Rollei B35 Point and Shoot 35mm film Camera

A number that resembles a plane, B35. But in this case for a camera so small that it even fits the pockets of your pant. It is one of the smallest 135 cameras ever made, by Rollei that became more famous with the famous Rolleiflex twin reflex series. But the little Rollei was a very popular, nifty quality camera. The one you take on holidays, to a birthday party or leave in the car just in case.

Mass production of the successful Rollei series started in July 1966. At least seven models were identified, starting with the B35 where the B stands for the uncoupled selenium ‘Belichtung’ or lightmeter. Rollei wanted a Compur shutter integrated, but that became too costly. It had to find a way to reduce costs, deliver quality, but above all, keep it as compact as possible. So like the early Leica lenses, the original B35 got a movable sliding tube which was one of the most expensive parts. Once retracted it could make pictures and collapsed, it kept the camera small.