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Rollei 35 Rangefinders

4.54/5 (37 Reviews)

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  • Camera TypeSLR (Single Lens Reflex)
    Product ID21761567

Product Description

A classic 35mm "point and shoot" rangefinder introduced in 1966.


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Reviews 1 - 5 (37 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:3
Submitted by truando a Expert

Date Reviewed: April 18, 2005

Strengths:    Size, weight, cheap to get

Weaknesses:    batteries, focussing, image quality

Bottom Line:   
I bought two 35 SE with the Sonnar 40mm f2.8 lens after reading the reviews on this page. The pictures looked OK until I compared them with my Leica M6 ones - then they faded into insignificance. What a disappointment! They looked dull and boring, while the Leica ones jumped off the lightbox. I will sell my Rolleis as soon as possible. I bought myself a Mamiya 7 II instead, that should help me get the quality I'm looking for.

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $100.00

Purchased At:   eBay

Similar Products Used:   Leica M6

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by pastor1045 a Expert

Date Reviewed: August 4, 2004

Strengths:    Compact size, easy to use-- if you understand photography

Weaknesses:    None, if you are willing to underastand its quirks!

Bottom Line:   
I have been using this camer for about 5 years now. I take it with me when I go hiking. I have consistenly produced unbelievable images. The camera is sturdy, the meter is accurate and the lens is one of the best ever. Using ISO 400 speed film helps to reduce and errors metering or focusing, since you can shoot at higher fstops and the film has a high latitude. Learn how to use hyperfocal distances and it will become second nature. Black and white shots come out great. This camera is silent in operation and best suited for shots you can take your time with: Landscapes, portraits of friends, etc.
I have a Nikon 90s and several lenses from 24mm to 300mm, but this is the camera I most enjoy using!

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $250.00

Purchased At:   ebay

Similar Products Used:   Rollei 35 AFM

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by Cadenza a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: June 19, 2004

Strengths:    - Lens! Lens! Lens!
- Small size
- Rugged construction
- Flash sync up to 1/500"
- All mechanical (except meter)
- ISO & Aperture dials have 1/3 increments
- Lens accepts filter & hood

Weaknesses:    - Hotshoe at the bottom
- ISO dial stiff to adjust
- CdS meter requires calibration for 1.5V
- Service & Repair not easy to find
- Shutter mechanism needs regular exercise

Bottom Line:   
The Rollei 35 is the first compact camera. It is NOT a Point-n-Shooter in the modern sense. Designed some 3 decades ago, the Rollei 35 is ALL manual and forces the user to think through the steps of taking a picture. Like all things that attained cult status, it combined quirkiness with leading edge technology of its time. As already complimented by many, Zeiss glass can do no wrong! Mine is a 35S with the f/2.8 Sonnar and I love the photos this baby makes. The contrast, color, sharpness and saturation from this Sonnar can blow many modern lenses right out of the water. I'm so hooked on Zeiss that I got another compact P/S - the Contax T3 - which also came with a Sonnar lens. Woohoo!!! One loaded with color film and the other with B&W, they're fun, convenient and capable shooters for my backpacking trips or any occasion. Use pro films and a reliable lab and you'll be continuously impressed with the quality results.

Now to its quirks...
Hotshoe at the bottom can be a pain. Rollei has an accessory bracket to make things easier. Zone-focusing requires some practice, but with the DOF scale and manual aperture, it shouldn't take too long. The exposure meter is on the top while the shutter and aperture dials are on the front. To those who don't get it, they slam this arrangement as an ergonomic disaster. Listen up: the idea is to adjust the shutter, aperture and focus with the camera at the chest level. Once everything is set, raise the camera to eye-level. Frame the scene and CLICK!

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Duration Product Used:   6-10 years

Price Paid:    $175.00

Purchased At:   eBay

Similar Products Used:   Contax T3, Contax G1, Minolta M5

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Paul Johnson a Casual

Date Reviewed: January 30, 2004

Strengths:    The amazing build quality that so many have commented on is there. The batteries last forever; think I've replaced it twice. Key is in keeping light off the meter except when using. It bounces well on the sidewalk.

Weaknesses:    beats me! Oh, maybe that I've gotten used to the auto stuff and often forget to focus.

Bottom Line:   
The Rollei has been in my pocket since the mid 1970s, and taken untold rolls of film. The fact that it is always with me means I get many shots that one would often miss. As a motorcyclist, it is very easy to carry in a jacket pocket, and as a frequent business traveller, it is easy to drop in a briefcase.

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $75.00

Purchased At:   friend in 1975 or so

Similar Products Used:   Leica Minilux. Now I keep b/w in the Rollei and color in the Leica.

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Daniel Kin kwong CHAN a Professional

Date Reviewed: October 19, 2003

Strengths:    The HFT coating is the most important factor in tackling "sun-flare" situation.

Weaknesses:    Nothing

Bottom Line:   
The new version of Rollei Sonnar 40mm f2.8 lens is superb. The quality of lens is excellent, better than Leica's 35mm lens,i.e. the combination of both Contax and Leica lens' quality. You do agree with me after you have owned one!

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Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Similar Products Used:   Leica lenses

Type of photography:   Other


Reviews 1 - 5 (37 Reviews Total) | Next 15

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  • Camera TypeSLR (Single Lens Reflex)
    Product ID21761567
    Other Features<li>Zeiss Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 HFT <li>Leaf shutter with speeds from 1/2 to 1/500 second and B <li>Match-needle metering system


 

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