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The new Rollei 35 AF is coming

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Pixel8888

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Saw this on the Rollei Website. Sorry in case it was already covered.

The new Rollei 35 AF is coming

https://www.rollei.de/en/collections/rollei-35-af

Advance start on September 10th

I am not affiliated with them, and have not shot film for over a decade.
 
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Pixel8888 said:
Saw this on the Rollei Website. Sorry in case it was already covered.

The new Rollei 35 AF is coming

https://www.rollei.de/en/collections/rollei-35-af

Advance start on September 10th

I am not affiliated with them, and have not shot film for over a decade.
Click to expand...
Welcome news but old news. Japan Camera Hunter did a fantastic You Tube on this a few weeks past. I do wish it wasn't AF.....so it isn't for me but like the Pentax, I am happy to see this coming out.
 
FrancoD said:
It's a camera entirely designed and made by a company in Hong Kong called Mint.

Somehow Rollei as now taken over but ,as far as I know ,all they supplied to Mint is their name...

https://www.analogforevermagazine.com/features-interviews/mint-camera-the-rollei-35-af
Click to expand...
Over the years, i bought 2 Viltrox lenses and a little Rollei branded carbon fiber travel tripod from them.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollei

Lots of interessant stuff about the history of Rollei.

New owners

Hamburg-based RCP-Technik GmbH & Co. KG, which has been selling Rollei-branded consumer products since 2007 under the terms of a Europe-wide licensing agreement, purchased the Rollei brand on 1 January 2010, thereby extending its rights to the brand world-wide.

Rollei's product portfolio within RCP-Technik included compact digital cameras (Compactline, Flexline, Powerflex, Sportsline), camcorders (Movieline), digital picture frames, slide and photo scanners, as well as tripods (FotoPro).

As of 2015 the brands "Rollei" and "Rolleiflex" continue to be owned by the RCP Technik Verwaltungs GmbH. On 2015-01-01, the RCP-Technik GmbH & Co. KG refirmed as Rollei GmbH & Co. KG to market digital consumer cameras and accessories under the "Rollei" label in Europe.
 
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Thanks for the info.

Appealing cameras. Heritage done well.
 
Looks like it will be a high quality compact camera. I’d be tempted if film & developing weren’t so expensive these days!
 
Pixel8888 said:
Saw this on the Rollei Website. Sorry in case it was already covered.

The new Rollei 35 AF is coming

https://www.rollei.de/en/collections/rollei-35-af

Advance start on September 10th

I am not affiliated with them, and have not shot film for over a decade.
Click to expand...
We still have another month before pre-orders are taken and it will be interesting to see how much the film community buys this one up. Appears to be a solid camera...

Considering Pentax sold out it's first run (not sure what those numbers are though) and are now in the second batch...will this draw to have a new film camera continue with the Mint Rollei...

I haven't run across too many that are going to buy one, but....I ran across no-one that was going to get the Pentax 17 and it sure did well in the first batch.
 
I have been on the original wait list from the beginning but I will probably pass on it I still ike the idea. Passed on the Pentax as my Pen F is still going strong.

reasons
  • auto focus, centre orientated focusing is too limiting I prefer to make my own choices
  • 35mm lens, prefer the 40 to 70 range
  • ergonomics!! it's a box, as was my original one that I recently sold
  • considering a Nikon FM3a that is around the same price depending on where you look.
  • finally I will give someone a chance to go up in the queue, like my neighbour he said if I get it he will pay for it and he has rose coloured glasses and never shot a roll of film
 
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Dancis said:
I have been on the original wait list from the beginning but I will probably pass on it I still ike the idea. Passed on the Pentax as my Pen F is still going strong.

reasons
  • auto focus, centre orientated focusing is too limiting I prefer to make my own choices
  • 35mm lens, prefer the 40 to 70 range
  • ergonomics!! it's a box, as was my original one that I recently sold
  • considering a Nikon FM3a that is around the same price depending on where you look.
  • finally I will give someone a chance to go up in the queue, like my neighbour he said if I get it he will pay for it and he has rose coloured glasses and never shot a roll of film
Click to expand...
I think, one of the most interesting system for film fans, is the Contax G rangefinder system. 35mm film rangefinder cameras with AF and killer lenses like the 45mm 2.0 Zeiss planar, 28mm biogon and 90mm. And a few others more. All lenses do have a modern T coating.

