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Caption: Rollei 35B A Short Review
Sony D Kusumo
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Caption: Rollei 35B was one of the 35 series miniature viewfinder camera made by Rollei, one of German's camera manufacturer. The product has a long production life of 30 years, started from 1966, where the first Rollei 35 model was commercially produced.
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Caption: The 35B was produced in 1976 by Rollei factory in Singapore, the second production facility after the one in Germany.
Originally, it was named B35 in 1974, designating the model with "Belichtungsmesser" or light meter.
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Caption: 35B, as an entry level model, utilises the 40mm f/3.5 3-elements Zeiss Triotar Lens, while higher level ones utilizes 5 elements Tessar or Sonar lenses
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Caption: The lens was collapsible type, with the "twist & pull" action to activate the camera.
The appearance is, more or less like the miniaturization of Leica Elmar lens.
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Caption: Belichtungsmesser The Lightmeter was made of CdS. The meter was never coupled to the camera drive system by any means.
The CdS sensor drives the meter on top of they camera, showing the light conditions to the photographer. Giving the hint on how the speed and apperture should be set
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Caption: The simple mechanic makes everything compact.
Leaf shutter, simple optics,
simple winder....
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Caption: Galleries Some photos taken by
used Rollei 35B
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Caption: Fujifilm C-200, bright daylight.
Bandung's Central Station
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Caption: Kodak Color 400.
Flash photo, indoor
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Caption: The 35B has an unusual under-the-body hotshoe, giving flash photography an unusual shadow casting.
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Caption: The guestimates focusing mode adds up the false focus penomenon, whereas the focus falls before or after the subject
(Lomography Color 400)
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Caption: Konica VX 400 BW with C41 process
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Caption: So the 35B requires quite a lot of lights to ensure the object was in-focus, using small aperture.
But the worst part is the random failures on the shutter reclosing mechanism, where sometimes failed to close
Caption: Conclusion
The 35B is a capable miniature camera. Despite some random failure, its ability to record nice picture and render beautiful color is very nice.
And if some times the failures starts to irritate your mind. Please looking back to the fact that it's already 40 years old....