ROLLEI 35 REVIEW - The Best Film Camera.
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- Today I talk about the most used 35mm film camera that I own. I discuss what makes it so amazing along with example photos and how to operate it.
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I first saw these cameras about a year and a half ago and immediately wanted one, but then I saw the prices they were going for and gave up on it as it was a good deal above my budget. But recently I found a 35 s in black at a local antique mall, and to my delight they were asking $67 it had a couple good dents but it was in working order and had clear clean glass, I didn't really mind as I planned on using it and I'm not a collector. So I pushed my luck and asked if they could reduce the price due to aesthetic damage, ended up getting it for $58. But the slower shutter speeds were sticking and the lens barrell easily flopped out, but after a little cleaning/oiling and a rebuild of the lens guide piece it works perfectly. Sorry for the long story I'm just beside myself about this great little camera.
They are so awesome! And sounds like you got an absolute bargain! Happy shooting!
A lovely review - thanks. I travelled around Europe with one of the original German models in the late 1970s/ 1980s and took lots of pictures. Some of them got blown up to 30" x 20" and it was still so sharp you could read the time on a person's watch!
I was once at a stately home for a show and started to take a picture of another actor, when this old lady appeared and offered to take one of both of us. I started to explain how to operate it and she replied gaily, "Oh, that's all right. I have one of these myself". She turned out to be the duchess ...
That’s such a good story! Thank you for sharing!
The Rollei 35 was my first 35mm camera. It was made in Singapore in 1976. Learned a lot about photography with it. I still have the camera and use it on occasion. Yes, it is close to being the perfect small film camera. Thanks for this video.
I just got Gifted my Grandfathers Rollei 35, been Enjoying figuring it out. Great Video your channel is neat too :D
I've just bought a 35S. Thanks for the clear instructions!
Great review! Really interesting little camera.
Loved the photos you got with it.
im 5 years late, but just got this camera and this is super helpful. Thanks for the great vid!
I just got a 35 TE and your video was very helpful. Even though its a different model many features the same. I have a better understanding of focussing it now
Great find. The 35TE/SE are distinguished from all other 35s by their light meter. Rollei discarded the old Gossen meter in other models which suffers from being voltage dependent. By installing a meter which uses an all electronic readout (LEDs), Rollei had to use a circuit which is not voltage dependent, so these models will work with any modern 1.5 volt battery (or combination of) which will fit into the battery holder.
Nice review. Color photos it’s like time machine
Thanks for the great video, just picked up a Rollei 35 and eager to try it! Could you let me know what modern battery replacement you used?
Had no idea how to close the lens. Thanks sooooo so much for the advice. Found this camera in a floh market and just trying to understand it. Thanks !
They are amazing little cameras! Have a few videos on here that feature it!
Lovely, as usual. :) Greetings form Belgium. :)
Wow, these black and white works are stunning! Great job!
Outstanding wee camera there was one in as new condition in a local opshop it's actually the shop owners camera from new, now it's in my grubby mitts.
Looking back, this seems to be your most popular camera, by a big margin. More on this camera, please!
There’s more Rollei35 and a Leica M6 mini series coming!
Great video, It is good that you mentioned cocking the shutter before collapsing the lens. I have my Dad's Rollei 35B and it can produce some impressive images. I would love to have an original Rollei 35, but they have gone up in price, so I will continue to enjoy my 35B!
which model do u recommend ? 35 / 35SE /35s ?
Excellent video!
Glad you enjoyed :)
ive heard the light meters on these are inaccurate, i recently just ordered a rollei 35 and was wondering just how inaccurate the light meter may be, if i need to buy a new external light meter or not
I just picked up a late 60’s Rollei 35. Mine is branded as a Honeywell Rollei 35 as Honeywell was the American distributor for Rollei. They also use to distribute the Ashai Pentax Spotmatic as well as developing their own lineup of electronic flashes. In the late 50’s they were known as Honeywell FUTURAMIC flashes but then they dropped the cool name FUTURAMIC in favour of Honeywell Strobonar in the early 60’s. Honeywell wouldn’t stay in the camera business for very long as they sold their camera division in the early 70’s to Rollei. The rest is history.
Had a rollei 35s left to me .but didn’t have a lens cap ,just found out a lid from a 35 mm film container fits perfect , great vid ok a few years late.
