Rollei 35 'Classic'

T

thegman

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Hello,
Until a few months ago I didn't like the look of the newer Rollei 35 models, like the Classic:

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

Then I saw one in the flesh, and it sparked up my GAS. I just have one question about the meter. It takes a PX625 battery, which I understand is no longer available. This can be replaced I understand with a Weincell, and the meter will remain accurate, anyone have any first hand experience with this?

I know an older Rollei 35 is every bit as good and a lot cheaper, but that didn't stop me getting an MP instead of an M6, and it likely won't stop me this time either!

Cheers

Garry
 
Yes, you can use a Wein cell, or you can have a repair tech adjust the meter to take modern 1.5 volt batteries. The meter on mine is very dodgy, so I use a hand held meter instead. The Rollei 35 is a great performer, though - enjoy yours!
 
The Wein cell works fine -- just know that it's a zinc-air hearing aid battery, and has a life of a few months at best, and will continue to drain when it's not in use. Some folks remove the battery from the camera and put cellophane tape over the holes to try and keep it from draining, since it's the exposure to air that causes it to work.

One thing you can try is to buy a Wein cell, and then when it's expired, push the battery out from the metal washer surrounding it (it's pretty tightly packed in there; you may need more than fingers). The Wein cell is basically just a 675 hearing aid battery, with a couple of fewer holes. Buy a package of regular 675s at the drug store (they're cheap) and insert them in the washer.

My only caution here is that I have found regular 675s do not fit as tightly inside the Wein washer as the Wein 675 -- so the electrical connection may not be sufficient, if the battery contact in the Rollei is against the washer.
 
Right OK, so I guess I can try Wein cells, and I have my VC II meter just in case.

I did used to have a Rollei 35 SE, which I sold in a great gear purge a year or so ago. Now I'm thinking I want one again as my only 35mm camera, but this time I think I'd like to treat myself to a 'Classic' model. 99% of the time I use medium format, so I don't really need bells and whistles in a 35mm camera, just one that's small, easy, and reliable.
 
The Tessar lens on the original Rollei 35 is terrific, IMO. I like the idea of an all Rollei kit: a 'flex or 'cord plus a Rollei 35.
 
I have a couple of the older as well as the newer 'Classic' Rollei 35's. I eventually had a technician adjust the light meter to accept the currently available 1.5v battery. It has been worth the expense - the Wein cells seemed to die out quickly. Another option is the battery adapter available from C.R.I.S. http://www.criscam.com/mercury_battery_adapters.php#gotohere

The Rollei 35 is my absolute favorite camera.
 
Wein cells or hearing aids cells, although they work fine, are not a good choice for the Rollei 35. These batteries die in a few weeks even if you don't use your camera, if this happens when the camera is loaded with film you won't be able to replace the battery (because the battery compartment is inside the camera).
 
A light meter adjustment is sounding like a good idea.

I already have a Rolleiflex GX, and I like the idea of the Rollei setup too. I just don't use 35mm enough to bother with having a "system" with lenses etc. Also it seems a lot to carry around for a small 35mm frame. The Rollei 35 is tiny and very flexible really.
 
I use a hearing-aid battery with a No. 7 O-ring. I usually get a couple of months from each battery. The key is to keep the camera in a case when you aren't using it.
 
I have used the MR-9 adapter with a 386 silver oxide cell. Works perfectly, in both Rollei 35 Classic Platinum and Rollei 35S (black). I've since sold the Classic Platinum, but the 35S has been my favorite ultra-compact 35mm camera for 25+ years.

(They're pretty much the same thing—same lens, same shutter, same meter, etc. Only things really different are the Classic's expensive as hell body shell and the location of the hot shoe ... and I actually like the 35S better in that respect, for my shooting. Fit a wireless RF trigger and it really doesn't matter at all...)

G
 
ZeissFan said:
I use a hearing-aid battery with a No. 7 O-ring. I usually get a couple of months from each battery. The key is to keep the camera in a case when you aren't using it.
Click to expand...

This is the big point. Or put a piece of gaffers tape over the meter when not in use. Because the R35's meter is always on the short lived battery depletes itself even quicker. I can usually get a few months out of a Wein cell on a camera like the OM-1 where the meter can be turned off. However when you don't have the option those suckers die quickly.
 
pdexposures said:
This is the big point. Or put a piece of gaffers tape over the meter when not in use. Because the R35's meter is always on the short lived battery depletes itself even quicker. I can usually get a few months out of a Wein cell on a camera like the OM-1 where the meter can be turned off. However when you don't have the option those suckers die quickly.
Click to expand...

Put the Rollei 35 into its leather case and you've effectively turned off the meter, as CdS cells go to infinite resistance in the dark. I've had (mercury) batteries in my Rollei 35s go for several years at a time without running down.

(The SE, TE, and LED models use LED indicators and a different battery—PX-27 originally—and have to include a timer circuit to shut down the LEDs or they'd drain the batteries in a jiffy.)

G
 
Godfrey said:
Put the Rollei 35 into its leather case and you've effectively turned off the meter, as CdS cells go to infinite resistance in the dark. I've had (mercury) batteries in my Rollei 35s go for several years at a time without running down.
Click to expand...

Exactly, if you don't have a case do as I mentioned earlier and throw a piece of gaffers tape over the cell.
 
Just as an update, I ended buying both a Rollei 35 Classic and an older Rollei 35 TE. The TE looked great, but the aperture dial was broken/loose, so I've sent that back. The Classic is perfect though, and a real pleasure to use and behold.

I didn't really expect the 'feel' of quality to be any better than a regular Rollei 35, but I think it is, it oozes quality and seems just that bit nicer build than my old SE model.

Very pleased indeed.
 
I have a 35SE and 35 TE; I bought about 5 of the Exell PX27s and by the time I went to use them in the cameras, each and every one of them was dead. Maybe they were duds to begin with, but I was not happy regardless. (Is there another source for PX27s?) The good news is that the cameras will work fine without batteries.
 
The annoyance with the SE models is that the meter readout is inside the viewfinder so you have to fiddle and move the camera about a few times to make a meter reading. With the older models you simply use it as a meter, pointing at the subject, and can see the meter readout plus the aperture and shutterspeed controls all in a very ergonomic way. Then you raise it to your eye and make the exposure. Much simpler to use.

I'm running my 35S with one of the silver-oxide cell adapters as a zinc-air hearing-aid cell (which works fine in a Leicameter etc.) seemed to die after a while, but then mysteriously recover again when I opened the camera and let some more air in. Perhaps the tiny battery compartment inside the camera is too airtight or something?
 
MartinP said:
The annoyance with the SE models is that the meter readout is inside the viewfinder so you have to fiddle and move the camera about a few times to make a meter reading. With the older models you simply use it as a meter, pointing at the subject, and can see the meter readout plus the aperture and shutterspeed controls all in a very ergonomic way. Then you raise it to your eye and make the exposure. Much simpler to use.
Click to expand...

Exactly. The Rollei 35 was designed to be used at waist level for setting focus and metering, and raised to the eye for swift framing and making the exposure. The SE and TE models mixed up the ergonomics with an 'eye-level/viewfinder settings" camera quite unsuccessfully IMO.

I was delighted when they used the match-needle meter in the 35 Classic. The level of finish quality is definitely up a notch compared to the 35S and 35T, although functionally the Classic is identical.

G
 
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