p.1 #1 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
While lovingly fondling my Rollei QZ35W - whispering it sweet nothings after having shot a roll of film through it - I started thinking about what could possibly compete with this camera.
While it is an AF point and shoot style camera, it really isn't a P&S and its performance envelope and design so far exceeds anything that it may be compared to.
What other P&S camera has a shutter from 16 secs to 1/8000 sec - available in all modes including manual?
What other P&S camera has such a simple and intuitive three dial system to access all the modes?
- If the shutter speed dial is on A, and the aperture dial is on A - the camera is in program mode.
- If the shutter speed dial is on A, and the aperture dial is on any other setting - the camera is in aperture priority mode.
- If the shutter speed dial is on any other setting, and the aperture dial is on A - the camera is in shutter priority mode.
- If both the shutter and aperture dial are NOT on A - the camera is in manual exposure mode.
If the focus dial is on A - autofocus. Any other setting - manual focus with the assistance of focus confirmation and direction LCDs in the viewfinder.
ISO settings from 6-6400 and DX.
Flash sync 1/180
28-60 2.8/5.6 lens
Metering range EV 1- EV 20
Multi pattern metering
AE lock on half press
AF lock on half press
85% vf coverage
Large detachable hammer head style flash.
Titanium body that the paint stays attached to - unlike the $20K Leica M-A Titanium.
Camera saves exposure data for the last three rolls of 36 exp film.
Auto exposure bracketing
Sounds amazing! Ok, before I continue - the downsides:
This camera is big - about the size of a Leica M7. But it feels great in hand - solid, curvy, a tool.
The dedicated flash is, well, kinda goofy. But powerful. Still it would have been much better if they made a regular hot shoe adapter so it could use whatever you want.
Camera is not exactly quiet. But it is quieter than an M7 with the M-motor attached! And it does not recoil like the M7/M-motor combination does.
It winds the film all the way into the canister.
Upsides - 1/8000 sec shutter! Who does that?
The lens is fantastic.
Meter is excellent once you realize it acts like a semi spot (even though they say matrix). You can see this by moving the focus spot around your scene.
Build quality is superb (Samsung!)
The chances of running into another hipster with one are remote..
It made me think that the closest camera to this would be a Contax G2. That is basically a fancy P&S with the ability to change lenses. A G2 with their 28 2.8 would be the closest match up to the Rollei, but does not match the shutter speed range, nor the meter sensitivity. Will this make any difference in 99.99% of the time? Doubtful.
I think the G2 can shoot at 4fps? The Rollei maybe half of that. It does not feel speedy.
Looking at the G2 lens list, there actually is a zoom - a 35-70 3.5/5.6 which would match up to the QZ T that I sold which had a 38-90 2.8/5.6. The lens on the T also was superb. But I prefer the 28-60 range and Contax has nothing to match that.
So, how much? Well the cheapest QZ35T (38-90 lens) on ebay is $850. The cheapest QZ35W (28-60) is $950.
An apparently correctly working Contax G2 is $930 body only. With 28mm lens is $1550.
The Contax 35-70 lens is about $320 - is this lens any good? I was expecting something like $500..
Bottom line - would I recommend getting the Rollei (or Contax)? Er, no. Just get an awesome P&S for $20 from Samsung, Canon, Nikon, Pentax whoever - they all make great ones, just stay away from the influencer ones. And if you're going to spend $1000-ish on a 35mm camera, get an F3/F6, M, whatever.
But if you want to be cool and stand out in the crowd, the Rollei does that better than the Contax.
Pic samples taken w the Rollei and whatever film happened to be lying around at the time (C200, Portra 400, Cinestill 800 etc)
p.1 #3 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
Very nice summary of the Rollei QZ 35 W/T. I like mine very much and hope to use it more ofter. The zoom lenses in QZs are really excellent despite being a bit slow, f/5.6, for the long ends. But I do think the Contax G21, G45, and G90 lenses add a bit more usability for the G2 as a system camera rather than a point&shot.
p.1 #4 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
It depends on what you mean as a system camera. The 28-60 and 38-90 lenses on the QZ variants cover a pretty good range. And are more versatile than the zoom offered for the G series. The G series are notorious for missing focus w the 90. The 21 needs an accessory finder - at that point, and especially given the price, I would just opt for an M.
What does disappoint me about the QZ series is the VF does not automatically accomodate for parallax like the G series does. It uses cheapo frame line reminders for when you are up close.
The QZ is the same size as an M7 pretty much. But the M7's shutter only goes to 1/1000. The QZ 1/8000.
Leica really should have differentiated the M7 more over the mechanical Ms by using a shutter like in the Rollei.
Yeah it would have sounded/felt different, but the camera already was in the minds of so many M users so different already. So Leica should have owned that.
p.1 #5 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
<Drool emoji here>. Some of the QZ on ebay have descriptions that say things like "viewfinder LCD is faded" and "LCD in viewfinder is missing" (!). I assume that refers to the little alphanumeric display that lights up green in the viewfinder. If this is fading, I worry about ongoing degradation of the electronics. @Desmolicious and @ocean2059 - are your viewfinders still going strong or doesn't it really matter?
p.1 #6 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
dvoss wrote:
<Drool emoji here>. Some of the QZ on ebay have descriptions that say things like "viewfinder LCD is faded" and "LCD in viewfinder is missing" (!). I assume that refers to the little alphanumeric display that lights up green in the viewfinder. If this is fading, I worry about ongoing degradation of the electronics. @Desmolicious@ and @ocean2059@ - are your viewfinders still going strong or doesn't it really matter?
The viewfinder green LED in my QZ is still working but the some of them are getting weaker, not lit in full strength. The display in top penal is working fine, no fading or degradation.
p.1 #8 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
While I brought attention to the QZ35 - mostly for fun as most have no idea what Rollei/Samsung hath wrought - I still wouldn’t recommend dropping $$$ on one. All these lux auto cameras are just too expensive given their age.
And while the QZ has some cool features, some could have been implemented better. For example, using manual focus doesnt really speed things up as the camera only goes to the distance set when you half press the shutter button. It would be so much better if it did it as you set it.
p.1 #9 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
@Desmolicious, Huss, do you use any strap for your QZ35? The plastic parts on my original strap lug connectors were broken long time ago. I try to find a good alternative connector(s) so I can put a wrist or shoulder straps. Any suggestions? Thanks!
p.1 #10 · The Rollei QZ35 W - what a Contax G2 could have been?
ocean2059 wrote:
@Desmolicious@, Huss, do you use any strap for your QZ35? The plastic parts on my original strap lug connectors were broken long time ago. I try to find a good alternative connector(s) so I can put a wrist or shoulder straps. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I use the Peak Designs strap attached via the tripod socket connector:
Even though my original strap lugs are fine. What I really like about using this anchor mount plate is that nothing interferes with the handling of the camera - where your hand goes on the right side to use the shutter button, shutter dial etc is now unencumbered by the stock strap.
Even though my original strap lugs are fine. What I really like about using this anchor mount plate is that nothing interferes with the handling of the camera - where your hand goes on the right side to use the shutter button, shutter dial etc is now unencumbered by the stock strap.
Thank you, Huss! This looks good and I will give it a try.
