Small, solid build, and above all else, a super lens. Even without battery you can still function using sunny 16 rule etc. Lens quality is on par with Leica Summicron 35 F/2.

I live with the quirks of the Rollei 35. it's simply DIFFERENT.

A great all mechanical / manual 35mm camera in the smallest package possible. I originally bought a Rollei 35 with the Tessar lens in the earlie 70's. I bought a used 35s on E-bay 4 years ago and it is the camera that is always with me. Great lens,40mm F/2.8, reasonable metering. Absolutely solid build. I had mine re-adjusted to take the 1.5 volt batteries and exposure is spot on. You need to watch for bright sky syndrome, meaning you shade the sky from the meter cell, and you exposures will be fine.

Customer Service

Had this one CLA'd by Kinderman in Toronto and adjusted for 1.5 volt battery. Very light lube. This is pretty good for a camera this age, and all shutter speed are spot on.

Similar Products Used:

Minox and other small PS cameras.

Stellar optics Full manual control in pocket sized package Aesoteric snob-appeal

I've come to think of this camera as a photographic equivalent to an Alfa Romeo roadster: fabulous performance, when its working, but seemingly in constant need of service attention. In the 6 years I've had this one, its need four trips to the repair shop for adjustment. Once for meter problems and three times for dragging slow shutter speeds - although most recently, Marflex noted that the meter needed another tweeking.

For a think-before-you-shoot methodical approach to photography, the pocket-sized Rollei 35's are without peer. They're quirky and none-to-convenient, but offer full control in the tiniest package, along with a Sonnar lens that is still world-class. The Olympus XA is certainly much more convenient, but nowhere near the same league optically. My '50's vintage Agfa Karat 36 has a coupled rangefinder, and a lovely Schneider f/2 optic (though quite different in character), but compact as it is, still far exceeds the Rollei's size and weight and lacks a built-in meter. Mine has been tempremental and trouble prone - largely because these tiny mechanical shutters need regular excercise to keep running through their slow speeds (and I'm usually shooting larger formats), but thankfully, someone will always be able to work on a mechanical shutter - for a price. For whatever aggevation, I still won't part with my 35SE.

Customer Service

Oceanside Repair - good service but long turnaround times Marflex Service - excellent work, super quick turnaround, expensive

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I'm not sure that anything compares directly, but I've used other pocket-sized rangefinders including Olympus XA, Minox 35, various Kodak Retina, Agfa Karat, Voigtlander Vito model.

· Lens quality (Sonnar version) · Odd looking design (also negative point) · Built quality · small · Bright viewfinder · All manual, creative control · Screw-in filters and lens hood available · very quiet shutter release · Tripod thread

· Hot shoe on the bottom of the camera !! · fiddly film loading · Controls on odd places · Exposure meter inaccurate on low light levels · NO rangefinder (guess the focus) · NO Automatic exposure · Easily damaged if the shutter is not cocked before lowering the lens into the body. · Unavailable PX625 mercury cell: for a great solution for this problem mail to; battery.adapter@wanadoo.nl for info.

Rollei 35 cameras are odd looking, fiddly, but well made cameras with lens quality ranging from good to excellent. All controls are located on unusual places. The least attractive lens is the 3.5/40 Triotar on the B35 (Singapore version, I don’t know about the German 35B version). The Triotar on the 35LED is supposed to be of lesser quality than the Tessars, but my experience says otherwise. The 3.5/40 Tessars on the Singapore and (original) German versions are of equally good quality and on par with Minox, Olympus XA and Petri Color 35, though some enthusiasts will claim otherwise. The 2.8/40 Sonnar version is noticeably better (due to multi-coating) than the Tessars and on par with my (favourite) Contax T. Apart from the fact that the camera needs some getting used to because all controls are on strange places there are some serious downsides too. Lack of a rangefinder, match needle meter not visible in view finder (The 35TE/SE/LED readout is visible in the viewfinder), Hot shoe on the bottom (unless you flash with the camera upside down, you’ll get really weird shadows). It’s charm lies in the fact that is odd looking, has a quality feel to it and fine optics. The German 35 (original) is noticeably heavier and has a much better/brighter viewfinder as the (later) Singapore 35 versions.

