Rollei 35s shutter mechanical? + other qns

[The Dry Box]

I'm considering the Rollei 35s for my next purchase as well as my everyday camera. I understand that the 35s has a battery compartment, but does it's shutter require batteries to function? I like mechanical stuffs.

I saw a couple of model at tcw, near mint and the normal version costing 1200sgd while the bling gold plated one is 1600! At bns, a used copy(all went under 500) + sending it for CLA would still give me some spare change for films(lots of) won't it?

edit: what is the difference between S and SE model?

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I'm considering the Rollei 35s for my next purchase as well as my everyday camera. I understand that the 35s has a battery compartment, but does it's shutter require batteries to function? I like mechanical stuffs.

I saw a couple of model at tcw, near mint and the normal version costing 1200sgd while the bling gold plated one is 1600! At bns, a used copy(all went under 500) + sending it for CLA would still give me some spare change for films(lots of) won't it?

edit: what is the difference between S and SE model?

can read it up here on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollei_35

More at camera quest as well:
http://www.cameraquest.com/rol35se.htm

 

[The Dry Box]

can read it up here on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollei_35

More at camera quest as well:
http://www.cameraquest.com/rol35se.htm

Thx, erm from wiki "Even at the present day the cameras of the Rollei 35 series remain the smallest ever built mechanically working 35 mm camera"
"The separate parts were mechanically coupled by shafts. Only, when the shutter was cocked and therefore the lamellas were uncoupled, the sliding tube could be inserted into the housing."
I guess it doesn't require batts for the shutter?

Articles are pretty technical(but useful), and didn't really answer my other couple queries actually.

 

[Rangefinder_fan]

Shutter is mechanical. The battery runs the meter only.
S and SE are mechanically identical, meaning they have the same lens. There may be slight differences in the way the aperture is changed, think the S model has a lock that needs to be depressed before a change can be made.
The 'S' model uses a needle dial to display the metering at the top plate of the camera, while the SE has LEDs within the Viewfinder.
Note also that they use different batteries.
S - PX625 (mercury cell, hard to find originals) Battery compartment accessed from the inside, which makes changing a flat battery mid-roll almost impossible.
SE - PX27 (also mercury, also hard to find) Battery compartment on the top plate, can be changed mid roll.

Technically, both are excellent cameras, despite age and scale focus.

 

[Rangefinder_fan]

Actually, I should not have said 'despite..scale focus'. Scale focus makes it really easy to snap off a shot without your subject noticing.
Plus, its tiny, and very quiet as well. Only possible issue is the meter dying, but thats not a major issue.
Prices I've noted locally range from $200 upwards, based on condition. You'll never find a mint one lower than US$350 on ebay.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Thx, erm from wiki "Even at the present day the cameras of the Rollei 35 series remain the smallest ever built mechanically working 35 mm camera"
"The separate parts were mechanically coupled by shafts. Only, when the shutter was cocked and therefore the lamellas were uncoupled, the sliding tube could be inserted into the housing."
I guess it doesn't require batts for the shutter?

Articles are pretty technical(but useful), and didn't really answer my other couple queries actually.

Yep, fully mechanical, anyway, Rangefinder_fan has answered your questions.

I think 1200SGD is quite steep for the Rollei 35

 

[undercoverone]

the $1200 model you saw in TCW is not the normal one.. it is a special model which is all in silver colour version.

 

[The Dry Box]

undercoverone: I didn't notice, then again I was very distracted by the gold model to look at the silver one carefully! :bsmilie:

I don't think scale focus is a weak point as well. I've been using hyperfocal manual shooting even with a digital slr! That had encouraged my move to the a rangefinder because of their lens hyperfocal markings. I had always found it much easiler to shoot when my mind's off focusing with the viewfinder, rather I would concetrate on the framing more.

