View Full Version : Black Rollei 35
Well despite getting my fingers burn't with my last rollei ebay purchase, ( bought a rollei 35 that turrned out to be a complete junker, sold it and got my money back, I sold it as a none worker but it was a German oriiginal). Anyway I degress, I have just picked up a working black Rollei 35 for £35, this will sit well in my collection along side my Rollei 35 S
I have used and collected cameras for, well too many years, and I have never known a time where you can pick up Rollei 35's so cheaply, I know the digital revolution has had a knock on effect, but certainly on ebay Uk bargains are to be had. It funny really, I used to call it the Gandy effect, if Stephen gandy, (On his superb site) raved about a camera or Mantle in the Amateur Photographer, prices went up. for example on Ebay Uk at the moment Olympus 35 Rc cameras are going for premium prices. I wish their prices would come down and I would replace the one I lost
John Lawrence
12-15-2010, 09:37
Wow that is cheap.
I've not looked on Ebay, but dealers are selling them for around the £100 mark (which I thought was quite reasonable).
John
Hi John toruble with ebay is that you can buy other peoples problems, for example, a lot of Rollei 35 are abused due to the seller trying to collapse the lens the wrong way. But all in all bargainas can be picked up, UK ebay has some cheap Rolleis on from time to time
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 09:50
Funny that ...just had a conversation about of how much they had increased in price.
I have never bought off e bay but I did buy a 35s last week and paid considerably more than thirty five quid for it.
It was the cheapest one on offer too.
I thought I`d done well.
John Lawrence
12-15-2010, 09:53
toruble with ebay is that you can buy other peoples problems, for example, a lot of Rollei 35 are abused due to the seller trying to collapse the lens the wrong way. But all in all bargainas can be picked up, UK ebay has some cheap Rolleis on from time to time
Very true.
But you can also get problems when buying from dealers. One of my dealer Rollei 35s had the infamous frame spacing problem, which they couldn't fix, and in the end I had to send it to John Waller to get it sorted. And as to some screw mount Leicas I've had from dealers .....
I sold the last of my Rollei 35s a few years ago, but miss it, so I may keep an eye out for one. Strangely enough, when I sold it I got more for the Ever-ready case than I did for the camera!
John
John Lawrence
12-15-2010, 09:55
Funny that ...just had a conversation about of how much they had increased in price.
I have never bought off e bay but I did buy a 35s last week and paid considerably more than thirty five quid for it.
It was the cheapest one on offer too.
I thought I`d done well.
Did you get it from a dealer in Yorkshire?
I'd had my eye on one there for a while, which has now gone!!
John
Hi Michael, I was thinking mainly of ebay prices, there are dealers on ebay with steady prices but independent prices on ebay seem low. I tend not to follow dealer prices, however, my friend who owns a camera clinic and also has a large second hand department has stopped buying in or taking as part ex, any Rollei 35 as he cannot shift them at camera fayre
Oh i forgot to ask Michael, what Rollei did you buy last week and was it from a retailer
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 10:02
Hi John
No Ffordes and I may have a problem with it.
One roll through and I`ve noticed a small flare patch.
I thought that I may have fingerprinted the lens but have since noticed that one of the blades isn`t sitting flush with the others.
I`m putting another roll through and Ffordes say no problem just return it after Christmas if there is still an issue
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 10:06
A black 35s.
You can see the flare in the attached.
John Lawrence
12-15-2010, 10:08
Hi John
No Ffordes and I may have a problem with it.
One roll through and I`ve noticed a small flare patch.
I thought that I may have fingerprinted the lens but have since noticed that one of the blades isn`t sitting flush with the others.
I`m putting another roll through and Ffordes say no problem just return it after Christmas if there is still an issue
Ffordes are pretty good and stand by what they sell, so there shouldn't be any problem if it's not working quite how it should.
I thought you'd snaffled the one from this guy:
http://www.collectablecameras.com/
He's got a black 35T listed, but the black 35S I was umming an ahing over went recently.
