Rollei 35
The Rollei 35 was the smallest 35mm camera in the world when it was launched. It was developed by the designer Heinz Waaske from 1962. Production began at Rollei in 1966 .
Waaske succeeded in creating a shirt pocket camera (width 9.7 cm × height 6 cm × depth 3.2 cm, approx. 375 g) without having to forego the popular 35mm film including the film cartridge . The Rollei 35 has only about a third of the volume of the 35mm cameras of its time, with a comparably high performance. The focal length of the retractable and non-exchangeable lens was shortened to 40 mm for reasons of space, the standard was a normal lens of 50 mm.
To this day it is the smallest fully mechanical camera for 35 mm film cartridges. The Minox 35 , introduced in 1974, is about the same size, but with about 200 g it is considerably lighter thanks to the use of plastic and electronics. The further shortening of the focal length to 35 mm ( wide-angle lens ), which is still typical today, also contributed to this .
In about 30 years of production - all models together - around 2 million copies of the Rollei 35 were produced.
prototype
First considerations
When miniature cameras for 16 mm film appeared around 1960 , Heinz Waaske , chief designer at the camera manufacturer Wirgin , found that customers wanted such a small camera, but not the miniature format. Waaske had in mind a camera designed to be as tiny as possible for the full 35mm format , i.e. neither for 16 mm narrow film nor for the half format as for example with the widespread Olympus Pen. The housing volume should be around a third of a 35mm camera from the 1960s . The advantages of such a construction:
- In contrast to special 16 mm cartridges, 35 mm film was easily available worldwide. This situation only changed after 1972 with the extremely successful pocket film .
- Slides from a 35 mm compact camera could be shown together with those from a 35mm SLR camera . This made it the ideal second camera for amateur photography .
- Small was superior to the small picture format due to its larger area in terms of quality.
- With a sophisticated, but technically demanding design, a 35mm camera would hardly be larger than a 16 mm camera.
development
Waaske began to draw the parts for such a camera in his living room in 1962 and then had them manufactured in Wirgin's model shop. The objective he designed with a sliding tubus lowered completely, whereby it from ever since the Urleica usual 50-mm focal length differed to a thinner body to get. He chose 40 mm, a slight wide angle , which was completely unusual until then, but then also occurred with many other viewfinder cameras. Since Waaske did not have the financial means to commission a lens calculation for a private construction, he chose the three-lens Cassar f / 3.5, 40 mm from CA Steinheil & Sons from Munich. Since it was a Wirgin supplier, he could easily get samples. The Cassar was the only commercially available lens for the 24 × 36 format with sufficiently small dimensions.
The retractable lens did not allow conventional closures because they were much too large in diameter. Waaske, for example, invented a split shutter: the lamellae were located in the lens and could therefore be moved, while the drive mechanism was fixed in the camera housing. The connection between the two parts was done by shafts, whereby the lens could only be retracted with the shutter cocked and the slats then disengaged. Waaske received a patent for this construction. In addition, the particularly space-saving film guide also deviated from the common designs.
As a light meter , Waaske installed a model with selenium cells from Metrawatt, which was also a Wirgin supplier. The exposure control was done by tracking measurement; all of the improved models also dispensed with automatic exposure . The compact film guide meant that the tension lever was on the left and the rewind crank on the right underside of the housing (instead of the tension lever on the top right and crank on the top left). The film was not changed by opening a flap, but by removing the entire back part, for which it could be pulled down.
marketing
At Wirgin, however, no importance was attached to the result , since the production of photo equipment was to be discontinued and the company was to be closed. Even with Leitz and Kodak is revealed disinterested. Due to the imminent end of the company, Waaske moved to Rollei in Braunschweig . He started there in January 1965, but only presented his prototype in March due to the bad experience, whereupon the managing director Heinrich Peesel ordered the immediate series development with the aim of presenting the finished product at the Photokina 1966. Before joining Rollei, Peesel had already photographed with various Leicas, which made him familiar with the advantages of 35mm film.
