Rollei 35 AF Hands-on Hong Kong Street Photography Test

[@scienceavocado5571]

Man, this is so nostalgic. I loved the HK videos. It's nice to know that the trolley ladies won't disappear in a while!

[@gewglesux]

me too.... loved those days..

[@andrewlossing2349]

I had the same thought! Good times... wish we had all of the old videos instead of only some.

[@gebauzchris]

I kind of miss those times. Too bad DRTV seems to have deleted some of my fave videos (like the OM-D E-M5, E-M5 II, Olympus 12mm,17mm,45mm and the one about how to impress a girl with your camera gear).

[@thomasfsan]

HK is rough politically... But it's a street photograhpy paradise.

[@KaiManWong]

I wasn't even going to make any videos during my time in HK, as it was going to be just a short holiday there to meet up with family and friends. Then I was invited to visit Mint camera's office and, given the opportunity to test it and do some HK street photography, I couldn't resist. Really miss making videos and taking photos out there.

[@dfu3053]

Kai W. shooting with brand new film camera in Hong Kong streets! Full of memories!

[@theothertonydutch]

Streets full of memories, even!

[@evanchan7207]

analog rev is back

[@gewglesux]

Nice one!!

[@_ChadM]

I thought it was a reupload of an old video from a certain photography channel of years gone by. Kai in Hong Kong! Awesome!

[@Chevy-jordan]

The Hong Kong 🇭🇰 videos are so nostalgic 🥹 To think I used to watch these videos about 10 years ago when I was getting into photography. Now I lecture photography at a university. Pro lens/cheap camera VS cheap camera/pro lens will always live inside my head. When Kai used to put his ‘Camera Bro’ voice on and did the burst mode with the pro cam/cheap lens. 😂😂 classic! ❤ from 🇬🇧

[@cuckoonut1208]

Remember the trio? Kai, Lok & Alamby?

Glad you are still around, so many good photography channels have dropped off. I've always enjoyed the pro with a toy camera episodes and would love to see more of them.

[@merricfoley6481]

I've pre-ordered one. Price point will be an issue for some but I can afford it, and I'm happy to support the company to help show that there's a market for these cameras. Hopefully this and the Pentax will be a success and more come online in future, bringing economies of scale and competition.

[@shred3005]

@@merricfoley6481 I’m not buying the Rollei 35 AF as I recently got the Pentax 17 for fun and, like you, to support further film camera development. I’ve been shooting film for decades but I’m having so much fun with the Pentax 17 for street even though I’ve got other film cameras including a Leica. I really hope people get behind these new cameras so we see more. Pentax said they were using this first one as a simple test case and help fund something next level.

[@KaiManWong]

I was even more impressed when I got to see their operation, as Gary designed everything that went into the camera (apart from the LiDAR).

[@BS-bc7gu]

Went to preorder after this vid and checking out the specs, sold out already! 😢

[@_weiweiweiwei_]

Same, I can afford it, it's fun, I'm willing to give it a try, to show some support, I didn't buy it to think it's going to be my best camera ever.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

I miss Kai in Hong Kong. This was so awesome.

[@KaiManWong]

I miss me in HK, too.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

@@KaiManWong Yeah, I could tell that you were in a good mood. You seemed inspired.

[@b.2221]

I personally can’t leave a technical comment because I am not technical, but times thankfully are changing for the better. Mint or Pentax I don’t care i just want to hear from this guy and proper photographer’s who will have a ball with this proper film camera resurgence from the old days. Thanks for this proper glimpse for real aspirational photographer’s at last.

[@tj2375]

The videography of this review is something else.

