Rollei 35 AF orders open Sept.10, 2024

[wlaidlaw]

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I have to admit to believing that the Rollei 35AF was going to turn out to be vapourware but I was wrong. Orders open on Sept. 10 at a price of $799 or equivalent. This strikes me as far better value than the $500 Pentax and is a proper camera with everything adjustable other than focus which is AF. As a fan and previous owner of 2 Rollei 35's, a 35T and a 35S, if the new one even gets close to their feeling of total solidity, they will be a pleasure to use. I would then have 4 pocketable 35mm film cameras, a Kyocera 110 Wide with 28-110 Zeiss designed lens (AF), a Leica CL with RF 40mm Summicron, a Minox 35-ML with 35/2.8 Minotar and the new Rollei with 35/2.8 AF lens. 

Wilson

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[Anbaric]

Interesting, though it's one of those things where it's probably best to wait for the reviews first. It's not really the Rollei we know, and the camera will be manufactured by a HK company called MiNT who have previously made other cameras under licence that are inspired by classic models, but aren't really of the same quality. The resemblance to the original may be fairly superficial. I wasn't entirely reassured that the Rollei site calls it 'the new compact analog camera roller egg 35 AF'! Auto-translate from German fail? Still, good luck to them if they manage to make a decent, successful film camera for today's market, which can only benefit the film community.

[wizard]

vor 30 Minuten schrieb wlaidlaw:

I have to admit to believing that the Rollei 35AF was going to turn out to be vapourware but I was wrong.

Now, that one takes me by surprise. Have not heard about it before. Almost unbelievable that they managed to incorporate AF and a flash into the same small body of th eoriginal Rollei 35 and 35S or SE. Don`t know why they decided to use a 35mm lens now though. I just LOVED the original 40mm lens and angle (still own one black and one chrome Rollei 35 SE with the famous Sonnar lens).

[Smudgerer]

Interesting news, I loved the original and still have two broken ones to prove it! Does anyone know if there's an European outlet for them..........I'm pretty sure I will order one if / when I can.

[frame-it]

1 hour ago, wizard said:

Now, that one takes me by surprise. Have not heard about it before.

 

sample pics >

https://mint-camera.com/35mm-camera/13/

Edited August 9, 2024 by frame-it

[wizard]

Am 9.8.2024 um 15:20 schrieb Smudgerer:

Does anyone know if there's an European outlet for them

You can register for an advance sale here https://www.rollei.de/collections/rollei-35-af

From what I understand, the lens will not collapse into the body as on the original rollei 35, but will protrude (albeit only a little) from the body. If so, that explains (at least to me) why they have chosen to use a 35mm lens instead of the original 40mm lens (35mm lens will be physically shorter).

[Smudgerer]

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2 hours ago, wizard said:

You can register for an advance sale here https://www.rollei.de/collections/rollei-35-af

From what I understand, the lens will not collapse into the body as on the original rollei 35, but will protrude (albeit only a little) from the body. If so, that explains (at least to me) why they have chosen to use a 35mm lens instead of the original 40mm lens (35mm lens will be physically shorter).

Thank you, I see we have to wait until September 10th the register, I may well do so.............And I like the fact that the lens is fixed in the body, plus 35mm is my FL of choice!

[nitroplait]

To each their own, but I can’t hardly imagine a worse camera to model a new film camera after. The ergonomics of the original was terrible.

Wonder why they picked that?

[wlaidlaw]

I also like the fixed lens, having had to put a number of Panaleica digitals in the bin due to a failed lens retraction. I could usually keep them going for a bit longer by vacuuming out the dust and putting some dry Teflon lubricant on the barrels but it was a short term cure. It is some years since I had my Rollei, but I don't have memories of ergonomic problems. My overriding memory is the image quality of the Sonnar lensed version. 

Wilson

[wizard]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb nitroplait:

Wonder why they picked that?

Because it is a legend. To the best of my knowledge, it was the smallest fully mechanical full frame camera (the Minox EL and GT may have been a little smaller still, but did not allow to set shutter speeds manually). And I did and do not find the ergonomics terrible at all, save the underbody flash mount, but since I almost never use flash, that did not bother me.

 

vor 16 Stunden schrieb wlaidlaw:

My overriding memory is the image quality of the Sonnar lensed version. 

Exactly. I mixed color slides taken with my father's Rollei 35S with my Leica slides, and there was no discernible difference in image quality. 

[nitroplait]

6 hours ago, wizard said:

Because it is a legend.

So is the Barnack Leica. Not that I would ever consider buying a remake. Quirky and only interesting for their historical significance.

I would say the same for the Rollei 35, but I wish them luck.

[wlaidlaw]

18 minutes ago, nitroplait said:

So is the Barnack Leica. Not that I would ever consider buying a remake. Quirky and only interesting for their historical significance.

I would say the same for the Rollei 35, but I wish them luck.

Leica already did this with the working Null (0) Series replica Leicas and the non-working UR replicas. They made a sensible decision to coat the lens for better performance on the replica Null Series but then made the stupid mistake of copying the non-capping shutter of the original, which makes for continual mistakes of blank exposures (cap left on) and light spoiling (cap not replaced for winding on). Even Barnack realised immediately this was a poor feature and my 1A has a self capping shutter, I am guessing after dealer feedback from the original Null Series. 

Wilson

Edited August 14, 2024 by wlaidlaw

[Anbaric]

Early hands-on videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsW83rsZDXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dzC8Q6qDM

[wlaidlaw]

This video no longer available on Youtube but you can watch it on this forum. I was very surprised that a supposed expert on cameras, did not know about DX coding on cassettes. The body off loading is the same on my Minox 35ML. A good way to achieve light tightness on a small body. 

Wilson

[Einst_Stein]

Judging from the video, it seems the lens has very visible flare. 

Who did the manufacturing? bad lens design? bad coating? 

[sometimesmaybe]

i wonder how accurate the lidar AF will be

[Danner]

First I've heard of this.  Looks OG Rollie, and the size is nice.  Great to see more film cameras entering the marked.  I wish MiNT/Rollie all the best with camera.

[Anbaric]

10 hours ago, Einst_Stein said:

Judging from the video, it seems the lens has very visible flare. 

Who did the manufacturing? bad lens design? bad coating? 

Could be anyone. The Rollei name is just licensed and there will presumably be no connection with the classic Zeiss or Schneider designs.

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[Einst_Stein]

1 hour ago, Anbaric said:

Could be anyone. The Rollei name is just licensed and there will presumably be no connection with the classic Zeiss or Schneider designs.

The camera itself looks beautiful. The pictures need to catch up.  

[dooblerbooty]

On 8/17/2024 at 2:04 PM, sometimesmaybe said:

i wonder how accurate the lidar AF will be

Judging by the latest video so far, not at all. But may be down to the user in that vid.