Rollei 35 RF
Encyclopedia
The Rollei 35 RF is a version of the Cosina Voigtländer
Bessa R2 marketed not by Cosina but instead by Rollei
, complete with a Rollei 40mm lens.
Like the Bessa R2, the Rollei 35 RF has a Leica M mount
and a metal focal-plane shutter. Its TTL exposure meter requires batteries, but batteries are not otherwise needed. Shutter speeds range from 1 to 1/2000s and bulb (B), with flash sync at 1/125s on hot-shoe or PC terminal.
The most obvious differences from the R2 are the price (much higher) and somewhat gaudy appearance: more silver, and more prominent branding. Beside this badge engineering, there are other differences. The shutter-speed knob and the grip on the body are slightly redesigned and more importantly the framelines are for 40, 50, and 80mm.
This camera was so transparently a Cosina, and (complete with 40mm lens) its price was so high, that it was greeted without much enthusiasm when released. With or without its original lens, it is now (2006) easily found in like-new condition for well below its original price. Arguably it remains the best Bessa camera for people who wear glasses and primarily use a 40mm lens.
Cosina Voigtländer
Cosina Voigtländer refers to photographic products manufactured by Cosina under the Voigtländer name since 1999. Cosina leases rights to the Voigtländer name from Ringfoto...
Bessa R2 marketed not by Cosina but instead by Rollei
Rollei
Rollei is a German manufacturer of optical goods founded in 1920 by Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, and maker of the Rolleiflex and Rolleicord series of cameras...
, complete with a Rollei 40mm lens.
Like the Bessa R2, the Rollei 35 RF has a Leica M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
and a metal focal-plane shutter. Its TTL exposure meter requires batteries, but batteries are not otherwise needed. Shutter speeds range from 1 to 1/2000s and bulb (B), with flash sync at 1/125s on hot-shoe or PC terminal.
The most obvious differences from the R2 are the price (much higher) and somewhat gaudy appearance: more silver, and more prominent branding. Beside this badge engineering, there are other differences. The shutter-speed knob and the grip on the body are slightly redesigned and more importantly the framelines are for 40, 50, and 80mm.
This camera was so transparently a Cosina, and (complete with 40mm lens) its price was so high, that it was greeted without much enthusiasm when released. With or without its original lens, it is now (2006) easily found in like-new condition for well below its original price. Arguably it remains the best Bessa camera for people who wear glasses and primarily use a 40mm lens.
External links
- Rollei 35 RF as written up by Rollei
- Rollei 35 RF review at rangefinderforum.com