Rollei 35S

35mmPoint & Shoot
Introduced: 1974
Rollei 35S
Image: Lëa-Kim Châteauneuf — CC BY-SA 4.0

Rollei 35S is the refined Rollei 35 — in production 1974-1981 (later production continued in Singapore). The "S" designation indicates the Carl Zeiss Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 lens, brighter and slightly different rendering than the Tessar 40mm f/3.5 of the original Rollei 35.

Key features

  • 35mm format — full frame
  • Fixed Carl Zeiss Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 lens (faster than Tessar 35; multi-element Sonnar formula)
  • Compur leaf shutter — 1/500 to 1/30 + B
  • Zone focus — distance scale on lens barrel
  • Built-in CdS meter (German production); later Singapore production used different cell
  • Manual exposure only
  • Compact — same body as Rollei 35; only the lens differs

Practical notes

  • Rollei 35S bodies on used market: $300-700 for working German-production examples
  • The Sonnar f/2.8 is meaningfully brighter than the Tessar f/3.5 — useful for indoor / available-light work
  • Image rendering: Sonnar produces slightly smoother out-of-focus areas, slightly different color cast than Tessar
  • Common service items: same as Rollei 35 (light-trap foam, meter cell, shutter calibration)
  • The 35S is the most-recommended Rollei 35 for current buyers — the brighter Sonnar lens justifies the premium price

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