Rollei

Rollei (historically Franke & Heidecke) is a German optical royalty, best known for creating the legendary Rolleiflex Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) cameras. While their primary legacy lies in medium format, their contribution to the Leica M-mount ecosystem is a fascinating chapter of collaboration and revival.

For rangefinder users, the Rollei brand is synonymous with the Rollei 35 RF system released in 2002. This short lived lineup brought the famous Sonnar 40mm lens from their compact cameras into the world of interchangeable M-mount optics, featuring the company's proprietary HFT (High Fidelity Transfer) coatings that rival Zeiss T* for color reproduction.

History

Rollei's entry into the M-mount market was a strategic move to capitalize on the rangefinder renaissance of the early 2000s.

Foundations (1920 to 1980s)

The company was founded in 1920 in Brunswick (Braunschweig), Germany, by Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke. They dominated the professional market for decades with the Rolleiflex TLR. In the 1960s, they released the Rollei 35, a scale focus compact camera with a fixed Zeiss Sonnar 40mm lens, which became one of the best selling cameras in history.

The Cosina Partnership (2002)

In 2002, seeking to enter the interchangeable lens market, Rollei partnered with Cosina (the manufacturer of Voigtländer). They released the Rollei 35 RF, which was essentially a modified Voigtländer Bessa R2 body with a distinct silver finish and heavy branding.

• The Optics: Unlike the camera body, the lenses were not simple rebadges. They were genuine Zeiss designs manufactured by Rollei/Cosina using Rollei's exclusive HFT coatings and high standard German quality control specs. These lenses were released in LTM (Leica Thread Mount) but included M-mount adapters, making them universally compatible [[1]].

Product Lines (LTM / M-Compatible)

Rollei's rangefinder lenses are famous for being "character" optics rather than clinical performers. They are housed in heavy, high quality chrome barrels.

The Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 HFT

This is the crown jewel of the lineup.

• Heritage: It is a direct descendant of the fixed lens found on the original Rollei 35 S compact.
• Character: A true classic Sonnar design (5 elements in 4 groups). It produces high contrast, incredibly sharp centers, and a beautiful, gentle fall off toward the corners.
• The "HFT" Look: Rollei's High Fidelity Transfer coating is famous for rendering warm, saturated reds and skin tones, often described as having more "pop" than standard modern coatings.
• Ergonomics: It is extremely compact and features a satisfyingly dense, heavy brass construction with a long focus throw [[2]].

The Planar 80mm f/2.8 HFT

A rare and unusual lens for the 35mm format.

• Concept: This lens was designed to bring the "medium format portrait look" of the Rolleiflex 2.8F to a 35mm rangefinder.
• Performance: It offers a slightly longer reach than the standard 75mm or 90mm, optimized for portraits. The bokeh is smooth and creamy, mimicking the look of larger film formats.
• Rarity: It was produced in much smaller numbers than the 40mm and is highly sought after by collectors [[3]].

The Distagon 35mm f/1.4 HFT

• Origin: Effectively a version of the Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/1.4 (ZM), but featuring the distinct triangular aperture blades (in some versions) and HFT coating. It is significantly larger than the Sonnar 40mm.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	LTM (Leica Thread Mount) (Comes with M-Adapter).
Focus Coupling	Coupled. (0.7m to Infinity).
Build Materials	Heavy Brass with Chrome plating (Silver) or Black Paint.
Filter Thread	39mm (Sonnar 40mm), 43mm (Planar 80mm).
Coatings	HFT (High Fidelity Transfer) (Rollei's answer to Zeiss T*).
Framelines	40mm Lens: Brings up 50mm lines on Leica bodies (users often file the mount to show 35mm lines).
Unique Feature	Focus tabs are often shaped differently (scalloped) compared to Leica or Voigtländer tabs.

Why Photographers Choose Rollei

• The "Sonnar 40" Experience: The Sonnar 40mm f/2.8 is widely considered one of the best "everyday carry" lenses ever made. It is sharper than the Leica Elmar-C 40mm and has more character than the Voigtländer Nokton 40mm.
• HFT Color Science: Photographers who shoot color film often prefer Rollei HFT lenses for their distinctively warm color palette, which handles golden hour light exceptionally well.
• Build Quality: These lenses feel incredibly dense and premium. The heavy chrome over brass construction makes them feel like jewelry compared to the lighter aluminum Voigtländer lenses of the same era.

---

Sources

• [1] CameraQuest (Rollei 35 RF System): https://cameraquest.com/rol35rf.htm
• [2] 35mmc (Sonnar 40mm HFT Review): https://www.35mmc.com/16/05/2016/rollei-40mm-f2-8-sonnar-review/
• [3] Japan Camera Hunter (Rollei RF Overview): https://www.japancamerahunter.com/2012/05/the-rollei-35-rf/
• [4] Rollei Club (History): http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/35classic/info/index.htm