RB67 vs Hasselblad 500C/M

[excalibur2]

...and just to add with reference to TLR Rolleis;- is the film thickness sensor i.e. the camera would know any type of 120 used. As I'm not an expert on TLRs wondered if the Japanese cameras sorted out this problem when copying the Rollei or even if Rollei modified their cameras in later years as new film was introduced.
Anyone with an accurate vernier could measure the difference in thickness between old and new colour and B/W film as when I had my Rollei TLR it worked with colour film but B\W just wound all the way through i.e. didn't stop at 1.

 

[Chungle456]

I've owned a Rollei SL66 for about 6 months now, so I can give my opinion on what they are like from the short time I've dealt with it. I actually had to return the first one I bought as the inside mechanism was a mess, turning the shutter arm felt horrible and I knew something was wrong with it. After developing a role of film the negatives were all so close together and the spacing wasn't even at all. Also the first 2 negatives were cut off from the bottom of the film roll (n) I have no idea how you would ever fix, or find someone to fix a problem like that these days. Thankfully on my second purchase I got a good one and it has been working great. The things are a total beast though. I was honestly shocked at the weight when I first picked it up. But being all mechanical you'd never have to worry about the electronics going which I saw as a big plus. The photos it produces (with a f2.8 Rollei 80mm lens) are stunning too.

I'd recommend one but you really have to get lucky with the working condition of them. The first ebay seller I got the broken one from must not have tested it at all, but thankfully accepted my return (but only after criticizing me for buying a second hand camera and expecting it to work )

 

[Harlequin565]

but you really have to get lucky with the working condition of them.

I think this would put me off!

Had a response back for a P/X for my RB67 & K4B which was reasonable. Just need to decide what to do. On the one hand the glass is lovely & I know it all works properly. On the other it's really unwieldy.

When I bought it, I really didn't mind the weight. However it's just getting too much for me these days. Guess I'm not as young as I thought.

The 500CM does seem much more ergonomically handy (no pun intended) allowing you to hold it in one hand quite easily. I tried the same "hold" with the RB and it was really uncomfortable.

First world problems as mentioned on page 1

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

when I had my Rollei TLR it worked with colour film but B\W just wound all the way through i.e. didn't stop at 1.

The sense bar is spring loaded to push a linkage that starts the counter, when it senses the "bump" where the tape attaches the film to the backing paper.

I was told by a repairman that most problems are down to dried out lubricant and easily treated. At a guess, the colour film you used had a thicker "bump" than the mono film and the bar wasn't returning to a low enough position to sense the mono roll's "bump" when you came to load it.

I don't think anyone besides Franke and Heidecke ever came up with roll film first frame auto sensing. Even Hasselblad just used the red dot and arrow.

These days, this is the closest I get to using a TLR...

 

[excalibur2]

For me the tele Rollei was the most useless camera I ever had mainly because the min focus distance was about 8.5ft. Anyway if Rollei have\had a weakness it was the film thickness sensor as mine wouldn't take B\W film.... so I took it back to Fox Talbot and the guy said he would send it away for repair, about a week later was told to collect. In the shop I said "you better check it to see if it is now ok", so the guy put a B\W film in and it wound all the way through . well I was glad as I rejected it for a RB67.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

For me the tele Rollei was the most useless camera I ever had mainly because the min focus distance was about 8.5ft.

Different people, different strokes. I found the TeleRollei to be a very useful piece of kit. The 135mm lens meant I could just about manage with that and a 3.5F for most jobs, so no having to take the 35mm along to get a snap of the local football match...