If you’ve been following the photography scene for a while, you know the compact point-and-shoot has been in a slow, agonizing decline for years. It’s not a secret that the smartphone, with its ever-improving computational photography and instant sharing capabilities, has rendered the traditional pocket camera nearly obsolete for most people. So, when a legacy brand like Rollei, with its deep roots in German optics, decides to launch a new compact shooter, it definitely piques one’s interest – because as good as cameras have gotten (be it from Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leica, or any other brand), there’s still one thing they don’t do – pack multiple lenses. That being said, the Rollei Powerflex X8 might just be the only point-and-shoot cam to have its own dedicated front-facing lens so that you can click selfies between professional street photos and landscapes!
This camera is an answer to a question no one really asked, but in a way that makes you think, “Wait, that’s actually genius.” The Rollei Powerflex X8 is a 64-megapixel point-and-shoot with a full-sized 8x optical zoom lens on the front, but what makes it stand out is the little secret it holds on the back. Tucked away above the generous 3.6-inch touchscreen is a second, tiny lens dedicated entirely to selfies. This is a brilliant, almost goofy, solution to the problem of trying to frame yourself with the main camera. No more guessing, no more awkward flailing with a clunky camera turned the wrong way. You just flip a switch, and you’ve got a dedicated selfie machine that puts your smartphone’s front camera to shame, at least on paper.
Designer: Rollei
The core of the matter here is the hardware. The main lens offers the equivalent of a 38-310mm optical zoom with a variable F1.8-F2.6 aperture. That’s a massive range for a camera this size and gives you a versatility that a smartphone can only dream of achieving digitally. The primary 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor, capable of producing those high-resolution 64-megapixel stills, is complemented by the smaller, 1/3.06-inch-type sensor paired with the 3.37-mm selfie lens. While the New Atlas article is a little vague on the exact resolution of the selfie cam, the promise of “convenience without loss of quality” suggests it’s designed to deliver something special. Plus, the whole system can shoot video in 5K at 25 fps or 4K at 30 fps. That’s some serious firepower for a camera that feels so refreshingly unserious in its design philosophy.
Imagine you’re out and about, capturing some amazing landscape shots with the powerful optical zoom, and then you want to grab a quick, high-quality picture of yourself and a friend in front of it. Instead of fumbling around, trying to use the main lens while guessing your framing, you simply switch to the selfie mode and use the rear-facing lens to perfectly compose your shot on the big screen. This seamless transition is the key to the camera’s appeal. It solves a real-world problem in a simple, elegant, and yes, slightly quirky way that no other compact camera is doing right now. It is a genuine innovation in a category that has become stagnant.
The overall package is quite compact, measuring 126 x 84 x 73 mm and weighing in at a manageable 383 grams without the 1,350 mAh battery. For a camera with this kind of optical zoom and a second lens, that’s remarkably svelte. It’s on sale in Europe for €299, which converts to around $350. That price point is also incredibly compelling. It’s an accessible price for a camera that delivers something unique and a tangible upgrade over your smartphone’s camera, especially with its optical zoom and dedicated selfie function. This is a camera that understands what modern users want: quality, versatility, and the ability to capture every moment, including themselves, without compromising on convenience. It really is an impressive piece of kit from a company that proves it still has some clever tricks up its sleeve.
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