The Nikon L35AF – A Cult Classic From the '80s The Nikon L35AF was introduced in 1983 as Nikon’s very first autofocus compact camera. In Japan, it earned the nickname “Pikaichi”, which roughly translates to “top class.” And that wasn’t just a marketing gimmick – this camera was way ahead of its time in both design and image quality. What immediately set the L35AF apart was its premium 35mm f/2.8 lens. Based on a modified Sonnar design with five elements in four groups, it delivered images with outstanding sharpness, rich contrast, and subtle vignetting. While many compact cameras from the early '80s featured lower-end optics, the L35AF was praised for producing results on par with far more expensive systems. It was also one of the first compact cameras to feature automatic focus – just point and shoot. A half-press of the shutter focused automatically, and a full press took the shot. A focus indicator in the viewfinder showed whether the camera was focused on a portrait or a landscape, making it easier to predict results. Exposure was fully automatic too, and impressively, you could manually set the film speed (ASA) up to 1000 – a rare feature in 1983! The built-in flash popped up automatically in low-light situations, although over time this mechanism was prone to wear. The battery door was another known weak spot – it sometimes broke with heavy use, rendering the camera unusable. Design-wise, the L35AF oozes '80s charm: a sleek, angular body with that iconic red stripe on the front. While mostly plastic, it has a solid metal core that gives it a reassuring feel. It also includes a 46mm filter thread, allowing users to mount UV or polarizing filters – and uniquely, the built-in light meter works even with filters attached! Although successors like the L35AD and L35AF2 would follow, the original L35AF remains the most iconic to this day. With its legendary lens, reliable autofocus, and surprisingly flexible settings, it has earned a true cult following among analog photography enthusiasts. #NikonL35AF #L35AF #Pikaichi #CompactCameraLove #ShootFilmStayBroke #35mm #AnalogCamera #FilmCommunity #VintageCameraLove #ClassicCameras #FilmCameraOfTheDay #FilmIsNotDead #ShootFilmNotMegapixels #FilmPhotography #StayBrokeShootFilm #EverydayAnalog #NikonLove #RetroVibes #CameraPorn #CameraOfTheDay #LomoLife #LomoLove #LomographyCommunity #Filmisalive #Filmcamera #LomographyAddict #AnalogVibes #FilmIsAlive #Shoot35mm #OldCameraNewTricks #LomographersUnite #FilmWave #AnalogDreams #CompactCameraClub #FilmForever #GrainIsGood

Fotografo:
rvanstormbroek
Caricato:
2025-08-02
Tags:
35mm analogcamera analogdreams analogvibes cameraoftheday cameraporn classiccameras compactcameraclub compactcameralove everydayanalog filmcamera filmcameraoftheday filmcommunity filmforever filmisalive filmisnotdead filmphotography filmwave grainisgood l35af lomographersunite lomographyaddict lomolife lomolove nikonl35af nikonlove oldcameranewtricks pikaichi retrovibes shoot35mm shootfilmnotmegapixels shootfilmstaybroke staybrokeshootfilm vintagecameralove
Fotocamera:
Nikon L35A
Pellicola:
Fomopan 100
Album:
Nikon L35AF
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