Andrew Cotterill
Well-Known Member
Inspired by this thread, I went looking for a Rollei 35 on eBay. I found a 'spares or repair' B35 (not as nice as the German original, but not too bad) where the lens barrel was stuck 'out' and the winder wouldn't wind. I took a gamble and bid for it, and got it for £25 (not sure if that was too much, but I wanted it...)
I got the lid off (not the first person to try this, the screws were a little loose and the one behind the winder was missing), tried spinning any of the cogs that felt like they'd spin without being forced, and was rewarded with a 'snick' of something clicking into place. I tried to retract the lens - success!
The selenium light meter is fine (although the shutter speed reference guide is missing, no great problem) and the aperture wheel moves a little too freely, and the front of the lens is slightly foxed (very faint scratches). Everything else works as it should.
It's a lovely little thing that I can carry in my man-bag everywhere I go without it weighing me down like my Zorki. The viewfinder is in an odd place, but otherwise I'm loving the feel of it. The left-hand winder suits left-handed me.
When I've finished this cuppa, I'm sticking some film in it and taking it down to the river.
EDIT: That'll teach me. It was raining, so I decided to get to the bottom of the very loose aperture ring and the way the focus occasionally would get stuck. Here I am an hour later with tiny screws and thing everywhere. I know how to put the front of the lens together, if only I could bend space-time. That is the only way to do it. A screw had come undone inside - or been loosened - and was getting stuck on things.
I got the lid off (not the first person to try this, the screws were a little loose and the one behind the winder was missing), tried spinning any of the cogs that felt like they'd spin without being forced, and was rewarded with a 'snick' of something clicking into place. I tried to retract the lens - success!
The selenium light meter is fine (although the shutter speed reference guide is missing, no great problem) and the aperture wheel moves a little too freely, and the front of the lens is slightly foxed (very faint scratches). Everything else works as it should.
It's a lovely little thing that I can carry in my man-bag everywhere I go without it weighing me down like my Zorki. The viewfinder is in an odd place, but otherwise I'm loving the feel of it. The left-hand winder suits left-handed me.
When I've finished this cuppa, I'm sticking some film in it and taking it down to the river.
EDIT: That'll teach me. It was raining, so I decided to get to the bottom of the very loose aperture ring and the way the focus occasionally would get stuck. Here I am an hour later with tiny screws and thing everywhere. I know how to put the front of the lens together, if only I could bend space-time. That is the only way to do it. A screw had come undone inside - or been loosened - and was getting stuck on things.
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