bitfeng
Well-known
No doubt the Minox 35 GTE is a one of the greatest image machines around. Sometimes I like it and sometimes hate it. All in all it drove me to Rollei 35 due to a few things I don't like. Just want to share my thoughts with you gents:
1. The aperture has a diamond shape. So unless you open it all the way up or stop all the way down, the bokeh would be very ugly.
2. Only has 1-stop exposure compenstion. In principle one can change ISO setting to compensate but it is rather awkward. When taking indoor photos without flash, most of the time I would like to meter on highlight, however the GTE metering is often fooled by the dark background.
3. The built-in skyfilter is not multi-coated, which gives me ghost images from time to time. I have been wonderng how to cut a center hole from the filter. Cannot just remove the filter since the filter also serves as a cover for the light meter.
4. Unlike GT, the GTE's focusing ring has no "teeth" at the edge. This means you need to hold the ring much righter than you would need for the GT.
So I just went to Rollei 35 and don't miss GTE much. Although I still keep it as a souvenir.
1. The aperture has a diamond shape. So unless you open it all the way up or stop all the way down, the bokeh would be very ugly.
2. Only has 1-stop exposure compenstion. In principle one can change ISO setting to compensate but it is rather awkward. When taking indoor photos without flash, most of the time I would like to meter on highlight, however the GTE metering is often fooled by the dark background.
3. The built-in skyfilter is not multi-coated, which gives me ghost images from time to time. I have been wonderng how to cut a center hole from the filter. Cannot just remove the filter since the filter also serves as a cover for the light meter.
4. Unlike GT, the GTE's focusing ring has no "teeth" at the edge. This means you need to hold the ring much righter than you would need for the GT.
So I just went to Rollei 35 and don't miss GTE much. Although I still keep it as a souvenir.
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
I never got on with my GT at all. The Olympus XA is my pocket 35.
bitfeng
Well-known
Have two XAs, but not used to its RF at all. I am thinking about to try a 35ML for its exposure lock, but they are just too expensive. Now I just carry a Rollei 35/35S every day.
wallace
Well-known
I had the GT for some years. Now I have an Olympus 35RC, Not so much bigger, but all together a much better camera IMO.
wallace
wallace
bitfeng
Well-known
Yes indeed, 35RC is a great camera. I have one and love it. Hard to find the 43.5 0.5mm pitch filter though.
btgc
Veteran
I've got EL - it's a bit too small, in fact. Av and X-sync are two important feartures missing on many compacts. Diamond shaped aperture? Go for small Yashica. But even then one can argue aperture is not round. That said, world isn't perfect 
bitfeng
Well-known
For the aperture, I just wish it could be a little more azimuthally symmetric (more round-like): pentagon, hexagon, decagon, whatever. My Vito II has ten blades - really nice.
I've got EL - it's a bit too small, in fact. Av and X-sync are two important feartures missing on many compacts. Diamond shaped aperture? Go for small Yashica. But even then one can argue aperture is not round. That said, world isn't perfect
brainwood
Registered Film User
I have a 35ML which I have used a few times but to be honest I find the f numbers and distance scale too small to read without glasses, not a problem I have with the Rollei 35 which is my preferred pocket camera.
The lens is nice and ap priority makes life easy but not as easy for me as Rollei 35.
The best thing is if you use it upside down you have a built in lens shade.. oh and its a folder - I love folders
I think you have made the right choice though the Rollei 35 is capable little camera, dare I say it, sharp as Leica - well almost
The lens is nice and ap priority makes life easy but not as easy for me as Rollei 35.
The best thing is if you use it upside down you have a built in lens shade.. oh and its a folder - I love folders
I think you have made the right choice though the Rollei 35 is capable little camera, dare I say it, sharp as Leica - well almost
bitfeng
Well-known
Haha so you like Rollei 35 as well. My problem is that I keep buying and never sell, so now I have more than what are really needed: 8 Rollei 35/35S, 1 Minox 35 GTE, 1 Minox 35 GT, 3 Oly XA/XA2, 2 Mju II, 2 Mju, 2 Oly OM, 1 Nikon LiteTouch 28/3.5, 1 Vito II, 1 Vitessa, 1 Minolta Freedom Vista 24mm, 1 Oly 35RC, 2 7SII, 2 QL17GIII, 1 Petri 35 color, 1 Minolta Freedom Escort, 1 Nikon L35AF, 1 Yashica T3, 1 Canon Classic 120 ...... Just need to remember which one has what film inside ...
serrada36
Member
I really like my Minox ML, never got along great with my Rollei 35 or XA. I ended up keeping the ML. However, it doesn't get much use since I picked up a Contax T.
FrankS
Registered User
What I didn't like about the 4 or 5 Minox 35's I had was that the shutters stopped functioning. My track record indicated very poor reliability, but then again, none of mine were bought new.
bitfeng
Well-known
Hi serrada36, how is the reliability of the RF of the Contax T? I heard the lens is exceptional but the price ($250-350) always keeps me from getting one. Thanks.
brainwood
Registered Film User
That's quite a collection . From your list I still prefer the rollei 35, though I have always fancied a QL 17GIII but then as you have 8. X Rolleis I guess you think the same way
bitfeng
Well-known
Yes the Rollei 35s are the only film cameras I still keep buying - cannot help myself. Although I usually buy untested/repair/part Rollei 35s in order to reduce the cost - and I know how to fix small problems. IMHO 7SII is better than QL17GIII except for the viewfinder - but keep in mind how much smaller and lighter 7SII is.
Spicy
Well-known
The XA also has a diamond-shaped aperture. It's two V-shaped blades that slide closer/away from one another.
bitfeng
Well-known
Yes, actually Olympus like to use a shutter/aperture blade combo, not on XA but on Pen EED etc. To be precise, XA has a square aperture which is better than the diamond on Minox IMHO.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I have both Minox 35GT-E and Rollei 35S. Both have made stunningly good photos for me.
G
G
raid
Dad Photographer
I have been lucky with a perfectly functioning GT since about twenty years now. The exposure system is so accurate that I was using ISO 50 slide film in it for many years. The camera is tiny and very light, so it is easy to have one hidden in each pocket. I recently got also an ML. The Minox cameras seem to have sharper lenses than the lens on the XA. The GT has been my back-up camera in my travels. I would take one M camera, say, and the GT. Set the aperture to f 8-11, and take sharp photos. It has a very quiet shutter, which makes it a great stealth camera.
bitfeng
Well-known
The shutter is probably the quitest among all film cameras. Also so low-profile people around me often think it is a disposable ...
archeophoto
I love 1950's quality
The Minox is a special sort of camera. As soon as you stop thinking about it and its quirks, it's turning into a fantastic picture taker. It's probably the most underrated and misunderstood camera. It's plastic, yet good quality, it's quiet and understated and it has a KILLER lens. What else do you want?
I had a Minox 35GSE on a trip to South America and a Rollei 35 on another. There is absolutely no contest: the Minox is smaller, faster, easier to use and much more practical especially since it has the 35mm lens compared to the Rollei's odd 40mm.
If it's photos you are after, choose a Minox. If it's built quality and overall "camera lovin'" choose the Rollei.
I had a Minox 35GSE on a trip to South America and a Rollei 35 on another. There is absolutely no contest: the Minox is smaller, faster, easier to use and much more practical especially since it has the 35mm lens compared to the Rollei's odd 40mm.
If it's photos you are after, choose a Minox. If it's built quality and overall "camera lovin'" choose the Rollei.