Canon AF35M with Ilford FP4+ and a bike – Gavin Lyons Photography

How I came to find this camera

More cheap thrills, this time with more frills. You got it Auto Focus and Auto Exposure, what a luxury! aka the ‘Autoboy’. Along my travels to the car boot sale, I was given this camera when I purchase two cameras for a whooping €3.50 each! So three cameras for €7. This is the first of the three I’ve used.

Truly honestly, I wasn’t too interested in this camera initially but I thought it could work well with some PanF. Which is what I did, loaded the black fantastic plastic Auto shot with Ilford film. Took it away on holidays to re-capture moments with a touristy twist from times of old. Well at least, that was the idea in B&W.

The Canon AF35M, nicknamed ‘Autoboy’ in Japan and ‘Sure Shot’ in the US, was introduced in 1979 and was Canon’s first 35mm compact camera featuring autofocus.

The Autoboy in ten points

Named the Autoboy in Japan and Sureshot in the US
This was the first Canon Sureshot, all Sureshots are film based while Powershots are digital.
Sharp Canon 38mm f/2.8 Coated 4-elements Lens
1/8 – 1/500 seconds, stepless
Takes standard AA batteries don’t use rechargables in the camera, manual states not to.
Built-in Popup Electronic Flash
World’s first active auto focus system based Infra red
It’s loud camera, but some how that sound is so reminiscence of the early 80’s
ASA from 25 – 400
Release in November 1979!

Image Gallery

Leica shutter vs the Autoboy

I tell you it’s not the same! not even close! 🤣 The Autoboy’s sweet sound of regurgitating gears with the blessed hope that it just might grind and whirl the film into the next position – No Leica can give you that kind anticipation! So reminiscence of the 80’s.

Autoboy ASMR Video

Digial ASMR –

Autoboy ASMR spoof video whisper at the end to subscribe.

History: Birth of Autofocus Compact Camera, “AF35M”

Spurred by the severe competition in the autofocus (AF) market, Canon developed its first AF lens-shutter camera, “AF35M (Autoboy).” Konishiroku Kogyo (currently Konica) succeeded in commercializing the world’s first AF camera named “Konica C35AF” in 1977. Thereafter, all the major manufactures followed suit. The AF mechanism of these cameras employed an autofocusing element called Visitronic, which was developed by Honeywell of the United States. It was a passive AF system that electronically detects two patterns (images) of a subject and calculated the distance by triangulation. Canon decided not to use this AF module because it was inadequate for low-light or low-contrast subjects, and started research on its original AF system. The company completed an infrared active AF system, enabling focusing in the dark. Two years after the release of “C35AF,” in November 1979, Canon launched the “AF35M,” lens-shutter camera with the infrared active AF system.

The active AF system incorporated in the “AF35M (Autoboy)” was based on the triangulation using a near infrared diode. Instead of having a moving rangefinder mirror as employed by passive AF system, a light-emitting diode was swung through an arc. The active AF system could achieve focus in the dark and work regardless of subject brightness and contrast. And since it did not require two optical images to focus, focusing was possible at close distances. These unique features and other convenient functions such as automatic film winding and rewinding, program AE, and autoflash AE, the “Autoboy ” soon became the generic name for fully-automatic AF compact cameras. Source : Canon

How do I rate this camera

This camera is a great point and shoot with the definite retro look. Saying that it’s prone to electronic faults. During my time mine locked up and failed to rewind completely. However the Auto Focus system is really great feature if that is what you are after. In fact the style and AF make it quite a good street camera as no one takes too much notice and gives a care to you.

Fun Factor: High
Build Quality: Nothing too special
Ease of Use: Simple as a bicycle