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The Rollei 35 is a 35mm miniature viewfinder camera built by Rollei. The original Rollei 35, when presented to the public at the photokina in 1966, was the smallest 135 film camera ever. Even at the present day the cameras of the Rollei 35 series remain the smallest ever built mechanically working 35 mm camera. During a time spanning 30 years of production, the total number of cameras of the Rollei 35 series made, is about 2 million pieces Preliminary Thoughts It was about the year 1960, when the first subminiature cameras for 16 mm film took their place on the market. At that time Heinz Waaske, chief engineer of German camera maker Wirgin reasoned, that the customers of the 16 mm subminiature cameras, or even the half-frame Olympus Pen 35 mm cameras, did not want to buy them so much for the tiny film format, but more for the pocketable size. After having already engineered and designed a 16 mm film subminiature, the Wirgin Edixa 16, and some full-frame 35 mm single-lens-reflex cameras, he now imagined building a full-frame 35 mm camera, in a housing just as small as only one third of the volume of contemporary viewfinder cameras. Design of First Prototype In his spare time, at home in his own living room, Waaske made the first technical drawings of the parts of the anticipated camera in 1962, for letting the prototypes being made in the workshop of Wirgin. Lens Heinz Waaske designed the lens to be collapsable into the camera body utilizing a sliding tube. In order to get a thinner camera body he selected a focal length of 40 mm for the lens, thus deviating from the common 50 mm used for 35 mm cameras since the first Leica. This lens was an easy wide angle, that was up to then perfectly uncommon. Not until the successful introduction of the Rollei 35, many more viewfinder cameras of other camera makers showed up with a 40 mm lens. One of these was also made in Braunschweig, but at the former Voigtländer Werke, now owned by Zeiss Ikon, the Contessa S310, with a Tessar f2,8 / 40mm, but unlike any Rollei 35 model with automatic exposure control. As Waaske did not have the personal financial headroom for ordering a fully customized optical lens to be computed for his private construction, he selected an already existing triplet of the optical lens maker Steinheil from Munich, namely the Cassar f3,5/40mm. At that time, this was the only available lens for the 24 x 36 mm frame with sufficiently small dimensions. Furthermore, because Steinheil was an optical lens supplier of Wirgin, Waaske could get samples of that lens without any trouble. Shutter Because of the limited radius of available space around the fully insertable lens, the use of an usual central shutter was impossible. Therefore Waaske simply invented a new type of shutter, which was separated into two functional parts. The shutter controlling clockworks were mounted unmovable in the camera body, while the shutter lamellas were mounted in the movable sliding tube. The separate parts were mechanically coupled by shafts. Only, when the shutter was cocked and therefore the lamellas were uncoupled, the sliding tube could be inserted into the housing. Film Compartment Not only for the shutter construction Waaske was filed a patent. Furthermore the space-saving film guidance deviated from the usual constructions by advancing the film with a 5-sprocket-wheel instead of the usual 6 sprockets. As another deviation from conventional design, the cocking lever of the Rollei 35 is located at the top left and the film rewinding crank at the bottom right of the camera body (instead of the cocking lever being at the top right and the rewind crank at the top left). For changing the film cartridge, the camera back cover has to be completely retracted downwards from the body, instead of opening a flap. Light Meter For the shutter-coupled exposure meter of the prototype camera, Waaske selected a selenium cell powered meter of Metrawatt, another Wirgin supplier. The manually adjusted exposure control was not even changed for the later improved models of the Rollei 35. On the way to mass production When Heinz Waaske finally presented the fully functional new camera prototype to his employer, Heinrich Wirgin said: Therefore you have spent my time for your constructions in my prototyping workshop?!. It was not before that moment, that Wirgin told his chief engineer, that he had already made up his mind to quit with the whole camera production and photo equipment business. Looking for a new employment in the German camera industry, Waaske presented his compact camera to Dr. Ludwig Leitz and to Kodak, but to no avail. In January 1965 Waaske started working for Rollei in Braunschweig (Brunswyck). After Waaske's bad experiences with showing his new camera in interview to potential employers, it was not before March 1965, that Rollei's managing director, Dr. Peesel, accidentally got a first glimpse of his new employee's tiny prototype camera. Filled with enthusiasm, Dr. Peesel decided, the camera should be immediatedly further developed by Waaske for mass production, but, using only parts of Rollei's suppliers. So, finally, Waaske's little camera was proudly presented at the Photokina in 1966 named as Rollei 35 with a better lens, the Zeiss Tessar 3,5/40mm lens, a state-of-the-art Gossen CdS-exposure meter and a precision-made diaphragm