This is the earlier version of this video. It is recommended that you watch the later version covering 8 versions plus all the special editions. This video introduces the compact beauty, Rollei 35 film camera with a few guest appearances for comparison including Olympus Pen, Olympus XA, Minox 35 PL, and Leica III G.
Before there was Sony RX100 or Canon G7X or Ricoh GRiii, there was Rollei 35 as the King (or Queen) of the compact cameras. We demonstrate 7 generations of Rollei 35 including both the German and Singapore models + several lenses.
The models covered are:
1- Rollei 35 (the original) made in Germany
2- Rollei 35 Made in Singapore
3- Rollei B 35 made in Germany
4- Rollei C 35 made in Germany
5- Rollei 35 S Made in Singapore
6- Rollei 35 T Made in Singapore
7- Rollei 35 SE Made in Singapore
We cover all the features, dials, buttons, tips and tricks including how to replace the original batteries which can no longer be found.
The video starts with a short history of the Rollei 35 Prototype designed by Heinz Waaske who was at Wirgin Camera. His employer Heinrich Wirgin rejected it, possibly because he had already decided to exit the camera market. Waaske offered it to Leica and Kodak but both declined. Then Waaske joined Rollei who showed great enthusiasm and started production in 1966. Rollei went further and improved the prototype design in several important ways such as upgraded light meter, shutter and lens.
The first Rollei 35 was truly an all-star, serious camera. It is an important piece of Camera history which is available for actual use and enjoyment today. We review every detail of the camera, describe them clearly and give some helpful comments.
We are keen on accuracy. So, if you have any questions, comments or corrections, it will be greatly appreciated.
Correction offered by one viewer is that Rollei 35S name is based on the Sonnar lens, nothing to do with the manufacturing in Singapore. However definitive confirmation of that has not been found from the company itself, the advertising material or the manuals. This assumption is found in some (but not all) reviews but is not references to any Company sources or Company literature. If you are aware of any sources, please advise so that it can be included here.
We have over 300 cameras from 1901 to 2015 at the TechHeritage Museum. We will produce videos like this one at the rate of at least one per week until all cameras are preserved not only in the flesh but also online. If you are interested in preserving the technological heritage of the last 100 years or so, please give us a thumbs up, subscribe and share.
TechHeritage Mission Statement
TechHeritage is dedicated to the preservation of the Human Consumer Technology in the same manner as experts have been carefully preserving the heritage of ancient civilizations in museums. There appears to be some negligence in the preservation of the consumer technology of the last 100 years.
There are so many devices that were made barely 40 years ago (which is a blip in the historical scale) which do not work today and it is almost impossible to find a way to make them work. Just looking at them is not enough. They must absolutely work. They must be perfect. How will the future generations marvel at those fully mechanical cameras of the past with 1000 parts, more complex than a watch? Our mission will be appreciated when AI takes over, keeping us stupid and indifferent. We will have no idea how anything works. If something stops working, we will be clue-less and barely better than the cave men. If you are interested in preserving the technological heritage of the last 100 years or so, please consider donating to the TechHeritage channel.
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