutter is stuck in the down-position one thing you should look at is the part behind the depressor. You've already got an L35AF, with its cheap battery door with the live plastic hinge that gives out over time. Just focus on something and see the tiny display in the viewfinder to confirm if you got it right. 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. Interestingly, rather than the usual Tessar style design this lens has a Sonnar design. Will post here if I remember the site name or have a link saved somewhere. Before you continue you should read my article on how to adjust a lens focus and how to make a tool for it. and our These cookies do not store any personal information. More than Canons, Olys or Ricohs of the same vintage I think. If you take a minute to look at the two models, the design language of the Nikon L35AF and Konica Hexar AF are remarkably alike. The next generation of the L35AF, the L35AF-2, was known in the US as the One-Touch. 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). This might be because they use more metal components than most and so are more prone to seizure after years of inactivity. The Panasonic Lumix GH5 might be nearly six years old, but when it arrived in 2017, it had incredible features, particularly for video. I have the same problem, if you find a way to solve it I would really appreciate it if you shared it. The lens in both makes this line very special. I don't hear any noise like from the flash charging. It is one of my favourite compacts and the results also give me a real uplift. I found mine in the junk section of Shinjukus Chuko Camera Box. Free shipping for many products! 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. 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. In the late 1970s the compact camera market started its trajectory into being the dominant camera form factor in terms of sales volumes. It's easy! Interestingly, rather than the usual Tessar style design this lens has a Sonnar design. If I can force you to read this, I would. 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. I am actually amazed by how many youngsters are into film photography these days. starkjonny.sj: Hello flickr-user! If it is a known distance such as infinity, look at viewfinder. 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. Lets find out a bit more about it and Ill then explain why. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. Apart from the battery door (which is a known weak point), I do not see an issue with the on/off switch. The L35AF made an appearance in 1983 and was the first of a line of cameras coined the L series. Useful focus confirmation, a filter thread and manual iso rating mean this will probably be my nightlife camera with pushed Kentmere 400. About Us . use either dielectric grease sold in auto parts stores or high grade silicone grease sold in scuba shops and use VERY sparingly. 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. I have a NIKON D5000 AND D3100. This is not the camera to use with lowlight situations. 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. Even if you did, it doesnt look bad at all and is actually quite tolerable. My guess is they knew there was an issue though because the manual has an atypically specific section on battery selection. Learn how your comment data is processed. Ive got a Nikon L35AD but the date display doesnt work. This was unfounded and incorrect. I'M trying to take professional homecoming pictures. with an aperture of f/17.5 respectively, with the ISO set to 100. The L35AF has become my go-to camera over the months that I have had it. It flares terribly but thats expected, I dont think it has any of the advanced coatings applied to it. Resolving power is obviously less than what were used to seeing with true-blue Nikkors but its adequate when you give it the right variables. Could the power off/on switch be dragging on it some how? Get some insight in this guide! The Nikon L35AF is something the size of an ice cream sandwich. 5 out of 5 . 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. Nikon's first AF, AE 35mm (135) format lens-shutter camera, offering 35mm f/2.8 lens and 9 fully automatic features. It feels like a brick as well, in fact beneath the plastic exterior there is a sturdy metal structure that makes it feel very solid, it also weights a little bit more that you would expect which can be good or bad, it depends on your preference. Here is the problem. Helping support this site will ensure that this will be kept going as long as I have the time and energy for this. This photo demonstrates how inadequate the resolution can be at times. When I press the shutter down, the self-timer light turns on and the camera freezes. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. See which one is the best in this guide! A filter with 46 mm thread can be used. For more information, please see our Classic Nikkors Repair and DIY maintenance, by richardhaw 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. Thanks! I knew of the forums where there is a following due to the rendering of the lens by being a wide angle Sonnar design. 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. Their supply of Nikon L35AF has been depleted because youngsters all want them. If it doesnt charge quickly, sounds weak or doesnt charge at all then thats another that needs to be looked-into. 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. The L35AF was Nikon's first compact camera with autofocus. Also read what I wrote about thetoolsthat youll need to fix yourNikkors. Most of the original L35s are very persnickety about power supply. I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. I started getting these "shutter error, press shutter release" messages. Those were probably some of the best exposed pictures Ive ever had back from a high st lab (Boots at Woolwich I recall). 