Choosing between 2 compact 35mm cameras

Xícara · Sep 10, 2018

Hi Forum,

I wish to purchase a low-cost, pocketable, quick to use and non-showy 35mm camera that takes good photos, mainly in black and white. I've narrowed my search down to the Olympus Trip 35 and the Rollei B35, both of which I've found for sale locally for the equivalent of US$44 and US$74 respectively. Both cameras are apparently fully functional with clean lenses, lens caps and cases and have been serviced, however the Trip looks in more pristine condition - the Rollei seems to have some light corrosion on the front top plate. The Rollei is Singapore made.

I've found online comparisons between the Trip 35 and the Rollei 35 but not the Rollei B35 (or B) which doesn't have the Zeiss lens.

I wonder if anyone here has experience with both and can offer an opinion on whether it might be worth the paying a little extra for the Rollei? Image quality is the main concern but small size is also important. I believe the rollei lens collapses which is nice.

All the best!

bernard_L · Sep 10, 2018

No experience with Rollei B35 only the Tessar version. My 2 ¢:
Rollei is well built, but heavy. Collapsible lens need to be extended, possibly the decisive instant is gone. I read once a B35 user stating that the optical quality was OK (triplet lenses are often under-rated)
Trip 35 is ready-to-shoot. And it is auto-exposure. Just guesstimate distance. One technical burden less, more brain available for "creative" task. And it is cheaper.
Both cameras use hard-to-find filters: 43.5mm for the Trip35 (buy 43.5-46mm step-up ring), and forgot-what and even harder to find for the Rollei.
I know it's outside your question; but my go-to camera for this kind of use (ready to take quality pics) is an Olympus 35RC.

guangong · Sep 10, 2018

Not familiar with either camera. I like Olympus xa and Rollei 35 and find both very convenient to use. However, make sure Rollei has wrisst strap, which is integral part of camera. A lot of woe on APUG from Rollei owners who lack this strap, which has a unique way to attach to camera.

Xícara · Sep 10, 2018

Thanks Bernard and Guangong - I am open to other suggestions but price is a big factor, as essentially I'm looking for something that won't hurt too much if it's robbed (ie. taking photos in places unsafe to use an expensive looking camera). The Rollei 35 and the Olympus 35RC both must be wonderful but are priced too highly. Someone also mentioned via PM that the B35 requires batteries that are no longer produced (mercury?), so that might be a problem. All the best!

Ste_S · Sep 10, 2018

As @bernard_L said, they're two different types of camera. The Trip is auto exposure, whilst the Rollei B35 is manual. Depends which you prefer ?

I've got a Trip 35 and it's something that gets left on a shelf. Whilst it can, and does, get good results it's something that you can't guarantee.
Despite the auto exposure, you'll be guessing a lot of the time and using the ISO/ASA dial to try to compensate. You also won't know which aperture the camera has selected, thus not knowing what depth of field you're working on when guessing distance for focus.
You also won't know what shutter speed the camera has selected - it has two, 1/40 and 1/200. I find I get camera shake at 1/40 if I'm not sufficiently braced.

You can sort of get around it by always using ISO400 film (the max ISO for the Trip) with a good latitude which will force the camera to step down the lens and shoot at the 1/200 shutter speed. If you want B&W I've had good results with both Tri-X and XP2

ciniframe · Sep 10, 2018

The Rollei B35 is very light, with a plastic body. Even so it seems sturdy enough. The lens on the Trip 35 is likely to be a bit better, especially at larger apertures. The Rollei has full manual control od shutter speed and aperture. The little selenium meter on the Rollei is not very sensitive but is probably ok for any light that would be exposed by the lowest shutter speed (1/30sec).
The Trip has only one metered shutter speed, 1/200sec. but when you engage manual aperture control for flash use the shutter speed goes to 1/40sec.
The lens of the Rollei has to be extended to take pictures, an extra step, most owners just leave it extended unless they are putting the camera away. With the Rollei you must not try to collapse the lens to the stored position without cocking the shutter. There is an interlock but I've seen folks force it and break the camera. The Rollei has a flash shoe on the bottom of the camera so most folks using the camera with a flash turn it upside down.

Finally, I'd also consider a Olympus 35RC. Probably about double of what the Trip costs but full manual control, rangefinder focusing, and a about the same size but 2~3 oz. heaver.

PS, The Rollei has a selenium meter, no batteries required, the Trip also has a selenium meter.
The 35RC has a regular CDS meter which uses a mercury battery but I've found #375 hearing aid batteries work fine. I just leave the battery out of mine and use it as a meterless camera. But then I'm an old fart and most of my film cameras don't even have meters. I use a handheld meter if I have check the light occasionally.

macfred · Sep 10, 2018

For me the Trip 35 - a friend of mine does great stuff with his collection of Oympus Trips 35 : https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajweller/albums/72157661904273834

Ko.Fe. · Sep 10, 2018

I had Trip 35, it is limited on shutter speed and apertures camera, which you have no control off. But it worked for me outdoors and indoors with flash.
Lens quality was very good. I sold it because I don't like AE only cameras.
I had original Rollei 35 Singapore and German. Camera offers full control, but very slow to operate if you need it out from its pouch and ready. Film advance is crude, sold because of it and because it takes time to get camera ready.

