CanonSure Shot Del Sol

The Canon Sure Shot Del Sol is a product of 1996-99, when the spec wars had cooled and manufacturers were quietly perfecting what they already had — a solar-powered compact paired with a Canon 32mm f/3.5. Some backstory: sold as Autoboy SE in Japan and Prima Sol in Europe.

Format

35mm

Year

1997

Lens

Canon 32mm f/3.5

Min. focus

0.7 m

Flash

Built-in

Battery

Solar + 1× CR2025 backup

The Canon 32mm f/3.5 doesn't chase exotic specifications; it just renders cleanly, focuses predictably, and gets out of the photograph's way. On the film-availability spectrum, plain 35mm is as easy as it gets in 2026. It runs on CR2 lithium cells, still stocked online but worth ordering a pair before a trip. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 0.7 m, close enough for a coffee cup or a face but stops short of true macro. Something that catches new owners off guard: the solar panel charges an internal capacitor — no main batteries needed. Pair it with HP5 or Portra and you have a general-purpose travel camera that handles 80% of what you'll point it at.

The Canon Sure Shot Del Sol sits exactly where you want a sleeper to sit: low prices, working examples plentiful, and a spec sheet that holds up against far pricier rivals.

• §1Sold as Autoboy SE in Japan and Prima Sol in Europe.
• §2The solar panel charges an internal capacitor — no main batteries needed.