Rollei b35 35mm mechanical film camera in excellent condition

The Rollei B35 is one of the smallest full-frame 35mm cameras ever produced, combining classic German engineering with a compact and elegant design. This beautiful silver model is a true collector’s piece, highly regarded for its build quality and outstanding optics. At the heart of the camera is the renowned Carl Zeiss Tessar 40mm f/3.5 lens (or Schneider S-Xenar depending on the version), known for its exceptional sharpness, contrast, and classic rendering. Despite its compact size, the Rollei B35 delivers image quality that rivals much larger cameras.

The camera features a fully mechanical design with shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/500 sec + Bulb, aperture from f/3.5 to f/16, and manual focus using the distance scale. On the top plate you will find the ASA (ISO) dial, used to match your film speed, along with the built-in selenium light meter, which works without any battery. The meter operates using a selenium cell that generates electricity when exposed to light, moving a needle that indicates the correct exposure. The light meter has been tested with a professional external light meter and it matches accurately.

The camera is in excellent condition, with only minimal signs of use around the body. The viewfinder is bright and clean, the optics are clean and clear, the shutter speed dial works perfectly, the aperture ring is smooth and accurate, and the focus ring operates smoothly. The camera is cocking and firing perfectly, and everything has been fully tested and is working flawlessly.

Please take in mind that in order to use this camera correctly and avoid any problem, it is required to understand its basic operation (a manual is easily accessible). The most important thing is that the film advance lever must always be cocked, as the camera is designed to always be ready for shooting. The lens can only be extended when the camera is cocked. To extend the lens, you rotate it clockwise until you hear a click. If you want to retract the lens, you press the small switch near the lens, rotate it anticlockwise, and then push the lens back into the body.

For film loading, on the bottom of the camera there is a large round switch that unlocks and opens the back cover. You insert the film following the arrows, close the camera, and then advance the lever 1–2 times to see the frame counter moving. On the top of the camera, the small wheel allows you to set the ISO (ASA) to match your film (for example ISO 100), while the larger wheel is used to control the light meter. To set the exposure, you select a shutter speed (for example 1/500, which is the fastest speed this camera offers) and then, according to the light, the needle of the light meter will indicate the correct aperture. For example, if the needle shows f/8, your settings would be 1/500, f/8, ISO 100 for that lighting condition.

On the lens, you will see three different wheels: one for shutter speed, one for aperture, and one for focus distance. Using the same settings you get from the light meter to the 2 wheels locared in lens ( shutter and Aperture) - You set the camera in the correct exposure. The distance scale wheel its helping the camera to understand where the distance your focus point located. it starts from 0.5 meters and goes to 1, 2, 3, 6, and infinity, helping you calculate the focus distance accurately. For example, if your subject is a,person approximately 3 meters away, you set the focus to 3 meters and adjust your settings accordingly. If you want shallow depth of field and background blur, you can use a wider aperture like f/3.5, while for more depth of field you can use f/8 with always matching with the ideal shutter speed for the correct exposure - depending on the light meter reading.

When you finish shooting your roll of film, on the bottom of the camera there is a small push switch that releases the film. You then use the lever on the bottom to manually rewind the film safely before removing it. This is a fully manual camera that requires a bit of skill and practice, but once mastered, it offers a very rewarding and enjoyable shooting experience. An excellent small camera made by Rollei, using a beautiful Tessar lens, ready to take beautiful photos.