I purchased a secondhand Rollei 35s in the year 1980 in a perfect working condition, I used it streneously in my personal and professional work, Iwas Amazed with its sonnar lens performance, the results were above any SLR performence. This camera is a marwal, and un beatable in quality, and performence. Thanks to Zeiss quality optics for its world famous products.
S.K.Pareek.Bhawanimandi Raj. India.
I use my one when I go to night clubs and when I go to weddings
Shot with this camera. As you said, its size and the lens are the best of this camera. I only find one major debit of this camera: after you loaded the film (a bit cumbersome), you don't see if the film was loaded correctly since the rewinder doesn't rotate another wheel like in other film cameras.
Yes! I know what you mean! I literally find myself winding with it right by my ear to make sure I can hear the film moving! 😂
You guys just aren't old enough. Insert the leader into the take up spool, advance, fire, drop the film canister into its spot, close the pressure plate, advance and fire again and replace the back.
I bought my first 35 not long after they were introduced in the US and a Rollei oof some sort has been an EDC for over 50 years. I love these little jewels!
@@ghw7192 Good idea to do the first few windings before replacing the back after the film was inserted.
I think I’ve found the camera I want. I heard they might be making a new one through Pentax? I do love new things that have only ever been my own, however a 60s model would be fun for the gravitas.
Hey! Nice video :) I have one Rollei I got from my grandfather and just got it back from maintenance, so it’s top notch! Can I ask what you’re using as strap? The name of the brand?
I can’t remember it’s like the cheapest strap on Amazon 😂
Hi where can I buy a leather strap for Rollei 35? Your camera strap looks good.
I got the Rollie 35s camera and I paid £27.00 for it second hand and it got original case and lens cap and strap and I got a 32mm filter for it as well which is very hard to find and i get good photos form it
How did you manage to find such a good deal? I’ve been scouring facebook and online marketplaces but it seems most people are selling them for at least €200 :(
What is the situation with the battery for the exposure meter please?
Ahh! I remember reading about batteries and getting really confused with adapters etc, luckily when I bought my camera the guy in the shop was really knowledgable, he provided me with the batteries that I needed, I’m not at home for a few hours! But I’ll share the ones I’m using later!
It was designed for the PX625 mercury battery. You can get a Wein battery to fit, but they're expensive. There are those who make adapters that are externally shaped like a PX625 mercury battery, but which accept LR44/SR44/A76 batteries inside. I bought mine on ebay 10 years ago, and I'm sure they're still made. They're pure gold for these old cameras that just need a defunct mercury battery for their light meter.
yo dude!! great video!! cool if i snag a couple clips for my video about affordable 35mm cameras? ill be sure to credit you in the video + desc!
No worries at all mate, glad you enjoyed
hello if i want some one Rollei se how much i have to pay
All so is how much this camera
Thanks
I am yet to buy a new battery for my rollei 35. I can't see the white line in my light meter, is that because I have no battery installed?
I have no battery in mine. The white peg is all the way to the left under the red piece. Look at the meter at an angle from the right and rear. You should be able to see a little bit of a white line. If you still can't see it, put a battery in and test it. If the meter doesn't work, try taking pictures using the "Sunny 16 Rule." You can look that up on Google. You really don't need the meter to take good photos. Hope this helps.
@@bluegrassengineer thanks for the reply. Got a battery, light metre definitely not working. I downloaded a light metre app on my phone which has worked great. Taken some really great images. It's a great camera with an amazing lens for its size. Cheers!
Jez! I was going to purchase one but I hate working with feet. I wish it was the other way around with the metric on top.
Singapore versions have metres on top
Such a bummer that the retarded units have the priority...
so if you are staying on mostly f8 like you say, then that means when taking a shot you only have to bother with the shutter speed dial? (beginner photographer here)
Exactly that! And if that shutter speed starts to get quite low, less than around 1/60 then I’ll start to change the aperture to let in a bit more light
@@Goughie quite a straight forward camera then it seems! fingers crossed for my first roll of film :)
Have you bought one! Good luck! And enjoy!
@@Goughie also do you use something to keep it steady? for blurring
Not at all, in general if you have a shutter speed 2x greater than your focal length hand holding is fine (40mm x 2 = 80) so try and keep the shutter speed above 1/80 of a second and you’ll be fine!
