EP263: The Charm of the First Generation — Pentax PC35AF 35mm f2.8 with Kodak Vision3 200T/5213 (Remjet Removed)

Roll 263

Film: Kodak Vision3 200T/5213 (remjet removed, Reflx Lab bulk-loaded version)
Developed & scanned: DEP Lab 2025/7/16
Camera: Pentax PC35AF 35mm f2.8

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Over time, I've gone through a handful of "first-generation autofocus cameras" from different brands, more or less in chronological order:

• Konica C35 AF 38mm f2.8 (1977), Konica's first autofocus camera
• Minolta Hi-Matic AF 38mm f2.8 (1979), Minolta's first autofocus camera
• Olympus C-AF 38mm f2.8 (1981), Olympus's first autofocus camera
• Pentax PC35AF 35mm f2.8 (1982), Pentax's first autofocus camera

The first three are actually quite similar. Classic rangefinder-style bodies, fairly straightforward in both design and handling. They feel like early attempts at autofocus, still rooted in what came before.

The Pentax PC35AF, though, feels like a shift. Smaller, more deliberate in its design, and that sliding cover gives it a very distinct character. It does not feel like a transition product. It feels like Pentax knew exactly what they were doing.

Pentax ended up making three autofocus cameras with a 35mm f2.8 lens:

• Pentax PC35AF 35mm f2.8 (1982, manual film advance)
• Pentax PC35AF-M 35mm f2.8 (1984, automatic film advance)
• Pentax PC-555 35mm f2.8 (1986, automatic film advance)

All three share a minimum focusing distance of 0.7 meters, which, for that time, was already a noticeable improvement. Earlier models like the Olympus C-AF were closer to 1 meter, and you really feel that difference in everyday use.

What makes the original PC35AF interesting is that it is the only one with manual film advance. That alone already puts it in a very small category.

If you are specifically looking for compact autofocus cameras with manual advance, there are only a few options:

• Pentax PC35AF 35mm f2.8 (1982)
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.7 m
  • Focus distance scale
  • Weight: 320 g
  • Built-in flash
• Mamiya U Autofocus 35mm f2.8 (1983)
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.9 m
  • Focus distance scale
  • Weight: 245 g
  • Built-in flash
• Minolta AF-C 35mm f2.8 (1983)
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.9 m
  • Focus indicator
  • Weight: 215 g
  • No built-in flash (external flash supported)

I have not used the Mamiya yet, so I will leave that aside. But between the Pentax PC35AF and the Minolta AF-C, the difference is quite clear. The Pentax feels complete, almost overbuilt for what it is. The Minolta, on the other hand, is all about compactness.

They are both good, just in very different ways.

Also, none of these are particularly expensive. If you are even slightly curious, they are worth trying.

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#1
This was the first roll I ran through the Pentax PC35AF. I remember being slightly nervous about whether I had loaded it correctly. There is no clear confirmation, so I just took a few shots at my desk to be safe.

 

#2
It was a typhoon day, and I still went into Taipei for shoulder rehab. Most of it was electrical stimulation and infrared treatment. At some point, though, recovery just comes down to time. Writing this now, it is better, but not fully there yet.

 

#3
The MRT stairs I see every time I go for rehab.

 

#4
Using a public payphone in 2025 somehow feels like a luxury.

 

#5
Dinner that day. Lately, if I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be "Second Floor Cafe." I like how everything feels considered, from the interior to the menu.

 

#6
July 2025.

 

#7
Banqiao Station on the Circular Line. The blue glass here always stands out.

 

#8
On the way to meet a client.

 

#9
A "Caution Wet Floor" sign that caught my attention.

 

#10
Routine car maintenance. It has been six years now. I always bring my laptop and just work while I wait.

 

#11
Lunch.

 

#12
Yang Rou Rong in Shulin. Very good.

 

#13
A small trash bin from Muji that I really like. It works well on a desk, opens smoothly, and is easy to empty without things spilling out.

 

#14
End of the day.

 

#15
My son's new backpack for elementary school.

 

#16
Back to Dihua Street again. I needed to stop by Olympus Plaza Taipei.

 

#17
The difference in minimum focusing distance between the Pentax PC35AF and the Minolta AF-C is quite noticeable. The Pentax can just about handle a selfie. The Minolta cannot.

 

#18
Every time I see Daqiaotou Station, I think of the movie "Daqiaotou," even though I have never watched it.

 

#19
If you need film in Taipei, Molly Lifestyle near Zhongxiao Xinsheng is a solid option.

 

#20
These narrow fire lanes in Taipei always catch my eye, but they rarely turn out the way I imagine when I photograph them.

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This is the full set from this roll, shot with the Pentax PC35AF 35mm f2.8 and Kodak Vision3 200T/5213 (remjet removed). Thank you for viewing, and thanks to DEP Lab for development and scanning.