Rollei 35 RF


The Rollei 35 RF is a version of the Cosina Voigtländer Bessa R2 marketed not by Cosina but instead by Rollei Fototechnic, complete with a Rollei 40 mm lens.
Like the Bessa R2, the Rollei 35 RF has a Leica M-mount and a metal focal-plane shutter. Its TTL exposure meter requires batteries, but batteries are not otherwise needed. Shutter speeds range from 1 to 1/2000 s and bulb, with flash sync at 1/125 s on hot-shoe or PC terminal.
The most obvious differences from the R2 are the price and somewhat gaudy appearance: more silver, and more prominent branding. Beside this badge engineering, there are other differences. The shutter-speed knob and the grip on the body are slightly redesigned and more importantly the framelines are for 40, 50, and 80 mm.
This camera was so transparently a Cosina, and its price was so high, that it was greeted without much enthusiasm when released. With or without its original lens, it is now easily found in like-new condition for well below its original price. Arguably it remains the best Bessa camera for people who wear glasses and primarily use a 40mm lens.