Last Updated on 10/28/2024 by Chris Gampat
Maybe it’s the nostalgic soul in me longing for my youth, but few things get me excited these days, like analog photography announcements. And while a tiny part of me hoped that the Rollei 35 AF would be a digital camera, I’m actually pleased it isn’t. Because I’m probably going to get more keepers from slowing down to choose my framing and waiting patiently for the right moments. Film photography isn’t going away and the new avatar of the classic Rollei 35 proves just that.
The lead image and those within the article are screenshots from Rollei’s website.
The New Rollei 35 AF
This year just got more exciting for analog photography lovers. Modeled on the classic Rollei 35 from the mid-60s, the new Rollei 35 AF I camera is available for pre-order now. It’s almost a year ago that we reported on the camera that MiNT had been working on, and the wait hasn’t disappointed. Visually, at least, it clearly stands out from any other analog camera released in the last few years. You can’t quite find another camera that looks like this one. And while it probably feels almost exactly like the original German classic, too, there are a few changes seen in this modern version.
35mm F2.8 Lens
The 35 in the name of the camera doesn’t come from the focal length of the lens but rather from the film format that the camera was made for. In fact, the original Rollei 35 cameras came with a 4-element 40mm f3.5 Cassar lens. Subsequent models then improved on this aspect and included a 5-element faster 40mm f2.8 lens. In the new Rollei 35 AF I Analog camera, however, the company has decided to introduce a wider 35mm f2.8 lens. This keeps it more in line with the traditional focal length for street photography
Autofocus!
Many of us who’d use this camera are probably manual focus purists, but it looks like Rollei didn’t want to alienate a sizeable portion of photographers today. The Rollei 35 AF, as the name suggests, is an autofocus camera. The AF in this camera is “advanced” LiDAR-driven to provide fast and accurate results. It supports continuous autofocus from a focal distance of 70cm (27.5in) until infinity.
Self Timer
Another new addition in the modern iteration is a self-timer. I guess the development team decided this was a better idea than adding an electronically triggered shutter via IR or Bluetooth in the Rollei 35 AF. Oh, the memories such a timer brings back to me: running back from the camera to my family at breakneck speeds and trying not to look out of breath for the lens before the timed shutter was released.
Built-in Flash
I’m curious to find out what power the built-in flash has. We’ll soon know whether it’s just meant to add a little fill to your shadows or ends up blowing out the highlights in your high-ISO film. It’s tiny, so I’m expecting a lot of hotspots in frames.
OLED display
Okay, so this isn’t quite what you think it is. It’s not a display at the back of the camera. It’s just a teeny little round display at the top of the camera, presumably to indicate how many shots you have left on your roll, among other things.
What Do The Dials Do?
They look rather unique and fancy, but what are the dials on the front of the Rollei 35 AF camera actually for? These dual-purpose dials aren’t just for decoration; each of them is used for setting exposure settings and for reminding you something about your film stock. The dial on the right of the camera can be set to remind you if your film is black and white or a colored variety. It’s also used to set the shutter speed. The other dial marks how many exposures your film roll is capable of, but more importantly, it also sets the aperture value on the lens.
Incredibly Unique Looking
I’m actually thrilled that such a camera is making its way back into our hands with some modern features included for convenience. We’re a time when digital cameras are doing more and more to make your photos look like they were shot on retro film. So I couldn’t have been mad at Rollei if they had decided to make this a digital camera. But by keeping it analog, I think they’ve made it all the more appealing. Pre-order yours today for delivery by mid-October this year. Visually, I’d have to say it’s one of the most appealing cameras I’ve seen in recent years, even if, for the most part, it looks like a carbon copy of the original. I’m itching to get my hands on a copy and run a handful of rolls through it. Time to slow down and connect with the timeless experience of analog photography again.
Tech Specs
Translated from the German original on the Rollei 35 AF camera product page.
| Model | Rollei 35 AF |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Lens type | Fixed lens |
| Lens | 35mm f2.8 – 5-Element-Glas lens |
| Shutter speed range | 1 sec to 1/500 sec, LT mode up to 60 sec |
| Aperture speed range | f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, f11, f16 |
| Exposure Modes | Automatic (A -2, A -1, AUTO, A +1, A +2) |
| ISO | ISO 25~3200 |
| Measurement Modes | Middle-weighted average |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder, coverage: 90%, magnification: 0.5 x |
| Focus Modes | Autofocus with LIDAR (continuous from 70 cm to ∞) |
| Self-timer | 10-second delay |
| Film Transport | Manual, Hebel |
| Battery | 3.0 V CR2-Battery |
| Tripod mount | 1/4 inch connection |
| OLED Display | Film counter, exposure aid, film speed selection, battery indicator |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | Weight | 10.4 x 5.6 x 7.5 cm | 242 g |
Images seen in this article are screenshots from the Rollei website