Fuji Klasse S & Rollei AFM35 - is it the same camera?

[Norkusa]

Been thinking about getting a Fuji Klasse S for a while now. It has everything I want in a point & shoot - manual aperture & exposure compensation, prefocusing. Was about to order a brand spanking new Klasse S off Ebay and noticed the Rollei AFM35. Looks exactly like the Klasse S/W but much cheaper.

Are the Klasse S/W's just rebranded AFM's with no mechanical difference between the two? If that's the case, is there any reason why I shouldn't get a AFM35 and save myself a few hundred dollars?

 

[Taipei-metro]

AFM 35 and Klasse are the same camera, same lens, 38mm f2.6, 3-group 4-element. Fuji made the camera for Rollei.
The only difference is the lens coatings. If look into the lens, the Rollei w megenta-ish and Fuji green-ish reflections.
So the Rollei carries S-Apogon HTF name, Fuji; Super EBC Fujinon.
Rollei is more expensive when new, ￥89,800, Fuji at ￥77,000
I don't have either cameras, just reading from Japanese magazine. From their test shots, I didn't see any difference.
If Rollei is cheaper, get the Rollei, it's also rarer.

 

[noimmunity]

If you are looking at the Klasse S/W, these cameras are a second iteration. It's the first Klasse (no S or W models) that was the same as the Rollei.

I can't remember if the optics are the same between the two generations, but the controls and VF are different.

 

[Taipei-metro]

The 2007 Klasse S, is with a 38mm f2.8 lens, also 3-group 4-element but a little different in diagram w the Klasse (38mm f2.6).
And with improve speed; B, 1/2～1/500sec（f2.8） ～1/1000sec （f16）, from Klasse's 1/2 - 1/290sec (f2.6) to 1/1000sec (f16).
I don't think there is a Rollei AFM35-S model.

 

[muf]

I went the Rollei AFM35 route and saved a load of cash! It is a beast of a camera. The lens is so well coated you can take pics towards the sun with no flare. It's lightweight, ergonomically easy to use and the meter is fabulous.

Design and mechanics, it's the same camera as the original Klasse. Not the Klasse S. The difference is the lens coating as already stated. Some say the Rollei's is better than the Klasse's. Don't know as I've never used a Klasse, but the Rollei outperforms my Contax T3 on the quality of pictures it produces.

Paul

 

[Monochrom]

Wow i´ve been wondering about such camera....but there are no so many for sael...not to say none....once i auctione on ebay one sample...but before winnig it the owner desisted from letting it go...

never knew they were almost the same...now looked on ebay and there is a rather large offer...thanks!!!!

Any pics???

 

[Tessar.]

We've got an AF35M, the only physical difference with the Klasse is the manual focus dial on the Rollei is replaced with +- exposure compensation on the Fuji.

It's a great camera and has lasted years in my wife's hands, which is testament to the Rollei's good build quality, as she is quite hard on equipment and it has on occasion been dropped. It's worth picking up the leather rollei case if you can find one. I bought ours from B&H Photo when they were selling them off for $20

 

[muf]

Any pics???

This was a photolab scan of the neg. It is Witby Harbour, England.

Paul