These lenses are actually so good , that lens fun offers a rehousing kit to Leica M for the 45mm.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/contax/g-system.htm

These lenses are made for film, and excel with film. Most of them can be adapted to digital, but with some limitations.
 
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Agree great lenses but the slow and iffy AF is a downside and camera repairability is limited and problematic, which is a pity. Back in the film days there was a plethora of great lenses unfortunately Leica got the myth and many a great lens from other makers got lost and forgotten in the process
 
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Contax G

Great concept. Re-imaging the viewfinder. Came too late in the film era for all the bugs to be worked out. I had a G1. There are other outstanding standard lens, but I give Contax its mystique.

I feel the same way about the Contax 139. Nice, compact, minimalistic latter film era SLR. Again, an excellent camera and standard lens, but so were Olympus OM, Nikon FMs, Pentax and many Minolta models of the era.
 
Pixel8888 said:
Dancis said:
I have been on the original wait list from the beginning but I will probably pass on it I still ike the idea. Passed on the Pentax as my Pen F is still going strong.

reasons
  • auto focus, centre orientated focusing is too limiting I prefer to make my own choices
  • 35mm lens, prefer the 40 to 70 range
  • ergonomics!! it's a box, as was my original one that I recently sold
  • considering a Nikon FM3a that is around the same price depending on where you look.
  • finally I will give someone a chance to go up in the queue, like my neighbour he said if I get it he will pay for it and he has rose coloured glasses and never shot a roll of film
Click to expand...
I think, one of the most interesting system for film fans, is the Contax G rangefinder system. 35mm film rangefinder cameras with AF and killer lenses like the 45mm 2.0 Zeiss planar, 28mm biogon and 90mm. And a few others more. All lenses do have a modern T coating.

These lenses are actually so good , that lens fun offers a rehousing kit to Leica M for the 45mm.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/contax/g-system.htm

These lenses are made for film, and excel with film. Most of them can be adapted to digital, but with some limitations.
Click to expand...
The conversation kit is actually from funleader.

https://myfunleader.com/products/contax-g45-f2-to-leica-m-conversion

It's a great lens with punchy colors and contrast. I have the g45 and g28. I wish this conversion kit would be a bit cheaper.
 
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Dancis said:
I have been on the original wait list from the beginning but I will probably pass on it I still ike the idea. Passed on the Pentax as my Pen F is still going strong.

reasons
  • auto focus, centre orientated focusing is too limiting I prefer to make my own choices
  • 35mm lens, prefer the 40 to 70 range
  • ergonomics!! it's a box, as was my original one that I recently sold
  • considering a Nikon FM3a that is around the same price depending on where you look.
  • finally I will give someone a chance to go up in the queue, like my neighbour he said if I get it he will pay for it and he has rose coloured glasses and never shot a roll of film
Click to expand...
Although I too am on the list and am tempted..... I think the first few bullets are my concerns too.

But in all fairness, I heard that the new Mint Rollie can do Manual focus. I too wouldn't want just an AF and I think Bellamy/JCH while initially stating it was just AF, ...restated somewhere it is MF too as an option.

The 35mm is not what I prefer either. At one time I did but now I do shoot with a 50 or 55. So with you here too.

A box....you stated it. It is a big ugly in my mind....ARGUS brick like....:-)
 
Never heard about the manual focus option , if it does it would be zone focus and that sort of defeats the purpose. The lense doesn't look like it would be practical and adept to manual focus. My first 500 option will go wanting

No matter there are plenty of used fish in the sea but the bait is the expensive part. I bulk load develop and scan b&w myself though with colour my options are reduced so I tend to go with the tide.

A remake of a Ricoh film GR and it's snap focus ..................doesn't even register in the dream world. My original one went awol from the functional ranks
 
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Dancis said:
Never heard about the manual focus option , if it does it would be zone focus and that sort of defeats the purpose. The lense doesn't look like it would be practical and adept to manual focus. My first 500 option will go wanting

No matter there are plenty of used fish in the sea but the bait is the expensive part. I bulk load develop and scan b&w myself though with colour my options are reduced so I tend to go with the tide.

A remake of a Ricoh film GR and it's snap focus ..................doesn't even register in the dream world. My original one went awol from the functional ranks
Click to expand...
I have a GR10....am going to sell it. Just never use it.....

