Just got a Rollei 35S. What to expect?

[muf]

Been after one of these for many years. Nearly bought one in 1996 but opted for a Contax T2. I recall at the time how cute it is and after receiving it today, that view hasn't changed. Appears to be working fine. Meter, shutter and everything else. So what can I expect from this? Tips on the best way to use it and shutter speed, aperture, film speed settings to get the best out of it.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[henri klein]

'American Surfaces' was shot with one entirely. That says it all.

 

[thegman]

I'd go with a 400 speed film, or faster, as with it being scale focus, you may wish to stop down more than you may otherwise.

Other than that, I use my Rollei 35 like any other camera, even lacking the ability to focus other than guessing is less of a hindrance than I would have though.

 

[muf]

Thanks. I was thinking about going with asa400 as I was looking at keeping the aperture around f8 to f16 to guarantee focus. I think i'm ok at guessing distance, but at f2.8 or f4, being accurate at the set distance will be essential. It's an amazing little thing. Feels more like a clock than a camera.

Thanks for the tips.

Paul

 

[kingqueenknave]

Get a hood if you don't already have one.

 

[yanchep_mike]

When i had my first one in the70s i used Agfapan 100 a lot, you get quiet good in guessing the distance after awhile. Plus the shutter is very quiet and you can go fairly slow in timing. Use it and have fun.

 

[Godfrey]

With f/11, you have to remember two distance settings:
6' nets 4 - 9.5 feet
18' nets 9.5' - infinity

So stick 400 speed film in, set f/11, and go have fun.

G

 

[Bob Wilson]

Sharp as a tack

Sharp as a tack

The 35mm Sonnar 2.8 is sharp sharp sharp. Back in the eighties it was my "walk around" camera loaded with Kodachrome 200. You will LOVE it.

 

[muf]

Thanks for the comments. I'm really looking forward to giving this a run out. Damn well bricking it down the last few days here in sunny Manchester, England. Please read sunny as rainy...

 

[btgc]

40/2.8 isn't terribly demanding to focusing and is fully usable at sub-f/8 apertures - just watch focus at close distances.

Don't discard slower film too early.

 

[Tin]

I don't think I have ever used ASA 400 film in my Rollei 35. (I used to have two---a 35S that was stolen, and a regular 35 that had its mechanism jammed.) Once, I even loaded it with Ektar 25---yes, it was ASA 25. And yes, I used it for landscape photography, not street photography, so that made zone focusing much easier for me..

 

[ZeissFan]

It's just a camera, not magical device. If you think of it as a camera with slightly quirky ergonomics, then all will be fine.

The trouble begins when comparisons start with other cameras: "This doesn't work like my [camera name goes here]."

Those who have only worked with one camera and see that camera as the model for how all cameras should work often have trouble adjusting to the Rollei 35. Just pretend that it's the first camera that you've ever touched, and you will be fine.

 

[mh2000]

To expect? Expect to dent the top if you aren'r really careful! It's really pretty thin metal.

Shooting Rollei 35S and similar Minox 35 GL, got really good at estimating 4', 6' and otherwise used hyperfocal distance.

Yes, f11 is your friend! 🙂

Beautiful camera!!!

 

[Strelnikoff]

You may use this little rangefinder: http://tomchuk.com/misc/rf/ You can glue it to the back of the camera to have it handy. It is amazingly precise.

 

[DaveO]

You have to remember to cock the shutter to collapse the lens. The camera has to be held upside down with the flash attached. All your negatives will be upside down. This fact makes it easy to differentiate pictures with my Rollei 35s from my other film cameras.
Also, I was able to find a printed user manual for mine on the internet. I don't remember the name of the place though.

 

[zeitoun]

A whole lot of fun!

 

[DaveO]

I forgot to mention, if you don't have a lens cap, the plastic top of a 35mm film canister is almost a perfect fit. You may have to put a little tape inside the rim to get it to fit perfectly.
As I said before about the negatives being upside down because the film loads on the right side and goes to the left side.
They load film strangely also. You have to slide the bottom off the camera to get to where you load the film.

 

[kuvvy]

A unique camera Paul, certainly in its handling and a nicely engineered product. The tiny Rollei lenses are superb. Well the weather looks good today for Manchester Paul so get out there ASAP. Hope to see you around Manchester as I often go into the city centre shooting. Maybe you could join the other RFF guys when we get out shooting.

Paul