Thinking about a Rollei 35

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orenrcohen

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Thinking about a Rollei 35.. Small size and nice optics all in a very nice package.. What are the differences btwn a 35 S and a 35SE and which is preferable? What might be an appropriate price for a nice user?

Thanks,

Oren
 
I never owned one, but I do know that the ones with the sonnar lens are unit focusing, and the tessar and triotar models are front cell focusing. I have thought of getting one but I would only get the sonnar, and they are expensive. But it is a really nice sonnar.
 
I have not tried the T and S models but my B35 is actually a very nice camera. Yes, a good deal of internal parts are plastic, but it is still a very well made camera compared to modern plastic wonders. Mine was ridiculously cheap, too ($25 from a fellow member). It is dinged and has somebody's SSN engraved, but a nice user. Even the selenium cell still works fine.

My only beef with them is that one-handed shooting is nearly impossible.
 
The meters are rather different. On the S, there is a match-needle meter on the top plate which you operate by pointing it in the appropriate direction and adjusting the front mounted shutter and aperture dials. The whole camera is basically the size of a separate lightmeter and works the same, so is easy to do. The SE meter has led's in the viewfinder so you have to somehow adjust the front mounted dials with the camera held to your eye. Do-able perhaps, but not intuitive.

I have an S rather than an SE, and the (obsolete) mercury battery can be easily replaced with a zinc-air 675 hearing-aid battery, having near-enough the same voltage and discharge characteristics (though not the long life) of the original mercury cell. If you open only one activation hole then the batteries last many months. If you first buy a Wein-cell, you will notice that they are also 675 sized batteries, so you can re-use the spacing washer. ;)
 
The Criscam converter one time purchase will solve the battery problem. It can also be used on the OM-1. Since both are zone focusing placing the meter reading in the viewfinder is not a great benefit. The SE commands a higher price. Also, if the model states Germany it will command a higher price. All that said all Sonnar lenses are the same and are preferable to the others.
 
I sometimes look at high end point and shoot cameras, or auto-this and auto-that, but I keep going back to the results from that Rollei 35s sonnar lens, and thank my luck for choosing it in the first place. The Rollei is my walk around camera, and always loaded with Ilford HP5 set at 800 speed so I can shoot indoors and out. The lens always has a medium yellow filter attached, though if I'm outside and it's too bright, I'll screw on an orange filter to bring down the light. Since I am serious about photography, I sent the camera off for a CLA before even exposing a single frame. I also installed a CRIS adapter, allowing use of a common battery. You will read all sorts of things about how quirky the camera is, but that is immaterial considering the size, build quality, and image results. Zone focusing is another buggaboo you'll read about, but I easily adapted to that after the first roll of film--not a big deal, especially when you learn what's in focus at the primary settings (like f5.6). If I have any complaint at all, it's that I lose the needle match in very low light situations (it doesn't go low enough). I've not used the SE, though I've considered it and rejected the idea because of the need to adjust the settings with camera to eye. With the 35s, everything is set at waist level, up comes the camera, and it is done. One tip I would pass on, however, regarding my waist-setup technique: in the beginning I tended to point the camera up too high without realizing it, and it meter too much sky.


http://www.vincentfrazzettaphotography.com
 
I use the CRISIS adapter and 1.5 silver battery. It work in this application, but not all such as a Leica SL.

Mine is a Tessar and the images are very nice. Why you need a 2.8 without a rangefinder is beyond me. If you intend to use 2.8, I would suggest something else.
 
I've always preferred the S over the SE because of the match needle metering on *top* of the camera. No need to use the view finder when adjusting settings...
 
I suspect the marketing departed was involved in the decision to put the SE/TE meter in the finder, as it makes no sense from a engineering point of few. The shutter speed and aperture controls are viewed and adjusted from above so it's natural that the meter is also view from above.

My favorite is the Singapore made 35s (coincidentally the only one I actually own)
 
I had on original model (match neddle on the top) and now own a 35 SE (LED meter in viewfinder) :
- Match needle system: battery is easier to find but not located at the best place in the camera. The meter winder is on the top of the camera, which is veru convenient fot setting up the camera without having to watch inside the viewfinder.
- LED system : battery compartment location is really better but the battery is really hard to find. The exposure is more precise but using the meter when looking through the viewfinder is painful due to the particular erognomics of the Rollei 35 (controls on face). The metering range is bit reduced: almost impossible to use for inside shoting or for low light.
 
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