Nikon 35Ti Quartz Date compact camera, introduced in 1993. giving the ultimate in analogue technology (almost) more of this later
The titanium metal casing covers the motors and camera’s microelectronics, the top incorporates a unique, analogue display system. It shows all the important camera settings and the scales give a quick and easy guide during use. The Command Input Control dial, full 3D matrix metering and a superb f2.8 35mm lens, all add to the control over picture making that this camera gives. There is one caveat to this statement: the Iso is only set by the film canister coding (not changeable by the user, unless modification of the films DX coding) why this was done I have no idea.
There was another problem on early models of the 35mm but not the later 28mm cameras: the flash was difficult to control as it only had two buttons ‘on or fill’ switching off permanently meant a menu function needed to be selected (a forerunner of the nightmare found on some digital cameras) mine has the newer three button selection method not often seen when looking for one of these cameras in the used market.
A couple of other things it can do (not used by me) it will imprint data on the film !! not in the space between frames as seen with most professional SLR data backs. It can modify the framing for a form of panoramic image (crops top & bottom of the 35mm frame) a novelty and not worth using.
It also looks nice – like a well crafted piece of 50’s engineering, the Weston Euromaster meter from the 70’s is another; if you have not seen or used one then Google it.
The ISO unchangeability is most likely to help replicate a film camera whose ISO could not be altered. This would teach you how to control and use the aperture and shutter speed to produce quality images in keeping with the film’s stated purpose, usually described in the leaflet that came with the film.
Ha – but those leaflets also say these figures are ‘starting points’ the same as development instructions.
For a camera of this quality, it was a major error. My personal film speed for HP5 is 320 Iso not the 400 indicated by Ilford, Tri-X is 200 in most cases (a 50% reduction) and Kodak even told you how to get these speeds. Nikon was not the only one doing this, hence the introduction of sticky tape with the new speed coding being sold.
Of course, you can Push and Pull film as much as you like. I guess Nikon were having a seniors moment! Lol. 😄