Filmwasters
Which Board? => Main Forum => : gothamtomato April 05, 2016, 08:43:30 PM
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Speaking of Rolleiflex, does anyone here use one? If so, which one?
I've been thinking of looking for TLR when I can afford it.
Here's an article on looking for a used one http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/wonderful-world-rolleiflex-tlr-photography-buying-used-rolleiflex-tlr (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/wonderful-world-rolleiflex-tlr-photography-buying-used-rolleiflex-tlr)
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'Cords I've had several, 'Flex's two. I picked up a 2.8F for a good price some years ago and some years later sold it at a good profit. Amazing Planar which put it on a par with the Hasselblad, except that it was a lot niftier to use when travelling or in the street. Loved it, miss it.
Then there's my 621 from 1934, a 75/3.8 Tessar lens in an 800g body, with (good fortune) a PC flash contact instead of the more common cable release socket. After replacing the mirror and putting in a Beattie screen it's an ace shooter. Just after I bought it I had the honour of shooting an actress of the same age (same age as the camera, obviously). Haven't used it since last year. Hmm.
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I've had three (currently got the third).
My first was a 3.5T in virtually mint condition. I can't remember what I was saving for but I sold that one to Urban. My second was a 2.8e which was a lot heavier but the lenses were beautiful. Again, it went as part of a trade. My current one is another 3.5T - this time grey. Not in as good condition as the first but available at a price I couldn't ignore. I'm thinking about getting it overhauled as it isn't as silky smooth operator as my first - but I'll wait until I get a couple of rolls through it.
Personally, I reckon the 3.5T is probably the best bang-for-buck Rolleiflex as the lenses are first rate - not quite up there with the 2.8 Xenotar and Planar versions, but extremely good. The 3.5T also accepts Bay 1 accessories which tend to be a fair bit cheaper than the 3.5F (Bay 2) and 2.8 series (Bay 1).
I can see me keeping this a good while as it's not an expensive / collector's piece but there's always the issue of having a fixed focal length lens compared to a 'Blad. This time round, I've got some close-up lenses (Rolleiparkeil) for when I want to focus a bit closer.
For some, Rolleis can be a bit "Marmite" but, when you see what can be achieved by the likes of Vivian Maier, Avedon, Bailey and a host of others, you can see why they remain extremely popular and tend to hold their value well when in good condition.
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I have three and they are my favorite cameras. I have two Automat K4B MX models with Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar f/3.5 lenses and a Baby Rolleiflex. Clearly I'm not hung up on paying extra for a Zeiss lens and I doubt you will be able to tell the difference, they are made with same formulas. I purchased one of my K4B models on eBay for $50 and sent it to Harry Fleenor to service the shutter and clean the lenses inside and out for about $250. Lens haze and slow shutter speeds seem to be the most common problems that I saw when I was looking for them. I would avoid lens haze but shutter speeds can be fixed if you leave money in your budget for repair.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/12356639934_b8190d147c_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/jPV1y7)Rolleiflex Automat 6x6 TLR (https://flic.kr/p/jPV1y7) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/12356641883_31bc7892df_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/jPV28H)Monorail at EMP (https://flic.kr/p/jPV28H) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/24053100264_7d46d932ce_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/CDuqHf)Baby Rolleiflex (https://flic.kr/p/CDuqHf) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1702/25873066325_ae0281dee5_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Fqjedr)Berries (https://flic.kr/p/Fqjedr) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
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I in love with the Roleiflexes! Have had more than 10 of them, first things first - they are all lovely, from the basic MX-EVS w/ Tessar 75/3.5 to the latest 2.8 FX.
In my book the best buy would be a late 3.5F. Pretty much as sharp at 3.5 as it is a 11, even in the corners. Removable chimney and handy "crocodile" strap lugs, not to mention almost half the price of a similar 2.8.
A good contender would be the 2.8C with Xenotar. lots of aperture blades (if you are on the geeky side when it comes to sunstars and out of focus light sources. It has a more dreamy, lower contrast touch to the images.
I chose to keep a mint late 2.8F I got at a fair price with the Rolleinar set. It´s a camera for life. I can´t really think of a camera that feels better in use. Also a funny thing, the new FX was the "crudest" of them all, not as smooth, noisier shutter and less precise shutter release but with a really good meter in the finder and that new Planar handles stray light really really well. On a budget I would take a close look at a late Minolta Autocord, 90% of the Rolleiflex feeling at one third or less of the price.
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Mine's a 2.8c with Zeiss lenses. Bought as a wreck and rebuilt. I'm sure I've shown it here before but any excuse...
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8711128910_9d30951c8f_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/egLP8L)
Rolleiflex 2.8c modified 1 (https://flic.kr/p/egLP8L) by Peter Robinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ridgeway-photographer/), on Flickr
If weight is an issue then the earlier ones are lighter or try a Rolleicord.
Then there's the Baby of course...
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/653/20818780039_41dc5b1f75_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xHFFZr)
camo baby rollei (https://flic.kr/p/xHFFZr) by Peter Robinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ridgeway-photographer/), on Flickr
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I also have a pre-war 621 "Old Standard" with the uncoated 75/3.8 Zeiss Tessar. If there is a better camera and lens for Ektar, I haven't found it.
gothamtomato, if you're itching for a TLR but not quite ready to jump into the Rolleiflex end of the pool, I've got a Flexaret that I just restored but am not making much use of that I'd be willing to let go cheap. Drop me a note if you're interested.
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I have a flexaret and can say that they are good.
While it takes a while to get used to the focus slider up front and the various idiosyncrasies of the design, they're still fun to use.
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Debbie,
Another option might be to look at Mamiya C220 / C330 as they are also fantastic cameras and have the advantage of allowing alternative lens sets to be used and even macro with their built-in bellows. They are also a lot cheaper than Rolleis but with no significant loss of optical quality.
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Plus one vote for the Mamiya C330. My first medium format camera was one and my biggest mistake was to sell it and buy a Hasselblad.
Not small though but still a great camera.
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Like Paul already mentioned I bought his 3.5T. It's an amazing camera and even the built in selenium meter was working fine. Unfortunately I was in need of some cash last year and had to sell it. Well, at least it went to a friend of mine. :-\
These days I would probably go for a Baby Rolleiflex because I already have so many 120 cameras. ;D
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Plus one vote for the Mamiya C330. My first medium format camera was one and my biggest mistake was to sell it and buy a Hasselblad.
Not small though but still a great camera.
I have a similar story with the Mamiya 330. I bought one (years ago) and loved it, but then got accepted to school and needed the cash to pay my tuition so I had to sell it. :-\