Rollei 35 RF ???

I bought the camera and the lens last month. I am quite happy with it actually. Actually, I bought it them for the looks. So, call me silly. It was my first siwtch to Film after sometime with DSLR. I really enjoy the camera, and will be my main for quite sometime.

I recently took these pictures with them.

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Please find more in my gallery at Flickr http://flickr.com/photos/70652943@N00/
 
If anyone is interested, here are the production figures for Rollei 35 RF body. I received this e-mail from Rollei Germany today:
---
I looked up how many pieces of the Rollei 35 RF were originally bought.
We ordered, received and paid 440 units of this camera body.

Andrea Fahlbusch
Manager Service & Logistics
Rollei GmbH, Braunschweig
---

And production figures for Sonnar 40mm/2.8 and Planar 80mm/2.8 lens (another e-mail which I received few days ago):
----

The figures from our old EDP system:

Ident 22120 - Sonnar 2.8/ 40 silver - quantity 380 units
Ident 22125 - Sonnar 2.8/ 40 black - quantity 50 units
Ident 22130 - Planar 2.8/ 80 silver - quantity 50 units
Ident 22135 - Planar 2.8/ 80 black - quantity 40 units

Each plus the quantities sold directly to Japan, however, I cannot find the
figures for this. Anyhow, the quantities mentioned above are quite small
to make the lenses rare.

These figures include already those lenses sold in the kit with the camera
body - and yes, they all were silver.

Andrea Fahlbusch
Manager Service & Logistics
Rollei GmbH, Braunschweig
---
 
George Bonanno said:
Hi All,

Well, I did get the Rollei 35 RF and 40mm lens from B&H and used it for two weeks. I'm sorry to report I sent it back. I was very disappointed with the quality and feel of the body. Especially the feel of the film advance. The action was very inconsistent throughout the wind. No way did I feel the body was worth $500. I expressed this to B&H when I requested an RMA and the person I spoke with agreed with me, no questions asked. I was issued a full refund within a week. The lens optical quality - sharpness was OK but the feel of the focus tab was not good. It did not have a good ergonomic feel or smoothness while focusing. Focusing was stiff and awkward. Also, the rolls of color negative film I shot had a weird "MINOR" cold color cast, greenish-blue, to the prints. It was not the processing as after the first two rolls I used a different lab. I even went so far as to shoot half a roll and then transfer the roll to my point and shoot Olympus Stylus Epic. The color prints from the last half Epic roll looked fairly normal. B&W negs looked very good and the exposure meter worked well. The 40mm focus and framing accuracy was very good too.

Another disappointing note. In the interim I called Rollei (located a few towns away) about buying a lens hood. Even with the Rollei part number they had no clue. I then located a dealer is Europe who claimed to have the hoods in stock. Two e-mails... no response.

I was hoping this thread would just die as I did not want to write this about the Rollei as other RFF members are more than satisfied with their cameras and lenses. However, for $1000, it was not the camera for me.

At this point in space and time I'll stick with my IIIf and be happy with it.

Best,
George
Click to expand...


George you have done well giving the camera back, i am following this thread for i while as a guest and i always wondered how people could love the camera rollei 35 rf. I had an Rolleiflex sl 35 years ago and the wuality was so awfull.Nothing in common with the old name. D'ont forget that the 35rf is nearly a clone of the bessa r24 . and thats cosina making it. The same counts for the new Zeiss Ikon ZM. for less money get an Bessa ra4 for less money and have nerly the same feeling as for a Rollei or an Zeiss for less money. And if they d'ont pleas you (because you are an old Leica user) stay with an M7
Manusr greetings
 
manusrayus said:
George you have done well giving the camera back, i am following this thread for i while as a guest and i always wondered how people could love the camera rollei 35 rf. I had an Rolleiflex sl 35 years ago and the wuality was so awfull.Nothing in common with the old name. D'ont forget that the 35rf is nearly a clone of the bessa r24 . and thats cosina making it. The same counts for the new Zeiss Ikon ZM. for less money get an Bessa ra4 for less money and have nerly the same feeling as for a Rollei or an Zeiss for less money. And if they d'ont pleas you (because you are an old Leica user) stay with an M7
Manusr greetings
Click to expand...