So, I'm just keeping Smena-8m for now. Oops, I just gave it to the young one, until his grandma brings his father one .

I say, get Trip 35 and always keep lens cap on if camera is not in use. It is quick to use. Rollei isn't.

Xícara · Sep 10, 2018

Ste_S said:
As @bernard_L said, they're two different types of camera. The Trip is auto exposure, whilst the Rollei B35 is manual. Depends which you prefer ?

I think what I'd prefer is aperture priority, so in the absence of that perhaps manual is better - my main camera is a Nikon f2 so I'm reasonably quick with adjustments. Does the B35 allow adjustment of exposure while looking through the view finder? I'd mistakenly thought that the Trip allowed the user to set the aperture.....

narsuitus · Sep 10, 2018

Xícara said:
...I am open to other suggestions but price is a big factor, as essentially I'm looking for something that won't hurt too much if it's robbed (ie. taking photos in places unsafe to use an expensive looking camera). The Rollei 35 and the Olympus 35RC both must be wonderful but are priced too highly.

When I needed to shoot with a small, simple, inexpensive, easy to operate 35mm compact camera that produced decent quality photos, I used the Canon Sure Shot or the Nikon L35AF. Both are motorized, auto-focus, auto-exposure cameras that use two AA batteries.

Nikon & Canon Compacts by Narsuitus, on Flickr

bernard_L · Sep 10, 2018

Xícara said:
The Rollei 35 and the Olympus 35RC both must be wonderful but are priced too highly.

If price is important, why not one of the non-zoom plastic fantastics? Some, like the Nikon L35AF of the Canon AF35M have achieved a semi-cult status within a cerain crowd, with matching increase in price. But why not one of these (I'm partial to Olympus):
https://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.n...4mm-lens-d0a8b84a4baf71d60a7b7fa2e5af8867.jpg
https://img1.etsystatic.com/163/0/10329797/il_fullxfull.1228703245_l2zm.jpg
http://wkoopmans.ca/notebook/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Olympus_AF_Mini-1904.jpg
https://img.clasf.pt/2016/01/25/Olympus-Trip-AF30-20160125072648.jpg
do an e**y search with Olympus Trip AF. Of course, I don't mention the MjuI or MjuII.

Now you say the plastic fantatstics don't look like classics...
Classic look, image quality, low price. Choose any two criteria. Not three.

AgX · Sep 10, 2018

Xícara said:
the Rollei seems to have some light corrosion on the front top plate.

For a user camera basically that should be no problem, however behind that could be a bad storage that affected the innards too, check carefully.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 10, 2018

ciniframe said:
...
The Rollei has a selenium meter, no batteries required ...

While that's true of the B35, people interested in the Rollei 35 should know that the more advanced models use a CdS meter. The CdS meter requires batteries, but those cameras can be operated without batteries if the meter is not going to be used.

Ste_S · Sep 11, 2018

Xícara said:
I think what I'd prefer is aperture priority, so in the absence of that perhaps manual is better - my main camera is a Nikon f2 so I'm reasonably quick with adjustments. Does the B35 allow adjustment of exposure while looking through the view finder? I'd mistakenly thought that the Trip allowed the user to set the aperture.....

There is an aperture dial on the Trip, but it's for use with flash.
You can't even run it as a faux manual camera by setting an aperture. Setting an aperture in effect sets the widest aperture the camera will shoot at.
Set it at f2.8 in direct sunlight and the camera will still stop down the lens.

If you want something with a bit more control than the Trip, consider the XA which doesn't seem to have had the hipster tax increases that the like of the Mju II has.

rpavich · Sep 11, 2018

So there you have it; manual vs automatic.

For me, that's the beauty of the trip; that I don't think about focusing, fiddling or setting anything, I just compose the shot...live in the moment. If you like that...you'll love the trip. If you want control over every detail..you won't like it.

I have a Nikon FE2 for when I want control but the trip is my favorite camera of all time for the opposite reason...it's about moments not settings. You LIVE the moments instead of setting the camera. You point it...shoot and then you take it from your eye and continue to enjoy the scene or situation.

Hope that sheds some light on it from my perspective.

Xícara · Sep 11, 2018

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I've been looking at the Olympus XA and there are a couple on sale here with a f/3.5 lens that are just inside budget but a little high (one f/2.8 available but too costly). I also received a PM with a number of other suggestions including the Trip 300 AF and I think the Trip AF 20. These are dirt cheap but do seem to have very slow lenses (f/5.6).

