Mike Elek: Rollei QZ 35T

I no longer answer "How much is my camera worth?" inquiries, because it's very difficult to know without seeing the camera and knowing its condition. Check eBay's closed auctions for an average price range.

Rollei QZ 35T


Style, film format	35mm autofocus, autoexposure with manual options

Lens, shutter	S-VarioApogon 38mm-90mm f/2.8-f/5.6, vertical metal shutter

Photo quality	Excellent

Ergonomics	Excellent

The Rollei QZ 35T is one of the most elegant cameras to ever roll off a factory line. Designed by F.A. Porsche and produced in limited numbers, it remains a visually stunning camera.

The camera contains a number of advanced features, including a top shutter speed of 1/8000, unheard of in a camera of this genre -- that is, a so-called point & shoot.

This is no lightweight. Tipping the scales at roughly 24 ounces, it's solid and lends itself to a very stable shooting platform. The zoom is fast enough, although I would have liked a bit more speed on the telephoto side. Controls are intelligent and well-placed.

The proprietary flash is a bit of an oddity, screwing to the side of the camera and giving the camera a sort of old-time news photographer look.

But if you don't shoot a lot of flash photos, then leave it in your bag and enjoy yourself.