A really well presented video, learned a lot about this camera, thank you. Mine's a Rollie 35 Singapore and I'm intending to begin shooting with it once lockdown is lifted here in England, just bought a job lot from a friend of the family (grand fathers gear) I want to use it part out of respect but also to expand my enjoyment of photography, I intend to use it along side my digital street camera and learn that way. First though I have to sort the battery out, I'll probably service it myself, not sure but it's my understanding that the light metre was designed to use mercury batteries for a constant current to operate correctly, do you happen to know anything about that? May I ask which battery type do you use? Please post more of these videos, I think it's great that your generation are using these older cameras and shooting on film, I'll be developing my own in know time! Need guidance!! You've got a subscribe and a thumbs up from me.
Hi there! Lockdown 2.0 is a pain isn’t it! Battery wise I’ve been using a Px625a, which I bought from Harrison Cameras. But yes! You’re right, I’ve found that it’s a close enough match, but it’s likely not a perfect match to the old Mercury batteries. The good thing is black and white and colour negative films have pretty good exposure latitude so it doesn’t matter too much if you get the exposure a little wrong :) I hope you enjoy it though I love mine, they are quality little bits of kit! Stay safe! And thank you for watching
@@Goughie Thanks Gouchie, keep up the good work, stay safe too...
Hi there, was wondering the same thing.... just about to buy a 35. I’ve found out you can get a correct voltage battery apparently - wein cell PX625 which is the correct voltage 1.35v (versus the usual 1.5v) they are on eBay etc 👍📸
@@niallmurray9725 Hi Niall, yes although my attempt to source one ran out of steam. I use a adaptor / insert a LR44 which doesn’t perform well as it’s a tad too powerful and as such messes up the exposure reading on the top analogue dial/needle. So I’ve been shooting blind as far as exposure is concerned, using Ilford 400. I’ve shot a couple of rolls now and hope to develop them soon, I want to try this myself, gradually building up the required tools 2nd hand, sucker for punishment me! I take the Rollei alongside my mirror less with me most places, looking forward to the end of lockdown for some street photography before I develop anything as a batch. I’ll look on ebay, thanks for the lead. 📸💪🏻😊
Rollei 35 cameras of various styles were built until late 1981 or early 1982 Thereafter, first Rollei and then others who bought it out of bankruptcy built a series of limited production models based mostly on the 35S, using fancy covers (platinum; lizard, etc) but otherwise functionally not better that the production models, selling them for thousands of dollars. The most recent vanity models use a different lens by Schneider - no known reports on its relative quality v. the old Sonnar, but the people who buy them will never take a photo and do not really care.
Some of the version look ridiculous don’t they, and like you said, sit in a box somewhere and will never get used for photos!
I recently bought a rollei 35s but it didn’t come with a battery. Can you recommend a battery that works for this camera?
Ive been using a PX625A button cell I got from Harrison Cameras
I’ll try that one. Thanks!
Great video, do you still feel the same way about it 4 years later?
About the camera yes, about shooting film no unfortunately! I think so far this year I’ve only shot 3 roll of film!
Just discovered your channel, as I was thinking of buying this camera. I was curious, what other film cameras have you used and how does this compare to a leica film camera, if you've ever used one or to any of your other 35mm cameras that you've used. Thanks.
Film cameras I’ve used
Leica M6 - was a friends camera, I love rangefinders so really enjoyed using it, and the lenses are incredible
Mamiya 7 - this a big camera but it’s a good shape (it’s basically a huge Leica) as it’s a rangefinder with great lenses but shoots medium format 6x7 film
Hasselblad 500cm - medium format 6x6 which is therefore square, I couldn’t get used to it at all, and it’s cube shape was a night mare to carry around
Canon AE1 - cheapish and family as it’s a SLR, great first camera, and cheap lenses. Can do pretty much anything
Rollei 35 - the biggest selling point is the size, it’s tiny, it fits in a pocket and for that reason I take it everywhere. It’s fully manual that you may/may not like. The lens is great for the size, I’ve read that if you are going to shoot colour you might want to get a newer version
Any other questions give me a shout
@@Goughie
Thanks, appreciate the response. I do enjoy fully manual cameras. I like film cameras that doesn't require a battery to operate, so this is a plus for the Rollei. I haven't seen one in person, but I giggle like a girl every time I see a video of one, since it looks funky and cool. I've heard the Tessar is better for black and white and the sonnar lens is better for color. I'm saving up for one...I think I would enjoy it, once I get used to the quirks, such as zone focusing only.
