Rollei 35 T ... How does the back come off?

gregmacc · Sep 4, 2009

I have an original manual but not much seems to actually work as the manual says. After spending 10 mins working out how to get the lens back into the body I'm now struggling to get the back off (so I can run a roll of film through it to see if it works). I've done exactly as the manual suggests without success. Any ideas?

elekm · Sep 4, 2009

On the bottom of the camera, next to the hot shoe is a small metal piece with a circular tab on it.

Looking at the bottom of the camera, with the hot shoe to the left, push the tab upward. The back should now slide off.

When you load the film, extend the lens and lock into place. Don't use an excessive amount of force to lock the lens.

The shutter must be tensioned to collapse the lens.

When shooting, if you reach the end of the roll, don't force the film advance lever -- you'll break the film advance mechanism.

Sirius Glass · Sep 4, 2009

You can download the manual here => http://www.butkus.org/chinon/rolleiflex.htm

Remember to donate $3 if you find it useful.

Steve

eddym · Sep 4, 2009

elekm said:
When shooting, if you reach the end of the roll, don't force the film advance lever -- you'll break the film advance mechanism.

In my experience, it's the film that breaks, meaning that you have to unload the camera in a darkroom or changing bag.

Edit: Let me rephrase that for accuracy: the film advance sprockets can rip out the sprocket holes in the film. Then when you try to rewind the film, the torn sprocket hole edges catch inside the camera, and if you force it, the film will break.

Sirius Glass · Sep 4, 2009

... or pulled the film off the 35mm spool. It even happens with commercially packed film.

Steve

gregmacc · Sep 4, 2009

elekm ... I'm doing as you say ... but I'm pulling the back away from the body ... should I be sliding?

elekm · Sep 4, 2009

Yes, that's right. Push up on that latch and the back should slide downward and off.

It's not hinged, so slide the back down and then off.

elekm · Sep 4, 2009

eddym said:
In my experience, it's the film that breaks, meaning that you have to unload the camera in a darkroom or changing bag.

That's a good point that you make.

What came to mind for me was the cameras that I've repaired in which heavy-handed users stripped some of the gears or broke the lens because they didn't wind on to the next frame and then twisted the lens until it snapped the lens-lock coupling.

When Rollei moved production to Singapore, it replaced a key metal gear with a plastic one, which turned out to be an unwise decision. At some point, the gear reverted to metal.

Rollei 35 T ... How does the back come off?

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