On the other hand, here comes one thing that existing and future owners should know, as a very capable repairer (thank you so much, Stanley) told me: it’s as good as German origin and it will save you some money. Oh, and don’t give it up if it is a “made in Singapore”. If one can get a picture of this quality using below-standard film, what will happen with, say, Fuji Provia ? So this little black box is a permanent resident in my pocket or a camera bag. So I just loaded cheap colour negative film to see if it works when I saw the 5″x 7″ prints, it was a change of heart. Black, almost mint condition, Rollei HFT Sonnar 2,8/40mm, with nice, reddish front lens color.
![rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670 rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670](https://live.staticflickr.com/712/21973913521_4e222026ac.jpg)
I was never crazy about viewfinder/rangefinder cameras, but about year ago, Rollei 35S came to my possesion as a gift. Of course, what I think in that realm is pretty inconsequential. I’m of the opinion that if Sony or someone had partnered with Rollei to make ‘Digital’ versions, they would probably be more popular than Fuji X100’s. These cameras were very popular and highly rated when they came out. I heard a ‘denim’ one sold recently for $11,000+. Custom designs, called ‘Specials’, for the Gucci, Pucci and Fiorucci crowd appeared to have been done more for this camera than most. You can find old user guides from the 70’s on the Rollei 35’s, usually on Ebay. Takes 25 to 400 film, has a 1/250 shutter, is super, duper quiet,…and it’s beautiful. Shutter is in the lens, and the lens is a Sonnar 40mm, f/2.3. While it’s called a rangefinder all over the internet, it’s really a ‘viewfinder’ camera that can be used almost like a point and shoot. The flash connection is back on top, the film advance is more logically positioned. The XF 35 is a “secret”, and can be had for a song and a dance. They built them to about 1980, so it was a very short production life. While the original came out in 1966, the XF came out in 1974. The unsung hero, (in my opinion), of the 35 grouping. Now on to my actual camera, the Rollei XF 35. Of course, any thyristor flash will work. (see exception) But for $10 to $20 on Ebay, you can’t go wrong. But, of course, it’s not TTL and fits on the bottom.
![rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670 rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670](https://live.staticflickr.com/4308/35358944903_d2e00bf6e7_c.jpg)
I don’t know why people don’t talk about the Rollei E15b flash. Batteries were originally mercury, but non-mercury replacements are common on Ebay.
![rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670 rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UKJnuXMMWao/mqdefault.jpg)
If you’re considering one of these little beauties, that’s all you need to know. The 35B, 35C and 35LED’s I would NOT buy on the used market. (the B and C) Again, the Triotar was a terrible lens. They also now had LED readouts in the viewfinders. The Rollei 35SE’s and TE’s were the same, but with “better” lightmeters. The lightmeters were CdS photoresistor types, and very accurate. (except the B, with it’s 40mm f/3.5 Triotar lens and weird centered viewfinder) Basically, I would say they were basically all the same with just 2 different lenses. The later S model had a Sonnar 40mm f/2.8, which while a bit faster, was just equal in sharpness. It’ll fit in the palm of your hand! The only slightly smaller cameras were the Minolta TC-1 and Minox 35. How big is it? Just big enough to fit a 35mm roll of film in. When Rollei first came out with the concept, this was the original camera. (which was actually about P&S cameras) The picture was not meant to be a “bait and switch”,…just a pretty analog camera pic.
![rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670 rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670](https://live.staticflickr.com/7633/17040377992_99ef331fa9_b.jpg)
I was surprised so many people asked about this camera when I used a picture of one on “ 10 Best Stocking Stuffers“. So while I’ll show images of it here, it’s just for reference. But ergonomically and lens wise, it was a stinker. I know it was suppose to be a stripped down, relatively inexpensive compact camera when released. But I have to start out this little light review by saying there is only one Rollei camera I’ve ever had that I disliked to the extreme.
#Rolleiflex 2.8 vs fuji gf670 series
(weirdest of the bunch) And use Rollei 6000 series medium format cameras. This review will try to cover all Rollei 35’s.