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. 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. 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. How to transfer, view, and save raw images from my camera to my comp? #1 I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. 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. 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! Change the seals with new ones if theyre dry or corroded. Another reason for that is the capacitor. It stood-out from the Tessar-type lenses that many manufacturers use. Nikon produces camera, camera lenses, microscopes, binoculars, measurement instruments, spotting scopes, and rifle scopes. Not something you can fix yourself. I cleaned it out with zippo lighter fluid + rubbing with a very small file. The rest can be found under the frame-counter mechanism. To know more about the optical design, read Nikons official article about this camera. Don't let the "Nikon" brand deceive you. But the first version had an increase to ISO 1000 during mid-production. nikon,lens repair,lens maintenance,nikon repair, Review: Lomography LomoChrome Purple100-400, Review: Lomography LomoChrome Metropolis 100-400 (TokyoEdition), Repair: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8(Zebra). I now have probably over 60 film cameras, which all work. While my copy has a bit of a hazy lens, I actually like the look and i. It feels like there is something solid blocking its path because it will go down a little bit and then stop. Inspect everything and be sure not to lose anything. The reputation the L35AF has gained though, is through the quality of the lens. All seems normal, but the viewfinder bit foggy inside. Thats where the contacts and levers for rewinding is located, at least parts of it. Adding a dot of solder to the battery contact. Enter 1979's Nikon EM, Nikon's very first attempt at a truly consumer-grade 35mm SLR. Thanks again for your review and keep shooting/enjoying the Nikon. On the back of the camera is the flash readiness indicator. It is a camera I have become very attached to. And if you do decide that you need to open one up make sure you pause to admire the innards. In my case it was corrosion all over the place under the flash itself and around the electrical connections. It has to supply enough current to keep the shutter open, and can't do it. I have a L35AF, and the shutter doesnt release unless I remove the batteries. Pre-focusing by half-pressing the shutter release works quite well too. Operate the delayed action function. This is the capacitor, careful when touching anything close to this thing as it will definitely give you a shock. Custom size canvas prints are a great addition to your home or office. 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! Ric. Here is the problem. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Here is a link to its user manual. Unfortunately, nobody knows what the icons in the viewfinder means or what they represent. It will prevent you from firing it when the flash is deployed. . Determine if the rangefinder is off or inaccurate, adjust if needed. Youll have to test these thoroughly before you buy them to make sure that nothing is wrong. Theres also a self-timer lever, a mandatory feature for all compact cameras. In addition i checked the battery compartment of corrosion. 35mmc is a blog authored, edited and published by Hamish Gill featuring daily articles submitted by readers. The meter appears to be quite good for its time. Be careful opening electronics. . So, it probably didn't surprise anyone that Nikon took their sweet time to release their first fully automatic compact camera with autofocus when the original Nikon L35AF debuted in 1983. 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. Though it has a plastic covering, the interior is all metal. Hi Fred, did you manage to clean your viewfinder? Im not a big stealth photographer but on the odd occasion when noise would have broken the moment Ive just held the button down and released under the table or away from my eye. Thanks Frank and yes, it is a noisy one. The second issue is that sometimes after taking the photo, the camera wont advance the reel and Ill have to take the batteries out for a bit then put them back in for it to finally advance. In recent years the Nikon L35AF has gained a bit of a cult status. in nikon,lens repair,lens maintenance,nikon repair,, Nikon,museum,classic lenses,, Uncategorized. 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. It shows signs of use. Visible here is the lever that youll have to use when shooting in backlit-situations, this will force a +2.0 exposure compensation, similar to what we have with the Nikon FM3A. Cult Classic! These are nice cameras. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Not so with the L35AF. If youre anticipating something like this, buy the ones that will allow you to change your ISO up to ISO1000. To clean the viewfinder extract this screw and remove the cover. 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. Glass photo prints are an unusual and beautiful way to display your photos. Thank you very much for your continued support! 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. It is not called that because it is a Pokmon. . Stick a toothpick to the hole described earlier. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Recharge battery message, use one of the suggested methods to tackle this problem. Apart from the metering Id like you to see the chromatic aberration around my daughters hair. Theres a small spring at the bottom-right corner that is connected to the lever for rewind. I hope that helps! You did mention the one thing that really attracts people to this camera, the lens. The battery door should be tight when closed, too. Flash exposure appears to be spot-on which suggests that the camera is intelligent-enough and it couples the autofocus module to the flash. Buy another one and make sure it's in good working order. Thanks for the post eddie. A neat feature is that the camera leaves the end of the film out of the canister when it . 