Mint’s long-awaited Rollei 35AF film camera is now available for preorder. However, due to great demand, the presale window will close in just two days, so analogue photography fans must act quickly.
“A project as important as this shall not be taken lightly,” Mint tells me. “While the final product bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, its capabilities have undergone a remarkable transformation.”
The Rollei 35AF, based on the popular Rollei 35 S, is intended for both novice and advanced photographers and includes automatic and manual exposure meter systems. One of the most significant modernisations available is the LIDAR-powered autofocus technology. Additional modern features include an OLED display next to the top mode dial, a built-in flash, and self-timer.
Despite some fantastical enhancements, the Rollei 35AF remains an analogue camera designed for a tactile experience. The blocky camera has a vintage Rollei appearance, including the curving Rollei emblem, which is used with Rollei’s official approval.
A composite of three close-up shots from a vintage Rollei 35 SE camera. The first image focusses on the ISO dial and off switch, the second on the camera’s front view with its lens, and the third on the camera’s top view, which emphasises the rewind knob.
Mint CEO Gary Ho says the business aimed to address three major flaws in the original Rollei 35 S for a modern audience while keeping invoking the same level of excitement for photographers. These shortcomings include: A lack of autofocus, a built-in flash, and awkward ergonomics.
In terms of autofocus, the LIDAR-equipped Rollei 35AF can perfectly focus from 70 centimetres (27.5 inches) to infinity, which Mint claims “eliminates the frustration of guessing the wrong focus.”
“No more manual zone focussing — simply point, focus, and capture your prefect shot every time,” according to the business.
Close-up of a vintage Rollei 35 AF camera. The photograph captures the camera’s detailed elements, such as its lens, shutter dial, and exposure settings. The camera’s design is classic black and silver, with “Rollei” and “35 AF” prominently visible.
There’s not much to say about the built-in flash other than that it exists and promises to automatically balance with the lighting conditions in the picture. The flash has a range of 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) at f/2.8, according to Mint.
Ergonomically, the camera has a tripod socket, a self-timer dial, a shutter speed dial (1s to 1/500s including a bulb mode up to 60 seconds), a film type dial, and a slew of buttons and switches, including manual film advance and rewind levers. The camera’s viewfinder has 0.5x magnification and 90% area coverage, thus photographers should be cautious at the margins of their photographs.
A black Rollei 35AF film camera is pictured against a dark background. The camera has a huge lens with the word “RolleiLens” surrounding it, as well as front-facing buttons for exposure and focus. An orange “35AF” marking appears next to the brand name “Rollei.”
The Rollei 35AF features a Built-in 35mm f/2.8 lens. The lens has five glass components and the aperture can be closed down to f/16 in full-stop increments.
As previously stated, exposure can be regulated both automatically and manually. The film speed (ISO) selector dial on the Rollei 35AF also controls exposure compensation. The camera has a center-weighted average metering method.
Sample Images
Split image: The left side depicts a cat resting under a chair on a patterned carpet, with sunshine streaming in through a window. The right side shows a towering, beige skyscraper with vertical lines and a traffic signal strung on wires against a clear blue sky.
The image is divided into two scenes. The left side depicts a roadway with a tram in a busy urban region with high-rises.
There are structures and Chinese characters on the route. The right side displays a lovely day in a park, with people enjoying activities along the river.
The image is separated into two pieces. The left section depicts a glossy red vintage muscle automobile sitting on a city street next to a brick structure. The right section shows a view from inside an automobile, with the driver and passenger traversing a bridge in daylight.
Pricing and Availability
The Rollei 35AF is now available for presale in silver ($799) and black ($829) colours. Preorders will be completed in the sequence they were ordered, with the first shipments arriving later this year.
Two vintage Rollei 35SF film cameras sit on a dark surface. One camera has a black body, and the other has a silver body. Both cameras have prominent lenses and classical design characteristics.
Mint said orders may take “several weeks or months” to fulfil once the camera begins delivering. Furthermore, preorders are only available until September 12 at 3 AM GMT, or 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) on September 11. Time is running out for this much-anticipated brand-new 35mm film camera.
image credit by: mint
