Broken Camera . Club

View Original

Canon AF35ML

Introduced in 1981 the AF35ML is a quality built fully automatic point and shoot. The Canon Camera Museum refers to the AF35ML as the Super Sure Shot or Autoboy Super. It was the second in what would become the Sure Shot line of consumer cameras. The AF35ML added an upgraded lens (1.9 vs 2.8) to the 1979 AF35M. 

The AF35ML is a solid point and shoot. It feels good in the hand and the design incorporates a hand gip that makes the AF35ML very comfortable to use. It is not a small camera that you should plan on putting in a pocket but seems to be tough enough to take along for most outings. It is an early auto focus that sometimes has trouble finding the target. Close focus seem to be the hardest. 

The AF35ML is hopelessly loud. The shutter is loud but out done by the film advance. Push the button and be prepared for everyone to look at you. This is 1980's technology and not going to live up to current standards. It is also '80's styling. The power rewind sounds like a hedge trimer. Fortunately it is not automatic, so you can decide when and where to activate it.

My Take:

I found the AF35ML to be a strange beast. It has a killer lens pared with a so-so auto focus and boxy but good style. It is not the best camera in the world but it is also hard to dismiss it completely. They are of an age that puts them out of the "classic" camera category but not in to the "modern" era. As such they seem to be cheap and unloved. So if you have one or find one: put in a fresh set of AA batteries, load some film, shut up, point it at something and push the button (and if it is dark: turn on the flash). 

Mine has a 50 to 1000 ISO but some of the production seem to have a 25 to 400. Not sure if this was due to different production runs. Mine was made in Taiwan and was found with a strap and case in decent shape. The case has a strange flap inside that I learned from reading an on line manual that it is a pocket to hold a spare set of AAs. 

Lens: Canon Lens 40mm 1.9

Film: FujiColor 100

 

Links:

http://www.cameramanuals.org/canon_pdf/canon_af_35ml.pdf

https://blog.jimgrey.net/2011/05/23/canon-af35ml-super-sure-shot/

http://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film104.html