Rollei 35

35mmPoint & Shoot
Introduced: 1966 Discontinued: 1981
Rollei 35
Image: Don DeBold — CC BY 2.0

Rollei 35 is the iconic compact 35mm camera — in production 1966-1981 (Rollei 35 family includes original 35, 35S, 35T, 35SE, 35TE, and 35 Classic). The original 35 was, at launch, the smallest full-frame 35mm camera ever made — designed by Heinz Waaske and produced by Rollei (Franke + Heidecke), the company famous for the Rolleiflex TLRs. Fixed-lens design with a Tessar-derived 40mm f/3.5 lens.

Key features

  • 35mm format — full frame, not half-frame
  • Fixed Carl Zeiss Tessar 40mm f/3.5 lens (German production); later Tessar-derived 40mm Sonnar formula on Singapore production
  • Compur leaf shutter — 1/500 to 1/30 + B
  • Zone focus — distance scale on lens barrel; no rangefinder
  • Built-in CdS meter in the original German production; selenium meter on later Singapore production
  • Manual exposure only — meter for guidance, no AE
  • Compact — fits in a jacket pocket; ~370g

Practical notes

  • Rollei 35 bodies on used market: $200-500 for working German-production examples; lower for Singapore production
  • Common service items: light-trap foam, meter cell oxidation (CdS or selenium), shutter calibration
  • The German production (until 1971) is generally regarded as higher quality than later Singapore production
  • The lens cap pulls the lens out of the body for use; pushing the lens back in retracts it for transport
  • Battery-independent shutter; battery only for meter (PX625 mercury — modern adapters required)

Cultural significance

The Rollei 35 was a cultural icon of the late 1960s and 1970s — owned by celebrities, photojournalists, and photography enthusiasts who wanted full-frame 35mm in a body smaller than typical compact cameras. Often cited as a precursor to the modern point-and-shoot revolution.

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