Production model
development
In Braunschweig, the camera first had to be converted to parts from the Rollei suppliers, because there was no business relationship with Metrawatt and Steinheil. A high-quality four-lens lens was now to be used, for which Zeiss received the order for an invoice. Gossen was the supplier of the light meter, and a higher-quality solution was also up for discussion: In August it was discussed whether a selenium (Se) or a cadmium sulfide light meter (CdS) should be used. The more modern appearance of a small light sensor, the more robust measuring mechanism and the “CdS”, which can be used for advertising purposes, spoke in favor of the CdS solution. A selenium solution, on the other hand, was about 3.50 D-Mark cheaper and did not require a battery. Gossen specified the same measuring range for both solutions. Ultimately, the modern solution was chosen.
Only a few changes needed to be made to the design, as Waaske had unwittingly taken up the look of the two-eyed Rollei with the arrangement of the time and aperture wheels to the right and left of the lens. The Rollei designer Ernst Moeckl revised the housing and in particular changed the edge radius so that the camera appeared smaller.
Inside, space had to be created for a PX 13 (PX 625) battery, and the rewind button was switched to a crank and the accessory shoe was provided with a center contact for electronic flashes . This shoe found its place on the base plate. Because of the exposure meter and gearbox underneath, it could not be securely attached to the top, which could have damaged the housing cover of the flash units, which were still heavy at the time. For natural shadows to be cast , the camera had to be turned around during the flash so that the flash was over the lens. The name Rollei Privat was initially thought of and the first drafts were engraved in this way; It was not until March 1966 that Peesel decided to name all cameras according to their film format, which resulted in the name Rollei 35 .
Production started in July 1966 with the pilot series , but the first brochures still showed cameras with a release lock and battery test button. The former turned out to be superfluous, as it was not possible to release the shutter when the lens was retracted. The latter was omitted for reasons of reliability - electrical contacts could easily fail. It had been shown that the battery voltage dropped rapidly at the end of life and therefore there were hardly any incorrect exposures. The switch for the exposure meter was also omitted. The exposure meter was always on - even when the lens was retracted. In the ever-ready case , the blackout ensured that practically no electricity flowed and that the battery would last for many years.
production
The pilot series of 50 pieces was followed by 200 cameras as sales samples and for test purposes. At the end of 1966 900 regular models could be built, and in 1967 production started with a monthly number of 1000. Until August, the Rollei 35 carried the unusual Made in Germany by Rollei - Compur - Gossen - Zeiss logo , from now on only Made in Germany by Rollei . However, the exact number of cameras with this early engraving is not certain; there were probably far fewer than the approx. 8000 pieces, as is often quoted from the Rollei Report No. 3 by the author Prochnow.
Further changes in the first year included a plastic take-up spool and rewind bearing, a V-shaped handle on the rear wall and anti-twist device for the film cartridge, as well as the use of Phillips and no longer slotted screws and curling instead of smooth varnish inside the camera. From September 1968, a special lens cement prevented the previous UV permeability of the tessar . The sales department rejected a variant with dark green leather upholstery, as they did not want to add any additional models to the range two years after the start of sales. The prototype with silver dials made of anodized aluminum, however, turned out to be too expensive to manufacture.
The Rollei 35, equipped with a Carl-Zeiss-Tessar 1: 3.5 / 40 mm, Compur shutter and CdS exposure meter, weighed a total of 390 grams in 1970.
Singapore
With the establishment of Rollei Singapore, preparations began for the immediate relocation of Rollei 35 production. Since there was no infrastructure whatsoever in Singapore, as many parts as possible had to be manufactured there, deliveries were only possible from Japan or Europe. The cameras are engraved with Made by Rollei Singapore . Now license production (Made by Rollei) was used instead of the original Zeiss lenses, as well as Nissei light meters and Copal shutters (both Japanese manufacturers). The sales price fell continuously due to the low labor costs. This was not noticed, however, because other cameras were also cheaper, but in contrast to the Rollei, due to increasing electronics.
