As I said before, I am not a street photographer, but I try to challenge myself to do more street photography when I can, and my Rolleiflex is my favorite camera to use. Rolleiflex added features to its TLR camera such as a light meter and 35mm capabilities, but this was not enough to keep the brand profitable, and in 1981, the company filed for bankruptcy. Enjoyed the article very much. I can't find your serial number range. The process and features will be similar with other Rolleiflex models as well. First-time Rolleiflex buyers frequently ask for advice on internet forums about which Rolleiflex model they should prefer, or which lens would be the best choice. Properly functioning Rolleiflex 2.8f cameras generally sell for between $900 and $1,500, with finer examples commanding a premium. Because of the nature of this article, I may generalize, or I may leave some details out. rolleiflex models to avoid. ABC'S of Lens Adapting: Using Vintage Lenses on Digital Cameras & More So, when I am photo walking, I try to snap a self-portrait with my Rollei whenever I can. All subsequent 2.8 models use the larger Bay III filter mount. Thanks for all the great information . Rolleiflex Rollei-Mutar 0.7 Wide Angle Lens for 2.8 Rollei These attractive cases were made with brown leather, burgundy felt interiors, and were stitched together with thread. The back was not hinged to the camera. Rollei Camera Instruction Manual, Free User Guide I think the Rolle Magic models are cool. If you ever have the chance, take a look at the book Vivian Maier Self-Portraits for some inspiration. The Rolleicord III is a 1950's twin reflex camera, produced from 1950 to 1953. Fortunately, when I was in LA in September I had Harry Fleenor check out my Rolleiflex speeds and meter for accuracy -- so I'm good for the time being. Subsequent Automat and E/T/F models had 75/3.5 lenses. The camera comes with a Compur-Rapid shutter that offers shutter speeds of 1 . Rolleiflex was first introduced around 1928. These questions invariably draw a large number of different answers, as well as a lively debate, but there is one interesting fact that emerges from them. Auto-focus wasn't even a dream for this old retro stuff! Rolleiflex Standard K2 Type 622 (1932) - mike eckman dot com The design of the TLR was loosely based on a stereoscopic Voigtlander camera. Rollei SL66 kit with Planar f=80mm F/2.8 HFT (late version) kit, boxed. I still remember him suggesting I try to get one. And while I am not a street photographer like she was, I loved the look and feel of the camera, its ease of use, and the square format. I've already used it a few times and it has renewed my love for these magnificent cameras and the brilliant images they produce. When having a CLA performed on a Rolleiflex, its a good time to install a brighter focusing screen. It came with a 4 element Tessar f/2.8 taking lens, and a Bay II filter mount that isn't fully compatible with all Bay II accessories. Often, despite my attempts to be stealthy, people frequently notice my Rolleiflex. This post may contain affiliate links. Great article, I was just looking on the web for a replacement WLF for my Rollei Magic and found this, the link to Harry Fleenor should help me get at least two of my Rolleis tuned up, my old Rolleicord III is not on the list of cameras he works on. Because the design is mirrorless, the camera body is much simpler, smaller, and easier to carry. Scratches, which some sellers will describe as cleaning marks, fungus, excessive interior dust particles sometimes described as haze, and balsam separation of lens elements from aging cement, are the main problems to look for. Mr. Fleenor in CA does not repair the model T, saying that parts are no longer available. The Rolleiflex T, whose total produ Very nice review, I have never owned a Rolleicord but still own a Minolta Autocord. We will not declare items of a lesser value to avoid taxes, fees or custom duties. I too, am a fiction writer (Schmendrick on Amazon :) ) - so funny you should mention using photography to inspire fiction writing. . The absence of a moving mirror has the advantage of lower vibration for slower handheld shooting and a viewfinder that doesnt go dark during the moment of exposure. Life intervened and I moved several times for work and the Rollei languished for too many years in a shipping box. It is identifiable by the selenium meter array just below the Rolleiflex name, the silver meter switch on the upper corner of the nameplate, and the older style focusing hood. This was what I've been wanting but didn't know the name, until I had a discussion with a sales representative at a local camera shop. In general (this is how I think of it anyway), there are 4 main groups of Rolleiflex models: The Rolleiflex Standard The Automat The 3.5 The 2.8 Originally, there was one 6x6 model called the Rolleiflex Standard, then in the late 30s, the Rolleiflex Automat was introduced. I have to think a whole lot more than with the digital stuff. Rolleiflex Baby TLR Repair - YouTube Because white face cameras represent the final f-model run, and are 10 years or so newer, they go for the highest prices, which often exceed $2,500. The pricing