[@KaiManWong]

Shout out to my bros! (and the DJI Pocket 3 for making the bits I shot look really smooth as)

[@hungngngng]

Wake up babe, a new episode of Analog Rev just dropped. More please 🥺

[@tomfu9909]

That's what Prince told to Snow-white

[@edwindungdung1998]

It was around 2020 when I first discovered this channel and since then I've learnt about the time you were on the DigitalRev channel, and binged the whole thing. Last year I had the pleasure of visiting Hong Kong. It was awesome to go to the places where y'all would film, and this video just speaks to that nostalgia. This video just makes me wanna go back. The streets of Hong Kong are just simply incredible.

[@DrJohn123]

Why is nobody talking about how stunningly good Kai's photos are? WOW!

[@ThickCutOhio]

Whoa 🤯 blasted back to 2010!!!!

[@jamesbautista4717]

Man this brings me back to when I first started learning about photography.😊

[@kiwipics]

@Kai W ... This video has taken me back to when I started watching you, Lok, and Alambi in the DigRev TV days. I love this video and seeing you back in action on the streets of HK.

[@shred3005]

I’ve been into photography for decades but never heard of Mint until this project but Kai indicates they have history 🤷‍♂️. I’ll have to look them up …

[@kiwipics]

Mint have made some interesting cameras over the last few years, they've been based on the Fuji Instax film, but they're worgh looking into.

[@lejeanmarc]

Mint is a big name in instant cameras. They started years ago fixing Polaroids, then modded SX-70s and made instax cameras (one of them branded Rolleiflex). This is their first non-instant camera product, they are betting the company on this.

[@MarcoBlanke]

Actually a fan of those new takes on film cameras. They embody a lot good ol' stuff and a lot good of the modern goodies.

[@Ybalrid]

each time I see this camera it makes me want to pickup a vintage one of those. Perfect cute little camera to zone focusing and sunny 16, but that's quite a different experience to this new camera were you can shoot aperture priority + auto focus

[@cammackey]

Aight. I think it’s time Kai starts shooting more film. Some of my most favorite shots I’ve seen from you 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@bwinston]

I preordered mine yesterday. It ticks every single box the Pentax didn't and it will become my new workhorse street shooter. I can finally lay my my 35S down and enjoy the more modern features ❤

[@daphnes3635]

What about the loud whirring motor? That was rhe deal breaker for me and reason I am sticking to my silent rolleis 35

[@SweetLouPhotography]

Some of these street shots were so so good!! Glad to see a vid like this, very nostalgic (especially the replacement trolley ladies lol) to when I first encountered you on maybe some other channel lol. Also the -2 on the frame counter is very cool idea. Great stuff, keep doing your thing.

[@mg_williams]

0:10 insert DigitalRev intro song here.

[@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x]

Isn't it one of those copyright free songs that came standard in the video editor? He could have done it 😂

[@davyp1532]

So good to see you in HK again! Brings back so many memories of the DR team and all those great videos👍

[@BehindTheNeedle]

Back in Hong Kong! Awesome! We have been waiting for YOU! Also happy to support you when you are here!

[@PanditaP]

Damn kai, these are some of the best photos I’ve ever seen you take in your videos. I love it!

[@paulterl4563]

Kai in HK and a new "analog rev".....Yeah!! You better me evening mood today. :) Thanx Kai. Analogue photography forever. ❤

[@eeskaatt]

watching a Kai video is like getting an update from a friend xD #dr

[@bobsykes]

Wow, I'm glad you showed it next to the original. I have one of the old ones that my Dad used back in the days it cam out. No reason to change to this one when I want to use the very unique camera. Thanks for your review.

[@thebitterfig9903]

It’s plausible that ex-Pentax designers consulted on the lens-they probably made sure the focus motor was loud enough.

[@dj_laundry_list]

Who would have imagined Kai Doing street photography in HK

[@ntuquach]

Wow these are great shots Kai! ❤

[@KitBetts-Masters]

Loved this video Kai. Felt like old times buddy.

[@Wh33lsofFortune]

Kai and Loc back in Hong Kong! I was waiting for him to start saying okayyylaaaaa bokehlaaaaaaa 50miwameda 1.fow...back when people literally thought he was faking his British accent 😂 The ogs will know..

