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If you’re looking for a cheap point and shoot film camera, it would be hard to go wrong with one of the many Canon Sure Shot models.

We’ve gathered a list of the most popular versions that you’re likely to see for sale. Check out a comparison of each model’s key specifications to find out which Sure Shot is right for you.

(All of the photos featured in this article were taken on a Canon Sure Shot 35mm film camera).

What is the Canon Sure Shot?

First released in 1979, the Canon Sure Shot was a compact, 35mm film camera that featured a groundbreaking new technology – autofocus. It was a big hit.

Canon would continue producing film cameras under the “Sure Shot” name for over 25 years. The same models would be released in Japan with the name “Autobody”, meant to convey the simple, automatic features packed into these lightweight, compact cameras.

As camera technology improved, small features would change between the different Canon Sure Shots. But no matter which version, the function and shooting experience remained very similar.

Similarities Between Canon Sure Shot 35mm Cameras

Every one of the Sure Shots was designed with ease-of-use and portability in mind. These cameras ranged in price from $170 – $300 upon release. Here’s what’s the same between all of the models:

• Incredibly easy to use

• Automatic everything, including focus

• Built in flash

• Lightweight and compact

• 35mm – 38mm focal length (there are some models not featured on this list that are different)

Differences Between the Canon Sure Shots

While the overall experience is pretty similar from model to model, there are some slight differences you should be aware of if you’re looking to buy a Cannon Sure Shot.

• Film Speeds: Earlier models only allow film speeds of 100 – 400 ISO.

• Shutter Speeds: Most models’ fastest shutter speed is 1/500 but a few models are slower. Later models have a longer maximum shutter speed, up to 2 seconds.

• Batteries: Older versions use plain-old AA batteries, which are easier to find but don’t last as long as camera specific batteries like other models have.

• Type of Lens: There are three types of lenses between all of the models. Fixed length, prime lenses (oldest models), dual-lenses with two focal lengths (middle models), and zoom lenses (later models).

• Weight: While every model is decently lightweight, the oldest model on the list weighs almost twice as much as the newest model.

Comparison of Canon Sure Shot Camera Models

The Canon Sureshot line of film cameras was in production for 26 years and featured over 50 different models. They’re one of the most common types of point and shoot film camera that you’re likely to come across.

We’ve narrowed it down to a list of the 11 most popular Canon Sure Shot 35mm cameras. They are listed in order from oldest to newest, and here’s what we’ve included:

Year: The year the camera was first released

Weight: The camera’s weight, in grams (454 grams = 1 pound)

Film Speeds: The range of film speeds accepted by the camera. Read More About Film Speed.

Size: The dimensions of the camera in millimeters (Length x Height x Depth ) (25mm = 1 inch)

Lens: The focal length and maximum aperture of the lens. Read More About Focal Length.

Flash: Does the camera have a built in flash or does it require a separate flash?

Battery: What type and how many batteries required for the camera to function.

Shutter Speeds: The range of shutter speeds (although selected automatically by the camera) Read More About Shutter Speed.

Canon released the same models under different names for different markets. This means that for each specific model, there are three different names that it could be using.

🇺🇸 = USA Version 🇯🇵 = Japanese Version 🇬🇧 = European/Asian Version

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🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot 🇯🇵 = Canon AF35M (Autobody) 🇬🇧 = Canon AF35M

The original Canon Sure Shot was a great success, notably one of the first 35mm point and shoot cameras to feature autofocus.

The first few versions of Canon Sure Shots featured the widest apertures, maxing out at f/2.8. It’s no coincidence that the first models also featured prime lenses with a fixed focal length.

The Canon AF35M / Sure Shot is a perfectly fine point and shoot film camera, but there are a few features that show it’s age compared to some of the later models.

The max film speed of 400 ISO feels a bit restrictive in this day and age – we would prefer at least 800 ISO. The original Canon Sure Shot is also the heaviest model and one of the largest.

🇺🇸 = Canon (New) Sure Shot 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody 2 🇬🇧 = Canon AF35M II

Four years after the original Canon AF35M, a new, updated version was released. The (New) Sure Shot looks incredibly similar to the original, and the majority of the features are unchanged.

The AF35M II was able to shave off 25% of the weight and a few millimeters from every dimension. While this is a decent difference, it’s worth remembering that the weight difference equals less than a quarter of a pound.

With the same lens, film speeds, and shutter speeds, we wouldn’t consider the upgrades to be too significant.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot Supreme 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody 3 🇬🇧 = Canon Top Shot

The Canon Supreme Sure Shot was the first model with a significant design change. Leaving behind the boxy exterior that was common in the late 70s and early 80s, the Supreme had subtle curves for increased ergonomics.

Another great success, the Canon Supreme Sure Shot won a handful of awards for its thoughtful design.

