Problem with Rollei 35 SE

Hi everyone,

I just got the 35 SE from a self proclaimed old cameras specialist, and as soon as I tried the camera I noticed that:

1. the film winder won't wind, somehow it's stuck and won't move;
2. the shutter button seems also stuck, because of the winder I guess;
3. the lightmeter doesn't work: I I tried with 4x1.5V batteries, but maybe this is not correct?;
4. the aperture dial seems loose: it turns flawlessly, I supposed it would stop at every full-stop aperture (with a click or something, like the shutter speed dial);
5. the shutter curtain is closed, as if it closed down after pressing the shutter button, but didn't re-open;
6. the button for unlocking the lens is also a tad loose, so I don't understand in what position it must be for me to pull out the lens: the lens can be pulled out, regardless of the position of the button.

This is what I noticed right away, and hope that someone here can shed some light for me on what might be the problem.

Thank you!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gimarc

1. the film winder won't wind, somehow it's stuck and won't move;

---

Are you sure it's not already armed ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gimarc

2. the shutter button seems also stuck, because of the winder I guess;

---

I believe you try with the lens expended.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gimarc

3. the lightmeter doesn't work: I I tried with 4x1.5V batteries, but maybe this is not correct?;

---

The 35 SE is supposed to receive PX27 5.6V and not 6V.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gimarc

4. the aperture dial seems loose: it turns flawlessly, I supposed it would stop at every full-stop aperture (with a click or something, like the shutter speed dial);

---

Just under the aperture dial, you have a metal button which you can lock or unlock on the side. When you lock it, the aperture dial is flawlessly. When it's lock, the aperture is lock. When you turn the aperture dial, do you see the diaphragm moving ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gimarc

5. the shutter curtain is closed, as if it closed down after pressing the shutter button, but didn't re-open;

---

The shuter curtain is supposed to be close. It's just open when you take the photo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gimarc

6. the button for unlocking the lens is also a tad loose, so I don't understand in what position it must be for me to pull out the lens: the lens can be pulled out, regardless of the position of the button.

---

When the lens is collapsed, this button is loose. the button is supposed to be down to pull out the lens. The lens is supposed to make a small turn in clock direction in order to be locked. Then, to put back the lens, you need to pull down the button.

You can find the manual here. Perhaps it can helps.

Hi Gimarc,

rollei 35 is not intuitive camera - try to see some videos on youtube of how to use it (load, rewind, and so on).
After having bunch of cameras - when I bought rollei 35 first I watched videos on youtube - it is a quirky little camera :).

Thank you for the replies, everyone!

Fortunately for me, the problem was simply that I did not know that after pulling out the lens, it had to be turned and locked in position. Once I did that, I could release the shutter button, open and close the diaphragm and the lightmeter could function properly.

Do you think that having 6V instead of 5.6V might be a problem?

Thanks again.

Shuuter has to be cocked to close the lens. If the lens goes in, the shutter is armed. The lens has to turn slightly clockwise to lock, then it will fire. To close lens, cock shutter, press button, twist lens and close. - or at leastthat's how it works on my 35B and I think they are all similar.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gimarc

Do you think that having 6V instead of 5.6V might be a problem?

---

Compare with other camera that has correct light meter, and then simply change iso on rollei to match.

On the battery issue, I have an SE too, have since I bought it new in the early 80's. The 5.7 volt battery is no longer available, at least in the US. I never could get 4 batteries in my camera, but I can get 3 with a couple of washers to take up space. The LEDs are a bit dim, but the meter is accurate.

My 35SE has seen hundreds, if not thousands of rolls of film. I carried it with me during my working years (field service engineer for much of my career) and it never failed me. I did have to clean and lube the "transmission" a couple of times when the slow shutter speeds got off, but other than nothing else was done. I still carry it on my motorcycle. Great camera, too bad they don't make them anymore. With a couple small hand tools you can service it yourself. Just take the top off, remove the film advance gears and the timing mechanism is just below it. I clean it with solvent and use clock oil to re-lube it. Just mark the film advance gears to know how to mate them again. This can save having to take it apart two or three times to re-synch them.

Mine is starting to wear a bit, the film spacing is not even anymore, but the film does not slip so the images are still good. Many of my photos on this site were taken with the camera.

Hi Darko,

Thanks so much for your to-the-point answer: this has saved me £ on buying a mercuy battery converter...

Robert

ZBattery.com sells a PX27 equivalent, although the new cell is 6 volts compared with the original, which was 5.6 volts.

Glad to hear that you sorted out the problems. Most "problems" with the camera come from not knowing how to operate the camera.

Remember these tips:

- Never force the film advance if it stops mid-frame when you reach the end of the roll.

- The shutter must always be tensioned before you can collapse the lens.

- The lever on the aperture dial on the SE/TE models can lock into place, which allows the dial to spin freely.

- Never force anything on the Rollei 35 cameras. Ever.

- Take your time loading the film.

- Sometimes you have to jiggle the back a bit when replacing it.

Hello,
four SR 44/PX 76/357 cells do not fit into the battery compartment but with an adapter four type 386 cells (the height of this cell is a little bit lower, I think this is the SR 43 type) will fit. In the original mercury battery there were also 4 cells of the same size as the 386). You can make such an adapter from a piece of plastic tube, plastic tape or shrinking hose. You can read different opinions, some say the 35 SE's meter will measure correct with 6 V, others say the camera has to be recalibrated.