New Rollei 35AF Coming Soon...

[Mos6502]

I just gotta ask...
Why isn't the viewfinder made in the proper aspect ratio?

Anyway I just this video which compares the 35 AF to the old 35S directly.

The "crunchy" film advance is a bit of a turn off.

 

[sojournerphoto]

You really need to ditch those paltry Leicas and step up to medium format. The advantages in self-defense capability are enormous. Get yourself a Bronica S2 and no one will mess with you!

My Fotoman 617 is pretty robust…

Meanwhile, has anyone, that is not a YouTube promoter, got one of these yet?

 

[Mos6502]

There are approximately two people on flickr who've been posting photos taken with one.

 

[JohnGellings]

I just gotta ask...
Why isn't the viewfinder made in the proper aspect ratio?

Maybe a standard part? Maybe to fit other information that the original didn't have?

 

[brothernature]

For those thinking of ordering, I placed an early pre-order after being on the waitlist. Once video reviews started rolling in mentioning the advance lever feeling finicky and the shell of the body being difficult to take on/off, I thought it best to wait for a v2. When I asked to cancel my pre-order, I was told I would have to wait to receive the camera and pay a 10% restocking fee. Since the camera was far from shipping, I thought this was not exactly fair, although I understand it was my mistake to place the order in the first place.

On a side note, I think the design decision to change the ISO by having a dedicated spot in the on/off/flash switch is a poor one. Why give such high priority to a function you will do once per-roll?

 

[rhl-oregon]

Not that I’m going to order one of these, since I already have a Rollei QZ 35-t with good enough autofocus.

 

[rhl-oregon]

Size comparison (with flash attached)

 

[splitimageview]

Perhaps ask the team?

When I asked to cancel my pre-order, I was told I would have to wait to receive the camera and pay a 10% restocking fee. Since the camera was far from shipping, I thought th

What? They would deny a cancellation and ship it to you, only to accept a return with a restock fee??

I personally know two people who simply cancelled and got a full refund.

I would tell them to refund or else you’ll just handle it through your credit card/bank.

 

[JohnGellings]

For those thinking of ordering, I placed an early pre-order after being on the waitlist. Once video reviews started rolling in mentioning the advance lever feeling finicky and the shell of the body being difficult to take on/off, I thought it best to wait for a v2. When I asked to cancel my pre-order, I was told I would have to wait to receive the camera and pay a 10% restocking fee. Since the camera was far from shipping, I thought this was not exactly fair, although I understand it was my mistake to place the order in the first place.

On a side note, I think the design decision to change the ISO by having a dedicated spot in the on/off/flash switch is a poor one. Why give such high priority to a function you will do once per-roll?

I think you are simply being too nice. I would demand your refund based on the change you do not like and the review that scared you off.

On a side note: If I'm completely transparent, I prefer digital to film for my photography. That said, most of the photography I´ve been influenced by was on film. I want this camera to succeed because I think it is simply important for film photography. Nonetheless, I will not be buying one.

 

[Mos6502]

Maybe a standard part? Maybe to fit other information that the original didn't have?

In Kai's video he shows that the frame lines are actually wider than the VF window, which just seems super weird.

 

[brothernature]

I would tell them to refund or else you’ll just handle it through your credit card/bank.

I asked twice over email before having to go through my bank, unfortunately. :/

 

[Mos6502]

You never know, perhaps with early feedback from influencer testers, they've sought a solution for some of these issues. But we won't know until people actually have cameras in their hands.

 

[Mos6502]

IIRC the lens will only collapse when the shutter is cocked. This trips up a lot of new users.

 

[Mos6502]

You never know, perhaps with early feedback from influencer testers, they've sought a solution for some of these issues. But we won't know until people actually have cameras in their hands.

According to the video review petapixel just did, Mint are actually taking feedback from the first round of reviewers, and will be tweaking things before the cameras go out to actual customers. Which is good. But it makes it seem like they prematurely announced the availability of the camera (or perhaps they didn't expect the feedback they got). While this cameras isn't for me, I would like those who purchased them to get a good product that they'll be happy with and of course want to see something out there that's good for film photographers generally.

It did seem like the time between working prototypes and the announcement of the camera's "release" was extremely contracted, and it's obvious at this point they should have put more cameras in more people's hands, and for a longer period of time, to get some real world testing done before announcing they were ready, but hopefully they will work out the rougher points of the camera in short order.

 

[Mos6502]

Well, has anybody got one yet? They seems to be out there now, but I've seen almost nobody talking about it, which feels odd considering in a lot of online places, lots of people were saying they were definitely going to buy this.

 

[wlewisiii]

Website now saying preorders will be available by June "at the latest" Smells like vaporware to me.

 

[cboy]

I really take a deep sigh on Mints' take on the Rollei...They took away the most appealing feature of the Rollei which its compact full manual controls. If they just kept the ergos and added a sensor they'd make a for sure hit within the digital era.

 

[splitimageview]

User reports on Fred Miranda going back to last October

 

[petronius]

Some pictures on flickr and here

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Sold out