Rollei or similar?

davidh6781

davidh6781

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I have had this attraction to the rolleiflex cameras but never had the opportunity to use one but now im going to start the game and have a go.

so checked ebay and sat myself down as the Rolleiflex f/2.8 are very expensive.

So any suggestions with similar cameras using medium format would be great, don't mind spending money but not hundreds. gotta to get approval too lol
 
davidh6781 said:
I have had this attraction to the rolleiflex cameras but never had the opportunity to use one but now im going to start the game and have a go.

so checked ebay and sat myself down as the Rolleiflex f/2.8 are very expensive.

So any suggestions with similar cameras using medium format would be great, don't mind spending money but not hundreds. gotta to get approval too lol
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You could do worse than go for a YashicaMat 124G, good value and pretty reliable or if you want square but with the ability to change lenses there's the Mamiya C220/330 series.

All available for a fraction of the cost of a Rolleiflex.
 
I picked up a Yashica Mat a while back to try it out and also as a restoration project. Having restored it and run a few rolls through it I've found that the TLR layout is really nice and surprisingly fast to use/focus using the bright wasit level finder.





Cheers
Steve
 
Yashicamats are great, and very good value. If you have a little more to spend and want to satisfy your Rollei craving, you could get a late-ish Rolleicord (I have a Va), but it's debatable whether the results would be any better than the Yashica. I used to own a Yashicamat, but sold it after not really getting on with it for some reason.

However I have now fallen for the Rolleicord, and ran about 15 rolls through it on holiday. Can't explain why, and may just be more about me than the cameras, having given the TLR thing a second chance it seemed to just click with me. Strange also as arguably the Yashica is easier to use than the Rolleicord as it winds on and cocks the shutter in one go (like a Rolleiflex). The Rolleicord is a little smaller and neater though. Whatever the reason, I really love using it.
 
I agree with esteemed gentlemen above. Both the Yash and Mamiya offer much better value for money than the Rollei and produce equally as good images. The Mamiya has the advantage of interchangeable lenses and they are scarily sharp, but the Yash is so nice to use and is light and quite small.

Andy
 
I have a Rollei Automat which I love to bits which goes for much much less than some of the others. A quick glance on ebay tells me one sold for less than £50 the other day, a bloody steal!
I have heard good things of the minolta autocord
 
Steve Smith said:
Better value for money than a Rolleiflex, but don't rule out a Rolleicord.

Steve.
Click to expand...

Agree, Get a Rolleicord - I got mine from here http://www.collectablecameras.com - Probably £100-150 and its great. Just got these back today from AG, not bad for a 50 odd year old camera!

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Takes some getting used to, but when you get it right its brilliant.
 
My vote is with a Rolleicord, some great models at not unreasonable prices if you are patient.

I am biased though!
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Although, I am a self confessed Rollei fanatic, getting any classic TLR 'square shooter' (Yashica, Minolta or Mamiya) is just a really good idea, great cameras and if you stick with them they will yield lots of enjoyment and quality images.
 
I must admit I am self confessed falling for the ole square format I just had my first two 120 films developed for my Zeiss Folder and they were stunningly good, I may be tempted in a few films time to move that on and look at the these types of camera as a replacement, square is so damn cool.

 
The Yashica models have become inflated in price on the used market in the last couple of years, precisely because everyone said they were the best entry level TLRs.

A Rolleicord IV is probably about the best value - it has the same lens as the later V, and is essentially the same. A Rolleicord V is also an excellent choice.

The controls on the Rolleicord are slower to operate than most Yashica models, but if you are using them for slow, deliberate photography, then that shouldn't matter.
 
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