Analog Therapy: Rollei 35AF – RPX 400; Not For Everyone, But Right Up My Alley.

I am a fan of Josh and Dr… I mean Chris and Jordan most recently of PetaPixel fame. I have been following their video reviews since the Camera Store channel days on through the DPReview days until now. Jordan’s sad pics. Chris’ aversion to 35mm along with using the Noct as a unit of measure. A favorite segment has been the end of year best and worst of camera gear round up. This year was no different. I do not always agree with their picks, but that is not the point and most often I either do or understand why they chose what they chose… Same applies this year. But one selection stung a bit. They chose my little beloved Rollei 35AF as the worst camera.

While not completely unexpected, when I stepped back and thought about it, it did sting a bit. I genuinely adore this little camera. I summed it up this way previously.

This is a fun and easy camera to use that yields great results.

I put up a formal review post. I put up a 35mmc.com 5 frames post about it. I have created the first Rollei 35AF camera entry on Lomography.com, a Flickr group, and as always a Flickr album. My thoughts all pretty much align with the “So…” post I wrote a while back.

While it may sting a bit, I get it. One thing I am not is upset about it. I am entitled to my opinion as he is entitled to his. My disagreement with his opinion is no cause for hurt feelings. No need to bluster, but this or but that. We simply have a difference of opinion.

While I may not agree with him, which does not matter, I do understand. A large deviation between them and I is likely my willingness to put up with what I write off as teething issues…

Lightness.
- Non issue for me. A favorite aspect of this camera is its portability, and a large part of this is that this camera is very light. Combined with its small size it is the first film camera that I have brought with me nearly daily just because it is so easy to do so.
Build.
- While I admit that it is nowhere near as robust in feel as some the classic Titanium bodied film cameras ou there like my past Contax T2 and present G1 I have not been gentle on this camera and so far it still looks brand new. Thirteen rolls of film in and it is doing fine.
Fiddly loading.
- …I have owned a Leica CL. Same. It was fine. So I am good.
- I am also happy to report that, as I had hoped, as this camera loosens up a bit rewinding the film is easier and easier with every roll.
No metering in viewfinder.
- Non issue for me. As fruit of my low expectations from using archaic old film camera a proper built in matter that is easily referenced on top has worked wonderfully.

…for a camera that:

Meters perfectly even in cave lighting.
Focuses perfectly even in cave lighting.
- LiDAR is a wonderful thing.
Has a built in flash that works flawlessly.
Has a wonderful f/2.8 lens that is sharp and renders colors wonderfully.
Produces such great image results.

That last bullet sums is the most crucial point for me. Yes. The loading did irritate me on the first roll as did the struggle to rewind the film in a dignified manner. But when I looked at the images after developing the first roll at home…

…I shut all the way up about those things. For me? Mere quibbles. Your mileage may vary.

And there is this.

Chris mentioned that he hoped future versions would be improved. Well, on top of genuinely enjoying the current product, I also like to think that I am doing my small part to fund that second effort by purchasing the first.

…and this also.

I have mentioned this before. Having attained a degree in Industrial Engineering, specializing in CAD, and starting my career at GE Steam Turbine I am impressed by what Gary Ho and MINT/Rollei have accomplished here.

wanted to do my little part in hopefully making that version two a reality

Ok. Ramble fest concluded, on to this roll of film.

The film of the day was Rollei RPX 400 developed with Cinestill df96.

Instagram saved this roll of film. This roll took a while to complete. I had thought that I was using ISO 400 color film. Warmed up the CS41. Did the pre development rinse. As I was writing the post I went to double-check the film canister. That is when I realized I had somehow ignored that this was a roll of B&W Rollei RPX 400.

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A post shared by Eric L. Woods (@ewoodsphoto)

Roll saved. I put away the CS41 and took out the df96.

Occasion. Nothing of note. I carried the Rollei 35AF with me for a few weeks. When the mood struck I made use of it. Most were taken as I was testing a recent lens. Here are the surviving pics.