John
Michael, I have a black 35 S alway loaded with colour print fillm, the 35 I will load B&W, great cameras, Ffordes are a great retailer you wil have no problem getting a refund with them, I hope you don't have to return it though. Have a look on ebay Uk if you have to return the Rollei. there are a few on their all the time for arround £189-£250, these are Buy it now, always on their on a loop and obviously dealers and dealers prices, but if you searcheach day Rollei 35 cameras do pop up from buyers that are not dealers and they go from anywhere arround the £50-80 mark. Rollei 35B with their triotar lens go for less but are still capable machines
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 10:15
I`ve bought most (all) of my stuff from Ffordes and found them good to deal with.
I`ve had shutter problems with an M2 that they sorted and an issue with a P600 projector .
I`ve not dealt with Classic Camera but hear that they are OK .
Other than Ffordes I have bought from Real Camera in Manchester mainly `cause we always end up there on RFF meets.
Again good to deal with in my opinion.
The test with all of them though comes when things go wrong
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 10:19
Michael, I have a black 35 S alway loaded with colour print fillm, the 35 I will load B&W, great cameras, Ffordes are a great retailer you wil have no problem getting a refund with them, I hope you don't have to return it though. Have a look on ebay Uk if you have to return the Rollei. there are a few on their all the time for arround £189-£250, these are Buy it now, always on their on a loop and obviously dealers and dealers prices, but if you searcheach day Rollei 35 cameras do pop up from buyers that are not dealers and they go from anywhere arround the £50-80 mark. Rollei 35B with their triotar lens go for less but are still capable machines
I`ll give that a try.I must say I`m impressed by the Rollei.
I bought it as a replacement for my missing Mju .
I have ended up with another Mju aswell though :)
I`m not bothered about returning it ...they do a good job.
Michael what I love about th eRolei 35 is the shutters quietness, I like to take it into pubs for indoor shots, no one hears the shutter trip, really good for Candids. I'm interested with what your experiences have been with the classic retailers, you seem to favour Ffordes, I take it they still have a good selection of cameras
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 10:33
Can`t remember why I started buying from Ffordes but I`ve bought two M bodies ,projector and a few M and Pentax lenses from them.
Always been happy even when there has been an odd problem.
You are right about the Rollie...so quite and unobstrusive.
I was concerned about the scale focus but it hasn`t been too much of a problem.
I bought the S because I seem to like Sonnars :)
The retractable lens is a bit of a pain ...I mean it`s not exactly a large camera even with the lens out.
Ps The other consideration was the camera in your avatar but I find the viewfinder on the GI too sqinty with my glasses.
The G2 however....don`t get me started...what a nice camera.
I know what you mean, sometimes I feel like it would be a better camera if you did not have to extend and retract the lens, mind you I have felt that about screw thread leica
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 10:39
You`ll have to get yourself down for the next Manchester RFF meet.
It`s warmer on this side :)
I have bad memories of Whitley Bay in Feb :(
I'm from Tyneside but have lived in Co Durham for 12 years, I know Whitley Bay very well, I sea fish on a weekly basis and often fish King's beach whitley Bay, its cold, the North east had the snow really bad, three foot deep where I live, it stayed for two weeks. Anyway., I would love to pop down for the manchester RFF meet sometime
Funny enough Michael I lived in Lancs for two years in the early 1980's, I have a soft spot for the county, I played a lot of football down their arround Wigan, Skelmersdale, Parbold, Bolton, Clitheroe, Neson etc..............happy days
Michael Markey
12-15-2010, 10:49
I'm from Tyneside but have lived in Co Durham for 12 years, I know Whitley Bay very well, I sea fish on a weekly basis and often fish King's beach whitley Bay, its cold, the North east had the snow really bad, three foot deep where I live, it stayed for two weeks. Anyway., I would love to pop down for the manchester RFF meet sometime
I`ll tell Bob France to drop you a pm when he sorts out the next.
We`ll make it Rollei meet.
thats sounds like a good idea, I can get the train, (station at the top of my street), manchestre transpennie express, easy enough
john neal
12-15-2010, 10:54
I can vouch for Simon at Collectable cameras - one of the better dealers, and he will normally haggle
Definitely worth looking him up if you are ever in York on a Wednesday - he has a stall on the market most weeks
Thats a handy tip John, will give him a look up next time I'm in York on a wednesday
I recsived a Rollei 35 LED yesterday from an Ebay seller and it looks okay so far though no film put through it yet. Cost me £35. I've also got a Rollei 35 arriving shortly but that cost me £85 at a BIN price. Haven't been shooting film in quite some time so I hope these will give me a boost to do some. Just about to order some film fro them but can't make my mind up as to what. reckon it's gonna be Tri-x. As you're already a Rollie owner Mike, have you got any recommendations?
