Nikon One Touch L35AF2: The 80s Point and Shoot Camera of Choice?

Is the Nikon One Touch L35AF2 the 80s point and shoot camera of choice?

We’ve mentioned Nikon a time or two on this channel, most recently when trying out the Nikon EM from 1979. Well, we’re jumping ahead a few years to the mid 80’s to check out this Nikon One Touch L35AF2. So let’s grab some coffee, and see what this thing is all about.

Thanks for sticking with us. In the early 80’s point and shoot cameras were all the rage, and every major camera maker was rushing to one up their competitors. Nikon’s answer was the One Touch L35AF. Today, as I said before, I’ve managed to get my hands on its 1985 improved version, the Nikon One Touch L35AF2.

When they say point and shoot, they aren’t kidding. All you do is load the film, and then choose when to push the shutter button. This thing can read the film cartridge, and knows what you loaded. It has autofocus. It sets the aperture and shutter speed, it does everything all on its own. So as I said, you just point it, and click the button.

This thing has a pretty decent lens on it. As it says on the front, it has a Nikon 35mm f/2.8 with auto focus. If you look through the viewfinder you can see on the bottom how it is focusing. Using the display there you can tell if your subject is going to be in focus or not.

Another nice thing with this is that you don’t have to mess around with a film advance lever. It’s motorized, so you just get the film in place, close it, click the button, and your ready for taking photos. Click to take your photo, and it advances the film so you’re ready for the next shot.

The camera runs on double As, which if you have ever used an old camera before, is quite appreciable. A lot of old cameras use batteries that simply don’t exist anymore, forcing you to find the best modern alternative, but not here. AAs are still about the most common battery there is.

This is also a durable camera. I know how it looks, very much 80’s and plastic like, but its actually quite solid. Believe me, I know from experience.

Well, I’ve already got a roll of Kodak Ektar 100 loaded in the camera, so what say we go take it for a spin?