I haven't used a leica or hasselblad (one day)...but have used an ae1.. didn't like it because it's electronic...I currently have a nikon fm, which is a solid camera, a yashica tlr, which is a gorgeous rolleicord type camera that's quirky and fun to use, and just ordered a lordomatic iir (made in the same town as leica, but not as popular)...for digital I have a Fuji xe3, which is great...
Based on the cameras you already have the Rollei 35 sounds like a great choice!!
I used to work in a camera store, and one day I took out a Leica on my lunch break and shot a roll. Everything is smooth and tight. Leica quality in the 60s was up to what the Japanese were building in the 80s. But there is nothing magically good about the images. I couldn't tell them apart from any other good quality 35 mm camera. The lenses will break the bank if the body doesn't.
For inexpensive high quality rangefinders, look for fixed lens Japanese ones like Canonet, Minolta Hi-Matic, Konica Auto S2 and Yashica Electro 35. Olympus made some great ones too, and there's the Rollei XF35. I've had all of them except the Hi-Matic. Yashica are the best, in my opinion, but again, you'll have to get an adapter for the battery.
With a Rollei 35, you get used to guessing distances. For most subjects you'd shoot with a 40mm lens, it's not an issue. It can be challenging sometimes when you've got someone less than 10 ft. away and you're trying to shoot wide open. The max. 1/500 shutter speed can be a barrier sometimes too, when you've got 400 film loaded and it's a bright day.
@@jesse6029 The functional difference between the Tessar (4 element) and Sonnar (5 element), isn'[t color v. B&W imaging. The Sonnar has better sharpness over a wider range of apertures and will do noticeably better at very close focal distances (3 - 6 feet). Otherwise, you'd be hard pressed to sort the images of one form the other.
My parents had purchased this model in Bermuda in 1970.
It is small but a little heavy, due to its complex German design.
Does your light meter still work?
Mine did, but recently stopped, my girlfriend has a Singapore model and the metre on that works fine!
@@Goughie I have found out that the light meter uses a battery, which I extracted. It is a specialty battery. I will have to go to a camera shop to find one.
@@antonboludo8886 yes it does! I’ve found that ebay is oddly one of the best places for the quirky batteries! I used the PX625A
@@Goughie Yes, that is the one. Thank you. You ordered new ones from ebay? What did they cost you? Were there extra fees for shipping and handling?
@@antonboludo8886 less than £3 with free shipping
it's an amazing camera for street photography. Since it is tiny and looks like a toy, you can capture some "aggressive" shots without actually offending people.
I have this camera. Where can I sell it. I has a small leather case with it and I think a flash that mounts it. What should I do ?
EBay? Where are you based?
@@Goughie los angeles county
do you do any private lessons with the Rollei 35
good
A lot of people who review this camera refer to it as a pocket camera. What do you do when it's warm out and you're not wearing a jacket? (maybe it never gets that warm in England) These are much too thick for pants pockets, except cargo pockets. They're too heavy and dense for that; it would be banging uncomfortably against one's leg all day.
You can call it a pocket camera, but it's not a like a Ricoh GR.
It fits pretty well into a pocket in my jeans, although I don’t wear the tightest of jeans. It’s hard to compare to a digital camera... it’s always got to be as thick as a roll of film, there are only a couple of 35mm film cameras that are smaller than this, and they don’t tend to be fully manual
It is indeed a pocket-sized, full-frame, manual, 35mm film camera. I'm sure there are other pocket cameras, like your phone, but that's not the point...
I use a small case with a removable strap to carry on my shoulder plus a strap on the back to fit on my belt.
hey, which battery do you use?
I’m away with work for a few days, but I’ll check when I’m back!
I use a PX625A button cell
I've got the shit one. The SE. The one with the LED indicated light metre (which doesn't work at all indoors). But I absolutely love it. Goes with me more than any other camera over the past 5-6 years or so of ownership.
BennettC there’s just something about them isn’t there!! You can’t help but fall in love with them!
@@Goughie I got mine off eBay for pennies based on what someone had told me about them. I got the wrong one but I don't mind. I love manual cameras. I love quirky cameras. I love quality cameras. This combines all three, with an additional mega bonus point by being absolutely effortless to have on your person a lot of the time.
