Rollei Giro 70 WA

[p.giannakis]

Hi everyone,

On the local charity shop there is a Rollei Giro 70 WA for £10. Has anybody here used one before? The lens has a gorgeous blue coating but I read it is a 28-70 f/5.6-f/10 which does not sound so promising.

Has anyone used one? Any feedback ?

 

[btgc]

I've seen this specs and decided to stay away. But we here have lots of overcast days. In sunny area this could be less distracting. Researching on this I've read Giro were cheaper line than Prego - or Giro replaced Prego over time?

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

At charity shop prices, why not just buy it and put a roll of film through it? It will be a bit of fun if nothing else.

I've a Rollei X70 which I've never quite mastered: too many buttons and no manual. But it was fun looking for info and trying to get a manual.

If you do buy it, please come back and tell us about it. They intrigue me as they are so difficult to "position" in a time line etc. And there's lots of different versions with several lenses on them that I've never sorted out properly.

Regards, David

PS and the X70 took decent pictures, btw...

 

[p.giannakis]

Thanks for the input guys, I thought I could ask since I am trying to avoid buying cameras that I cannot sell later if the picture quality is disappointing.

 

[btgc]

I think, film P&S cameras are dead funds, except flagship luxury models. In my opinion biggest winners are postal services as often they charge more than people pay for camera. That didn't stop me from buying Rollei 90 and 30, I think 90 were reviewed here by David (if I'm not wrong) but I'll post about them after some week.

 

[p.giannakis]

Any link to read the review ?

 

[btgc]

I've a Rollei X70 which I've never quite mastered: too many buttons and no manual. But it was fun looking for info and trying to get a manual.

David, X70 looks to me like updated Rollei Prego Zoom. Slightly different cosmetics, same body and controls. Lens marked Rolleigon instead of Variogon (but old wives say it's same as Variogon, just name has changed...licencing issues?). If you can't find manual, manual for Prego 90 AF on Butkus site could help, as cameras are similar, just controls are laid out differently (well, 90 has richer feature set) and should help to clarify things out.

 

[btgc]

Any link to read the review ?

Probably I were wrong referencing David Hughes for review, as I can't find clear proof, but still...look at this two threads, they aren't long.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100920

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99652

 

[p.giannakis]

Thanks for the links btgc !

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

If it will help (if you buy it) I ended up with the Prego 90 AF and the Samsung Maxima Zoom 70i manuals as downloads and did a bit of mix and match with them and the camera. I also found a manual for it but in French.

I've just had another look at my prints and they turned out very nicely. That's making me wonder about the 28-90mm version and selling the C3...

Regards, David

 

[p.giannakis]

Hi David,

The difference between the two cameras (Giro 70WA and Prego 90) is much more than the 20mm at the tele end. The Prego has a f/3.6-/9.8 and the Giro has a f/5.6-f/10.
I'll probably hand in the £10 and find out by myself how it performs.

Regards,
Pan

 

[David Hughes]

Hi David,

The difference between the two cameras (Giro 70WA and Prego 90) is much more than the 20mm at the tele end. The Prego has a f/3.6-/9.8 and the Giro has a f/5.6-f/10.
I'll probably hand in the £10 and find out by myself how it performs.

Regards,
Pan

Hi,

You did type ten didn't you? I'm shocked. £2-50's about the limit here for P&S's and £10 for SLR's (sometimes with the bag, flash and an extra lens). And I know someone who got a Leica IIIc (1949) with a Summitar on it for £10 last year.

Regards, David

PS Have just found and ordered a Prego 90 AF. As usual it's curiosity that killed the cat...

 

[David Hughes]

Later: there's an older thread on the subject:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-98802.html

Hope this helps.

Regards, David

 

[HHPhoto]

A friend of mine is using the sister model, the Rollei Prego 90 with 28-90mm lens. She loves this camera and is very satiesfied.
I've seen pictures from it, and the quality was good.
For a PS camera it is quite sophisticated, even with some SLR typical functions like multiple exposures.

These models were built at Samsung. At this time Rollei belonged to Samsung. A period which was one of the better times in the history of Rollei / Franke&Heidecke.

Cheers, Jan

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Thanks that's an interesting piece of the jigsaw to fit into place. I've often wondered about who were the makers of a lot of nice little cameras I own.

Edit: but where did they get that silly name from?

Regards, David

 

[David Hughes]

Test shot from the X70.

Taken last Christmas, so not the best of conditions.

Regards, David

 

[btgc]

I knew Samsung had Vega line of P&S with Schneider lenses as Rollei, but weren't sure since when Rollei cameras were made by Samsung. Btw I'm believer in Samsung HDD's - cool and queiet (but I'm not running anything speed critical) so I'm not turned off by fact this cameras were made by Samsung.

 

[p.giannakis]

Got it eventually

I love that bright blue coating...

 

[btgc]

Blue coatings and green buttons are specific to Rollei P&S's

 

[Greyscale]

I knew Samsung had Vega line of P&S with Schneider lenses as Rollei, but weren't sure since when Rollei cameras were made by Samsung. Btw I'm believer in Samsung HDD's - cool and queiet (but I'm not running anything speed critical) so I'm not turned off by fact this cameras were made by Samsung.

Some of the Samsung ECX-1's had Schnieder lenses as well.

This is a very nice Samsung with the German optics, a really nice lens on the ECX-2, to my eye, at least equal to the great lens on the Canon Zoom XL, and almost its equal in size:


Samsung ECX 2 by Greyscale3, on Flickr

I like Samsung film cameras. I have had quite a few, and I think they are among the best bargains in point & shoot land.