Had it for a while and while I sold the body, I kept the paired 40/2.8 Rollei HFT Sonnar LTM, which is really the main reason to get this body - it’s designed for that lens and the (impossible to find) 80/2.8 Planar that’s taken from the same formula as the Rolleiflex’s.
Yeah, I’ve been on the lookout for the 40mm and 80mm. I’ve seen a couple 40mm copies on eBay. Still no 80s. I’ll probably just pick up a Voigtlander though.
@@ShawnPBruce You could also hunt down a Leica 40mm f2 Sumicron-C or the Minolta too. It's pretty awesome that you have 40mm but still have 50mm frame lines. I got a CV 40/1.4 with my M240 and it's got wonderful center sharpness.
Nice and informative...I'm considering adding this camera to my Leica M5 to keep my film interest up. Thanks for investing the time to share your experience...RJ
Interesting that 80mm frame line selection is available. I have never come across a 80mm lens from Voigtlander,, Zeiss, Minolta, or Leica. I have the Bessa R2C. Its frame line selections are 35, 50, and 85.
@@ShawnPBruce I would like to see that 80mm. It must be based on the Zeiss Sonnar. I like the Bessa 's bright viewfinder with 1x magnification. The only thing missing is a mechanical self-timer. (well my Leica M6 doesn't have that either). All the Contax rangefinders have one though.
Oh, I didn’t realize that about the Contax. I had a chance to buy one cheap a few years back and didn’t jump on it. I’m kicking myself now when I see the current prices. One of my buddies has an olive Bessa and it was a huge influence for me looking for a film rangefinder. They’re very solid cameras.
@@ShawnPBruce There are still cheap Contaxes around. You just need to look and be patient. Many have internal mechanical issues and the owners wouldn't want to fix them. When I first got my Contax IIa, it had a vertical misalignment issue with its rangefinder. But its body was still spanking new and was mechanically sound. I wound up sending my Contax IIa to Oleg Khalyavin in Russia to have the rangefinder re-adjusted along with a CLA. The guy also removed the Zeiss bumps on the leatherette. I just couldn't find anyone in the States who would do it with a reasonable price or wait time. The post-war Contax looks like a piece of jewelry. It has a special place along with the Leica.
I haven't tried using it without batteries, but I'm pretty sure the meter is the only thing using the batteries. It's basically a Best R2 with a different paint job. It's a neat camera. I'll probably have mine forever.
Rollei did not build the camera. Nor did Voigtlander build the Bessa R cameras. They were both made by Cosina who bought the voigtlander license and they collaborated with Rollei to release a rebranded Bessa R2
@@ShawnPBruce down to help man maybe collab even? im getting into film passed the point and shoot stuff so I can defintely learn from you man. or just give me some tips and ill help you shoot some vids?
Had it for a while and while I sold the body, I kept the paired 40/2.8 Rollei HFT Sonnar LTM, which is really the main reason to get this body - it’s designed for that lens and the (impossible to find) 80/2.8 Planar that’s taken from the same formula as the Rolleiflex’s.
Yeah, I’ve been on the lookout for the 40mm and 80mm. I’ve seen a couple 40mm copies on eBay. Still no 80s. I’ll probably just pick up a Voigtlander though.
@@ShawnPBruce You could also hunt down a Leica 40mm f2 Sumicron-C or the Minolta too. It's pretty awesome that you have 40mm but still have 50mm frame lines.
I got a CV 40/1.4 with my M240 and it's got wonderful center sharpness.
The camera is identical to the Voigtländer Bessa R2, it's just a rebranded version by Rollei. Great choice for 40mm.
Nice and informative...I'm considering adding this camera to my Leica M5 to keep my film interest up. Thanks for investing the time to share your experience...RJ
Hi Shawn, thanks for the detailed review of the 35 RF. Is the camera case made of metal? What about the back plate?
Thank you! Yeah, it’s a solid camera. I believe everything it’s all metal. Apparently it’s heavier than the Bessa lineup.
Interesting that 80mm frame line selection is available. I have never come across a 80mm lens from Voigtlander,, Zeiss, Minolta, or Leica. I have the Bessa R2C. Its frame line selections are 35, 50, and 85.
Yeah, it was a strange option, but apparently they had developed an 80mm option. I almost picked up an R2. How do you like yours?
@@ShawnPBruce I would like to see that 80mm. It must be based on the Zeiss Sonnar. I like the Bessa 's bright viewfinder with 1x magnification. The only thing missing is a mechanical self-timer. (well my Leica M6 doesn't have that either). All the Contax rangefinders have one though.
Oh, I didn’t realize that about the Contax. I had a chance to buy one cheap a few years back and didn’t jump on it. I’m kicking myself now when I see the current prices.
One of my buddies has an olive Bessa and it was a huge influence for me looking for a film rangefinder. They’re very solid cameras.
@@ShawnPBruce There are still cheap Contaxes around. You just need to look and be patient. Many have internal mechanical issues and the owners wouldn't want to fix them. When I first got my Contax IIa, it had a vertical misalignment issue with its rangefinder. But its body was still spanking new and was mechanically sound. I wound up sending my Contax IIa to Oleg Khalyavin in Russia to have the rangefinder re-adjusted along with a CLA. The guy also removed the Zeiss bumps on the leatherette. I just couldn't find anyone in the States who would do it with a reasonable price or wait time. The post-war Contax looks like a piece of jewelry. It has a special place along with the Leica.
Very good !
Thank you!
You da man shawn
Thank you!
Where did you find your rollei? Sorry, I couldn’t make out the website you said!
Oh, sorry about that. I got it from KEH. I’ve bought quite a bit of gear from them and they’ve been great.
@@ShawnPBruce ah yes! Love that site. Great video man, just subscribed!
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Can you still operate the camera without batteries (i.e. no metering)?
I haven't tried using it without batteries, but I'm pretty sure the meter is the only thing using the batteries. It's basically a Best R2 with a different paint job. It's a neat camera. I'll probably have mine forever.
Rollei did not build the camera. Nor did Voigtlander build the Bessa R cameras. They were both made by Cosina who bought the voigtlander license and they collaborated with Rollei to release a rebranded Bessa R2
Dude I didn’t unless you had a RUclips channel till this popped up on my feed lol. IG now yt 😂 where else am I gonna follow you
Haha thanks for the follow! I need to make some more videos. I haven't been doing much on the video side of things lately.
@@ShawnPBruce down to help man maybe collab even? im getting into film passed the point and shoot stuff so I can defintely learn from you man. or just give me some tips and ill help you shoot some vids?
@@MuhammadFloyd absolutely. Send me a DM on IG and we can link up!