The Rollei B 35 is a 35mm camera. The Rollei company produced them from 1969 to 1978. Production first took place in Germany. In the mid-1970s the production location was relocated to Singapore. A total of around 288,000 units were produced, 78,000 of them in Germany. The rest of the camera, around 213,000 pieces, in Singapore. The Rollei B 35 was later sold under the name “Rollei 35 B”.
It was positioned as a slightly cheaper alternative to the "normal" Rollei 35. For example, the CdS exposure meter was dispensed with and a selenium exposure meter was installed. A slightly cheaper lens was also installed.
Camera functions
Lens
Despite its small stature, the Rollei B 35 is known for its impressive images, and a key factor in this is its lens.
The Rollei B 35 is equipped with a fixed lens, more precisely the "Carl Zeiss Oberkochen Triotar 1:3.5 f=40mm". To maintain its compact shape, the lens retracts into the housing when not in use.
With a focal length of 40 mm and a maximum aperture of f/3.5, the camera lens offers a flexible range of applications. The camera does not have autofocus or a distance measuring tool, meaning manual focusing is required. To avoid blurring, a minimum distance of 90 cm from the desired object should be maintained.
Exposure
The camera's exposure settings are determined using a selenium light meter designed for films with a light sensitivity of ISO 25 to ISO 1600. However, this light meter, which does not require a battery and has a long lifespan, may lose accuracy over time. Aperture and exposure time settings can be adjusted manually to give the photographer full control over the shot.
Aperture values between f/3.5 and f/22 are available, while shutter speeds can vary from 1/500 second to 1/30 second, allowing for flexible adaptation to different shooting situations.
Additional functions
The camera offers a special long exposure mode in which the shutter remains open for a variable duration. To avoid camera shake when using bulb mode or longer exposure times, it is recommended to mount the camera on a tripod.
The Rollei B 35 also has a self-timer, which is particularly useful for group photos or self-portraits. To optimize exposure, external flash units or radio triggers can be connected via the hot shoe. Unfortunately, the multiple exposure feature is not available as the camera has a special block for double exposures.
Size & Battery
With dimensions of 9.7 x 6 x 3.2 cm and a weight of 270 grams, the Rollei B 35 is comparatively handy, especially when compared to SLR or medium format cameras. It is made of high quality materials with a metal housing.
Films for the Rollei B 35
The Rollei B 35 requires 35mm films to operate. Despite its simplicity and reliability, the 35mm format remains popular with many photographers, and various manufacturers still produce films of this format.
Currently available films that are compatible with the Rollei B 35 are the Kodak Portra 400* and the Kodak T-Max 100*. Both films are known for their high quality recordings and are good for everyday use.
There are also many other film manufacturers that offer compatible films including Ilford, Fujifilm, Adox, Rollei and Lomography. The color film must be developed using the C-41 process, which is offered by most laboratories. Some drugstores in Germany also offer the development of color films. For the black and white films, the developing steps are slightly different and can also be done at home with the right instructions and chemicals.
The film negative size is 24mm x 36mm, which means at least 36 shots will fit on a normal 135-36 film. Note that there is no automatic film advance function in the camera, so the photographer must manually advance to the next frame, which is made possible with a quick-release lever.
Value of the camera
The value of the Rollei B 35 depends heavily on its condition and functionality. Although a large number of these cameras were produced, it remains a sought-after model that can still be easily used today. Therefore the price is usually in the three-digit euro range. The current average price for a Rollei B 35 is 134,19 €.
