[rollei_list] Re: Rollei 35S, SE

  • From: Jerry Friedman <tinycameraco@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:54:54 -0700 (PDT)

I have used the Rollei 35S and SE and found them fine
cameras. But they are not light and convenient to use for a
variety of reasons well known to all. Most important, it
has no rangefinder and the 40mm lens does not really
compensate for the lack of focus imprecision. 

If you want a more convenient camera that is much lighter
and somewhat smaller and also has no rangefinder but is
much much cheaper, try a Minox 35 GT or later series such
as the ML.  Same problems and strengths as the Rollei but
for less money and it is lighter and intuitive in use. 

If you want a small package and a good rangefinder, look
for the also very cheap Olympus XA. Again, similar quality
lens, very small and light package and it uses small button
batteries too. Wide open, the lens is not as good as the
Sonnar and probably equiv to the Minoxar. Closed down past
f/8 and there is little difference between the cameras. The
Olympus also has a very fine electronic shutter. And it
closes up inside it own clam shell case. 

Do not get any of the other Olympus X series cameras as
they do not have the same lens or the rangefinder. There is
an XA4 with a very sharp deeply wide angle micro lens but I
do not believe this is a flexibile camera. 

The best thing about an Olympus XA is that they are sooooo
available and for soooooo little money. You will buy three
of them for the same price as a Rollei SE.  It is
polycarbonate and hence not as lovely as the Rollei, but if
you are going to use such a tiny image size and would like
any sort of quality enlaregement, Rollei design quality is
nothing when you can have a rangefinder and as good a lens
as well and all for one third the price. With available
cheap button batteries. 

But you really have not asked the right question at all. If
you want a small high quality 35mm and price is no object,
there are Contax autofocus cameras that will strip the
paint off of the Rollei 35. They are not costly, have
exceptional lenses and can even close focus to about 13
inches. Indeed, Zeiss has produced a series of excellent
small 35mm cameras with excellent lenses. 

The Rollei is a landmark camera. It buried half frame and
submniature cameras......over 40 years ago. The Rollei TLR
of that age may still be hard to beat but the Rollei 35S or
SE is not. 

Jerry Friedman



--- Carlos Manuel Freaza <cmfreaza@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Last week-end I shot three Kodak Ultra 400 cartridges
> with my Rollei 35 (Tessar), it was an excellent
> traveling companion.I'm using the Cds needle coupled
> lightmeter with the original mercury battery and it's
> very exact,it's 1/3 f stop sensible; it looks like you
> can see minimal light variations with the needle.
> The seven more recent images in my gallery were taken
> with the Rollei 35 last week-end.
> 
> All the best
> Carlos
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/itarfoto/  
> 
> 
> --- FG <fuktighet@xxxxxxxxx> escribió:
> 
> > Thanks everyone for the quick responses,
> > 
> > being myself a Rollei TLR user i also thought the S
> > had the edge in
> > usability for that same reason.  I'm not too keen on
> > LED readouts
> > specially through a little viewfinder. I thought the
> > needle on the top
> > on the camera would serve perfect for street work.
> > 
> > Eric, I have read many many times Steve's site about
> > the 35 S, but he
> > is not too encouraging.
> > 
> > 
> > regards,
> > 
> > juan
> > 
> > 2007/9/25, Per Einar Forberg <forberg@xxxxxxxxx>:
> > > I've owned a variety of the Rollei 35's, and I
> > really disliked the SE
> > > (And love the S).
> > >
> > > The thing that bothered me the most with the SE,
> > or TE, is that you
> > > have no control of the
> > > light metering. There's red LED's telling you
> > wheter your over or
> > > under-exposed, and a green led
> > > telling you when the exposure is correct. (It
> > might have been a
> > > combination of red and green led also,
> > > but I cannot remember anymore). Anyways. I found
> > this system to be
> > > quite slow, rather than the
> > > old meter where you see at once how much off you
> > are.
> > > It also forces you to do your metering whilst
> > holding the camera to
> > > your eye, and it's a bit
> > > clumsy to operate the dials at the same time.
> > >
> > > Go for the S, a true gem!
> > >
> > > Per Einar Forberg
> > > Norway
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Den 25. sep. 2007 kl. 15.49 skrev FG:
> > >
> > > > Hej everyone,
> > > >
> > > > I am interested in getting a Rollei 35 with the
> > famed Sonnar. Which
> > > > one would you guys recommend? the S or hte SE?
> > > > I am aware that the difference lies on the LED
> > vs. Needle metering
> > > > system (that's aprox I guess).
> > > >
> > > > How much should one pay for such specimen? i've
> > looked around on
> > > > fleabay and not too many sellers are willing to
> > answer whether the
> > > > meter does work...or whether the mechanics are
> > ok (some say some
> > > > speeds are not working well, but that's it).it
> > seems a bit of a hit
> > > > or miss thing, which reminds me of the days when
> > I was around
> > > > hunting for some FSU rangefinder gear...and I
> > hated it!
> > > >
> > > > Is it hard (read also expensive) to get a 35
> > CLa'd so that the
> > > > meter works? is it reliable or should one just
> > not use it at all
> > > > and buy one with a non working meter (cheaper).
> > > >
> > > > What do you people think?thoughts,
> > opinions...everything is welcome.
> > > >
> > > > I forgot to say I want a shooter, not a
> > "shelver" ( if that exists)
> > > > thanks in advance,
> > > >
> > > > juan
> > >
> > > ---
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> 
> 
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> están en Yahoo! Deportes. ¡Conocelas!
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