is a little out-of-date, but the information is not. The Rolleiflex was built to the highest levels of quality and was priced at a level that kept it out of reach of most casual photographers. This model is identifiable by the black plastic shutter lock and flash socket switch. Besides the Rolleiflex lineups, there is also a low cost camera series - Rolleicord - introduced . It is because it *is* a Twin Lens Reflexthe reflex mirror is securely affixed to the camera body. I avoid the model V, Va, Vb, and Vb II cameras, since they usually fetch higher prices without any increase in image quality or usability (and I prefer a round vs. pentagonal aperture). Rolleiflex 2.8 F - Model K7F4 120 TLR Film Camera + Case Mint Stunning AU $6,254.68 AU $134.03 postage or Best Offer BEAUTIFUL ROLLEI ROLLEIFLEX SLX TLR CAMERA (UNTESTED. I liked the low taking angles for small children and pet shots and regret getting talked out of my last one some years back. Loading the camera is quite straightforward. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/the-wonderful-world-of-rolleiflex-tlr-photography-buying-a-used-rolleiflex-tlr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/igel_rupert/, https://www.natcam.com/products/rolleiflex-automat/. Yashica 124G are very popular. I will always own and use a Rolleiflex! Once I have my exposure, I set my shutter speed and aperture on the camera. And while there's always that perfect camera for a given shot -- as long as I have a camera with me and can create something, I'm happy. Ran one or two rolls of film through it and then it was damaged when the leather neck strap broke and the camera hit the ground hard. Comes with leather case and Mutar box (incorrectly labelled for the 3.5 cameras). Later variants had crank wind with auto stop, but retained the red window for lining up the first frame, as well as automatic shutter cocking with film advance. This is where a lot of the confusion comes from for people first learning about Rollei TLRs. And for seasoned photographers, shooting from a new perspective can be liberating and inspiring. Models referred to as white face have serial numbers printed on the silver metal bordering the lenses to the right of the taking lens. They can't ship until the closures end but if you talk to them you can usually get 10 % off the listed price and there's free shipping and a 30 day warranty but you pay shipping back. I recommend first deciding on a budget and/or features you really want. ALL my posts are to be read with an aMaZeBaLLs BARRY WHITE voice. For example, a Bay I Rolleinar close-up filter might cost around $50, but a Bay III Rolleinar could cost $150 or more. I very rarely miss focus with this camera, and my keeper rate is nearly 100%. The Rolleicord continued to use Zeiss optics, mounting a 7.5cm f/4,5 Triotar. The reason a 2.8F (or any other model Rollei TLR, for that matter) has no mirror slap is *not* because it is has a lens shutter. Rollei Repairs By Harry Fleenor Oceanside Camera Repair 909 Aviation Blvd. So in that way what you say is absolutely true. Mount and Flange focal distance: Interchangeable mount (T) Diagonal angle of view: 4.1. 0 . Zeiss-Ikon Icarex 35 CS (1968) - mike eckman dot com But on Rolleiflexes, the film door fits so precisely that there is no need for foam linersthe metal-on-metal fabrication alone assures that the door remains light-tight. Appears little used. I also like the Dennis Stock photo of James Dean in NYC with a Rolleiflex. By the way, some Hasselblad or Kiev finders have cold shoes for mounting a small flash, or even an exposure meter or other shoe-mounted accessory. Because of the perpetual interest in my camera, I started a personal project called Roaming Rollei. Whenever anyone engages me in conversation for more than five minutes about my camera, I ask the person if I can take a portrait. Fold out the crank on the right side of the camera and advance the film. I have had the urge for a long time of getting one, but never have. More important, using the Rollei reminds me of what drew me to photography nearly 50 years ago-- I love the process of setting up the camera, composing the image and capturing it and the peace that it gives me. Weitwinkel-Rolleiflex - Repair Manual, Parts List, Diagrams and Assembling Charts Rollei X Series User Manual X8 Compact - U.M. Dan Wagner has been making images with Rolleiflex TLR cameras for years. The precise manner in which parts fit together speaks to exacting craftsmanship. 