Pentax’s fashionable Pentax 17 confirmed the market that there’s demand for a new-production analog movie digital camera. It wasn’t clear if this dangerous enterprise would float, however the Pentax 17 has discovered a loyal following and now we’ve got one other participant able to make waves: Mint’s Rollei 35AF.
Mint is not any stranger to the analog market, having created its personal model recognition by restoring and promoting classic Polaroid immediate cameras. Now the corporate has created a novel design primarily based on the lovable Rollei 35 sequence of movie cameras and even has the license to make use of the model title. The corporate despatched us one to check out and I’ve to say that upon first look, it appears like they’ve nailed the design to a tee. Anybody who sees it should instantly be tempted to take an extra look however the Rollei 35AF comes with a hefty $800 asking price.
Mint Rollei 35AF Evaluate: A Design to Die For
I couldn’t assist however be impressed with the general visible attraction and crowd pleasing blockiness of the Rollei 35AF, which so precisely captures the spirit of the unique cameras. Mint has copied the dual entrance dials positioned on the entrance face of the digital camera in addition to the left-mounted thumb winder and rewind mechanism of the unique cameras, too. All of this contributes to the ultra-compact nature of the Rollei 35AF regardless that it’s barely bigger than the classic variations.
The fantastic thing about this design is how environment friendly it’s at making use of such a tiny physique design. Keep in mind that this can be a full-frame 35mm movie digital camera with full handbook management and an integrated 35mm f/2.8 optic. I’ll say that the Rollei 35AF captures the fiddly nature of the originals and I wouldn’t say that utilizing one is of course intuitive. Having used a basic Rollei 35S again within the day, I discovered the expertise to be acquainted and sadly a bit of cumbersome due to it. Make no mistake, the Rollei 35 cameras have at all times been a bit of difficult to work with and have their fair proportion of frustrations. That’s all price it although to have one thing so svelte within the pocket, on the go.
The viewfinder mechanism is fairly much like the unique and has body strains illuminated with ambient mild. Compositions turned out to be pretty correct for many conditions and the viewfinder is vivid sufficient, however I miss the vivid, nearly electrical blue reflective coatings on the basic cameras.
Loading and unloading movie may be very acquainted and the digital camera reads DX-coded movie correctly, too. You too can override the ISO settings simply if you wish to push or pull your movie, or if the movie you select has no DX coding. There’s an ISO setting on the highest on/off lever which offers a useful reminder of your movie pace and allows you to modify your setting as you see match.
The shutter mechanism means that you can go as excessive as 1/500 second or as little as a minute lengthy utilizing the “LT” setting. Like all leaf-shutter-style digital camera, having a 1/500 second publicity restrict is a bit of restrictive if you wish to shoot brighter apertures on sunny days. That is forgivable given the aim of this digital camera however the subject is additional exacerbated by the whole lack of any filter threads on the lens.
In contrast to the unique Rollei 35 cameras, there isn’t any collapsing or extending of the lens and the filter thread might have simply been integrated. The sunshine meter additionally reads via the lens, so filters might have been adjusted for routinely. I actually want the 35AF had the choice to throw on ND filters or some coloured filters for black-and-white movie.
Mint Rollei 35AF Evaluate: The Capturing Expertise
The Rollei 35AF has the look and design down however relating to the taking pictures expertise, the outcomes are combined. I’ll begin with what labored effectively as a result of what Mint has completed deserves reward. The corporate has made some considerate modifications that may make it a lot simpler for brand new analog photographers to get good outcomes.
The primary main change is within the title: the Rollei 35AF does certainly autofocus which is a significant departure from the unique Rollei 35 cameras that targeted by handbook distance setting solely. Mint selected a LiDAR system that focuses within the middle of the body and works fairly precisely. It’s noisy and a bit of sluggish to interact however it is going to be far simpler for most individuals to make use of as an alternative of zone focusing and utilizing depth of discipline to cowl the unfold.