We’d consider the Supreme to be one of the best Canon Sure Shot 35mm cameras. This model still featured the widest aperture of any model (f/2.8 on a 38mm lens) but also had updated film speeds of 50 – 1600 ISO.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot Max 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody Mini 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima 5

The Canon Sure Shot Max might not technically be the smallest or lightest version, but it’s probably the most sleek. A big reason for this is the fully-retractable lens that gives the camera a flat profile when powered off.

The Max is one of the last Canon Sureshot cameras to feature a fixed-length, prime lens. While it shares a focal length of 38mm with prior models, this version was changed to a max aperture of f/3.5.

You’ll have an even wider range of available film speeds with 25 – 3200 ISO, but the trade off is the reduced max shutter speed of just 1/250.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot Telemax 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody Mini T 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima Twin S

The first model to switch from a prime, fixed-length lens to a dual-lens system was the Canon Sure Shot Telemax.

Released as a sibling to the model above, the specifications were essentially the same aside from the lenses. The Canon Sure Shot Telemax featured both 38mm and 70mm lenses that you could switch between.

Once again, this model is particularly sleek – the dimensions are similar to the Max with only 10mm of additional depth because of the longer lens.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot Owl 🇯🇵 = Export Only 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima AF-7

Potentially the weirdest model of the bunch, the Canon Sure Shot Owl was manufactured for export only, and never released in Japan. They weren’t missing out on much.

Not only is the Sure Shot Owl one of the largest models, it also looks bulky and cheap. Where the Sure Shot Max (above) looked more similar in design to one of the high-end, Contax T cameras, the Owl looks like a toy camera for kids.

This is the last model on the list to feature a fixed-length lens, but the smallest max aperture of the bunch at f/4.5.

Additional downgrades like reduced film speeds (only 100 – 400 ISO) and the slowest shutter speeds of any model make the Canon Sure Shot Owl our least favorite version.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot 80 Tele 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody BF80 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima BF Twin

One of the last Canon Sure Shot 35mm camera to feature a dual-lens system was the 80 Tele, released in 1995.

As the name suggests, the Canon Sure Shot 80 Tele had an even longer lens at 80mm. The idea behind these dual-lens modes was that the wider lens was for snapshots and landscapes, the closer lens was for more flattering portraits.

The shutter speed was expanded to feature speeds as low as one second, although this setting is done automatically by the camera.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody Juno 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima Zoom Shoot

By the mid 1990s, camera technology had improved significantly and it was now possible for to produce zoom lenses for affordable, compact cameras like the Canon Sureshot series.

One of the first versions to take advantage of this new technology was the Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom. This model featured the smallest range of focal lengths (38mm – 60mm) and the smallest maximum aperture (f/4.5) of all the zoom versions on this list.

An interesting quirk to this particular model is that the Japanese versions (aka the Canon Autobody Juno) featured an option to shoot panoramic images and regular sized images, even on the same roll of film.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot 70 Zoom 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody Luna 35 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima Zoom 70F

The remaining Canon Sure Shot 35mm cameras on this list were pretty similar to one another. They all featured zoom lenses, lightweight bodies, and a wide range of film speeds and shutter speeds.

The clam shell design and pop-up flash of the Canon Sure Shot 70 Zoom are very similar in style to the popular Olympus Mju II.

While the majority of later Canon Sure Shots came in silver with black accents, the 70 Zoom had a sleek, all-black finish.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot 105 Zoom 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody Luna 105 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima Super 105

The Canon Sure Shot 105 Zoom was the top of the line model at the time, featuring one of the longest zoom lenses on any point and shoot film camera.

With the ability to zoom from 38mm all the way to 105mm, this lens also had a wide maximum aperture of f/3.8.

Even with the long zoom lens, the size is still similar to the other Canon Autobody Luna cameras.

🇺🇸 = Canon Sure Shot 85 Zoom 🇯🇵 = Canon Autobody Luna 85 🇬🇧 = Canon Prima Zoom 85

The last of the Canon Sure Shot 35mm cameras on this list is the 85 Zoom, released in 1998. It’s noteworthy for being the smallest, lightest version of the Canon Sure Shots.

Just for comparison, the original Canon AF35M weighs almost twice as much.

Otherwise, the Canon Sure Shot 85 Zoom features most of the same specs as the handful of zoom models above.

Additional Resources / Other Models

Fortunately, it’s incredibly easy to find information about any of the Sure Shot models that didn’t make it onto this list.

Canon maintains a well-documented archive of all the cameras the company has ever released. Check out the Canon Camera Museum Sure Shot Series Page to find the specs for any additional models.

Even with a rundown of a camera’s specs, you may still want to read the manual. In the likely case that your camera doesn’t come with a copy, you can find most camera manuals for free online.

We usually use a website run by Michael Butkus Jr. – he has uploaded PDF manuals for over 6,000 cameras. You can check out the Canon 35mm Point and Shoot Section of butkus.org to find manuals for a good number of the Canon Sure Shots.

If you want to check out more Canon Sure Shot sample photos, Lomography has a collection of photos taken by community members using these cameras.