Last minute decision - Nikon L35AF or Canon Sure Shot Supreme?

Forrest Conifer · Aug 2, 2014

I have a weakness for 80s point-and-shoots. I recently bought a Canon Sure Shot Supreme (for its oddly sharp lens) and a Nikon L35AF (because it's a cult classic). Haven't got anything developed from either of them yet.

I'm going to a thing tonight and I plan to bring along two cameras, one 35mm point-and-shoot loaded with Tri-X 400 and a plastic 110 camera. I'm divided as to whether the Tri-X camera should be the L35AF or the Sure Shot Supreme - the Sure Shot has a very sharp lens for some reason, but the L35AF feels nicer in my hands and is a bit easier to navigate.

I'm wondering if anyone here has any thoughts. If you could only take one, which would you take?

removed-user-1 · Aug 2, 2014

Way back in the early 1990s, the school paper at my college kept a Sure Shot Supreme in the office for quick assignments - it was always loaded with Tri-X, ready to go in case there wasn't a "real camera" around. It was a very nice point-n-shoot camera for the time. "Cult status" notwithstanding, I always found that Nikon to be a little clunky by comparison. I'd take the Sure Shot.

Forrest Conifer · Aug 2, 2014

Thanks, this is the kind of firsthand experience I've been looking for. I've just about finished off a roll on the L35AF, so if I bring the Sure Shot I'll have something to compare it to.

narsuitus · Aug 2, 2014

Forrest Conifer said:
I'm wondering if anyone here has any thoughts. If you could only take one, which would you take?

I use the Canon Sure Shot and the Nikon L35AF when I want to shoot with a simple, inexpensive, compact, easy to operate camera that takes high-quality photos. However, when two different Sure Shots broke while I was using them on two different occasions, I stopped relying on them for any serious shooting.

https://flic.kr/p/8XTKjr

Forrest Conifer · Aug 2, 2014

Good to know. I'll bring the L35AF in my bag just in case.

trythis · Aug 2, 2014

The first canon version of this had a filter ring, that would be my deciding factor with b&W film

Jeff Kubach · Aug 2, 2014

My first gut instinct is the Canon sureshot.

Jeff

Forrest Conifer · Aug 3, 2014

narsuitus said:
two different Sure Shots broke while I was using them on two different occasions

Funny you should mention this because I forgot to bring the L35AF as a backup camera and this happened to me. So now everything I have from tonight was shot on either 110 (which, admittedly, I love) or my iPhone. Oh well, now I know.

Christiaan Phleger · Aug 3, 2014

The LF35AF all versions had a fantastic lens. Its quite an interesting optical design done very well; a very short Sonnar design which is perhaps the shortest focal length Sonnar design for 35mm I can name (try to find a shorter one). All the Canon 35's of this era seem to have too much barrel distortion for my taste. Tricking the camera to shoot at wider F/stops results in very nice bokeh and strong vignetting which can be very pleasant; there was a reason Nikon put that particular lens into so many versions of this camera its was very popular.

Jon Buffington · Aug 4, 2014

No experience with the canon but I can attest to the lens on the L35AF as being very sharp. I originally did not like the nikon until I ran a roll through it. Now I appreciate it and like the ability to focus/recompose. I realized as well is to keep my finger over the top of the flash if I wanted it to shoot without flash (keeps it from popping up and engaging). The added ability to add filters is a nice bonus as well as being able to manually adjust the iso (no DX coding, ability to shoot as I want to process - push/pull). I also found shooting directly into the sun that the lens is very flare resistant.

pentaxpete · Aug 5, 2014

I agree with the Nikon as I was given one by an old friend from a Camera Club and have used it and lens IS very good-- also the ability to use FLASH outdoors as fill-in works well -- here are some Nikon L35AF photos ---

British Buses in very dull light, outdated Fuji Press 800 set to 200 ASA

L35AF 03 by pentaxpete, on Flickr

Shop window, available light, film as above

L35AF 02 by pentaxpete, on Flickr

Town Crier in Bright SUN against the Light -- film as above, FILL-IN FLASH used

L35AF 06 by pentaxpete, on Flickr

Last minute decision - Nikon L35AF or Canon Sure Shot Supreme?

removed-user-1

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