It hurts.. but it's worth it!

[Kent]

My in-laws (photographers for 5 decades or something) have a nice Rollei 35. They switched to digital some months ago, but they don't want to part with this little cam. Perhaps one day... 😉

 

[Pherdinand]

I can't easily test the bokeh or OOF because the Rollei doesn't have a rangefinder for accurate manual focusing.

LOL, well just don't bother to focus then, and you'll see lotsa bokeh or OOF.

 

[burninfilm]

raid, the Rollei 35 XF is not even similar to the Rollei 35s. It is a completely different design. All controls are conventionally placed, but there aren't many controls, really. It did feel cheap. The little knob on the end of the rewind crank didn't even rotate. It just slid in your fingers; nasty feeling, after you've gotten used to quality cameras. The last nail in the coffin (for me) was that mine was in black and it brassed without too much use. Yuck.

A little off topic, but if you don't like the fact that the knob on the rewind lever doesn't move, you might stay away from Nikon rangefinders like the S2 all the way up the earlier Nikon F SLR's. But since you only like quality cameras, I'm sure you won't be considering Nikons anyway... =-)

Now, back on topic, it looks like you have a nice little Rollei there. I tried one out for a while (a Rollei 35, Singapore version with the Tessar) but didn't really like it too much. The camera was well built, but I found it didn't make the best pocketable camera with the easy-to-lose lens cap protecting that Tessar. Also, on a camera that I'll use seriously for events where I want the correct focus, I wouldn't use the Rollei 35 anyway. So, I spent alot on a fairly serious pocket camera that I wasn't seriously using, or putting in my pocket! However, the camera was nice, and even the odd control layout didn't bother me so much. Anyway, long story short, I sold it and got a Zeiss Ikonta 521/16 (6X6 scale focus folding camera with a f3.5 Tessar, the same lens type and speed as the Rollei 35) and an Olympus XA. Then I had that serious pocket camera I wanted and that makes fantastic 6X6 negatives, plus I got a pocketable rangefinder for everything else.

But, maybe one day I'll try that Rollei out again...

 

[burninfilm]

I had a Rollei 35 years ago, and it was beautifully made. But I just don't like guess focus cameras. Sad they didn't put a rangefinder in the same body (well, Olympus put a rangefinder in the tiny XA, so why not?). The Rollei would be perfect with a rangefinder.

I very much agree with you here. However, after seeing the internal mechanisms of the Rollei 35, it's a minor miracle they got as much in there as they did! Putting a meter and a collapsible Zeiss (or Rollei made) Tessar lens in a camera with full manual control, a single stroke wind lever, and a full range of shutters speeds (B, 1/2sec.-1/500sec.), in a camera as small as the Rollei 35, was a fairly big deal in the later 1960's. Remember, this camera is completely mechanical, and all those mechanics have to go somewhere. At least, it seems like it was a big deal from reading 1960's photography magazines. The XA was only able to include a RF through electronic automation, a film advance wheel, and another decade of optical development for the interesting 35/2.8 lens.

However, the concept of a RF equipped Rollei 35 is nice to think about, huh?

 

[drazin]

i am very interested in learning more about these cameras, does anyone know a good site to learn about them?

 

[zuikologist]

Shadowfox - nice camera and nice photos. I look forward to the colour shots.

I have the Rollei 35LED version - not so well made and does not get much use because of the guess focusing. I should use it more and learn to use it properly.

 

[shadowfox]

i am very interested in learning more about these cameras, does anyone know a good site to learn about them?

http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/35classic/info/index.shtml

 

[shadowfox]

Shadowfox - nice camera and nice photos. I look forward to the colour shots.

I have the Rollei 35LED version - not so well made and does not get much use because of the guess focusing. I should use it more and learn to use it properly.

Zuikologist, thanks. Unfortunately, I have to part with this camera as I am (slowly) thinning out the herd 🙂

Apart from the beautiful design and look, I am not that impressed with the image quality, somehow I expect more from the Sonnar lens. Now, it may be an issue with this particular sample because I absolutely amazed with the results from my other Zeiss lenses.

I kinda like the quirky mechanical design, and I can stand the guess-focusing, but not both combined. I agree with most of you that if a decent RF is installed in the camera, it'd be pretty hot.