I used to be additionally impressed with the sunshine metering system which just about at all times landed publicity throughout the movie’s dynamic vary. Even in high-contrast or backlit scenes, I felt the meter did a very good job. In some conditions, I’d make small changes up or down a cease to compensate for a vivid window or a reflective topic. Total, the metering expertise was simple and additional cemented this digital camera as a really perfect instrument for newbie movie photographers.
Mint went with a really small LCD on the highest of the digital camera which offers all the information to the photographer. It’s right here that you’ll get your metering indications, focus affirmation, photographs remaining, and ISO settings. It’s all a bit a lot for one show however I get why Mint needed to maintain it easy. Identical to the basic variations, it calls for that you simply take your eye away from the viewfinder to verify settings and that is inconvenient.
Means again when, Rollei made an LED model of its 35 digital camera which had metering indicators within the viewfinder and I feel an analogous setup would have been sensible right here in Mint’s recreation. I’d like a fast indication if the metering is nice, too excessive, or too low, as I modify my publicity. There are two LED lights on the Rollei 35AF however these include a yellow prepared mild for the flash and a inexperienced LED for focus affirmation.
The lens is kind of sharp, even broad open, and I used to be proud of the outcomes so far as element goes. Flare didn’t appear to be an excessive amount of of a difficulty and I feel that Mint has constructed a really first rate optic for this digital camera. I used to be proud of the character of the lens flare and the look that the lens imparted on the photographs.
I anticipated the management scheme and dealing with to be a bit of fiddly — identical to the originals — however my predominant points with the Rollei 35AF got here right down to the standard and really feel of the dials and shutter mechanism. As progressive as it’s to make a novel digital camera styled like a longtime one, one thing shall be misplaced in translation. The entrance dials themselves really feel fairly plastic-y and the clicking stops aren’t very definitive.
The shutter button requires a heavy press to fireplace which might result in extra digital camera motion and would often click on and unlock the winding mechanism with out taking a shot. This implies both a wasted body or a really heavy press to try to set off the shutter. Total, the expertise was not confidence-inspiring.
I had some points with the highest LCD panel exhibiting misguided markings; it might present my metering as +2 stops overexposed when in auto mode. These have been little bugs that I might overlook from a testing standpoint, however would have been unacceptable had I bought the product. I contacted Mint and the corporate assured me that a few of these bugs are identified and that every little thing shall be rectified in future manufacturing cameras or progressively as they come up underneath guarantee.
The Mint Rollei 35AF is a Enjoyable But Unrefined Analog Expertise
What must be mentioned is that the digital camera feels unfinished or, on the very least, missing in refinement. It’s not a cheap digital camera both at $800, and for the associated fee I’d need to know that any points are resolved earlier than laying down my hard-earned money. What the Rollei 35AF does seize precisely is the enjoyable and comfort of getting such a conveyable little pocket digital camera. The picture high quality is first rate and there may be sufficient management to maintain superior photographers blissful, too.
I feel many potential consumers will pull the set off just because it’s such a classy product and it has the potential to be a succesful digital camera. As soon as Mint can iron out the bugs, the Rollei 35AF shall be an analog expertise price contemplating however the digital camera will not be going to have the ability to totally escape a budget really feel of the dials and controls nor will it fairly seize the slickness of the unique variations. That mentioned, it a minimum of lets folks expertise an inkling into what made the unique cameras so pleasing whereas on the similar time capturing what was annoying about them, too.
Are There Alternate options?
The closest digital camera that matches the expertise of the Rollei 35AF is the plethora of classic Rollei 35 cameras. There are a lot of choices with numerous lenses and controls and a few will be had for roughly half the worth. You miss out on autofocus however the taking pictures expertise feels related.
If a brand-new, warrantied movie digital camera is a should for you, the Pentax 17 is extra reasonably priced and straightforward to make use of. It doesn’t have the identical quantity of handbook management and it’s a half-frame digital camera however it’s a enjoyable expertise to make use of in its personal proper.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Perhaps. If you understand, you understand. That is the type of analog expertise you may be on the lookout for and it captures every little thing good and dangerous in regards to the unique system. The factor is, the Rollei 35AF digital camera feels a bit of low cost and it’s something however.