[@Nerdzombiedisco]

Damn...Kai's streetshooting is much improved.

[@stefall]

The Hong Kong videos are so Nostalgic! Just got back from a few weeks in Hong Kong and Weirdly enough I think I got a picture of the old uncle in the Wan Chai meat store. Probably one of the coolest places in the world for street photography.

[@andrewfong2734]

The 35 AF brings a lot of nostalgia. I've come back to film photography and find it to be great for my skills all around. I'm a lot more selective in my digital shots while being less "critical". I get that the Rollei and the new Pentax are new low volume products with warranties. Its great that they exist but the prices are hard to swallow when there are great old film cameras. Not only are they inexpensive but its refreshing to give something old a purpose again.

[@KaptainKerl]

These will fail badly. 😢 I get that it’s a nice camera and all but let’s be realistic. Warranty is a fake argument to justify the purchase. You don’t need warrenty when the alternatives on eBay cost $100 or less. 😂 it’s laughable.

[@swazimilk]

Kai + camera + Hong Kong. Good ol' days!

[@cuckoonut1208]

What the fudge! Kai is back in his natural habitat? I'm gonna pour me a large cold one for this.

[@BriManeely]

It's so good to see this!! I miss Lok and Alamby being around, but it was still a great feeling to get those DRTV vibes, especially since they pulled all those videos 😔

[@kotwa]

Finally something lot more useful than the Pentax. And with proper focusing, and aperture! And without the "HD" " HF" "Crafstmanship" and other bulls*** inscriptions on the camera body and lens. Hope the electronics are well made and will stand the test of time.

[@BKLisaP]

Love the return to the HK streets!

[@ProbablySteven]

This certainly looks like the most advanced camera Mint has produced so far. While their cameras are a bit on the expensive side for what they are, I give them props for designing and building some really neat modern film/instant cameras.

[@JV_Automotive]

aanalog rev vibes !! and love the subtle flex with the batgirl gmt

[@PROVIIA]

Brings back memories watching you review a camera 😭

[@airdailyx]

damn seeing you back in Hong Kong again it’s perfect like the old digital rev days. This is where you belong.

[@FT__Cool_Stuff______-of5pi]

After seeing him talk crap on the Pentax 17 the entire video, I'm surprised how much he's gushing about this - from the very start it sounded like an advertisement. To me, it would make sense if the pictures turned out looking better than that you get from the Pentax. but... I'm not seeing that. I guess --- is the difference that this Rollei feels that much better in the hand than the Pentax?

[@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x]

According to Kamerastore's review, this 35AF lens is developed by retired Pentax engineers, same as for the Pentax 17

[@kotwa]

The Pentax 17 is overpriced crap. Nothing else. Most youtubers are afraid to demotivate Pentax from producing further cameras, but you can see lot of the frustration around Pentax 17 if you look "between the frames" :-). The lenses between these two cameras, for example, are world apart... 3 element simple triplet on the Pentax 17, not much better than what is on Kodak H35N (there's fixed-focus doublet, but realworld sample pics are not that different from each other), with DOF equivalent to f/5.6 on full frame, suffering from blurry corners, ugly flare and many aberrations, whereas the Rollei lens is properly corrected 5-element lens with f/2.8... so for example the creative possibilities are so much greater with Rollei (more subject separation if you want). Shutter speed goes faster on Rollei, too, preventing too strong overexposure shooting at low aperture during bright day, by almost a stop. Also, the larger film area gives many more details and less grain (can be seen especially when film is underexposed and therefore more grainy, and in general with faster films). Simply, the difference between these two cameras is like a difference between a toy and a tool... I understand that most beginners don't see or appreciate that, but for anyone who has some experience with photography, this should be (and I hope is) clear as a day; I'm not saying Pentax 17 is useless, if the intention is to have characteristic imperfect film pics that won't ever be printed larger... but you can get almost the same with a toy camera that costs 1/10th of its price.

