I am being offered a Rollei 35 S

[kshapero]

I am being offered a Rollei 35 S. Looks in great condition. 40mm f2.8. Has anyone had any experience with this camera. Looks great to keep with me all the time. Scale focusing never bothered me. Any thoughts?

 

[adep]

If scale focusing doesn't bother you, then go for it! I have a Rollei 35 w/40/3.5 tessar and it is a great lens, very very sharp. I've heard some say the 2.8 is the one to get, though.

 

[ferider]

Like Alan said. You will be amazed by the built and image quality.

A good 35S is worth US 250-300.

Roland.

 

[FrankS]

At what cost? It is a great camera.

 

[Marko]

You are a fool if you not purchased this Rollei! I also owned a Rollei 35 but with 40mm 3.5 Tessar. Its a very clear and sharp lens and the scale focusing is not realy a problem. Load a Fuji Neopan 1600 on it and you can use the aperture 22 over the daytime. So you have not realy a problem with focusing! A very good street shooter. Very quite and small. Take a look on my photoblog http://www.50mm.de.vu the last 35mm posts are from the Rollei 35 load with Fuji Neopan 1600 and Adox Classic Pan 400.

One problem have the camera. The lightmeter.. It works not very correct! I use my handhold lightmeter for good results.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

If you get it go to www.criscam.com there is a one time purchase insert available to go with the correct voltage batteries with batteries. If you get the meter working you will need the case or some mechanism to cover the light meter. If not it will remain on and run down the battery.

 

[awilder]

Great shooter but keep in mind aside from the battery issue (PX625 no longer availabe in the USA), the meter has a very limited low light sensivity and will not read much below good indoor lighting, i.e. EV 7 @ISO 100. Most built-in meters found with compact japanese RFs go down to EV 3 or less. Both problems easily solved with an accessory meter.

 

[rogue_designer]

who needs a battery. Load up some decent 400 speed film

f2.8 at 1/30th when you are indoors.

f8 at 1/500th when you are outdoors.

Great camera. My Rollei 35 is always in my coat pocket.

(fwiw, I have the chriscam adapter in mine, worth every penny in classic cameras)

 

[Marko]

Hi Steve.

My Rollei is completely overworked to use 1,5 Volt batteries. But the metering cell makes only object metering not light metering. So you get a big problem in low light and full sun conditions. My Gossen lightmeter is a steady companion, so this is not a big problem for me..

 

[pawel7]

Hello,
bit old topic, however i'll add my opinion about rollei 35s.
This camera rocks. Amazing design and size that allows to take it were normally You wouldn't take Your camera.
Sonnar lens is really great. If it had rangefinder, it could be my only traditional camera in these days.
Here are some photos taken with Rollei 35s
cheers,
Pawel

 

[ibrando]

I agree pawel7, I thoroughly enjoy my 35s with the Sonnar lens.

Cheers,
B.

 

[vbarniev]

Whar kind of batterie do I need? I ca't find the manual anywhere

 

[easyrider]

I am a great Rollei35 fan. I have a 3.5 Tessar 1969 model and for years it was the only camera I used extensively when my kids were small. I used it for news too. Because it is so small, no one took it seriously and i had great access. That has, of course, changed with the arrival of digital P+S.

The 2.8s are newer and you will be happy.

 

[greyelm]

Whar kind of batterie do I need? I ca't find the manual anywhere

Manual can be found here

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/rolleiflex.htm

 

[sanmich]

Great little camera.
Only reason I don't have one is that I have more issues with focus guessing than with light guessing, so I prefer a barnack for a compact cam.
But really, if my GAS threshold guard was just a tiny bit lower, I would have a couple of these beauties...
Enjoy it Akiva!

 

[Darkhorse]

Gotta say, of all the Rollei35 photos I've seen on flickr, the ones taken with the 35s have caught my eye. I'm not sure why it is, maybe more knowledgeable photogs go for the more expensive camera, but in the examples I've seen the lens seems to be very very impressive.

This set is a good example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevorhughes/sets/72157624999460264

 

[Roger Hicks]

Gotta say, of all the Rollei35 photos I've seen on flickr, the ones taken with the 35s have caught my eye. I'm not sure why it is, maybe more knowledgeable photogs go for the more expensive camera, but in the examples I've seen the lens seems to be very very impressive.

This set is a good example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevorhughes/sets/72157624999460264

You know you can still get them new? Made in Germany? Only 4300€ (call it $5800). What was that about the M9 being expensive...?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Darkhorse]

I probably phrased that poorly. I didn't know you could still get them new, and for such a bizarre price. Is it made out of solid gold like the Queen's?

I'm seeing them on eBay for $200-300.

 

[Mablo]

I can't see any difference between Tessar and Sonnar worth mentioning. Both are very sharp and not overly contrasty for B&W. Contrast can be adjusted with film/development choice so that's not an issue for me. Maybe Sonnar is better with colour film, I don't know.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Great cameras. I've owned a couple of the little Rolleis. But I was never able to get comfortable with guess focusing. Wonderful, small, precision devices, though.