Article: Downsizing Again - Rollei 35

[Chris Dodkin]

Downsizing Again

Last year I shed the load, left my Canon DSLR on the shelf, and instead downsized to the Fuji X-Pro1.

What a relief! My back loves me for it.

But 10 months on, I felt the need to downsize some more - must be getting old or something

After posting the 50 Best Cameras thread - and having read the list from top to bottom, this little gem took my fancy.

Rollei 35 - Film included for scale

You can read my further thoughts over on the RPF Blog

 

[Brian Moore]

Nice write up, Chris.

I think when the Olympus chaps designed the XA they were gunning to make it smaller than the Rollei. I believe the Rollei is still more compact, though, until you extend the lens. Also of course, the XA's clamshell design serves to protect the lens when closed. I'm guessing you have a lens cap with the Rollei.

Nevertheless, that's a bonnie wee camera you now have and I believe it will take sharp foties with that Tessar lens.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Brian - it does have a lens cap - but I just received a rubber lens hood for it in the mail, and I don't think the cap will fit with the hood on

The lens extension does look a little odd - it rather spoils the neat look, but it's a necessity of course.

There are few accessories available online - various filters, a light meter port cover, soft release etc

Truly pocketable - as in shirt pocket!

 

[Beth Carter]

looking pretty good..except for the beard on that guy. i mean the beard on the chin, not the one growing between his eyes.

 

[Brian Moore]

looking pretty good..except for the beard on that guy. i mean the beard on the chin, not the one growing between his eyes.

 

[Davie Hudson]

looking pretty good..except for the beard on that guy. i mean the beard on the chin, not the one growing between his eyes.

nothing wrong with a manly beard

 

[Dave Moss]

Great write up chris as for the camera looks great fun

 

[Hamish Gill]

Lovely!
A highlight of my time at the shop was when one of my customers leant me his 'SE' - basically the same but with a led meter and a stunning 2.8 sonnar ...
be aware Chris (and thankfully this is not speaking from experience) the metal body will dent if knocked ... From what I have read it dents easily too!
I want one!

 

[David Mitchell]

Thanks for posting this up, looks a great little camera i'm sure I will be getting on at some point, I do love the fact that some cameras today don't have a hot shoe, yet this managed to fit one on fine It kinda makes sense to be hung under the camera on that side as its not a natural place you might grip the camera.

It seems to have a slightly wider than normal lens which is good - I suppose to compensate for the non RF view finder, it looks very well put together, will be interested in seeing what shots it takes

 

[Pete Askew]

Excellent write-up of a true classic Chris. I'm really looking forward to the results from the test roll.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

looking pretty good..except for the beard on that guy. i mean the beard on the chin, not the one growing between his eyes.

Unibrow!

- - - Updated - - -

Lovely!
A highlight of my time at the shop was when one of my customers leant me his 'SE' - basically the same but with a led meter and a stunning 2.8 sonnar ...
be aware Chris (and thankfully this is not speaking from experience) the metal body will dent if knocked ... From what I have read it dents easily too!
I want one!

Thanks Hamish - at least 50% of the one's on FleaBay had corner dents - this one is dent free, but has a few grazes if you catch the light right/wrong. I'll be careful, but have read that they almost dent just sitting there!

Prices varied wildly online - I managed to snag a bargain I think, probably because the meter seemed dead

This one has it's lens cap, wrist strap, and pouch - and I found some PDF instructions online (essential, otherwise it would be a real puzzle to get started)

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for posting this up, looks a great little camera i'm sure I will be getting on at some point, I do love the fact that some cameras today don't have a hot shoe, yet this managed to fit one on fine It kinda makes sense to be hung under the camera on that side as its not a natural place you might grip the camera.

It seems to have a slightly wider than normal lens which is good - I suppose to compensate for the non RF view finder, it looks very well put together, will be interested in seeing what shots it takes

It's a very usable focal length, although I'd prefer wider TBH - reports say it's a super sharp and contrasty lens, so I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

Very collectable - and doesn't take up much space on the desk!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Excellent write-up of a true classic Chris. I'm really looking forward to the results from the test roll.

Thanks Pete - I'm at a loss to explain why I had no clue about this camera until I read that Top 50 list, and then looked it up. I knew of Rollei, but I can't recall seeing the camera before - very odd!

Soon as I saw it, and how small it was, the Buy It Now finger was itching

I took delivery of a replica rubber lens hood yesterday, and I have a soft release on the way for it - so I'm already accessorizing.

It's a disease I tell ya

Hope to get out today and finish that test roll - if work allows

 

[Chris Dodkin]

test roll done and at the lab...

 

[David Mitchell]

Oh look, its a flash with a camera attached

 

[Ralph Thornton]

nothing wrong with a manly beard

Man, I used to have a beard like (the one on the chin) that but it was in the way back when I had black hair. Now my hair is gray and my beard looks more like Santa Claus.

Chris,
Looking at the ad it appears there were three models of this camera. Now that your downsizing I think you need one of each so you can write a full comparison of them.

 

[Kev Pugh]

Chris if you keep down sizing you will be lost in the world of microcosm and only Pete will be able to find you........sick to the x series or you could become one of the lost few

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Ralph - great idea, I'll mention it to swmbo!

Kev - I have one more small viewfinder camera heading my way, then I'm done

For this month

Here are a few from the first roll of Kodak T-MAX 100 through the Rollei:

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey... (1st real frame with the camera)

Birdhouse

Agave after Rain

Pacific Palace

No Lifeguards on Dog Beach

NOTICE No Alcoholic Beverages

Closed for the Season

Downtown from West Hollywood

Generally exposure was good with the built-in meter - maybe slight over exposure if anything, I found myself adding back black to pull the histograms to the left.

I need to get used to guessing focal distance - at small apertures, and in close, this is not easy!

I need to use a tripod or develop a better way of holding the camera at slow shutter speeds - I had a few wasted movement blur shots at 1/15 and 1/30.

The lens seems sharp and contrasty - and shutter speeds seem accurate.

It's my first roll of TMAX (at least this decade) so I need to se what I think of that over time - right now I think I like Ilford better, but that may be because I've shot move Ilford!

Max shutter speed could be an issue with high speed film - if shooting in sunlight.

1/500 is the max - and that could be a restriction if say I was shooing ISO 400 - film choice is key as is expected lighting conditions.

If only you could change ISO from one shot to the next!

I got 39 frames on a film with one showing light damage at the start - that's good value!

 

[Brian Moore]

Sharp and contrasty images right enough, I think Chris. Nice set and a good wee camera.

As to changing ISO from one shot to the next, perhaps you can. Some guy on Flickr a while back suggested that because "stand development" processes the film,... uh,...can't remember the technical mumbo jumbo but it came down to the developer bringing everything out regardless of box speed or actual ISO used. Anyway, sounded theoretically possible to me but I haven't tried it. I think I will next time I get my hands on Rodinal again.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Interesting Brian - so would the IQ vary even though the exposures looked the same?

 

[Brian Moore]

Interesting Brian - so would the IQ vary even though the exposures looked the same?

IQ vary,...? Sorry,...don't follow. Can you repeat more slowly so I understand?