The Rollei 35 RF is a near clone of the Bessa-R2 (not R24). This camera, of course, has no relation to the line of Rolleiflex SLRs, which were based on Voigtlander cameras.

The Zeiss Ikon is not a Cosinia product. It is simply built by Cosina according to a Carl Zeiss design and to Zeiss specifications (not Cosina). Nowhere on the body, documentation or box will you find the Cosina name.

The reason that focusing is stiff on the Rollei body is that the rangefinder coupling arm is too tightly sprung. Most lenses will do the same, especially tabbed lenses. This isn't as apparent when using a lens with a traditional focusing ring, because you use two fingers on opposite sides of the lens barrel to focus.

When mounted on the Zeiss Ikon, it focuses very smoothly.

There is no Bessa-RA4. I find the design of the newer Bessa models to be very unattractive. But that's purely my opinion.
 
pvdhaar said:
I guess it's a typo, cause there is a Bessa-R4A: http://www.cameraquest.com/voigt4m4aintro.htm
Click to expand...
Thanks pvdhaar, I wanted to type R2A instead of R24. By the way i think the Rollei is discontinued here in Europe. I got a Bessa in nov 2006, light weighted ,nice ,not to expensive, it is a camera to have with me all the time in the bag. The battery lasted only 6 films . that was surprising, maybe it was an old one (out of the shop).

manusr
 
Here I Go Again...

Here I Go Again...

Hi All,

Well, it seems I have an offer I can't refuse. I was offered a Rollei 35 RF Kit with all the stuff, camera, lens, boxes, strap, caps, etc. for $800 cash through my girlfriend's brother's friend. He bought the Rollei kit from B&H two years ago and from what he said he used it only a few times. I have no reason not to believe him so I sort of committed myself into buying it on Sunday. I know, I know... I had not such a good experience with this kit some time ago but the price seems irresistible. From my previous posts within this thread I was unhappy with the feel of the body and the results from the lens using color film. However, I think it's in my best interest to buy this kit as offered. The seller gave me the opportunity to take one roll of film beforehand and have it processed at Costco while we wait in the parking lot. I feel he's giving me a fare shake. The thing that really turns me on again is the 40mm Sonnar lens and the camera's dedicated 40mm viewfinder.

Help me out here with this decision and thanks.

But ya know what, I think I'll just bite the bullet and go for it on Sunday since my only real interest is shooting B&W film and having an RF camera that matches the lens FOV in the VF.

In the end... who really cares and what does it matter... I just take pictures.

Best,
George
 
Hi George,

the Rollei 35RF is a good camera - as long you don't compare it to a Leica M. The M's are build really rock solid. The whole bunch of Bessa-RFs is based on a nearly thirty year old design (remember the Olympus OM-10, a SLR made by Cosina, which gives you the same feeling on handling).. BUT i never had any issues in usinf those cameras! They are working very well. And the design of a Bessa R2 or Rollei 35RF is IMHO much nicer than the actual Bessas with that chopped top!

The lens is a real gem, and nothing else! Mine is feels better than some Leica lenses do. And optically theres really no doubt bout the quality. Maybe some MTF-charts of other lenses ares superior, but the pictures show a ow charakter whats so many other lenses are missing. Never had issues with the color.

I attached the MTF of the ZM Biogon 35 and the Rollei Sonnar 40, both fully opened. As you can see there is no difference between both lenses in center, and the Sonnar becomes soft onhe edges. That makes the "Sonnar-look" which makes so many pictures worth a look!
mtf-biogon2_35.jpg ZM Biogon 2/35

mtf-sonnar-2,8_40.jpg Rollei Sonnar 2.8/40

Have Fun and always the right light for a good shot!
 