Distance measurement
The distance had to be estimated for all Rollei 35s, you could only use an external rangefinder, but there was no such thing in the Rollei range of accessories. In principle, this did not seem unusual, as it was the case with the vast majority of viewfinder cameras. However, if you wanted to take full advantage of the particularly sharp lens in the range of up to about 5 m, a precise setting was recommended. For this reason, Rollei thought of a built-in measuring device as early as 1970, but there was not enough space in the housing for additional parts. That is why people remembered the rotary wedge rangefinder, which was more common in the prewar period. It was a device located on the lens. But it remained with prototypes, the relocation of production to Asia did not leave any capacities available for a series launch, and then the project was forgotten again.
Competing models
Although Heinz Waaske began with the first drawings as early as 1962, no other manufacturer with a comparable construction came before him. Even after the Rollei 35 was launched, it took a long time for a competing product to appear. In the course of time, similarly small Japanese competitors with the compact Konica C35 and the Petri 35 inspired by the Rollei concept had grown up, but it was not until 1974 that Minox brought out another slightly smaller and considerably lighter camera with the Minox 35 EL, also with a retractable camera Lens. Minox achieved the further downsizing thanks to the advanced technology of both the plastic housing and the electronic shutter control. However, Minox had major problems with reliability, which only improved with the subsequent GL, and also only used a four-lens Minotar lens (see Tessar ) with f / 2.8. In contrast, Rollei offered better imaging performance with five lenses at f / 2.8, but also with four lenses at only f / 3.5. These two points led to the Rollei 35 having loyal followers throughout the 1970s, despite the great success of the Minox 35. It was not until 1979 that a superior competitor emerged with the Olympus XA. The size of the XA was between Minox 35 and Rollei 35, it had an automatic timer and a range finder. Its six-element 35 mm lens was of just as impeccable quality as that of the Rollei.
Further developments
Rollei 35 S
Due to its great success, plans were made at the end of 1967 to create a luxury and an entry-level model of the Rollei 35. Due to the relocation of production to Singapore (see section Singapore ), it was not until 1971 that Zeiss was commissioned to calculate a five-lens lens. This Sonnar 2.8 / 40 mm should also have a front lens distance setting for easy installation in the sliding tube. Only the two front lenses should move when focusing . The finished lens did not produce an acceptably sharp image at close range, which delayed series production by a whole year. The project was stopped and Zeiss designed a new lens with total adjustment. The development manager Reinhold Weiß said:
“This measure put us in a precarious situation with heavy losses. For the employees in development, the lesson arises to test lenses from Carl Zeiss with greater skepticism in good time. "
Prontor built the tools for the new closure in Calmbach . This Zeiss subsidiary had also taken over the production of the previous shutter from Compur (also a Zeiss subsidiary).
Rollei 35 T
With the 35 S (for Sonnar ), the previous 35 was given the designation 35 T (for Tessar ) without anything else being changed. A jeans version with a corresponding pocket was discarded because the fabric was very frayed.
Rollei B 35 and C 35
The entry-level model with three-lens Triotar lens went on sale in October 1969. It was preceded by two concepts: First, Compur asked for a shutter with limited times from 1/30 s to 1/125 s, but it was not cheap enough. This resulted in a first draft with a fixed tube. The light-tight sliding tube had to be turned in a complex manufacturing process and was therefore one of the most expensive parts of the Rollei 35. Another design retained the sliding tube and was limited to a selenium light meter. For this purpose, a flat clip-on exposure meter was ordered from Gossen at the beginning of 1968, and the exposure meter was finally built into the camera. This was called B 35, the counterpart without light meter was called C 35, where B stood for light meter and C for compact camera . The interior was also kept simpler. For example, more plastic parts were used for film transport, and the dials on the housing were dispensed with: the aperture was to be selected directly on the lens, as is usual with other cameras. For the exposure time there was a wheel mounted directly on the housing, which was also on the tube. As a result, the retracted lens protruded a little further than on the 35 T. The previous accessories could be used, they were the cover, lens hood with plug-in mount, bag and the filters with M 25 × 0.5 thread. For the North American market in particular, around 100 cameras with coarse-grained synthetic leather upholstery in the colors traffic red, yellow orange , fawn brown, steel blue and white were created, but these versions met with almost no interest, which is why they were not included in any price list. In January 1976 the Rollei B 35 was renamed to 35 B in order to follow the uniform Rollei name.
