Re: [Rollei] Re: Rolleimatic

[Bob Shell <bob >]

>Bob,
>
>You've mentioned your Rolleimatic in a couple of posts. I've only seen a
>couple brief references in print to that short-lived but intriqueing model.
>I know of no other person who has a functioning version, but have seen a
>few listed for sale over the last year or so. Would you mind sharing some
>comments on your experiences with this camera, and how it might compare
>with some of the other 'pocketable 35's' of its (early 80's) day?
>
>Many thanks,
>
>M.Phillips

The Rolleimatic is a really nifty little camera.  It is considered by some
as the last of the Rollei 35 line, but differs in a number of ways.  It is
thinner, but a tad taller and longer.  Like the Rollei 35 series the lens
retracts into the body.  However, it has fully automatic exposure.  The
only manual setting is for flash use, and lets you set the f-stop on a
sliding scale on the back of the camera and fixes the shutter speed (I
don't know what speed this is).  It has a hot shoe on TOP.  On the bottom
is the frame counter and rewind switch.  The back does not come off, but
hinges open.

The strangest part is the cover.  On the front of the camera is a sliding
cover which covers the lens, viewfinder and photo cell window when slid
closed.  If you are holding the camera in shooting position, it slides to
the left to cover things.  Slide it to the right all the way, and it hinges
out about 30 degrees, and the lens comes out at the same time and locks in
place.  It hinges at the right end and opens up near the lens.  It has an
arc shaped rack gear attached to it, and you cock the shutter and wind the
film by moving the cover in and out several times!!!  When you want to
retract the lens, you press an orange button on this cover and push it in
and the lens goes in with it.  Then you slide it back to the left to cover
the lens for pocketing.

Nifty little camera, but unfortunately introduced just as Rollei went into
bankruptcy.  I bought mine new in the box from Brooklyn Camera Exchange
some time in the late 80s for around $ 60.  At the time they had a bunch of
them, plus a lot of other Rollei stuff.  I still have a Beta 4 flash unit
picked up at the same time (it still works perfectly!).  It's really too
bad that Rollei went bankrupt just when they were getting things right
technologically and coming out with innovative products.

There was also a neat little camera, I can't recall the designation, which
was a rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses.  I don't think these
were ever sold in the USA.  The only one I ever saw was bought in Israel.
I don't think the other lenses ever came out, but the design was ready for
them.

Bob




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