shutter made by Compur, using Waaske's patented shutter design. Development In Braunschweig the camera first had to be converted for using parts of Rollei's suppliers, as Rollei did not maintain business relations with Metrawatt and Steinheil. So the lens was chosen to become a high-quality Tessar, which was made-to-order by Zeiss. Rollei's light meter supplier was Gossen. Whether using either a photovoltaic selenium sensor or a CdS photoresistor, finally was decided in August in favour of the CdS. While Gossen indicated the same measuring range for both solutions, a selenium-cell powered light meter was about 3.50 D-mark more favorably and got along without battery. However, the much smaller CdS-photoresistor provided a more stylish look, a more shock-proof instrument and that the "CdS" could be used more advertising-effectively. The housing needed to be changed just slightly, since Waaske unknowingly had adopted the appearance of Rollei's twin-lens reflex cameras, by placing the exposure time and aperture controls to the right and to the left side of the lens. Nevertheless Rollei's designer Ernst Moeckl revised the housing, and, in particular by changing the edge radius, the camera even appeared somewhat smaller. For the mercury battery PX 13 (= PX 625 = MR 9) of the light meter a place was found inside the camera housing. The film rewind knob of the engineering model was exchanged by a rewind crank, and a hot shoe was added for mounting an electronic flash at the base plate. Placing the hot shoe on top of the camera was not feasible, because of the underlying exposure meter and transmission gear. Mounting the hot shoe only at the frame cover would likely produce a damage, when using one of the heavy flash lights of that time. Therefore, for a natural lighting shade, the camera had to be turned upside down, when using a flash light, to get the light source above the lens. The projected name for the camera was first thought to become "Rollei privat", which even was the engraving on the final draft in March 1966. But in April 1966, when Dr. Peesel decided to designate all Rollei cameras according to the applied film format, the designation became Rollei 35. Mass production started in July 1966 with the preproduction run. The first advertising folders still were showing cameras with release bolting device and battery test key. The first proved as redundantly, since with the lens inserted the camera could not be released, anyway. The latter was let void, for reasons of the reliability - electrical contacts could fail easily. The voltage of the mercury battery voltage dropped so very rapidly at the end of battery life time, that hardly a false exposure could occur. Likewise the switch for the exposure meter was void. The exposure meter was always on, even with inserted lens. Enclosed in the darkness of the camera bag, practically no current drained the battery, which therefore remained usable for many years. Focusing The focusing distance has to be estimated with any Rollei 35 variant, if no accessory rangefinder is used. Unfortunally Rollei did not ever offer such a thing. Nonetheless, at the time of the Rollei 35's introduction this was not unusual, as most contemporary viewfinder cameras did not have a rangefinder, either. However, to take full advantage of the exceptionally sharp performing lens of the Rollei 35, a precise range adjustment was desirable. Therefore, around the year of 1970, Rollei's development department thought of adding a rangefinder to the camera. But for an integrated rangefinder there simply was not enough room left in the camera housing. Remembering an external rangefinder mechanism with a turning prism similar to the one used in Zeiss Ikon Super Ikontas and Contessas, some engineering concepts were made. As the production shift to Singapore was in progress at that time, it sought up any surplus capacities for innovations, so this projected idea silently was abandoned. Made in Germany Following the preproduction run of 50 pieces, 200 cameras were made for use as advertising and testing samples. After 900 pieces of the regular models had been built until the end of 1966, in 1967 a monthly number of 1000 items was produced. Until August 1967 all Rollei 35 cameras got the unusual signature Made in Germany by Rollei - Compur - Gossen - Zeiss, from then on only Made in Germany by Rollei. Further deviations from the first production year were the plastic take-up reel and film rewind bearing, V-shaped grasp for the bottom lock and anti-twist plate for the film cartridge. In September 1968 a special lens cement prevented the past UV permeability of the Tessar. A variant with a dark-green leather covering was rejected by the sales department, not wanting additional models just 2 years after the sales start. Another prototype with blank adjusting wheels from anodized aluminum proved too expensively to manufacture, however. Made in Singapore With the establishment of the production plant, preparations began for the immediate shift of the Rollei 35 production to Singapore. Since there was not any supplier infrastructure in Singapore, all parts had to be manufactured there, if possible. Any supplies were only possible from Japan or Europe. The cameras received the engraving Made by Rollei Singapore. Now licenced lens production („Made by Rollei “) was used instead of the original Zeiss lenses, as well as Nissei exposure meters and Copal leaf shutters (both Japanese manufacturers). The retail price fell continuously caused by the favorable labour costs. This did not continue to be a noticeable advantage however, since competing cameras became more favorable also, but contrary to Rollei, by increasing usage of electronics. Rollei B 35 and C 35
