When introduced in 1966, the pocket-size Rollei 35 was the world's smallest full-frame 35mm camera. It measured 97 x 32 x 60mm and weighed 370 grams with film and battery. The camera has a Synchro Compur shutter and coupled match-needle exposure meter. Without a coupled rangefinder, proper focus must be estimated using the hyperfocal distance settings on the lens. Initially the Rollei 35 was produced in West Germany with a retractable Carl Zeiss Tessar 40mm f/3.5 lens. Because of its unique design, the film advances in the opposite direction of most cameras. This meant your slides were inverted when they came back from the film processor. As a cost cutting measure production of the Rollei 35 shifted to Singapore in 1971. The camera has since been made in several version, and I understand it's now produced by the Korean firm Samsung.

The example shown is an economy export version produced in Singapore in 1972-73. To reduce costs it was made with a Schneider-Kreuznach S-Xenar 40mm f/3.5 instead of the original Zeiss Tessar. While outdated by today's pocket-size "point and shoot" digital cameras, it's still fun to use. It is fantastic little camera and takes excellent photographs.