Nikon35Ti
Premium Compact
The story
The Nikon 35Ti comes out of the moment 'titanium' started appearing on spec sheets and ad copy alike. Catalogued as a premium compact, it pairs the Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 with a 35mm film path. A bit of background: the 35mm sibling of the 28Ti — same gorgeous needle-dial top plate.
Specifications
- Format
- 35mm
- Year
- 1993
- Lens
- Nikkor 35mm f/2.8
- Min. focus
- 0.4 m
- Flash
- Built-in
- Battery
- 1× CR123A
Notable features
- Titanium body
- Analog dial dashboard
- Aperture priority
Shooting it today
The Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 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. A single CR123A lithium cell powers everything including the motor; still cheap and stocked at most camera shops. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 0.4 m — unusually close for a compact of this era and a genuine advantage over rivals that stop at 0.7 m or 1 m. You can fill the frame with a coffee cup, a flower, or a face without stepping back. One thing worth knowing before you load a roll: Nikon's high-water mark for compact film cameras. Pair it with HP5 or Portra and you have a general-purpose travel camera that handles 80% of what you'll point it at.
Who it's for · Verdict
The Nikon 35Ti has its fans for a reason, but it's no longer a secret — set a strict budget, hold out for a clean copy, and don't overpay for a famous name. Worth remembering: often shot alongside Contax T2s by 90s magazine photographers.
Fun facts
- §1The 35mm sibling of the 28Ti — same gorgeous needle-dial top plate.
- §2Nikon's high-water mark for compact film cameras.
- §3Often shot alongside Contax T2s by 90s magazine photographers.
Field note
We got dropped at the wrong trailhead, eight kilometres from anywhere, the 35Ti swinging off my shoulder and the light already going gold. The 35mm on the 35Ti turned out to be exactly how far I naturally stand from people, so I stopped composing and just looked. Focusing the 35Ti down to 0.4 m, I filled the frame with a sleeping cat's whiskers — few compacts get that close. By dessert the 35Ti had photographed three generations pulling the same face, and the dread had quietly dissolved.
Creative field note — inspired by this camera's character, not based on real events.
Find one
Most copies turn up second-hand on eBay. We've linked a saved search so you can see current listings.
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