River Dog
Always looking
Wandering around a local boot sale (flea market) today, I spot a Rollei 35 S glinting in the sun. Not the kind of camera one usually sees in this kind of place - and I had already laid out all of £1 ($1.60) for an Olympus mju-i (Stylus).
I wander over to check it out... slowly, in nonchalant, crab-like fashion.
"What can you tell me about this?", I ask, picking it up.
"It's from my Dad's collection. Very rare", he says.
"How much?"
"It was £80 ($130) last week but a guy had a look at it and couldn't open the back and there's a rattle inside, so £50 ($80) to you."
Now this thing is nearly mint. There is not a mark on it. I don't know much about these cameras but I have always wanted to try one.
I figure out opening the back and the rattle was the battery cover that just needed tightening, but I couldn't cock the shutter. After much fiddling, I explain that as I can't figure out how to work it, I will pass as it may be broken. He doesn't know how to do it either.
As I walk away, I am thinking "those Germans never make anything easy without the manual", so I get on my iPhone, wander about the field (we are in the middle of nowhere) until I get a faint data signal and hit Google. Apparently, you have to extend and lock the lens before you can do anything else.
The guy is packing up to leave when I find him again and I buy it for £45 ($72). OK, not an absolute steal, but it has to be worth a punt? Sure enough, I follow the instructions and it works fine. So, thank you Apple and Google.
It says "Made in Germany by Rollei" on the back, which is a little odd as I thought the 35 S was made in Singapore?
Anyway, here is my new little friend and some shots from the first roll today.
Zone focussing? Now, that takes a little more work than I am used to.
I wander over to check it out... slowly, in nonchalant, crab-like fashion.
"What can you tell me about this?", I ask, picking it up.
"It's from my Dad's collection. Very rare", he says.
"How much?"
"It was £80 ($130) last week but a guy had a look at it and couldn't open the back and there's a rattle inside, so £50 ($80) to you."
Now this thing is nearly mint. There is not a mark on it. I don't know much about these cameras but I have always wanted to try one.
I figure out opening the back and the rattle was the battery cover that just needed tightening, but I couldn't cock the shutter. After much fiddling, I explain that as I can't figure out how to work it, I will pass as it may be broken. He doesn't know how to do it either.
As I walk away, I am thinking "those Germans never make anything easy without the manual", so I get on my iPhone, wander about the field (we are in the middle of nowhere) until I get a faint data signal and hit Google. Apparently, you have to extend and lock the lens before you can do anything else.
The guy is packing up to leave when I find him again and I buy it for £45 ($72). OK, not an absolute steal, but it has to be worth a punt? Sure enough, I follow the instructions and it works fine. So, thank you Apple and Google.
It says "Made in Germany by Rollei" on the back, which is a little odd as I thought the 35 S was made in Singapore?
Anyway, here is my new little friend and some shots from the first roll today.
Zone focussing? Now, that takes a little more work than I am used to.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
For something you can carry in your pocket...those are very nice/clean/sharp shots...
Mudman
Well-known
I'd say that you got a good deal.
paulfish4570
Veteran
all i have to say is: excellent.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Yes, excellent deal. I don't recall the provenance of all the little Rollei 35s, but I seem to recall the first production runs were made in Germany.
Brian Legge
Veteran
I love the lens but realized quickly that zone focusing doesn't work well for me. I shoot close, wide open too often foot enjoy using the camera. A shame as it has a lot going for it.
River Dog
Always looking
Horses for courses. I got down to f4 on a couple and I have never zone focussed before as I tend to shoot open too, but on a sunny day at f8/ISO 100, this baby is very, very fast. Those shots at the fair prove that to me and open up another option.
Nomad Z
Well-known
Great little camera. Mine is permanently in my jacket pocket. It's true that the zone focussing can be awkward when close at wide apertures, but as a carry-everywhere snapshot camera, it's superb. The Sonnar lens is top-notch. 45 quid for a mint example is a bargain. I paid 80 for a tidy example (couple of minor dings), and that was at the lower end of eBay prices at the time.
I much prefer the 35S to my Olympus XA (its rangefinder and size are positives, but auto-exposure, battery dependence, and feather-light shutter release are negatives).
I much prefer the 35S to my Olympus XA (its rangefinder and size are positives, but auto-exposure, battery dependence, and feather-light shutter release are negatives).
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Great little camera ... I bought one under exactly the same circumstances from eBay. The seller didn't know the lens needed to be extended for the shutter etc to work and advertised the camera as needing repair. I took a gamble that this was the case and luckily I was correct.
Enjoy yours ... they are a work of art, though the first time I used one it was like getting in your car and discovering the brake and accellerator were suddenly on the opposite sides!
Enjoy yours ... they are a work of art, though the first time I used one it was like getting in your car and discovering the brake and accellerator were suddenly on the opposite sides!
kshapero
South Florida Man
fond memories!
River Dog
Always looking
I have done a bit of research and the 35 S was only made in Singapore. Someone has probably swapped the back.
River Dog
Always looking
Indeed, it is a bit weird. My right finger interfers with the light meter port or it unlocks the aperture wheel by mistake.
The layout kind of makes some sense though, with all the attention on the fundamental settings and nothing else.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
River Dog
Always looking
Not to mention the flash shoe on the bottom of the camera!
I thought that was a bottle opener :bang:
Richard G
Veteran
Your pictures are at least as good as your luck. Well done. That second with the child peering into the prizes is such a classic Sonnar tonality.
FrankS
Registered User
Congrats! Your story reminds me that I should use mine more.
ark8012
Established
Wow, congrats!! I always wanted to have one of the rollei, never happen yet.
Lax Jought
Well-known
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Not to mention the flash shoe on the bottom of the camera!
You're holding it the wrong way around Keith
No wait, you're down under so it was the right way after all.Seriously, the secret is to let loose and hold the camera whichever way fits the shot. Upside down for flash shots, big deal.
River Dog - I only have the humble B35 which is almost a different camera (besides the Triotar lens, it also uses more conventional shutter and aperture controls). Still left-handed advance and upside-down film path, of course. One of my favorite travel cameras. Sounds like yours came without a case so here's a tip, the Rollei 35 is about the size of an APS camera. I picked up a Minolta Vectis 260 for peanuts just for the neoprene case, which fits the Rollei like a glove.
River Dog
Always looking
Thanks, mine has a broken zip but the case for an old Olympus mju-iii fits very well and is waterproof.