Rollei 35 viewfinder

msbarnes

msbarnes

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What's the viewfinder magnification? Roughly? I'm considering getting these but only if the viewfinders aren't squinty.

I don't know the magnifications but I find the Epics and Retina's too squinty, the XA's alright, the Konica Auto S2's great.

Where does the Rollei fit in?
 
the rollei 35 have really nice, bright and clear viewfinders without any distortion and with contrasty framelines. the magnification is about 0.6.

i have a konica auto s3 and i would consider the rolleis viewfinder even as a bit better. i think they share the same magnification, but the viewfinder of my rollei is brighter.
 
I'm assuming you don't mean the B and LED models but if you do, keep in mind the VF is completely different. Smaller and not in the corner.
 
I wear glasses and the rollei 35 viewfinder is still quite good. I can still see the little framelines - which is more than I can say for other camera manufacturers.
 
I had an opportunity to look through the viewfinder of an Olympus XA the other day. It's squinty compared to the Rollei 35. I found the same with the Minox 35's - the Rollei is very good in comparison.

Steve
 
germany viewfinder is a lot better than singapore one, in terms of size, brightness, color-cast, magnification, etc
 
they're actually the same. i played with them side-by-side at samys when they had them on display.
 
aizan said:
they're actually the same. i played with them side-by-side at samys when they had them on display.
Click to expand...
Germany and Singapore aren't the same finders at all and aren't interchangeable (not the same eyepiece frame which clips into the camera top cover, not the same front element size behind the camera top cover front window).

Germany : cemented prism unit made of mineral glass wrapped with black cloth tape, with etched framelines.

Singapore : a series of plastic glass elements put altogether in a sealed plastic casting, with white painted framelines.

Germany pros : a bit bigger and brighter. Made of genuine glass. Framelines won't fade.
Germany cons : optical cement can separate over time. Framing ratio not quite up to 3/2 (closer to 4/3). No parallax markings for close-up focusing. Needs a special separate light baffle next to the front element under the camera top cover. If this light baffle gets lost or deteriorated, the camera develops a huge light leak.

Singapore pros : very accurate. Exact 3/2 ratio. Parallax markings for close-up focusing. Light tight by design once the camera top cover is on.
Singapore cons : white painted framelines very often fade and chip away. Prone to hazing. Prone to get yellowed and a bit dim.
Most of them have a colour cast even when still like new (mostly pink).

Both are remarkable for a camera that size. Way better than a Minox 35 finder.
 
Highway 61 said:
Germany and Singapore aren't the same finders at all and aren't interchangeable (not the same eyepiece frame which clips into the camera top cover, not the same front element size behind the camera top cover front window).

Germany : cemented prism unit made of mineral glass wrapped with black cloth tape, with etched framelines.

Singapore : a series of plastic glass elements put altogether in a sealed plastic casting, with white painted framelines.

Germany pros : a bit bigger and brighter. Made of genuine glass. Framelines won't fade.
Germany cons : optical cement can separate over time. Framing ratio not quite up to 3/2 (closer to 4/3). No parallax markings for close-up focusing. Needs a special separate light baffle next to the front element under the camera top cover. If this light baffle gets lost or deteriorated, the camera develops a huge light leak.

Singapore pros : very accurate. Exact 3/2 ratio. Parallax markings for close-up focusing. Light tight by design once the camera top cover is on.
Singapore cons : white painted framelines very often fade and chip away. Prone to hazing. Prone to get yellowed and a bit dim.
Most of them have a colour cast even when still like new (mostly pink).

Both are remarkable for a camera that size. Way better than a Minox 35 finder.
Click to expand...

the viewfinders of the cameras i looked at were the same, and i had never heard of such a production change, so i poked around to see what i could find.

it turns out there were changes in late 1970 before production moved to singapore in june 1971.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/28339112885/in/pool-camerawiki/
28339112885_a11603f025_b.jpg


and the length of the framelines differ:

s-l1600.jpg


s-l1600.jpg
 
Strange, My 35S from singapore has clearly marked parallax//closeup-field correcting corners added to the framelines. These are not visible in the pictures above. No serial number on the back of the body, but the lens is in the 2,4m series so it might be a later addition to the finder.

p.
 
Huss said:
Yup, use a Rollei, then an Optima. My 1535 has the bonus of also having an rf and greater selection of shutter speeds.
Click to expand...

I always wanted one then got a "Mint" 535 from ebay germany but,... it was corroded inside and smelled like wet boots when it arrived.
It's a cute little sh!t. :D
How "bad" truly is the advance system?
Or does the 1535 have an improvement ?
 
f16sunshine said:
I always wanted one then got a "Mint" 535 from ebay germany but,... it was corroded inside and smelled like wet boots when it arrived.
It's a cute little sh!t. :D
How "bad" truly is the advance system?
Or does the 1535 have an improvement ?
Click to expand...

I doubt the 1535 has an improved film transport, but it does have a rangefinder and a 1/1000 maximum shutter speed.

Interesting design choice to make the film advance also the rewind. Not sure if it was all for the best though.
 
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