Rollei's meterless miniature compact — the 35 C, Triotar 40mm f/3.5, scale focus, 1969.
The Rollei 35 C, also known as the C35, is a fixed-lens 35mm compact from 1969, a simplified and lower-cost model in the Rollei 35 family without a light meter. It used the three-element Triotar lens and left exposure entirely to the photographer. It was aimed at buyers who wanted the miniature Rollei 35 body without paying for a meter.
Made for 35mm film, the 35 C has a collapsible Zeiss Triotar 40mm f/3.5 lens that retracts into the body. Focusing is by scale, and it has a leaf shutter with manual exposure. The camera has no built-in meter, so exposure is set by the photographer using experience or a separate meter. There is no built-in flash; the accessory shoe is on the base.
The meterless design makes the 35 C suited to street, travel, general and student use by photographers who meter externally or work by experience, and it needs no battery at all. The tiny body and Triotar lens keep the pocketable character of the line. It is the most basic of the Rollei 35 compacts and the simplest to keep running.
On the used market, check that the lens collapses and locks and is clear of haze, fungus and separation, and that the focus and aperture rings move smoothly. Test the leaf shutter across its speeds for accuracy and capping, since there is no meter to fall back on. Verify smooth film advance and rewind and check that the film-door light seals have not perished.