Analog Therapy/Rollei 35AF 20th Roll Anniversary: Kentmere Pan 200. @gary228ho @rollei35af #kentmere200
Consider this a follow up camera user experience post… because that is what it is. Will also mention the film again and share the results of the roll.
The camera.
I covered a lot in my original Rollei 35AF review post linked here.
The abbreviated pros and cons.
Pros.
- A brand new camera with warranty.
- Dead accurate autofocus in nearly any lighting.
- Deadly accurate aperture priority, with manual overrides, from exposure compensation to full manual with metering assist, if desired
- A built in flash.
- The over achiever screen.
- Such a tiny screen, but all the information I need.
- All while looking the business.
- Reasonable price.
- Some may balk, but well worth the price when considering a from scratch design and build that many similarly capable non warranty having used point and shoot cameras for sale risk packing it in at any moment with either no realistic repair scenario available at worst or an extremely expensive one at best that cost much more.
- (New entry.) Silent (Nearly.).
- Some gave the focus motor noise a hard time with this camera. But usually it is masked by ambient background noise. And the shutter noise is a nearly silent thwip. And with its tiny size getting lost in my beef mitts most of the time no one even registers that I am taking photos. As a result, after 20 rolls of film, I have not yet had anyone pay me any mind, and absolutely no one has pinwheeled around to see where that offending focusing noise was coming from. Much to do about nothing in the real world. The thing to use in a dead-silent recital setting? No. But I would not be using this camera for that anyway.
I have much more to say about why I like it in that post link above, but that hits the high points.
Cons.
Some legitimate and others a bit whiny, in my personal opinion, all things considered.
- Too light.
- Non issue for me. The only context that this matters for me is if it also means poorly built. And after a good amount of carrying it about while not treating it as some precious, delicate ornament it looks and works as good as the day it arrived 20 rolls in.
- Having held an OG Rollei 35 in hand I get it. That is a little brick in comparison. But in isolation this is not a bad thing.
- Film winder lever effort.
- Perhaps owing to my beef mitts, but I never knew what anyone was on about with this one. The tip of the winder did not cause me any discomfort, and the effort was not particularly stiff. Perhaps they sorted it out in the production run before mine was made, maybe?
- What I did learn the hard way was that if distracted winding causes you to not swing it all the way around that is it for that roll. That is a lesson I only needed to learn once.
- Film rewind effort.
- I hypothesized that this may have been due to the tight tolerances when being designed and that it may loosen up after sme use and that seems to be the case. At a bout roll 16 I could actually use the tiny rewing knob instead of needing to rewind it by holding my thumb against the rewing lever and rotating the camera body.
- Removing/replacing the film cover back effort.
- See bullet above. At about 10 rolls in, it no longer felt like I might catastrophically disassemble the camera while trying to dislodge the back. 20 rolls in it comes off rather easily and replacing it is easier as well. The little lip that needs to fit into the groove at the top goes in quite easily now. One does still need to puch in the front bottom to get it past the lip (Sounds a bit nonsensical but will make sense if you have used it.).
- (New entry.) Lens cap cover.
- The lens cap is loose fitting. Figured I would eventually lose it… and I did.
- Thought of buying a new one, but decided I would leave it in the box… so then I was like, what is the point of buying another lens cap if it stays in the box? So I did not.
20th roll anniversary end result.
I really like this camera. If I were one to say that I loved inanimate objects, that would apply here. It os not going anywhere. I love bring it with when I want a bit of extrememly proficient and capable analog therapy in a ridiculously tiny package. 20 rolls in it has not let me down.
Before I get to the current film and proceedings please allow me to share some of favorite images so far.
- Focusing.
- As mentioned above I would say more, but all I have to say is that the AF is nearly unflappable. Even with no light as mentioned above.
- Also has a form of focus confirmation.
- No beep, but the focus noise quickly clues you in on whether you have successfully pointed at what you meant to point it at. For example, say I am trying to focus on a close object. The focus noise sounds for longer for close objects. So:
- “rr” – At or near infinity.
- “rrrr” – Mid focus range.
- “rrrrrr” – Close focus.
- “rrrrrr” w/ blinking green – Too close to focus on.
- Intended? No. Usable? Yes.
- No beep, but the focus noise quickly clues you in on whether you have successfully pointed at what you meant to point it at. For example, say I am trying to focus on a close object. The focus noise sounds for longer for close objects. So:
Implied but not stated outright, but this is a camera that rarely wastes a frame. Any rare missed or ill conceived pics have been the result of user error. I sold some analog instathreadface darlings to acquire this camera. And since it has arrived I have let go a few more. It is that good.
I acknowledge that this is quite a contrast to some reviews. For example a favorite camera media outlet added it to their worst camera of the year. I am not offended by this act all. I am not upsaet with them at all.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. They have theirs. I have mine. In my “defense”, if such a thing is necessary I simply point you to the image results. The ultimate test of any camera in my opinion. Take the also recently releases Pentax 17. A camera that seems to have received a better reception overall.
I like that camera also, but if forced to choose I would pick the Rollei 35AF. But whyt do that. They are different cameras with a different mission and audience in my opinion. Fortunately I am both of these audiences. A spilt camera personality? Not surprising. Welp. Moving on.
The film.
Two rolls and two formats in…
…Kentmere Pan 200 is a hit around these parts. Developed with Cinestill df96 and scanned with my trusty Epson V600.
The setting.
Yeah. I hate yardwork. And yardwork hates me. As a result I am currently dealing with a bout of Poison something or other, Ivy or Oak. That started my day at urgent care. Whee! To improve my mood that that prompted a quick photo walk before chorus rehearsal. By the by, I was granted the lead for another song, and that went well at rehearsal, which also distracted me and lifted my mood. Here they go.
Now to Durham before rehearsal.
Thoughts.
A fine camera.
Added note. Not water resistant. You see the rain above. Perhaps owing to unwarranted hubris after 19 rolls of film knocking about with it in different conditions, but I was not too worried. I kept it in pocket when not used. Being so small my hands and the tip of my hood mostly shielded it. And the little bit of water that got on it had brought about no ill effects… So far. Is this me saying, “Rain? No problem!”? Heavens no. But, using caution and a bit of common sense you should be fine. I will say that this camera has proved to be well put togather so far. And… <Rollei reprresentation look away please.> …psst. Regardless of it light weight a knock here and there will have no ill effects. Not that I have done that. Oh ho ho. No. I have carried it around on a bed of feathers wherever I have tread… Ok, I have not done this. And it has been just fine.
A fine film.
Another successful fit of analog therapy.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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