Rollei 35 Repair Recommendations

[RezaLoghme]

I like the idea. But Rollei went down the drain, so there was no appetite to develop the camera any further. A pity, because the whole design is great.

But lets also not forget that Rollei never really played on Hasselblad or Leica's level. The TLR maintained its iconic status (up to GX, which I love), the 3xxx series became an oddball, and everything else (16, 35, XF35, SL26 Instamatic, rebadged Super8 cameras, A26, Rolleimatic) was largely aimed at the Consumer market segment.

 

[Thwyllo]

I had been thinking about hot shoe mounted rangefinders to use with a Kodak Retinette 1A but there's mothing modern or cheap around, so although it probably won't help much in bright sunlight - I haven't tested it yet - I think for the distances up to which focussing is important, one of these digital measures would be useful in a lot of situations. I have one that easily goes 30-40 feet, after which you're into easy hyperfocal distance territory.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

For all its dinkiness and ergonomic problems, the 35 is a serious camera. Unlike later, lighter competitors (which had the advantage of later electronics, but haven’t survived so well), it takes a lens hood and filters, has a tripod bush and takes a cable release

I agree 100%. The Rollei 35 was a brilliant design and capable of superior results. My experience was with the f/2.8 Sonnar models:

https://worldofdecay.blogspot.com/2023/03/footloose-in-houston-in-early-1980s-tx.html

 

[Feeleep]

Not sure if this is correct thread, sorry if not. My Rollei 35 just supprised me and the bank cover does not open anymore. The level in the bottom is stuck and so does not move out. Tried all the combinations with retracted lens, not recreated. The R lever out and in, nothing works. I guess I need to find a technician, do I ? Thanks

 

[snusmumriken]

Not sure if this is correct thread, sorry if not. My Rollei 35 just supprised me and the bank cover does not open anymore. The level in the bottom is stuck and so does not move out. Tried all the combinations with retracted lens, not recreated. The R lever out and in, nothing works. I guess I need to find a technician, do I ? Thanks

The lever in the base plate is attached by a slot-head screw to a simple lever on the other side, which latches on the edge of an elliptical hole in the inner bottom plate of the camera. It's a simple latch and as far as I can see it has no interaction with other controls.

I thought it possible that the slot-head screw had come loose in your case. That would be a real pig. There's no way to access that screw through the lens opening, because of the pressure plate; and in any case the inner and outer bottom plates are being tightly held together by that lever.

However, if your lever simply won't move, that's a different problem. I hope others with lots of repair experience, like @Andreas Thaler for example, will be able to suggest a course of action or a repairer. Failing that, I would be inclined to apply a very small amount of lighter fluid, and see if that frees it up. It's such a simple latch, it's hard to see that there can be much wrong.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

The lever in the base plate is attached by a slot-head screw to a simple lever on the other side, which latches on the edge of an elliptical hole in the inner bottom plate of the camera. It's a simple latch and as far as I can see it has no interaction with other controls.
View attachment 378588 View attachment 378589 View attachment 378590

I thought it possible that the slot-head screw had come loose in your case. That would be a real pig. There's no way to access that screw through the lens opening, because of the pressure plate; and in any case the inner and outer bottom plates are being tightly held together by that lever.

However, if your lever simply won't move, that's a different problem. I hope others with lots of repair experience, like @Andreas Thaler for example, will be able to suggest a course of action or a repairer. Failing that, I would be inclined to apply a very small amount of lighter fluid, and see if that frees it up. It's such a simple latch, it's hard to see that there can be much wrong.

I would see if I could get to the spot by dismantling it.

Otherwise it would be an attempt at repair without visibility, which is always risky.

 

[henryvk]

Not sure if this is correct thread, sorry if not. My Rollei 35 just supprised me and the bank cover does not open anymore. The level in the bottom is stuck and so does not move out. Tried all the combinations with retracted lens, not recreated. The R lever out and in, nothing works. I guess I need to find a technician, do I ? Thanks

The back of the Rollei 35 is made out of very thin material and prone to warp. Maybe try pushing the bottom of the camera inwards and at the same time working the lever.

A while ago, I got a Rollei 35 that used to be my grandmother's. I started using it quite a lot recently and the Tessar produces very good images imo. The funny thing is it is *so* fiddly to use at first and the quality is a mixed bag (both the frame counter and the lens like to get stuck), really, but still I find myself bringing it virtually everywhere and it's helped me capture more good shots lately than all my other cameras combined. Maybe just luck and the right time of year but there's something about a camera that you really enjoy using and that doesn't get in the way. I've even been shooting it one-handed while carrying my daughter on the other arm. Seriously considering getting the version with the Sonnar.

 

[1957ExaktaVarexIIa]

the Tessar produces very good images imo. [...] still I find myself bringing it virtually everywhere and it's helped me capture more good shots lately than all my other cameras combined. [...] there's something about a camera that you really enjoy using and that doesn't get in the way

I've made very similar experiences carrying around my Rollei 35 TE.

Michael

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Update April 2025: does anyone have recent experience with a repair service for the Rollei 35 in USA? Thank you!!