Boathouse.

• Where: A lake somewhere in Bavaria.
• Camera: Rollei 35 AF
• Film: Kentmere Pan 100
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

I was genuinely excited about the Rollei 35 AF, a new camera in the style of the old Rollei 35 cameras with some convenient new features like lidar autofocus. Even when I finally held it in my hands, I still wanted to like it despite its glaring flaws. But try as I might, I did not enjoy shooting with this camera. The build quality, while not bad, does not inspire the “premium” feel that the price promises. I do not mind the “film door” (or whatever it is called on this kind of camera) being a bit awkward to close. But I do mind the advance-lever and the advance-action: The lever wobbles and has rough edges where the finger goes. The advance-action feels rough and scratchy. I do own a few cameras. Even one that was generously 3D printed by colleagues. None of them have an advance-lever or advance-action that feel this horrible. The camera is otherwise not bad by a long shot. Unfortunately, it is rough edges like these that, for me, make it more a display cabinet piece than a daily driver.

Warning.

Boat.

Lion.