The Mint's remake of the classic 1960s Rollei 35 surfaced earlier this year, and the project appears to have made significant progress in the months since.
We now have detailed product photos of the Rollei 35AF (see below) plus sample images taken with the new classic camera that have further whet the appetite for what could be one of the best film cameras released this year.
According to its creators (analogue photography company Mint), the next Rollei 35AF will be released in 2024; production is underway and pre-orders will begin on September 10. I, for one, can’t wait, although, like many others on the waitlist on the dedicated Rollei 35AF website, I’ll have to be patient while orders are filled.
This could be the high-quality, everyday film camera that analogue photography enthusiasts crave, and it's set to offer some attractive upgrades from its classic predecessors. Let's take a look at what's so appealing about the new version, and why it could outperform the excellent recent Pentax 17.
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A classic, for today
50 years after the Rollei 35S and 58 years after the original Rollei 35, Mint equips the new Rollei 35AF with autofocus and a built-in flash, features that neither of the original models included.
The 35AF uses LiDAR technology and a central autofocus point, though of course we don't yet know how effective it is. Nonetheless, it should be a big improvement over the zone-based focusing setup of the original models.
Users can select automatic or manual exposure, with a shutter speed range from 1/500 to 1 second. Icons on a new OLED display indicate exposure levels – whether the exposure setting is too bright or too dark and by how much – to help you get the brightness just right.
The 35mm f/2.8 prime is slightly wider than the previous 40mm lenses and has a minimum focusing distance of 70cm. It’s an everyday glass lens with 5 coated elements on the front and back, and its quality is certainly promising based on the sample photos of the 35AF we’ve already shared (see below).
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I'm glad to see that a built-in flash is now included. This feature is very useful for everyday photography and tops my wish list for my own Ricoh GR IIIx digital compact camera. The flash can be switched on or off via a mode selector dial and its power is automatically adjusted based on the distance from the subject.
The Mint is also incorporating modern conveniences like a selfie button and an automatic shooting mode, which is very handy for newbies. All of these improvements are being implemented in an all-metal body with a compact, retro style that Rollei fans love.
This 35mm film camera is a different prospect than the medium format Pentax 17. For me, the Rollei 35AF ticks more boxes for both beginners and film enthusiasts in 2024. I expect it to be durable and easy to use, the lens to be admirably sharp, and it will certainly be pleasing to the eye. We don’t yet know the price or how quickly pre-orders will be filled after September 10 – we might have to wait a long time at the level of the Fujifilm X100VI. I hope to get my hands on the camera this year. Go Rollei!
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