Rollei 35 LED
Rollei Singapore, where there was no development department of its own, had obtained approval for a modified 35 B in Germany. Since the principle was propagated in Braunschweig to respect the Asian employees, they were allowed to go. The Rollei 35 LED was created there, in which electronics that are now available at low cost replaced the selenium exposure meter. The model designation LED resulted from the three light-emitting diodes in the viewfinder, which indicated overexposure, correct and underexposure. The first data sheet was published in October 1977, and the pilot series started in January 1978. The disadvantage of this camera was that if the battery was inserted with the wrong polarity , the electronics were damaged and the exposure meter was activated permanently with a switch. If you forgot to switch off, the result was an empty battery, since with a current consumption of 10 mA the battery life was only 15 hours - at this point in Braunschweig one was too careless. Only in August did an improved model come with exposure metering by tapping the shutter button.
Rollei 35 TE and 35 SE
With the original construction, the exposure could not be checked in the viewfinder, you had to take the camera from your eyes and look at the measuring mechanism on its top. This was actually not a hindrance, since the distance setting (due to the lack of a rangefinder) also took place in this position; Nevertheless, Rollei thought about an exposure display in the viewfinder at an early stage. A pointer display was quickly discarded for reasons of space, and a display with light-emitting diodes was not yet possible at this point in time. So it was not until the summer of 1979 that the two models 35 TE and SE appeared, with the E standing for electronics. These electronics required more power and therefore a larger battery. The type PX 27 with 5.6 V was located where the measuring mechanism was previously, the circuit board with the electronics was installed in the former battery room. A two-stage shutter activated the shutter release when pressed lightly, then the three light-emitting diodes in the viewfinder formed a luminous scale with which one could find the right combination of aperture and time. This system worked perfectly, but the earlier models are more in demand today.
Rollei 35 SA and 35 System (prototypes that no longer went into series production)
In the fall of 1979 extensive changes began in the design of the Rollei 35; it should now receive an automatic exposure control in accordance with the competition. An automatic shutter was provided for this purpose, so the previous time setting wheel was only given the positions automatic, exposure correction (in several stages) and flash sync time. The fully mechanical shutter could no longer be used for this, which is why a construction with a holding magnet followed, which also extended the exposure time from 0.5 s to 2 s. Since there was not enough space for conventional electronics, a mask-programmed IC was designed to control all functions. For a mixed image rangefinder in the viewfinder, the new space gained by the omitted mechanics was just enough, but it had to be manufactured very precisely. In the end, Singapore was unable to do so, after which it was dropped again. One of the two control contacts of the Beta 5 F from the SL-35 system was in the hot shoe. This enabled flash readiness to be displayed in the viewfinder. Originally, it was even considered developing a separate flash system for the Rollei 35.
Otto Stemmer (see Rollei ) stopped the project on April 10, 1982 . However, after he heard about the numerous tools that had already been created for the new camera, development continued on April 21. Now, however, only additional tools were to be created for the functional parts: Although the agreements only provided for joint decisions, Stemmer decided on a new housing on its own. For this he asked the designer Vivian Gray, with whom he had already worked at Agfa, for a contemporary look. The result was a plastic housing with large rounded edges that gave the impression of a cheap single camera rather than fine mechanical precision. Stemmer released the design models on May 15, 1982 and postponed the market launch from April to January 1982, although seven months were by no means sufficient for construction, tool manufacture and production start-up. The financing of the additional costs for the new housing also remained uncertain. The comparison procedure then ended all work for a new Rollei 35.
Parallel to the 35-SA development, plans were also drawn up for a Rollei 35 system; it was a new Rollei 35 in a plastic housing with a valuable appearance, to which a motor drive, a data backplane and two different sized flash units could be attached. In order to be able to do without a motor and a larger battery, the lens was extended manually, but similar to the Minox 35 with moving a protective flap - here, however, divided into two parts. The exposure data was shown on an LC display together with the distance setting in the viewfinder.
