Nervous New Rollei 35 owner looking for lens cap and other advice

[The Salaryman]

Hi all

I’ve just got a lovely Chrome German Rollei 35 from Ffordes. I’ve never had one before, or used a camera without any kind of focusing aid, and had a few queries for the experts, especially around the cap!

I’d be grateful for any advice

-I’ve got a Heliopan 24mm UV filter coming to protect the lovely Tessar. I’ve heard the problematic Rollei original cap can’t fit over it and I should look to a press on cap. But what kind/size?

-It was graded as Mint- and is very lovely, but has a small indent by the viewfinder. Do they all have dings on the top plate? Or in general?

-Should I stick some fast film in it and generally set it to 4-5m on the focus and F/11 on aperture to avoid focusing errors?

-I got an MR-9 battery adapter to give it the right voltage, other than that is the meter sort of trustworthy with print film, especially black and white?

-It came with a tight original leather case with a zip, does the zip gouge the body and are there any ERCs out there or better ways of keeping it safe?

-How often do they need a service?

-What is the best way to clean the body and lens? Zeiss fluid and cloth?

-Any other gotchas?

Cheers!
J

 

[Nick Merritt]

Never, never, never forget to cock the shutter before collapsing the lens!! The good news is that unless you're totally forcing it, you won't be able to collapse the lens in the first place.

Depth of field indicators are your friend, and a smallish aperture. Close distances and wide apertures are tricky, as you'd expect. The case zipper doesn't scratch the camera; have no fear.

The meter is very good. Of course, the only way to view it is looking down from above, so there's a certain built-in imprecision in the metering area unless you're able to get close to the subject.

 

[jtcliff]

You can find 24mm metal screw-on lens caps on the internet that will fit. Sorry but I have lost the link.
John

 

[jtcliff]

You can find 24mm metal screw-on lens caps on the internet that will fit. Sorry but I have lost the link.
John

OK. B&H sells them for $1.99

 

[jochen]

Hello,
the Rollei 35 is wonderfull small and rugged all-metal camera. If you have a 35 T, it has a 4-lens Tessar with front lens focussing only, if it is a 35 S, it has a 5-lens Sonnar with focussing of the complete lens. The Sonnar is a little bit sharper especially in the corners wide open, the Tessar should be stopped at least down to f/8-11. Dont apply too much force during film transport since some transport wheels are from plastic. You can find also black plastic caps which fit over the filter but you should try it to find the correct diameter to fit tightly enough.

 

[mablo]

I, for one, slightly prefer the sharp Tessar lens over the Sonnar. Rollei 35 is really a small package full of surprises so you really need to read the manual. Fortunately Mike Butkus has one for you. Please donate a fiver to Mike while you are on his website (http://www.butkus.org/chinon/index.html). He has done a great service for all of us.

 

[gmay]

If you have an old roll of Konica film laying around, the lid to the canister often fit the Rollei 35s as a lens cap. This might be true for the tessar....

The dings in the top plate seem to appear magically.

I'm going on 8 years since my last service.

Enjoy!

 

[The Salaryman]

Thanks all! Much appreciated.

 

[makeitworst]

Hi all

I’ve just got a lovely Chrome German Rollei 35 from Ffordes. I’ve never had one before, or used a camera without any kind of focusing aid, and had a few queries for the experts, especially around the cap!

-I’ve got a Heliopan 24mm UV filter coming to protect the lovely Tessar. I’ve heard the problematic Rollei original cap can’t fit over it and I should look to a press on cap. But what kind/size?
-Any other gotchas?

Cheers!
J

I've had a 1971 Rollei S brushed chrome since 1973 (a trade in at a local camera store - in the "Colonies")

I also have a 24mm UV filter on mine and I've uses a Kodak 35mm Film "tube" cap since the early 80's when I lost my original Rollei cover. Fits perfectly and tight and cost nothing (except the film).

Are they still selling PX625 Mercury batteries in Jolly Old England or the screwed up EU? Anyone know of any reputable online dealers who'll ship to the USA (without screwing me on price and shipping)?

Long live Mercury batteries, ... too bad environment.

 

[Brac]

Rollei sold both a zipped pouch and a leather ever ready case for the Rollei 35 compact camera series in the early 1980's, and maybe earlier.

As to the question about mercury batteries, no they have not been made in the EU for many years. In the unlikely event of finding any, they would be flat (at least all mine were). Mercury is potentially quite a dangerous substance, so personally I think it was a good thing these batteries were banned. Maybe they are still made in China - they don't seem to worry a great deal about the environment there. Anyway, there are lots of alternative battery solutions, depending on the camera. There is a lot on the web about these.

 

[declark]

Had a 35s with Sonnar lens for about a year. Stunning lens. Found that smaller apertures or infinity shots at wider apertures are fantastic. The only other warning I'd offer is watch out rewinding film, don't apply any pressure to the back side of the case it will cause drag and could cause problems.

 

[hdeyong]

I just got a "B" with the Triotar and am running the first roll of film through it. So far, so good. I love the thing. One thing I did decide though, was to use rolls of 24 exposure to take some of the strain off of those old plastic spools and gears.
I'm taking mine everywhere, which was why I got it.
Have fun.

 

[Too old to care]

I have had my 35SE since new, bought in the early 80's. I use three 1.5 volt batteries, plus a washer to take up space) in the battery holder instead of the mercury battery. The LEDs are a bit dim, but the meter is still accurate. My Rollei has had to be serviced a couple of times to free up the slower shutter speeds. I am not a camera repairman, but I did it myself. I removed the top cover and used a Q-Tip to apply cleaning fluid (alcohol) to the gear train in the top of the camera, then used clock oil to lubricate the gears. Tools required are home made spanners out of paper clips, a small needle noise pliers, small screw drivers. The only caution is to mark the gears/film advance lever location when you take it apart, or you may have to repeat the exercise to re-match the gears.

The camera has had hundreds of rolls of film through it. It has traveled with me every where since I got it and has never let me down. The lens is sharp (2.8 Sonnar), equal to my M6 with a Summicron. I misplaced my lens cap years ago and bought a screw-on one from B&H.

My camera is starting to finally wear out, the negative spacing is not even anymore, but it is still useable and rides in the saddle bags of my motorcycle. I still shoot probably a roll of film or two through it a month, down from before I retired as a field service engineer.

 

[Someonenameddavid]

and that's why Mercury was banned in lightbulbs.... oh wait..... never mind
David