Rollei 35 B In 1976 the Rollei B 35 was renamed to Rollei 35 B without any further modification, to better conform to the Rollei designation scheme. Rollei 35 LED Without an own development department, the Singapore production facility asked Rollei Germany for permission of making a redesign of the Rollei 35 B. The uncoupled selenium light meter was replaced by a new electronically coupled light meter, using variable resistors for transferring the aperture and shutter control settings to the light meter. The new designation Rollei 35 LED resulted from the three light emitting diodes in the viewfinder, which indicated overexposure, correct exposure, or underexposure. In October 1977 the first datasheet appeared and in January 1978 the preproduction started. But the first models suffered from the clumsy design of the power switch, which activated the light meter permanently. If the user forgot to switch the camera off, the battery was drained in just about 15 hours. Furthermore, the PX-27 battery could be inserted in the wrong way, causing damaged electronics. From August 1978 on an improved model was made, where the light meter was only activated, when the release button was slightly depressed. Rollei 35 S Due to the large success, as early as in the end of 1967, a luxury and a beginners variant of the Rollei 35 were planned to be created. However, because of the production shift to Singapore (see above), not before 1971 the computation of a five-elements lens was assigned to Zeiss. This Sonnar f 2.8 / 40 mm lens should be fitted with a front lens focusing control, like the Tessar, providing likewise a simple mounting in the sliding tube. Only the two front lenses should be moved when focusing. But, when finished, the lens did not perform sharp enough at close distances, thereby mass production was delayed by a whole year. The project was stopped and Zeiss designed a new lens with focusing control by moving the whole lens. Rollei's chief of development department, Reinhold Weiß, concluded: We've got into a precarious loss-making situation by this measure. The coworkers of the development are taught by this for the future, to examine lenses, even if made by Carl Zeiss, in time with larger scepticism. The tools for producing the new shutter mechanism where built by Prontor, a Zeiss subsidiary company in Calmbach, which had already taken over the manufacturing of the former shutter from Compur (another Zeiss subsidiary). Rollei 35 T When introducing the Rollei 35 S the former Rollei 35 was assigned the new name Rollei 35 T, without any further changes. A projected denim covered design variant, with an appropriate denim bag, was rejected, because the textile covering strongly frayed Rollei 35 TE and Rollei 35 SE The original design did not have an exposure control in the viewfinder. The camera had to be taken down from the eye's view, to observe the needle of the light meter. This in fact wasn't a real disadvantage, as for the focus control the user also had to take the camera to the same position. Considering normal lighting conditions, the exposure settings of a manual camera practically only have to be changed periodically after some ten minutes or when changing the location. Nevertheless an exposure control display in the viewfinder was considered very early at Rollei, but an analog display was discarded for limited space reasons, and light emitting diodes were not available at that time. So not until summer 1979 the Rollei 35 TE and Rollei 35 SE were released to the market. As the electronic exposure meter needs more power, a larger battery, of type PX-27 with 5,6 volts, is placed, where the former instrument movement was mounted, The electronic circuit is build into the former battery compartment. Unlike the Rollei 35 LED the position of shutter and aperture control setting is transferred without any electrical contact wear and tear, using a differential gear turning a variable density filter in front of the CdS light sensor. The release button activates the light meter, when slightly depressed. Three LEDs in the viewfinder indicate the correct exposure. This system works perfectly, yet earlier models are more in demand today. Rollei 35 SA and Rollei 35 System (To be edited) Renewed German Production (To be edited) Use of the Rollei 35 Today The Rollei 35, Rollei 35 S and Rollei 35 T use a MR-9 mercury-battery with 1.35 volts, which is no longer produced due to environmental considerations. But there are alternatives available. A zinc-air cell also provides 1.35 volts, yet with a limited usage time of 4 weeks after first activation. Otherwise the light meter may be adjusted for use of mercury-free alkaline batteries (LR 9 = PX 625U). Without adjusting, the higher voltage of 1.5 volts would lead to overexposure by 2 to 3 aperture steps. Rollei 35 - Original model Rollei 35 S Rollei 35 T Rollei 35 TE / SE Rollei B 35 / 35 B Rollei C 35 Rollei 35 LED Literature (Claus Prochnow is a former Rollei employee) | |||||||||
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