Was in Manny yesterday Michael and ended up at Real Camera. Only came away with some batteries.
Michael Markey
12-16-2010, 01:48
Still finding my way around it Paul.
Only one film through.
My worry was the scale focussing but Ive initially set it to a few limited distances that I`m comfortable with like three / six or ten feet.
Loaded with HP5 rated at 800 to give me a bit of leeway and took it from there.
The real advantage is that you get really get in close ...less obstusive than even an M and quieter too.
As I said before the only thing I don`t like is the retractable lens .
You did well to come out with only batteries :)
I`m off to finish the second roll.
If the retractable lens bothers you, simply leave it extended permanently.
I have a chrome 35t, and a black 35s that I got from John Neal (if my memory serves me well.)
ZeissFan
12-16-2010, 04:33
If you have overlapping frames, it could be caused by a broken plastic gear in the film advance.
In the earliest models, this was metal. This was changed to a plastic gear, roughly around the time that production shifted to Singapore. Later, Rollei returned to using a metal gear.
A heavy handed user might force the film advance when the end of the roll has been reached, breaking one of the plastic teeth.
This isn't a camera that stands up to hard use. Constant use -- yes. Hard, throw-it-around use -- no.
It also is a camera in that it's very common to see a corner ding or some type of damage to the top deck.
oftheherd
12-16-2010, 04:42
I have used and collected cameras for, well too many years, and I have never known a time where you can pick up Rollei 35's so cheaply, I know the digital revolution has had a knock on effect, but certainly on ebay Uk bargains are to be had. It funny really, I used to call it the Gandy effect, if Stephen gandy, (On his superb site) raved about a camera or Mantle in the Amateur Photographer, prices went up. for example on Ebay Uk at the moment Olympus 35 Rc cameras are going for premium prices. I wish their prices would come down and I would replace the one I lost
Not just mention by Mr. Gandy. Any time mention is made on any photo site (especially ours), and the thread gets reinforced by other's comments, you can expect to see that mentioned product suddenly have many ebay offerings. They seem to ooze from every crook and cranny. Magically, starting prices by sellers rocket over previous offerings as well.
Case in point: A few months ago, I began mentioning 9x12 camera. Others commented. I showed some photos as well. I had about a 2 week window of getting others at reasonable prices. Now you see even junk offered at bargains of $100 or more. They're mostly not selling, but the intrepid sellers aren't deterred, bless them.
Michael Markey
12-16-2010, 06:38
If the retractable lens bothers you, simply leave it extended permanently.
I have a chrome 35t, and a black 35s that I got from John Neal (if my memory serves me well.)
Thought of that Frank .
Even bought a small case that would accommodate it with lens extended.
Got cold feet however thinking that the lens tube maybe looked a bit fragile.
john neal
12-17-2010, 03:20
I have a black 35s that I got from John Neal (if my memory serves me well.)
Frank,
You did and I have regretted it ever since. Had to replace it, and managed to drop the new one on the 2nd outing :bang:
Now I have a nice dent on the VF end of the top plate and a slightly hesitant wind-on, which seems to be related to the extension of the lens tube. Could be CLA time already - aaarrrgghhh
Maybe I will just buy a reasonably priced T that I have seen to keep me going.......
ZeissFan
12-17-2010, 03:45
This camera might require some major repairs. It might end up being cheaper to replace the camera than to have it repaired.
There were more than 2 million of these sold, so they're plentiful on the used market.
Hey Kuvvy glad your shooting film again, I have owned and sold and rebought various Rollei 35 variants, and personally I live the Triotar that is found on the 35B and the LED, but really all the Rollei 35 variants have something to offer
Well the Rollei 36 arrived this morning, it needed a real clean, not much brassing, the lens is clear, no fungus and the shutter speeds although although sluggish at first are now freeing up, the speeds 1/500 to 1/30th are fine, 1/15th and below will need to either free up or I'll have it serviced. I cleaned the battery chamber and now the meter is working too. I cannot grumble, its a useable camera and only cost £35
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