I think zone focus is up to the individual to like or dislike, just like range-finder to more conventional focus. But for me, the zone focus can be a huge draw.

I know that JCH initially said in his video that it was only AF, but later corrected this as a shown below in his comments:

@japancamerahunter
1 month agoSome corrections: The camera does have a light meter, the lens is all glass, it does work as a manual and automatic camera, there is focus lock and the price will be $799.
 
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There’s a video of first impressions now on YouTube (below) so I’m guessing they’re giving a few to some influencers. Looks generally very similar to the original Rollei 35,but different in the detail.
 
Overrank said:
There’s a video of first impressions now on YouTube (below) so I’m guessing they’re giving a few to some influencers. Looks generally very similar to the original Rollei 35,but different in the detail.
Click to expand...
Ah you beat me to it, Overrank 😆

Things I like:

-the look, it's gorgeous!

-Lidar autofocus

-Aperture priority

Things I don't like or confused about:

-film advance lever an the left-hand side and over the viewfinder

-no door but rather the whole back of the camera slides off. Ribsy looked like he was having difficulties getting it back on so a recipe for light leaks.

-the microscopic OLED

-iso selection dial AND what looks like dx code sensor pins...not sure whats going on there.

I know the above list makes it look like I hate this camera but I'm actually quite excited. Mint are off to a good start and I know a lot of people are really looking forward to a premium enthusiast 35mm camera. Good times ahead.
 
aenoether said:
Overrank said:
There’s a video of first impressions now on YouTube (below) so I’m guessing they’re giving a few to some influencers. Looks generally very similar to the original Rollei 35,but different in the detail.
Click to expand...
Ah you beat me to it, Overrank 😆

Things I like:

-the look, it's gorgeous!
Click to expand...
Its supposed to be a bit bigger than the Rollei 35 but it doesn’t look it
aenoether said:
-Lidar autofocus
Click to expand...
Be interesting to see how that works. I don’t really have a problem focussing the Rollei 36 but I nearly always use it at f/8 if I can
aenoether said:
-Aperture priority

Things I don't like or confused about:

-film advance lever an the left-hand side and over the viewfinder
Click to expand...
That’s like the Rollei 35, because the film is wound from right to left
aenoether said:
-no door but rather the whole back of the camera slides off. Ribsy looked like he was having difficulties getting it back on so a recipe for light leaks.
Click to expand...
Again the Rollei 35. It makes it very difficult to change film without sitting down or otherwise placing parts of the camera down
aenoether said:
-the microscopic OLED
Click to expand...
Presumably that’s got the film counter on it? I wonder if a lot of people (myself included) will be unable to read this.
aenoether said:
-iso selection dial AND what looks like dx code sensor pins...not sure whats going on there.
Click to expand...
Presumably it sets it to the DX value and then you can override if you want. The Nikon F80 does this.
aenoether said:
I know the above list makes it look like I hate this camera but I'm actually quite excited. Mint are off to a good start and I know a lot of people are really looking forward to a premium enthusiast 35mm camera. Good times ahead.
Click to expand...
Yes, it looks good in both the videos.
 
Overrank said:
There’s a video of first impressions now on YouTube (below) so I’m guessing they’re giving a few to some influencers. Looks generally very similar to the original Rollei 35,but different in the detail.
Click to expand...
Some good stuff...thanks for sharing both videos.

I have a few questions. JCH did say that it had as an option, manual focus, but I wonder how that is switched between manual and auto? On the lens (as I can see on the Japan video) there appears to be a manual focus ring, .. But if true, how to switch between manual and AF?

The aperture reading is fine, but I don't get the number of exposures as it is set at 12, 16, 24, 27 and 36? Who has a roll of anything other than 24 and 36? Why have those others? Does that dial have two modes to it then? one for aperture and one for number of exposures.

On the other dial, I wonder how to adjust exposure compensation AND shutter speed using the same dial as it just turns and not separate from each other?

it is odd that 'after' rewinding the film and loading that you have to physically switch the knob back.

The other knob is somewhat cosmetic too with color, BW etc... another odd feature but takes us back to the original Rollei.

Lastly...the first video has a number on it of over 5,000...so at least that many are being made:-)

jim lehmann https://jimlehmann.squarespace.com
 
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