Re: [Rollei] Rollei XF35 and Voigtlander VF135

[Sven Keller <keller.schaefer]

Let me try a another approach. Surely, this is not a good camera - or, is
it?
It is lightweight and relatively small, it has automatic CdS metering, it
has a split image range finder (the only Rollei that has one) and a 5-element
'Sonnar' lens. 
Pictures taken with it under normal conditions are as sharp as can be.
Easily sharper than what your high tech oriented neighbor gets from his Canon
EOS-something with his generic 28-300 Zoom. 
Now, is it a good camera?
I have one but it is no fun to use it. You cannot set speed and aperture
independently, the only way to adjust/correct exposure is via the film speed
dial and it does not really feel like a Rollei.
Quite clearly it is not a Rollei 35 relative but aimed at a different
market. It also has nothing to do with the older Zeiss Ikon cameras or with the
Voigtländer VF 101. 

As for repairs, there is not much that can go wrong with its Copal shutter.
One thing to remember is the battery cover that has a bajonet instead of a
thread. If you turn the cover more than 1/8 of a turn you damage it. 

The range finder can be adjusted by a small screw under the leatherette,
directly under the finder window. 

Sven Keller

...
> > For those Rollei 35 fans, where does the XF35 fit?  I mean is it the end
> of
> > the 35 line?
> 
> It doesn't fit.  It's not part of the Rollei 35 lineage at all.  It was
> developed from a Zeiss-Ikon prototype acquired when Rollei bought them
> out.

> There was also a very limited production rangefinder camera with
> interchangable lenses sold under the Voigtländer name, but never formally
> brought into the USA.  The couple I've seen were bought in Israel.
> 
> > Seems strange.  Is the XF35 any good?
> 
> No.
> 
> > Repairable?
> 
> Probably not.
> 
> 
> Bob
> 

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