I have only put one film through this camera, but I wanted to write the post as soon as possible. I am sure you will be seeing this camera in the photo posts in the near future.

I saw the Rollei for sale on Facebook Marketplace, very close to my house. The price had been dropped for a quick sale. Even though I am currently out of work, I was very tempted. I ended up selling a few items on Vinted to make sure I had the funds. Swapping items I am not using for something I might, very womble of me.

Anyway, when I went to pick up the camera, I was met by an older gentleman who had owned the camera from new. I tested the main functions and all seemed to be working well. The light meter wasn’t moving, but it looked like it would still work in manual mode. So I paid and hoped the issue was just a battery one.

Then I got to chatting with the gentleman, and he said he bought the camera to take with him while mountain climbing when he was younger. It turned out the gentleman was 91 years old; he didn’t look it. He pointed out a photo of himself in a mountainous region and started to show me his other cameras. He had a Nikon F2 Photomic with a 50mm f/1.2 lens. It looked in perfect condition.  After a little more chatting, I left to have a play with the Rollei.

When I got home, I read the manual and learnt how to replace the battery. Once I got the cover off, I found an exhausted battery inside. Luckily, it was still intact, but it made me think of the gentleman’s other cameras. Did they have batteries in, too? I sent him a message just in case. He responded and said there might be, but he couldn’t get the cap off the Nikon. I offered to return and try and help, which I did the next day, as it wasn’t too far out of my way to a walk I had planned to take with the Rollei.

This time, I stayed for a coffee and a chat. I finally found out the gentleman’s name 🙂 Gordon Hibberd. I am writting his name here because as it turns out, he is a very interesting man indeed. He had previously told me that he used the Rollei while climbing, not hiking, but definitely climbing. The photo he showed me was clearly a mountainous area. So I asked a bit more about it. Well, it turned out this was the Gordon Hibberd, who was part of the British expedition that was the first to summit The Fortress in Patagonia. If you read the article in the link, you will find out all about the ascent. I love reading about climbing and have read many books on the subject, but I never want to actually do it. I have walked up Mount Fuji; that’s my limit.

I Googled Gordon’s name, and it came up with a few images he had not seen for a while, including some for sale on Shutterstock, which surprised him. Of course, you have to pay for those, so I can’t include them here. He was mentioned in an Italian post about another climb. It automatically translated to English, which made it MUCH easier to read.

I wondered if my little camera went to any of those expeditions? Unfortunately, no, it was released in 1974, so that would make it impossible. The serial number on this example let me know it was probably produced between 1977-81 due to the ft and meter scale on the lens. I am sure it went on other elevated trips though, as Gordon said that was exactly why he bought it, for its small size, which made it easy to carry.

After the chat, he showed me around his garden and garage/workshop. He then talked about how he built a boat and loved to go sailing. He also talked about his late wife and children. What a life he has led.

Before I left, he offered me a piece of cake that he had baked, but I had just eaten. It was a ‘boiled fruit cake’. I mention it because later he sent me the recipe. I am adding it here and calling it, Gordon’s Climbing Cake.

G.C.C. Recipe

Ingredients:
Brown Sugar 150g/8oz
Butter 110g/5oz
Milk 250ml
Self-raising Flour 300g/14oz
2 eggs
Loads of fruit, cherries, Raisins, etc. (I bought a bag of sultanas and added enough to suit me, they were the only things in the shop I went to)

Method:
* Put the fruit, sugar, milk, and butter in a large pan and slowly bring to the boil.
* Allow to cool. Then add the flour and eggs, mix thoroughly
* Cook in a preheated oven at 190°C for approximately 60 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

I had an attempt at making it the next day. My father and I ate it with custard. I added a bit of ginger because I had some in the cupboard.

Yummy.

Oh, but what about the camera? This is a camera blog.

I loaded it with some bulk rolled Exeter Pan XX 400 and took it to High Ackworth for a walk. I haven’t been there before, but it was lovely and very friendly. Unfortunately, after the driest summer for a long time, the weather has turned, and dark clouds followed me on the 11km walk. Hardly an expedition, but long for me.

I have this book, along with a few others in the series.

This was one of the walks from the book. If I have nothing to do or have a camera to play with, I often look in these books for a destination. To be honest, I rarely go to the pubs mentioned as I usually go early in the morning. Here is a link to the walk I did.

The Rollei was a perfect fit for my pocket, but I found the light meter was metering way over. It originally used a mercury battery, and the new ones are rated at a higher voltage. I took a reading on my phone and adjusted the ASA to compensate. It needed to be two stops lower. I have a battery adapter for this issue, so I will try that on my next outing with it.

I had a few shots left, which I finished at Leeds Market the following day.

I enjoyed using the camera. However, I often found I was pressing the lens lock release rather than the shutter release when trying to take a shot. I am sure I will get used to that over time. Alex Luyckx had no such problem, and his review of the camera is very detailed with lots of extra information, no cake recipe though 🙂

The camera doesn’t have a rangefinder or any information in the viewfinder, but with the distance in both formats, zone focusing is fairly easy to accomplish. The only issue I had, apart from the light meter being off, was the case. The wrist strap goes through a hole in the side of the case, and it dangles when you use the camera. I found it annoying, so I removed it. BUT then the camera would not fit in it and allow the zip to fully close. You need to put it in the bag to stop the battery from draining. I think I will solve this issue by using a different bag to keep it in. I am sure I have a spare lying around, but mostly it will be in my pocket.

I have reloaded it with a roll of colour film and will keep it in my bag. Why not? It is small enough. I do have the B35, but I have decided to sell that and keep this one.

Thank you Gordon, for stories and the cake.