Customer Service

not needed any

Similar Products Used:

Contax T, Minox 35-AL, EL, GT, Kiev 35A, Olympus XA/XA2/RC/SP, Petri Color 35, Petri 7S, Canonet 28, Canonet QL17GIII, Leica CL, Leica IIIC, several Zorki’s and FED’s , Retina IIc

Lens Fully manual unobtrusiveness

Flash shoe (for those who use it)

What a wonderful camera. Though not as compact as other "compacts" out there, it is still very easy to carry around. It's light enough to bring with you all the time yet heavy enough to give you the confidence in its durability and reliability (mind you it does dent quite easily). The R35 doesn't intimidate people like a larger slr would therefore I find that the subject is more at ease when I use this particular tool. The match needle metering I find is an asset for it allows the user to shoot from the hip while adjusting the speed and aperature. It does have it's idiocyncracies such as the pull-out lens and the bottom mount flash shoe (which I have never used), but for my particular photography (notice I mentioned "my") it suits me just fine. Scale focusing doesn't bother me for I just use my arm, which is a little over 2ft, to estimate close distances. And the lens.... it's definitely one of a kind.

Similar Products Used:

Minox GTE

The camera is stripped of all but lens, film box, and viewfinder. You compose. You shoot. Yes, you have to know what you are doing, but you won''t buy this camera if you don''t. As a change from larger more versatile cameras, you will find the freedom exhilirating. You''ll get looser and go for shots out of your usual pattern. OPTICS: I am emerging from an obsessive period searching for the most wonderful "normal" lens. I compared (amateurishly) the summicron 50/40, the 45 planar from G1/G2, Nikon 50''s--1.8AF and ais, leica minilus, nokton 1.5 and others. The Tessar was at the top. The top, folks. The Minilux summarit was at the top with it. Think about that!!. The unobtrusiveness factor. On a crowded subway or bus, or in the middle of a crowded street, you can preset the lens distance and aperture and grab interesting shots. No one notices or minds the little thing. I photograph my wife a lot and the little camera minimizes her tendency to "pose". I have found that I go for shots that I wouldn''t try otherwise. I take more risks and break more rules. Now that I have perused these reviews again, I will take mine out often. Sometimes, when an slr is dangling from my neck

Silly to mention the design quirks. Maybe the meter has a tendency to go off with age, but most of them do from the late sixties.

A classic and will give superb results with practice. No point in complaining about quirks. I doesn''t claim to be easy or at all like other cameras. So negative reviews should be ignored.

Customer Service

Looking for one to repair metert. Don''t know otherwise.

Similar Products Used:

Minilux, Olympus Stylus, Hexar, M-2, g-1

Sharp! 2.8; easy zone focus with 400-800; accepts filters. Many available on eBay, pricey yes and worth it.

The obvious. This great camera has no convenience. Not to worry, learn Sunny 16, read the DOF scale, use hyperfocal, and shoot away.

Superlative. This is the camera I carry every day - with KameraLeder case - briefcase or pocket. Love every quirky aspect. Took 3 cameras, including "posh" autofocus P&S''s on a European bike trip last September. The ancient 35S produced consistently the best pics. Landscapes? This past summer we walked the Idaho backcountry. Our companions all had modern gear. Our venerable R35 never failed, and out-produced most. 40mm wide enough? Sure, step back; be alert for cliffs.

Customer Service

No clue.

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None. No camera is similar. The older Leicas (III''s and early M''s), of course, are utterly manual, yet they have superfluous features like range finders. Also the Minox 35''s are tiny, have zone foc

great built quality. nice viewfinder. easy controls. great size.

batteries are hard to find. and accessories are hard to find too. Unfortunatly I don''t think they make them any longer, except the high priced precious metal versions for and anniversaries and etc. Mine is a singapore made black version. I paid 250.00 and it''s mint. To me it''s well worth it.