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. The meter appears to be quite good for its time. *Please check photos . Check what the lens actually sees by using. Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation. For a buck, display it as an art piece if you can't get it working. With that said, I think it is good-enough for quick snap-shots of moving subjects so long as youre careful. 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. This site earns around $1.10 a day, its totally reliant on views. 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. This camera doesnt feel the same for me without that in place. 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. if only it wasnt so darn noisy. Nikon went big with this lens, in the sense that they used some of their tried and trusted techniques, dipping into their strengths. Cheers all.. Check if the focus is accurate or at the very least, acceptable. Check out this list of awesome gifts for photographers! Three Top Options for the Best Nikon Landscape Lens, Glass Photo Prints (and Other Beautiful Print Options). 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. Im actually impressed by it, the results remind me of older Nikons or maybe a bit better in some cases. So when i put the batteries in the compartment nothing happens. Help support this site by donating to richardHaw888@gmail.com over at Paypal! For all the negative comments Ive read, we shouldnt forget that the L35AF is nearly 40 years old. Even the later, improved models will do. All models are nice cameras on a sunny day. This manual will help you fix errors related to your Nikon camera's lens, memory, and power supply or system. Not even the quietest (not even close). jammed? Id say that it handles distortion quite well judging from what we see in this photo. I highly recommend that you read myworking with helicoidspost because this is very important and getting it wrong can ruin your day. Another thing thats interesting here is how the stars look, its ugly due to the shape of the iris. This is a very good point and shoot camera which has a fast f2.8 lens and is fully automatic. I put the two batteries in the camera (with no film)and turned it on and the light meter seemed to work. Its not easy to discharge this without peeling the capacitor off from the chassis. If it were mine, I'd open it up to see if anything obvious had fallen out of place, which is the most likely cause. Also, the flash has a 30% accuracy of going off when I press the shutter. 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. Based on the comments offered by other online reviews, yours is a really enjoyable, hype-free read on what is becoming a mythical beast of a camera. For more information, please see our I just got a very nice condition Nikon L35AF for $1 at an estate sale with the original case. Hi Richard, thanks for the in depth review. Stick a toothpick here to keep the shutter from closing. To say I hit BUY quickly is an understatement. This adds roughly 2 stops of exposure. L35s are also a very sociable camera, they hate dark cupboards. That's some serious engineering for a point and shoot. All our Contributors have an ad-free experience for life.Sign uphere. You may like it depending on how much you pay for your coffee and how many letters its name contains. "Pikaichi" L35AF 35mm f/2.8. Really sharp lens. It has 85% coverage with 0.52x magnification. I picked up a filthy L35AF (iso 1000 version) at a car boot sale this morning for 2. Some of it has to do with celebrity usage, but in reality, it is the convenience factor which drives the popularity. The L35AF was early in the 80s, but that does not discount it as a premier quality camera. Find out more about 35mmc here. It does have a couple of weaknesses, but overall you can tell it has had some decent workmanship put into it. Authorized Photo Service Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain OP Missouri_Skies Forum Member Posts: 53 The viewfinder is bright and has quite a bit of room around the frame marks. This copy has a UV filter fitted. Hey Eddy, thanks for the advice. Focus on something and depress the shutter button. I can say that that this version is robust and has none of the issues that you describe. That could be stuck half way through its cycle. The L35AF became a constant companion every day including business trips to New Zealand. Seriously, even a little barely visible corrosion on the battery contacts or any variance in the voltage from cheap or rechargeable batteries that wouldnt affect most cameras is enough to make it grumpy. Privacy Policy. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Run a test-roll with it if youre allowed to test it before you buy it. The hit rate with the focus is actually really good for such an early auto focus camera. 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. Never attempt to do any of the steps here if you dont have any experience fixing cameras. I am not against this, in fact, its a sign of a healthy market. Ive got an as is ebay L35AF that is a little wonky that Im going to try these repairs on. is it something that i can fix by opening the camera up? The 3-humans-icon implies that this is the limit of the flashs power. The camera youll see here is the Nikon L35AD but its also applicable for the Nikon L35AF, too. The meter has been able to handle most conditions including fog in the morning. Privacy Policy. Change). Maybe I am spoiled, I am used to taking photos with Nikkors. 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. Compact cameras are very popular as I write this. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
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