Another German production
Rollei 35 Special Edition
The new beginning on January 1, 1982 with Rollei Fototechnic only envisaged a professional line; however, the documents on the Rollei 35 had not been destroyed. Norbert Platt, the managing director from 1982 to 1987, was very enthusiastic about the small camera and then took it back into the program. First, a special edition with platinum-coated caps was launched, 444 of which were made from parts that were still in stock. The Cologne photo shop Hansa-Foto took over the exclusive distribution of these cameras .
Rollei 35 Classic
The Rollei 35 classic, a small series including a flash unit, was presented at photokina 1990 for DM 2,200.
The tools returned from Singapore could be bought cheaply for re-production - the Rollei 35 consisted of 580 parts, 185 of which concerned the lock. The bankruptcy administrator had initially tried to sell them to other companies, but there was no interest, so they went to a scrap dealer. From there they came into the possession of Rollei Fototechnic. However, these were the tools for the cameras with an LED display in the viewfinder. Since this display was less popular, a camera with a pointer instrument was constructed again. Another innovation was the hot shoe on top of the case. The lock was made by Schneider Feinwerktechnik in Dresden. The first models came with a bag with the pattern Relief Noir from Munich fashion manufacturer MCM, but since the stiff material had to be cut larger, this was abandoned.
Rollei 35 Metric
For the Metric system (see Rollei ), a Rollei 35 was also released in spring 1991, which was supplied in a larger, waterproof plastic box suitable for the application. In it there was a grid plate immediately in front of the film plane, which displayed 5 lines with 7 grid crosses each on the film, which were used for later evaluation. The 35 Metric has been specially calibrated in the factory, whereby the distance setting was fixed at infinity, as this naturally affects the dimensional accuracy, and the lens could not be pushed in either. The cameras were accompanied by a test report listing the radially symmetrical distortion .
Rollei 35 today
The models with CdS light meters without LED display (35, 35 T, 35 S) required a mercury-containing button cell of the type PX 625 with 1.35 V. This is no longer produced today for environmental reasons, but there are compatible replacement types ( zinc Air battery with 1.35 V, but when activated they only last about 4 weeks) or the option of converting the camera to a mercury-free alkaline-manganese battery LR 9 or PX 635 U (with 1.5 V). Without conversion, operation with 1.5 V would result in an incorrect exposure of approx. 2-3 f-stops. The last Rollei 35 Classic cameras were designed for 1.5 V batteries at the factory and provided with a LR9 battery type plate. For the later 35SE / TE the no longer available 5.6V PX27 is required, as it was also used in the Minox 35 . The PX 27A can be used here without retrofitting. The 6 volt voltage of this battery has no influence on the values displayed.
The Rollei 35 was manufactured in small series as the Rollei 35 Classic by DHW Photo Technology, the successor company to Franke & Heidecke . DHW - Photo technology has been insolvent since September 2014.
Models
Regular models
| Model name | Production period | lens | Selling price | Quantities | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rollei 35 master model | Beginning 1967 - Aug 1974 |
|
|
|
|
| Rollei 35 S | S onnar 2.8 / 40 mm | Year 1976: 470 DM, black anodized 496 DM | 260,000 | ||
| Rollei 35 T | Sep 1974 - February 1980 | T essar 3.5 / 40 mm | 440,000 | For better differentiation from the 35 S renamed original model | |
| Rollei 35 T E / S E | Nov. 1979 - Sep. 1981 | T essar / S onnar |
|
Tessar: 120,000 / Sonnar: 150,000 |
|
| Rollei B 35/35 B | Oct. 1969 - beginning 1978 | Triotar 3.5 / 40 mm | 255.30 DM |
|
Light meter: with selenium cell |