[@nostalgiccameralife]

@@kotwa Uhhh. I have a feeling that in ten years all the Pentax 17s will still be functional. In five years I'm not sure all the 35 AFs will be. Time will tell.

[@MeowjinBoo]

a guy in a shed defeated a japanese conglomerate. All Ricoh/Pentax had to do was just rerelease the gr1s (it's literally the same as the griii, it still uses the same shutter cable amazingly) but they released some nonsense camera.

[@mustakinhashim]

Really enjoyed this one ☺️

[@Iyanrach]

Kai, Lok, Alamby...ooh Man, what a great old days.

[@therealBocaStudios]

Back to HK, love it that’s when you where the GOAT 🎉

[@thebusinessmindset]

Love that GMT you are wearing!

[@matthewcooper9136]

Oh yeh! This video takes me back to better times Cheers mate (I keep looking out for Lok or Lamb)

[@ooharloo]

Hitting this location up really takes me back to the good ol Digital Rev days! Hope to see more reviews from here! P.S. I would love to see Alamby in one episode (or more) for old times sake.

[@DavidBirchphoto1.]

Such a beautiful design.

[@GreenlifeFin]

Nice video, great photos. Interesting camera indeed.

[@jakeinthetube]

He's backkkk!

[@포트폴리오-u5v]

Man, Hong Kong’s just awesome. Im really glad i can still check it out, even if its just on a screen. Kinda sucks that we can’t experience the old HK anymore with China tightening its grip, but at least the vibe still feels the same. dope!

[@tobiahtayo5149]

Great to see a new camera. Wish it was quicker to load / rewind for my use.

[@dannybaresi]

colour on the video is really nice

[@mhnajjar]

I love your videos which are always great and full of knowledge and experience sharing. This particular video seemed to be totally different and more cinematic compared to the rest. Was this filmed on a Panasonic?

[@STANDRDUSER]

Hot damn, a lidar autofocusing camera, a bit of a mouthful but I’d love to get that some day. Funny thing is, that camera’s cost is the same cost when I got with my full kit Pentax 6x7 in Japan before the resurgence. I’ll probably wait when this one goes onto the used market to have a kick out of it. For now, I’m fine with my 67 and Minolta 500.

[@Oscar-xs9cv]

Digital rev got me to visit HK three times in the past. Now I want to go again ahhh

[@kerolee123]

The place, the background music is so nostalgic. Only Alamby is missing (assuming Lok's behind the camera).

[@Frisenette]

The banger at the end is Saved by the Tell by Sam Barsh. Thanks Kai!

[@TomasWatchReviews]

wonderful review. Felt nostalgic somehow.

[@ChasingChevy]

a blast from the past

[@nostalgiccameralife]

Waited for the 35 AF to come out before making a choice... and I'm going with the Pentax 17 after all.

[@sonpois]

Some of your best photos! Love me some hk vids

[@EddieG1888]

Kai back in HK! Takes me back....

[@largophoto]

.Kai endorsement..film is officially back

[@V0idFace]

Having Kai in Hong Kong without Lok in the video feels sacrilegious

[@RastadasPT]

HK video... Right in the feels 🥲

[@coltonstark8379]

Super cool! I'd love to get one

[@Ybalrid]

Kai in HK taking pictures and saying nonsense, reminds me of the the good old days of DigitalRev TV

[@PhotoArtBrussels]

Looks like a great product for the beginning film photographer; or the experienced user looking for an easy to use film camera. I see that for the EU the price is 863.27€ (including tax) or 952.63$US converted; that is quite a number already! I just bought a fully CLA'd Pentacon Six TL + 80mm f2.8 Zeiss with 1 year warranty for 370€. The Pentacon Six has still more then 10 repair places in Germany (i live in Belgium).

