Rollei 35 Walkthrough & How to Load Film

Quick Summary

In this video, I break down the features of the Rollei 35 and show you how to set your desired aperture, ISO and shutter speed.

I also show provide a full tutorial on how to load film into the Rollei 35.

This video uses an original German production Rollei 35, but if yours was made in Singapore or is a different model (Rollei 35T, 35TE, 35SE) fear not, this video should still get you confident with settings and loading film so you can go out and use this fantastic camera!

Key Takeaways:

• Each dial on the front has two different purposes.
• The lens lock has some nuance to it – you have to ensure you have “cocked” the film advance leaver before the lens lock will release.
• The light cell placement can cause issues when shooting if you don’t plan to meter with an app or light meter.
• The battery placement means if it dies you have to finish your roll before being able to replace it.
• Never force anything!!
• This is an amazing and compact camera that I absolutely love – hopefully you do too!

The Rollei 35 is one of the most iconic compact film cameras ever made, and for good reason. Introduced in the 1960s, it was the smallest full-frame 35mm camera in the world at the time. It’s a real marvel of German engineering and design and I’m yet to find anything else like it.

What makes the Rollei 35 so interesting is its perfect balance between portability and functionality. Despite its compact size, the camera doesn’t compromise on quality and wields a high-quality Carl Zeiss (or Schneider lens, depending on the model) which delivers stunningly sharp images.

Its collapsible lens makes it ultra-portable, which is ideal for me when shooting b. It’s certainly nicer to lug about than my Pentax SFXn.

The charm of the Rollei 35 lies in its quirky, yet efficient, design.

Unlike most film cameras, the viewfinder is on the far left side of the body, and the shutter speed and aperture dials are located at the bottom of the camera.

It takes a little getting used to, but for many photographers, myself included, this unique design adds to the charm and intrigue of using the camera.

Hopefully the above video helps you get out there and using your Rollei!

I would thoroughly recommend Dan Ho if you’re in the UK and need a Rollei 35 repaired – he took my camera in when nobody else could figure out the issue and sorted it at a very competitive price.

Mine had an issue with a plastic gear that had become brittle and snapped – Dan replaced it with a brass one and it’s working like a dream.

Couldn’t recommend him enough!!