BennettC couldn’t agree more!
Oh no I’ve just bought the “shit one” from ebay 😬 Do you have any tips for working with the LED light metre?
N L I’ve used one but quite a long time ago. Does it have 3 LEDs in the viewfinder? The middle light is green, the first and third are red. If so, left red light is under exposed, green light is correct exposure, and right red light is over exposed
Not that it's anything important but it's pronounced "roll-eye". (The "ei" in both "Rollei" and "Leica" is the same sound.)
Awesome! I didn't know this!
@Chance Junior Two spammers talking to one another. More popcorn, please.
I'm sure you're German yourself but english speaking people tend to pronounce the "roll" very differently from us. IPA is for sure the best way of getting correct pronunciation across
Thanks a lot the review. I am tempted to get one. How much did you pay for it?
Weipeng He from memory it was about £230, but that’s in large part due to getting a made in Germany version (from the first few years of production) I also bought it from a camera shop so it came with 6 months warranty so I paid a bit over normal. You can find them for quite a lot less if you shop about and choose a Singapore version
@@Goughie thanks. I found someone selling a rollei 35 SE here for 220 swiss francs. I am not sure if it is worth it.
Only you can decide really! :)
@@Goughie indeed thanks
@@ghowdp If the camera is fully functional and in good looking condition, and if you appreciates the positive differences over the version shown in the video, it is worth it. The 35SE has the superior 2.8 Sonnar lens, and it is one of two versions with the digital metering system, which allows the use of modern batteries. Other versions, such as the 35S with Sonnar lens tradition needle metering, should go for about 75% of that price, less with any condition issues.
Nice and overestimated one.
What if the Rollei 35 becomes the new trend and the prices skyrocket.
Is the question would I sell it if that happened? I think currently my plan is to keep it forever, the only thing that’ll make me sell it is if film becomes exceptionally expensive in the future and it can’t be used for run and gun style shooting
@@Goughie no I'm worried that I can't afford a second model in the future, because I think it's the best 35mm camera around and I don't want a Kendall Jenner thing to happen again
Oh I see! I totally understand, it wouldn’t surprise me if these do start to get a bit of a celebrity following, other than the fact they are completely manual, that might put some people off
It never was the best camera and never will. But it’s a jewel of a camera, absolutely, but it can be a nightmare, too. I had a couple of them. Their mechanical quality is variable, and like old tape recorders ate types, these eat your films if not in order. Most people can’t deal with Zone-Focus and expect sharp pictures without taking the time to understand how to achieve them with a zone-focus camera.
So - no - for most people this is the worst camera. For some it might be the single camera for life. Consider a Minox ML, too in that case. Not worse, just different and maybe easier to handle for you. Both are sensible to mechanical impacts.
So if you need a compact, war-zone dependable, well established camera without the need of beeing fast, think about a Barnack Leica IIIF or similar with a collapsible lens.
Unless you’re a squirr and wirr type camera lover, there’s plenty of those plastic pocket-fitting AF cameras around.
For me, the above mentioned 3, Rollei35S/T/SE/TE, Minox ML/GL, Leica III are great jewels, old school compact cameras to own/get.
AHHHH finally a photography channel that isn't hosted by some monotonous doomer that uses lo-fi music and a 90s filter on their video!!!!
You dont demonstrate how to extend the lens or open the camera..too wordy..
you say it is the best film camera, then spend the whole video downplaying the potential of the camera. Why could you not sell photos taken with this camera?
If I say that you can’t sell photos with it at some point in the video then apologies! You could and I’ve taken some of my favourite shots with it due to its size! Although if I was going out to take photos with selling them in mind then I’d likely take a different camera out with me, as size wouldn’t matter so much. I hope that helps to clarify :)
focus by guessing. what a crap. I had this camera when I was a kid and 1/2 of a role was out of focus. this camera is a joke.
Ahhh you’re not good at guessing distance then, stick it on f8 and it’s easy
I have to agree. There really isn’t much I liked about owning one of these, except they looked nice….until the corner dents from just about anything touching it. Guessing distance got old after a while, and the light meter wasn’t that accurate. I guess at f8, it’s an OK point and shoot, that’s kinda heavy, and fragile. If these had a built in rangefinder, they would be more usable, but still suffer from the same user faults…but as is, I think they are terribly overrated.
Stop beating the camera she is not your girlfriend...