The other suggestion was an Agfa Optima 535 Sensor. There's one selling cheap here, if i can get a guarantee on it I might snap it up as I liked some of the photos taken with it in Flickr. Like the Trip 35 it has manual control over aperture when using a flash. Does anyone know if the aperture is electronically controlled when shooting in available light or is it fixed, and if so, at what aperture?

AgX · Sep 11, 2018

The latest Agfa Optima series has a unique design and a, literally, great finder.
However as all Optima cameras before they got program auto-exposure, only. You could activate the flash-attached switch and set the aperture manually, but then you would get only one speed and no metering anyway. What great cameras they could have been with at least an aperture-priority AE added.

wyofilm · Sep 11, 2018

macfred said:
For me the Trip 35 - a friend of mine does great stuff with his collection of Oympus Trips 35 : https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajweller/albums/72157661904273834

Your friend is very talented!

cooltouch · Sep 15, 2018

I have both the Trip 35 and the XA, and if I had to choose, it would be tough. Yes, the XA is a bit more versatile, but the Trip 35 is a toss-it-in-your-pocket-and-forget-about-it camera, and it takes truly marvelous photos. Heck, since they're both so small, I'd probably take both, and load a different flavor of film in each.

David T T · Sep 16, 2018

An XA in each pocket, one color and one B&W, or one for daylight and one for low light.

I haven't taken out those cameras in a minute, might need to soon!

Xícara · Sep 16, 2018

Thanks everyone. I ended up opting for the Trip 35. The XAs were too expensive here and I couldn't get any guarantees on the Agfa Optima. The trip 35 arrived on Friday and seems to be functioning correctly but I haven't yet tested it with film. Lens looks good. I like the fact that it's all mechanical. As well as a working flash, the seller threw in a second camera, an Olympus 35EF. It requires batteries but is missing the lid for the battery compartment. I haven't been able to find any serious information on it. It has a D. Zuiko 40mm f/2.8 lens, built in flash, adjustable aperture and no "A" auto setting. Would be great if it works in aperture priority mode, probably not. Anyone know anything about this camera? I'll attach a photo of the pair...

[edit] actually, looking again at it, on the other side of the ring with f-stop markings, it has symbols for sunny (f/16), sun/cloud (f/8), overcast and flash symbol (f/5.6) and rain (f/2.8). Perhaps then the camera has a single shutter speed. That seems most likely and in which case it should work without batteries as the shutter is firing without. The battery is probably for the flash only. But then, what ISO film should be used? There no way of setting it. My guess is 100.

[edit 2] and the light meter window at the top of the lens is apparently unused, so no meter

cooltouch · Sep 16, 2018

Congrats on your Trip35 find. Hope it works out well for yuo.

Here's an album of photos on flickr somebody (from Brazil, apparently) has taken with a 35EF:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/clara_santi/sets/72157606730930024/

And here's a link to a PDF from Mike Butkus's camera manual site for the 35ED, which appears to be an earlier, slightly more upscale version of the Oly 35. The two cameras appear to have several features in common, so perhaps you can intuit some of your camera's controls from this manual:

http://www.cameramanuals.org/olympus_pdf/olympus_35ed.pdf

My google search on the Oly 35EF uncovered several hits, but not one in English. Mostly Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, and one hit in French. Puzzling.

Xícara · Sep 16, 2018

Thanks, the Portuguese ones I read were either just selling or asking for information. Must have been a model sold only in South America (and France?). I wrote to that Flickr user too, but I think her last post was quite some time ago, so I don't hold out too much hope of a reply. What I'll do is make an audio recording of the shutter and import it into some software to try an estimate the speed. Should work and I should be able to estimate the best ISO to use. Cheers

Xícara · Sep 17, 2018

Hmm, I did the test and the duration of the shutter seems to be 0.014 seconds which is approximately 1/71 of a second. I guess that's close to 1/100 and I could use ISO 100 film and the Sunny 16 rule.

neilt3 · Sep 21, 2018

bernard_L said:
Trip 35 is ready-to-shoot. And it is auto-exposure. Just guesstimate distance. One technical burden less, more brain available for "creative" task. And it is cheaper.
Both cameras use hard-to-find filters: 43.5mm for the Trip35 (buy 43.5-46mm step-up ring), and forgot-what and even harder to find for the Rollei.
I know it's outside your question; but my go-to camera for this kind of use (ready to take quality pics) is an Olympus 35RC.

For the Olympus remember that the focussing part of the lens moves forwards for close focussing .
The filter thread stays put . Some filters are low profile and prevent the lens elements moving forward enough .
You can buy the correct type new from SRB Photographic in the U.K ( formally SRB Gritturn )
https://www.srb-photographic.co.uk/olympus-trip-35-filters-1618-c.asp

Choosing between 2 compact 35mm cameras

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency