Testing a Brand NEW Film Camera in 2024!

I got a copy of the brand new Rollei 35AF to test out with 7 rolls of a film on a cross country road trip.

[sivgreyson]

so far, after watching a few videos, i’ve decided that the thing i like most about the camera is that it exists. this one and the Pentax 17 existing is a good thing for film photography. otherwise, imma go ahead and embrace not feeling an ounce of gear acquisition system.

[chris_jorge]

People complain about the price on this new 35af but don’t blink at a $500 GR1 with a half functioning ldc or $1200 for a beat up Canadian Leica m4 that needs a full cla

[michaelhall]

The simple fact is if people don't buy it then let's be honest they won't develop and release more... If you convert new cameras from 80s and 90s to today's prices... 800 is NOT expensive and these results are pretty amazing... Simple as that 📸

[ryanbhangdia]

this felt like a really honest take, and I appreciated that! 100% agree that its great for the community, if not perhaps for me personally. yet.

[Fjalll]

“1 second 2 views bro fell off..”
“Babe, wake up! New video just dropped.”
“This video cured my depression.”
“Who else is watching this in [current year]?”
“First!”
“Can we appreciate how much effort went into this?”
“This deserves more views.”
“Algorithm brought me here.”
“I was today years old when I learned this.”

Got all of them out the way so you don't have to

[chiefdispatcher]

It's amazing that they started making cameras like this now, I thought that this would never happen again.

[SergioPontillo]

Just want to add that they removed the best and most unusual feature of the original version of this camera, that is the hot shoe flash mount on the bottom of the camera. This resulted in your subjects having the shadow slightly above them which is pretty rare, funny and amazing in my opinion. You can see this in Stephen Shore's American Surfaces photos, which are shot with it.

[Papierzeit]

The Rollei 35, as well as the new AF version, is a classic 35 mm film camera, but this does not automatically make it a 'full frame' camera in today's sense. Today, the term 'full frame' is used mainly for digital cameras whose sensor has the same size as a 35 mm film negative. Since the Rollei 35 is an analogue camera, it doesn't technically fall into this category, even though it uses the same type of film. I was lucky enough to use the Rollei 35 when it first came out, as my father owned one at the time. It was a really great compact camera for 35mm film, but the use of the term 'full frame' in relation to this camera leads to confusion. It's important to note the difference between analogue and digital terminology.

[theangrymarmot]

The best part of this video's comments are the same as the best parts about the Pentax 17 videos - a bunch of people who have no intention buying either one, even if it was half the price and then whining non-stop about the price. Or the people who don't realize the real cost of old film cameras (I love it when someone says "my film camera works great - except the light leaks, sticking shutter, in-op meter, etc - and they ignore getting it fixed due to cost and difficulty finding a competent repair shop.) So to all the people groaning and moaning - we get it. You don't have/want to spend the money. Move along.

[linusandhiscamera]

This is so sick man. Gotta get my hands on one of these!

[stephenalkire]

your photos with it are so good — everybody else’s photos I’ve seen with it are pretty bad lol

[burnerzeroone-op]

argue about the price and the design and all the rest of it that lenses quality is insane and its a brand new film camera in 2024 from a boutqiue company $800 is fair imo

[PhilKnall]

Man now I'm conflicted again! I pre-ordered, got buyer's remorse, now i want it again 😂 a point and shoot with good af is exactly what i need right now as a family cam.

[inkaststudio]

Was waiting for this one! Wanted to see the max quality this camera can produce and Willem didn't disappoint. I'm sold!

[alexissalazarr]

Never thought I’d see my hometown’s insane Bass Pro in a Willem video! Love it.

[alhOOOO]

12:43 god I love it when half of the first/last frame is burned but in a beautiful artistic way

[nebraskaskater]

Can't wait for mine to come in the mail! Maybe I'll have a different opinion once I put my hands on it, but to me $800 seems very reasonable for this. Brand new with a warranty, new technology, compact packaging. Of course it won't be perfect, and it won't have every feature every made, especially not for $800. Half the hyped up point and shoots sell for more than half of this camera, and it's a crap shoot how long they'll last you.

To tie this into the automotive theme this channel also has, photography die-hards are just like automotive die-hards that want new cars with manual transmissions. The reason manuals are dying is because nobody buys them. When manufacturers make a new manual and only a fraction of automotive enthusiasts buy them because the rest say things like, "I can get a better deal on a used car", or whatever other excuse they come up with. Then they act dumbfounded and complain when none of the manufacturers are willing to continue making manual transmission vehicles.

[iainlaurence]

Looks like a loyal recreation of the original Rollei with a few modern amenities like the autofocus & meter, Really easy camera to take on a trip and take pictures of anything. I guess at this point I'll have to wait for Mint to make more.

[trippwilsonphoto]

Here's why I'll be picking one up. I shoot almost exclusively on my Mamiya 6 which means I can't shoot much. I'm a senior in high school which means I really only get to shoot a roll or two a week, and that second roll is when I get booked. I don't shoot super frequently and when I have to put in the amount of effort my cl requires, how careful I have to be with it as to not get the rangefinder out of alignment, I'd rather just have autofocus or everyday shooting. When I'm not trying to make work of some sort I'm usually making portraits or if I find a stranger to look particularly interesting I'll ask to take a picture. I'd rather make it quick than have to pull out my meter and manually focus it almost as if I'm just shooting my medium format cameras. I think that if you want high quality images, film, autofocus, and something relatively small, that's where the value in this is. That's my take on this.

[stephendrahos]

Finally. A review of this camera with several rolls of film shot.