Hey George, one suggestion would be to try the Nokton 40/1.4 S.C., I've been working that lens w/the Rollei for a couple of weeks and am beginning to find it quite special. Personally, the Rollei body is like a big whatever ... it's a R2 (I got one at Adorama for $499.00). But I think, when paired with the Nokton S.C. you're getting into something that can actually image with a unique signature.
 
Welcome George back to the Rollei Club 🙂.

Well, the 35 RF is just a Bessa R2, close focus to 0.8m rather than 0.9m, but the 40mm Sonnar will give u a unique Sonnar signature and together with the 35RF formed a very compact package to move around.
 
Back In The Rollei Groove...

Back In The Rollei Groove...

Well, I got the Rollei kit as planned. And ya know what ? This cam feels far superior to the last one I had. The advance winder is much smoother and I don't think it's my imagination either. The Sonnar lens seems much smoother to focus too although I'm not a big fan of tab focusing but I'll get used to that. This kit is mint, like new. I did not bother with taking snaps beforehand. The shutter speeds seemed right on target at a 30th and below. I have a good sense of that since I shoot a lot at slower shutter speeds. And the light meter agreed with my Luna handheld... so I handed over the cash. But what put the icing on the cake is the deal included a Rollei lenshood in a green Rollei box. Geez, I thought those hoods were nonexistent items like the Planar 50mm and Planar 80mm lenses. I mean, they don't exist, right ? Anyway, I can not figure out how to mount the lenshood. The instructions are in Japanese and so indicate screwing off the front of the lens ring. I tried my best but the lens just unscrewed from the M mount adapter. I used a reasonable amount of force then quit. If any of you can help me out with this lenshood puzzle I'd appreciate it. Here's the instructions...

rlh.jpg


Anyway, I shot three rolls of BW400CN so far and maybe I'll shoot some color film towards the end of the week, maybe. I just don't see things in color when looking through the (a) viewfinder. Speaking of the viewfinder, it is very bright and the framelines are amazingly bright in low light situations. I remember how I frame most shots so we'll see how the parallax correction stacks up as I typically don't crop afterwards.

The lightmeter 12 second hold feature is a nifty thing. I wonder how they do that ?

I have two curious unimportant questions. What does HFT mean on the lens ? And what do you Rollei shooters think of the supplied neck-shoulder strap. I couldn't deal with it so I put a standard strap on the camera. Another thing that I have a problem with is the camera sits pointing up due to the position of the strap lugs. I guess I'll get used to that too.

BYW: I don't think the shutter is loud. Heads haven't turned when I've taken candid snaps. Who knows, maybe it was the music.

So, that's that on that.

Best,
George
 
George Bonanno said:
Anyway, I can not figure out how to mount the lenshood. The instructions are in Japanese and so indicate screwing off the front of the lens ring. I tried my best but the lens just unscrewed from the M mount adapter. I used a reasonable amount of force then quit. If any of you can help me out with this lenshood puzzle I'd appreciate it.
Click to expand...

George, this maybe helps you. It's from Stephen Gandy's website (http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtlen.htm): "To mount a filter, remove the shade by unscrewing it WITH the lens cap attached, mount the 39mm filter, and then remount the shade."

Rollei HFT-Sonnar 40/2.8 is same kind of lens as CV 21/4, 25/4 or 28/3.5 when removing the build-in short shade, which is actually the front lens ring. I have the black Sonnar 40/2.8 and it was also a bit tight to remove the ring/shade and attach the 39mm filter! Hope this helps and congrats for your new camera.

By the way, my Rollei HFT-Sonnar 40/2.8 shots are here, if you are interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/tags/rolleisonnar40mmf28/ or in slideshow mode
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsuominen/tags/rolleisonnar40mmf28/show/
 
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