[@jamesnicol3831]

Definitive tourist apparel as only Kai can

[@CamMead]

Very good Kai!, classic HK review, I thought for a moment surely he will drop something reloading it.. (sushi comes to mind)

[@Decomid]

As a 35 LED owner I love this, and get that compared with the Pentax 17 it’s really right. I understand that developing this cannot have been cheap and they won’t be selling bucketloads. Sadly, it’s too expensive for me, but I wish them well.

[@AhHerPadi]

I'm getting these flashbacks of DSLR caught on fire.

[@dzulk9]

Blast from the past indeed.

[@ledged_up]

Preorders already sold out Glad it's a hit but I want one!

[@sheelios]

4:26 is amazing to show!

[@JoshuaJonesPhoto]

I’m not tearing up, u are.

[@mr_cramberry]

Now I'll wait till they release a digital version of this please

[@Kazzi]

loved it!!!

[@heoTheo]

Honestly, this is cool

[@anthonyjackson31]

So nice!

[@raceface_m2579]

Holy shat! It’s got LIDAR?!?!?!?! Dang this is heaps cooler than the $500+ Pentax. Also really cool that they kept a lot of manual stuff. Even the loading keeps it originally cool. Holy shat. $800.

[@tvcowboys]

Love the shirt! Where can I get it 😍

[@NuclearCHE]

Камера интересная, но на фоне оригинала всё же выглядит крупноватой, пожалуй мне только это и не нравится. Но проект несомненно интересный. Да и плёнка сейчас стоит дорого, а найти место где её проявят всё сложнее. Недавно наконец-то приобрёл себе Ломо ЛК-А, но понял что поснимать на него что-то кроме Ч/Б уже не получится. А ведь когда-то я начинал с плёнки именно потому что это было дешевле чем купить самую простую DSLR. Приятно снова увидеть улицы Гонконга, ещё со времён DRTV хочется побывать там. Обязательно туда съезжу, и конечно же возьму с собой фотоаппарат и что-нибудь поснимаю.

[@sundawg911]

Dang i was on the waitlist but wasnt too sure after I decided to buy a Nikon ZF. a lot of money all at once but seeing the results. now I am tempted.

[@estogaza1]

Just like the good old days!

[@ruff1draft]

This is brilliant

[@MrSimonj1970]

Do a crowdfunder to get you, Lok and the Bloody Producer together for a new series like DRTV in HK!

[@klarkolofsson]

I doubt Lok would like to return there.

[@MrSimonj1970]

@@klarkolofsson is he a wanted man?! Bangkok instead then!

[@KaptainKerl]

I don’t think they left HK for no reason.

[@MrSimonj1970]

@@KaptainKerl maybe, things are complicated over there these days.

[@klarkolofsson]

@@MrSimonj1970China has practically full political control now.

[@doctormaps]

I have to know what bag you're using in this video! Looks like a great size for everyday uses

[@michaelcase8574]

What was the original Rollei price in '66? Counting for inflation, the AF is probably less money.

[@Ybalrid]

between the Mint Rollei 35 AF and the Pentax 17, the former is definitely the more interesting camera

[@KaptainKerl]

Not at that price point. Even the $500 Pentax is too much. A mint condition Nikon SLR+ lens is less than $500 and more capable. they have lasted for 40 years they’re not going to break on you now. No one needs warranty when you can just buy a new one and it’s still cheaper than a New point and shoot. $800 is insane

[@Ybalrid]

​@@KaptainKerl Yes but they are *used*, you should compare the price of similar cameras when they were *new* (and take inflation into account) Of course you can get better or more capable cameras for a lot less money if you buy 2nd hand. Could get a Canon F-1 and some sweet prime glass for the price of one of those for example. If you take the used market into account, *everything* is a bad deal. It's true for cars too. Probably for a lot of different things.

[@asimplefarmer]

Which sling are you wearing? Looks great!

[@andy_2221]

Leopard bucket hat with a light blue and pink button up is a choice