Rollei 35
Rollei 35 - at that time the smallest 35mm camera with excellent lenses.
As far as I know, a total of over 2 million Rollei 35 of the following models - with the exception of numerous special models - have been produced:
Rollei 35 1967-1975 3.5 / 40 Tessar, "original model" Made in Germany
Rollei C 35 1969-1971 3.5 / 40 Triotar, without light meter
Rollei B35 / 35 B 1969-1978 3.5 / 40 Triotar with battery-free selenium light meter
Rollei 35 S-Xenar 1972-1973 3.5 / 40 Xenar with Schneider-Kreuznach lens
Rollei 35 S 1974-1980 2.8 / 40 Sonnar Sonnar HFT lens, made in Singapore
Rollei 35 T 1976-1980 3.5 / 40 Tessar like Rollei 35, Made in Singapore
Rollei 35 LED 1978-1980 3.5 / 40 Triotar LED exposure display in the viewfinder, Made in Singapore
Rollei 35 TE 1980-1982 3.5 / 40 Tessar LED exposure indicator in the viewfinder, Made in Singapore
Rollei 35 SE 1980-1982 2.8 / 40 Sonnar LED exposure display in the viewfinder, Made in Singapore
Rolei 35
left to right:
Film rewind crank, tripod thread (can still be seen below Picture counter), rear panel release, flash accessory shoe
Rollei 35 S
Rollei 35, Made in Singapore. Here with the five-lens lens with multi-layer coating HFT Sonnar 2.8 40mm
Rolei 35 S with Voigtlander rangefinder
An ingenious accessory: the Voigtländer rangefinder. As is known from viewfinder cameras with built-in rangefinder (e.g. Leica M3, M4 etc.), the measuring base must also be brought into line with the double image process.
Rollei 35
Advantages of this camera from my point of view:
small, light and compact
outstanding lenses (Tessar / Sonnar)
fully mechanical central lock including cover
built-in CDS light meter (on most models)
fine mechanical masterpiece
distinctive design
The camera invites you to enjoy photography!
Of course, this camera is not perfect either. For reasons of compactness, a built-in rangefinder had to be dispensed with. On the other hand, the photographer learns (again) to deal with the play of aperture and distance setting - the depth of field. A more conscious examination of the subject and a slowing down of photography are the side effects.
For critical shots at close range or with the aperture open, I used an external range finder from Voigtländer (see pictures below). If you want, you can also have a measuring tape with you.
There is no automatic display or even compensation for parallax .
"Parallax compensation is necessary with viewfinder cameras in order to achieve a better match between the image section shown in the viewfinder and the image actually projected onto the film by the lens.
The so-called parallax arises from the fact that in the viewfinder camera the image displayed in the viewfinder is not reflected from the beam path of the imaging lens, but is projected by its own optics, which are arranged offset parallel to the recording lens. The resulting effect is primarily a “shifted” image section.
The smaller the distance between the camera and the object, the greater the parallax effect.
The parallax compensation can only minimize the difference between the viewfinder image and the photo. A complete compensation is geometrically impossible (or only achievable for the image boundaries if the perspective continues to be distorted). Even the exact correction of the image section is very time-consuming. "(Wikipedia, query from 04.07.21" Parallax ").
Various control elements are not in their "usual" place - the quick release lever for film transport is on the left and the hot shoe is at the bottom.
Nevertheless - or precisely because of it - the camera invites you to discover the world with it!
Rolei 35 p
View from above of the controls - from left to right: release button with cable release connection, lens release button (attention: the lens can and may only be extended when the shutter is cocked!), Exposure meter display and the film transport lever.
Rolei 35 S with Voigtlander rangefinder
The distance determined on the rangefinder is transferred manually to the lens. This means that pictures with an open aperture and close-up are possible without any problems.
In this video you can see how the Kodak Recording 2475 film is inserted into a Rollei 35. Have fun!
Here you can listen to and watch the shutter sound of a Rollei 35 from 1/500 to "B"!
In this video you see how to load a Kodachrome 64 into a Rollei S and you get some information about this film.
In english.
How to load an old Koachrome 64 ISO into a Rollei 35S
First you have to look at this fantastic camera, you have to touch it, feel its precision and enjoy it!
In its days this camera was manly used by photographers having a single lens reflex camera and want a little walk around body with an outstanding lens.
And this camera delivers. The Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 40 mm is very sharp, with high contrast and insensitive to stray light.
Loading a Rollei 35 camera is very easy.
Make sure your film inside your camera is proper rewind or there is no film left.
Cock the shutter of the Rollei 35
The lens should be in the shooting position.
Turn the camera.
Open this little button and pull the backplan away from the camera.
Load the film like it is shown in the movie. The film tab must be threaded carefully.
Press the shutter button.
Transport carefully the film and check it.
Push the back plan back and look the button.
Cock the shutter, press the shutter button and see if the picture counter turns.
Do so again until the frame counter shows one.
Now you are ready to take great pictures!
In this video you can see how a Kodachrome 64 is inserted into the Rollei 35S and learn that you can still have these films developed today - but only for black and white slide film.
In German.
So you put an old Koachrome 64 into a Rollei 35S
You have to look at this fantastic camera, touch it, feel its precision and enjoy it!
In its day, this camera was mainly used by photographers who had an analog SLR and wanted a second camera with a great lens.
And this camera delivers. The Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 40mm is very sharp, rich in contrast and insensitive to stray light.
Charging a Rollei 35 camera is very easy.
Ensures that your camera rewinds your film properly or that it is out of film.
Tension the lock of the Rollei 35
The lens should be in the shooting position.
Turn the camera.
Open this little button and pull the back panel away from the camera.
Load the film as it is shown in the film. The film tab must be threaded in carefully.
Press the shutter button.
Carefully move the film and check that it is moving.
Push back the back wall and look at the display of the picture counter.
Cock the shutter release button, press the shutter release button, and see if the frame counter turns.
Repeat this until the image counter shows "1".
Now you are ready to take great pictures!
Have fun!
Click on one of the pictures and open the gallery with pictures that were created with the Rollei 35 or Rollei 35S on different film materials.