I recently purchased this camera because I thought that it would be nice to have one after reading some info on the net. I shot a roll of 200 speed fuji through it and had developed at target. There were a few pictures out of focus (this was my fault because i''m not used to guessing the distance) but the ones that were "on" were definately "on". In the short time that I''ll I''ve owned this camera I have learned more about photography and manual adjustments than ever before. Everything about this camera is very straight forward and to the point. Make a few quick adjustments and "click". it''s simply and pure photography. I love it. I use it for existing light photography, but you can get flashes for them.

Similar Products Used:

rollei afm 35, leica minilux, contax t3

- sharp lens - compact size - manual controls

Can''t find more perfect manual camera in this size catagory!

Well I previously bought used Rollei 35S at first and tried test roll of 100 ISO slide film. The results were amazing that I could not believe that the images were so clear and razor sharp! Of course, I did have some experience using guess the focus range with my Minox ML35, so guessing the focus was second nature! I then bought the very expensive Rollei Classic 35 and liked the improvements over the 35S! Like the hotshoe on the top of the camera. Since I liked the Rollei Classic 35 and the 35S so much had to get another one!! Now I have 3! This camera has been a real winner for me!! I have taken it on overseas vacation and have been rewarded with very excellent images. I like the manual controls of this camera and it really does not depend on batteries like the compact AF cameras, except for the light meter.

Customer Service

Ncver needed. Just take care of them and handle with care.

Similar Products Used:

Numerous 35mm rangefinders, 35mm SLRs, medium format SLR, medium format TLRs, medium format rangefinder and 35mm compacts

Outstanding lens (threaded for filters), all-metal construction, large clear viewfinder, manual control.

Guesstimate focussing. Uses mercury batteries (but there are alternatives).

This isn't an idiot camera - if you want a P&S, look elsewhere. If you want a small, durable camera with a superb lens, seek out a used Rollei 35. I have the Tessar version, and it's as good at middle apertures as the 40mm Summicron on my Leica CL, much better than the lens of the Stylus Epic. The Sonnar lens is reputedly even better. And it takes FILTERS! I'll never part with it. A classic.

Customer Service

Not tried.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus Mju-II (Stylus Epic), Minox 35EL, Leica CL.

super small
super quality
metal, metal, metal
super Sonnar lens
quieter than a mouse

finicky mechanics due to age

I only discovered these gems a few years ago and have had a few in the last couple of years. I only have one now, though- my favorite Black Sonnar 35S. It is both cool and retro looking, but the absolute best thing about this camera is the lens. The Sonnar is one of the best lenses I have ever used! The incredible color saturation makes my Nikon lenses seem lifeless. The amount of colors (in gradations) and the smoothness of the resulting images make all the technical bits all almost unimportant. Out of focus items are so smooth. I believe that the F2.8 Sonnar design and the lens coating gives this camera the edge over the other versions. I have had more than one Sonnar and can attest to its quality. The Schneider lens is another matter- while it is sharp (not as good as Sonnar), it has poor flare resistance, and also lowered contrast. I believe that this is due to the lack of coating or not as good coatings. I wonder if any modern AF compacts have a lens so rich? (Please Post! Contax T2? Leicas?) The only drawback is that the mechanicals may not be so good in the Rollei 35 cameras. (They can all be repaired however if you are a tinkerer) My meter is a bit finicky unless I have bright light (meter not sensitive to dim light). If you use a light meter, then you have a quality combo. Most of the Rollei 35 cameras on the used market are dented and have been 'fixed', but if you get the Sonnar with a working meter, you will be pleasantly surprised with the incredible images this thing is capable of. Cheap for the highest quality lens, expensive if yours is not user friendly. Again, this is the finest lens of any compact, maybe besting most consumer SLR zooms, and produces richly saturated pictures with fine line sharpess and smooth gradations.

Similar Products Used:

most modern compacts