Rollei SL 35 E advice.

[GWT]

I got hold of a Rollei SL 35 E today, I know pretty much nothing about these cameras but I know this one has some issues.

At the moment I don't have a battery to properly test it but I know it hasn't been used for around 15years and the mirror seems to be stuck (i also think the shutter magnets might need a good clean)

I'd be grateful if anyone could tell me how I might free this up myself?

 

[raid]

My advice is not to repair it professionally. I have had an SLE, and it will just create problem after problem. Get a mechanical 35SL instead. It is best of the Rollei 35 models. Which lens came with it? I love the QBM mount lenses.

 

[kknox]

I have the same camera, put a battery in the mirror should come down. Its all electronic, mine came from a German friend of mine that has dementia. He did buy it new in Germany. Never any problem with the camera, expensive to fix, but the lens can be excellent. This camera I have came with a Zeiss 50 1.4 Planar lens. This lens is a rare German made one.

Put a battery in, if it works enjoy. You can find free online manuals for this camera.

 

[raid]

I have several German Zeiss lenses for the Rollei. They inlude the 50/1.4.

 

[kknox]

Sorry Raid I thought the were harder to find. The 28mm I have is made in Japan, as is the 28-70 zoom. Do you use your SL much?

 

[raid]

I love using the SL once in a while, but I now am using the lenses via an adapter on an Olympus EP-2. The SL and the SLE are very elegant looking cameras.
Many years ago, someone sold me a Planar 85/1.4 and a Distagon 35/1.4 for a total of $400. It was a very good buy. I posted yesterday four images in the gallery (from the 85/1.4 wide open)

 

[CameraQuest]

I got hold of a Rollei SL 35 E today, I know pretty much nothing about these cameras but I know this one has some issues.

At the moment I don't have a battery to properly test it but I know it hasn't been used for around 15years and the mirror seems to be stuck (i also think the shutter magnets might need a good clean)

I'd be grateful if anyone could tell me how I might free this up myself?

while the lenses are good,
the ALL Rollei 35mm SLR bodies are notoriously unreliable.
no exceptions, just some less problematic than others
don't waste your time trying to get it fixed.

Stephen

 

[GarageBoy]

Not really the most reliable in the world. Lenses are among the best. (IIRC, one of the last made in the Zeiss Oberkochen factory) The bodies are really not that reliable. My dad bought two NIB SL 35Es in the early 90s and both had electronic issues from day 1

I strongly suggest picking up a SL35/350 or maybe even the cheap SL35M

 

[raid]

The SL35M is ugly.
I did not keep mine.
I have three SL bodies though.

 

[x-ray]

I owned two 3003 Rollei's years ago and a nearly full set of Zeiss lenses, backs and etc. I picked up a couple of the older traditional slr bodies for backups. The 3003's were mechanically a disaster. One body in the shop at all times and a loner from Rollei for over a year. The lenses were fantastic but the bodies weren't.

The SL35 bodies were a disaster too.

My suggestion, throw it in the trash and buy a canon or nikon. Use the lens for a magnifier like I did.

 

[GWT]

I think you guys are right, I don't hold out a lot of hope for it working. Although the pervious owner had taken the battery out it had been stored for the last 15 years in a camera bag at the bottom of a wardrobe, the result being a rather unpleasant build up of mould (a bit smelly too)

I've orded a battery to try just incase but the only attempt at repairs will be made by myself, I won't send it away to be fixed.

It came with a 50mm f1.8 Planar. I was wondering if there's an adaptor I could get to fit it to my OM1 or Pentax ME Super?

 

[raid]

I doubt it that your lens will fit a Pentax or OM1.
If you go digital, get an adapter for the Rollei QBM mount.

 

[raid]

The lenses are first class.

 

[GWT]

Oh, so it doesn't have to be an complete loss, I could get a adaptor for my 30d?

Do they work ok?

I ask that as I brought one for a MC Rokkor F1.4 to use on my 30d but I found the result unremarkable (maybe I wasn't using the camera right) I found the images to be really soft - quite poor fully open.

I doubt it that your lens will fit a Pentax or OM1.
If you go digital, get an adapter for the Rollei QBM mount.

 

[raid]

Such lenses will work on Micro 4/3 cameras, such as Olympus EP and Sony NEX ... etc.