| Rollei C 35 | Oct. 1969 - beginning 1971 | 222.90 DM | 9,200 (only produced in Germany) | Exposure meter: without | |
| Rollei 35 LED | Jan. 1978 - late 1980 | 229 DM | 157,500 | Exposure meter: silicon cell, display with 3 light-emitting diodes (LED) |
Special models
| Model name | Production period | lens | Selling price | Quantities | Leather cover housing flaps special features |
occasion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rollei 35 gold | Nov 1970 - late 1971 | Tessar 3.5 / 40 mm | 1,100 DM | 1,500 |
|
50 years of Rollei-Werke Franke & Heidecke GmbH |
| Rollei 35 S silver | 1978 (year of publication) | Sonnar 2.8 / 40 mm | 3,000 + 1,500 for the US |
|
1 million Rollei 35 | |
| Rollei 35 S gold | 1980 (year of publication) | 1,500 |
|
60th anniversary of the Rollei company | ||
| Rollei 35 Platinum Special Edition | Sep 1986 - April 1987 | 2,600 DM | 444 |
|
20 years of Rollei 35 |
Classic models
| Model name | Production period | lens | Selling price | Quantities | Housing Housing flaps |
comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rollei 35 Classic Titan | Oct. 1990 - end of 1996 | 1.998 DM 2.197 DM (with flash unit) |
6,480 |
|
||
| Rollei 35 Classic Platinum and Black Metallic | May 1992 - late 1995 (black) 1997 (platinum) |
Sonnar 2.8 / 40 mm | 2,998 DM (silver) 3,600 (black) (with flash unit) |
1,120 (silver) 1,620 (black) |
|
|
| Rollei 35 Metric | since April 1991 | 5,180 DM | specially calibrated model for the metric system | |||
| Rollei 35 Classic Gold | Sep 1992 - October 1993 | Sonnar 2.8 / 40 mm | 4,598 DM (with flash unit) | 500 |
|
|
| Rollei 35 Classic anniversary edition 75 years of Rollei | Jan - Dec 1995 | 6,500 DM (with flash unit + anniversary book by Claus Prochnow) | 900 |
|
||
| Rollei 35 Royal | Jan 1997 - Dec 1998 | 9,950 DM (with flash unit) | 200 |
|
Rollei 35 RF
In 2002, following a new trend towards rangefinder cameras , Rollei marketed the 35 RF , which, however, was neither developed by Rollei nor based in any part on the earlier Rollei 35 models. Rather, it was a variant of Cosina's rangefinder cameras (Bessa Rx) built by Cosina , which was sold as the Voigtlander Bessa R2 . Like the Voigtlander Bessa Rx and the Zeiss Ikon cameras from Cosina, it has an interchangeable bayonet with a Leica M connector. Rollei offered three of its own lenses, developed and built by Zeiss . The production has meanwhile been stopped, the spread of the camera appears to be low.
Patents
- DE 1522254A "Photographic roll film camera with extendable lens barrel" (filing date: August 30, 1966)
- DE 1522254A "Photographic roll film camera" (filing date: June 4, 1965)
literature
- Jörg Eikmann, Ulrich Vogt: cameras for millions. Heinz Waaske, designer. Edixa, Rollei, Voigtländer, Minox, Robot, Zeiss . Wittig, Hückelhoven 1997, ISBN 3-930359-56-1 .
- Claus Prochnow: Rollei 35 - A camera story . Appelhans Verlag, ISBN 3-930292-10-6 .
- Claus Prochnow: Rollei Report 3 . Lindemanns Verlag, ISBN 3-89506-141-7 .
- Udo Afalter: A camera conquers the world market for 25 years of Rollei 35 . Self-published 1990, ISBN 3-920890-05-1 .
- Udo Afalter: One camera conquers the world market Rollei 35 cameras & lenses . 3rd edition, Lindemanns Verlag, 1994, ISBN 3-89506-113-1 .
Web links
- DHW Photo Technology Official website of the manufacturer of the Rollei 35
- Rollei Report Books Website about the Rollei Reports by Claus Prochnow. The Rollei Report 3 deals with the Rollei 35
- Brief instructions for the Rollei 35, 35 T and 35 S (pdf; 697 kB)
- One of the last successful cameras "Made in Germany" - Rollei 35 ( Memento from April 1, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Overview of the development of the Rollei 35 by Frank Mechelhoff
- Rollei 35 in olypedia.de Olympus-Wiki for Rollei 35
Individual evidence
- ↑ COMPANY / ROLLEI: At the tap . In: Der Spiegel . No. 39 , 1967 ( online ).
- ↑ DHW Photo Technology website for Rollei 35
- ↑ Presentation of the Rollei RF35 ( Memento from March 5, 2005 in the Internet Archive )
