Rollei's revived miniature compact — the 35 Classic, Sonnar 40mm f/2.8, manual, 1990.
The Rollei 35 Classic is a fixed-lens 35mm compact from 1990, a later revival of the Rollei 35 design that returned the miniature camera to production with the fast Sonnar lens. It carried the traditional metered manual layout of the line into the 1990s. It was aimed at enthusiasts and collectors wanting a newly built example of the classic miniature compact.
Made for 35mm film, the 35 Classic has a collapsible Zeiss Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 HFT lens that retracts into the body. Focusing is by scale, and it has a leaf shutter with manual exposure only. Its CdS meter is read by a match-needle on the top plate. There is no built-in flash; the accessory shoe is on the base. It was designed around a 1.35V-type cell.
The fast Sonnar lens, tiny body and metered manual control make the 35 Classic suited to street, travel and everyday carry for photographers comfortable with scale focusing. The f/2.8 lens handles lower light better than the Tessar and Triotar models, and the newer build makes clean examples easier to find than early cameras. It rewards deliberate, metered shooting.
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 for accuracy and capping and check the CdS meter; as it was designed for a 1.35V-type cell, a modern replacement or voltage adapter may shift readings. Verify smooth film advance and rewind and check the film-door light seals.