The Canon AF35M was the first fully automatic compact camera, originally launched in 1979 impressing the market with its inclusivity in the form of a 'compact' 35 mm camera with an innovative auto focus, auto exposure and pop up flash. Sporting a 38 mm F/2.8 lens and electric film winding it was a hit with armature photographers and holiday goers due to its main advertised aspects being its full automation and ease of use.
The camera is incredibly easy to use as soon as you learn that (much like modern cameras) focus can be set with a half press of the shutter and the composition can be changed before the picture is taken. The film loading is relatively simple and there is not much else that can be changed on the camera apart from a timer and the rewind film button. As well as this the camera has a manual ASA setting so the camera can be manipulated mid roll to achieve different exposures and techniques.
To me this camera was wonderful to use, I adore simple no nonsense compact 35 mm cameras and this fit the bill perfectly. by taking away many of the manual controls the user has a different connection with the camera and focuses more on their surroundings, for some people this is an asset but for others this may be a hinderance as they enjoy having more control over the outcome of an image. Nevertheless this camera allowed me to interact with subjects more and made me feel a lot more free to take a picture that was not 100% perfect.
When it comes to the lens there is a lot to be desired. looking at the pictures on this article you can see distortion towards the edges, haziness and loss of detail. Towards the centre of the lens the detail and sharpness become better and have a pretty standard look to them. One of the redeeming features of the lens is the super fast F/2.8 aperture which facilitates a more point and shoot nature to the camera by allowing the shutter speed to freeze movement more easily. The lens is not the best thing about this camera but does create a sense of where its origins are, if you enjoy a more rugged look to you images then this is the camera for you. Personally I think the quality of the lens takes away from the usability of the images.
Many people complain that the camera is very loud and for them this eliminates street shooting because the camera becomes very conspicuous after taking a shot. For me this was not a problem at all, I was shooting in and around Bristol so the busy streets and ambient noise were loud enough to cover most of the noise the camera made. Another common qualm that also features in other reviews of the AF35M talk about its size, as it is quite large for a compact camera and definitely wont fit into a pocket. This means it is a little harder to carry around when not in use although mine came with a case that had a belt loop so I carried it around on my hip, this is a very underrated method of carrying compact cameras I might add.
This camera was ahead of its time on release and has earned a place in many compact photographer's hearts. I think there is little more you can ask for in a compact camera from 1979, it has a great nostalgic feel and good build quality. The camera however is not of great quality yet adds to the nostalgic feeling of the camera.
Specifications
- Lens: Canon 38mm, f/2.8
- Film speed settings: 25-400 ISO, set manually
- Shutter and aperture: automatic; EV 6 (f/2.8 at 1/8 sec) – 17 (f/16 at 1/500 sec)
- Focus range: unknown
- Manual loading, automatic advancing and rewinding of film
- Built-in pop-up flash, recharge time: 5-7 seconds
- Electronic self-timer
- Power: 2 AA batteries for everything