Thx, tons of useful informations here!(especially the head up on the market's mint pricing) Now the only problem is getting one. =)

 

[Royale With Cheese]

undercoverone: I didn't notice, then again I was very distracted by the gold model to look at the silver one carefully! :bsmilie:

I don't think scale focus is a weak point as well. I've been using hyperfocal manual shooting even with a digital slr! That had encouraged my move to the a rangefinder because of their lens hyperfocal markings. I had always found it much easiler to shoot when my mind's off focusing with the viewfinder, rather I would concetrate on the framing more.

Thx, tons of useful informations here!(especially the head up on the market's mint pricing) Now the only problem is getting one. =)

Hmmm, the rollei 35 does pop up once in awhile in the bull & sell forum, just gotta keep a look out.

Good luck!

 

[Rollsch]

undercoverone: I didn't notice, then again I was very distracted by the gold model to look at the silver one carefully! :bsmilie:

I don't think scale focus is a weak point as well. I've been using hyperfocal manual shooting even with a digital slr! That had encouraged my move to the a rangefinder because of their lens hyperfocal markings. I had always found it much easiler to shoot when my mind's off focusing with the viewfinder, rather I would concetrate on the framing more.

Thx, tons of useful informations here!(especially the head up on the market's mint pricing) Now the only problem is getting one. =)

Those hyperfocal markings on Rollei 35 are not only easy to use, they also produce sharp fotos.
The great price difference of used units is mainly due to their lens & coating - range from f3.5 Tessar/Xenar to f2.8/Sonnar. If affordable, then you should get a Sonnar 2.8 with HFT coating.

 

[The Dry Box]

Those hyperfocal markings on Rollei 35 are not only easy to use, they also produce sharp fotos.
The great price difference of used units is mainly due to their lens & coating - range from f3.5 Tessar/Xenar to f2.8/Sonnar. If affordable, then you should get a Sonnar 2.8 with HFT coating.

I am intending to get the 35S, and if I grew fond of it, prolly I would end up collecting other versions as well since I'm had became very into film compacts.

Though the 35S is hard to get around these days, while the made in Gemany 35 is plentiful. Think my plan will change to obtain the original 35 first.

Thx

 

[Rollsch]

I am intending to get the 35S, and if I grew fond of it, prolly I would end up collecting other versions as well since I'm had became very into film compacts.

Though the 35S is hard to get around these days, while the made in Gemany 35 is plentiful. Think my plan will change to obtain the original 35 first.

Thx

Used Rollei 35 made in Germany fetches better price than those 35 made in S'pore. Rollei S'pore produced much more 35/35T models than German made Rollei 35, so shud hv some used units on market for sale. Basically German & S'pore made units are of same quality, since they share most of the components & materials. The main differences are German made uses real leather, German exposure meter and shutter, whereas S'pore made uses artificial leather, Japanese exposure meter and shutter. This may explains the higher price of German used unit, but personally I would prefer to go for the cheaper S'pore camera, afterall both give same quality fotos.

 

[Mountainlight]

You should be able to get working Rollei 35s for a few hundred $, definitely not in the $'000s unless they're special limited editions etc. They are NOT point and shoot cameras, but rather a thinking photographer's tool. Since these are scale focusing, you'll want to test that the lens barrel has not been messed with (i.e. someone has opened up to try clean, and then put back together messing the focusing distances). A simple way is open the back, tape a piece of tracing paper to the film rail, mount on a tripod, and in a bright place, use a measuring tape to verify focusing distance on the lens barrel.

More info here if you have time to read up:

http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/35classic/info/all_models.shtml
http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/Rollei35.html

 

[sweat100]

I think you should not go wrong with the Rollei 35S, one of my most loved camera because it is small and sharp. It should be cheaper than a Rollei 35 Germany. In my opinion, try to get one with a working light meter, it saves quite a lot of hassle. It should cost in the range of $350-500 depending on condition and acessories. Some of the body may have dents and dings, do look out for that as well if you are interested for keeping as well as shooting.