Rollei B35

Ooh, love this little camera (though it’ll be going up for sale soon). Paid a wee bit more than planned at auction, but still less than it’s worth. 

The Rollei B35 (which became the 35B in 1976 which helps date it) was the ‘budget’ version of the original 35, with some clever cost savings. 

The light meter is uncoupled, which means you’ve got to read off the needle in the top (having correctly set the shutter speed) for the aperture you want. Focus is a distance guesstimate. And considering some of the shots I developed today were taken from a moving train, on fairly basic Fomapan 200 B&W film, there’s a nice sharpness and tone. 

When launched this was apparently the smallest 35mm camera on the market. The lens pulls out, and only retracts if the next frame is wound on - the theory being it’s then always ready for a quick shot just by pulling out and locking the lens into position (retracted the shutter is locked to avoid accidental shooting).

I developed a roll from a Canon EOS 300V at the same time, and while the shots from the much younger SLR were good, I actually prefer them from this wee thing. 

Tomorrow it hits eBay. Enjoying this Del Boy-ing with cameras (and won another lot today…). I get to play with some interesting stuff, and make some pocket money at the same time.