2. Rolleiflex Buying Guide | Colton Allen | Film Shooters Collective Both lenses come in single-coated Planar and Xenotar versions and produce sharp photos with beautiful rendering. Compur-Rapid MX CR0 shutter, 1/500s, M and X synchronisation. In short, there is no unanimous or even majority opinion on which model or lens is the best choice. I think this is what photography and other artistic endeavors are all about. The 3.5F was the f/3.5 counterpart of the 2.8F, and other than the taking lens and the Bay II filter mount, it basically shared the same features and followed the same progression as the 2.8F and its variants. I want to sell it to someone who will care for it at any reasonable offer. Ive heard it said that there isnt a bad lens choice in any Rolleiflex, and from what I have seen, that is true. Or you can pay $500 for a 3.5e, which handily beats all the others. Also, the mirror in a TLR is stationary and does not move, so there is no mirror slap or vibration from the mirror when you press the shutter. I just acquired a Rollei for the first time, and one of the mirrors clicks whenever the camera is moved laterally. I like to say that my Rollei has introduced me to some of the most interesting people because it is a great conversation starter. Unless you know what you are doing and how to read between the lines and read the photos, Ebay will usually not work out well. Why was one camera selling for $300, and another that looked the same selling for $4000! I even use it with my old Vivitar 272 flash - that's right a 272! This is one of the features that makes the Rollei such a great camera. Exercising a shutter at different speeds can, in some cases, help distribute lubrication where its needed and result in more accurate shutter speeds. The window at the top of the lens shows the settings. Find great local deals on used film, disposable & single-use cameras for sale in SM73PX Shop hassle-free with Gumtree, your local buying & selling community. It's a cool device. I was using one of my favourite 35mm SLRs today, a Bessamatic model circa 195960 manufactured by Voigtlnder. It is a pity that camera's shutter cocking lever broke beyond fixing and my repair person couldn't fix it. You must log in or register to reply here. These clips are spring loaded, and offer a connection that is secure, yet easy to quickly disconnect. They are timeless, not only in appearance but also in use and in the images they create. It's much better! For many Rolleiflex aficionados, the last models of the 2.8F mark the end of the classic Rolleiflex TLR. Ive been complimented on my cool handbag and stylish necklace when Ive been out shooting with my Rollei. To replace the leather on the neck strap, drill out the rivets on the alligator clips, insert a fresh piece of leather of the same width, and install new rivets. I am looking for a clip on star for my Rolli- Model year 1953. Prior to WW2, Zeiss Ikon manufactured another Contaflexthe Contaflex TLR. The Automat also came equipped with a self timer. I don't have the experience or time for it. The metal on metal is precise and light tight. This is also a good thing to think about if youre thinking about buying a Rolleiflex. I knew he repairs Yashica TLRs primarily but is also capable of repairing Rolleis and other TLRs. I know that when I first started looking at Rolleiflex, I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Ones with removable lenses are normally called interchangeable lens cameras. rolleiflex models to avoid It also was available with or without a built in meter. :) Thanks! Rollei cameras - Fotohandel Delfshaven / MK Optics The group exhibition that my overall installation will be in is slated for November 2016 at the California Women's Museum in San Diego. Weve updated the article! When considering where to have your Rolleiflex serviced, be sure to examine the repairmans reputation. Although I could have prevented this if Id really needed to, by setting the shutter self timer. One must be very carefull when buying from ebay . Agree entirely with the 3.5E2 assessment - I've owned one (a Planar model bought new) since 1966. In the case of a Rolleiflex TLR, you look through the upper or viewing lens. rolleiflex models to avoid I took your picture with my trusty Rolleiflex AntiqueCameras.net I have used the Rollei that way once, I think. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our cookie policy. Works perfectly, and does not scratch the tripod plate. You will need to zone focus (guestimate the distance to the subject and dial it in on the focus wheel) and then push the shutter button. For a professional result, one can bring the alligator clips to a leather repair or saddle shop, such as Schatzlein in Minneapolis, Minnesotaask for Gary. A hidden treasure trove of previously unknown colour images by Werner Bischof, one of the towering figures of 20th-century photography and reportage, has been uncovered in Zurich bringing a new dimension to his work and introducing stunning depictions of Europe and beyond. This is a simple do-it-yourself task. Richard Avedon used a Rollei for most of his fashion work. Even owners of pre-war Rolleiflex models with an uncoated Tessar or Xenar lens affirm the excellence of their cameras and claim complete satisfaction with them. I can guess, but I thought I'd try asking someone who actually has one in hand! This is really only used to frame the shot. The first step is to adjust the neck strap to an ideal length that keeps the camera at a comfortable height where it may be quickly raised to take a photo. However since the Rolleiflex was already protected with many patents, Voigtlander was forced to work around them when designing their own camera: the Voigtlander Superb, a really interesting camera in its own right. If you go this route, be sure to bring lens-cleaning supplies and a few paper towels to wipe off your camera.