Tell me about Rollei

cambsno

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Simon
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Although mainly a digital man, I have enjoyed shooting with a Nikon fe and a Nikon f90. I have always liked the look of the rollei (flex or cord). Now before I do something silly like buy one, it would be useful to know some basics. Lots of different types, what's the difference? Would not be looking to spend more than £100 if that's possible. What type of film, how you use them etc...
 
Buying one wouldn't be silly.

I suggest a Rolleicord rather than a Rolleiflex. If you get a Rolleicord with a Schneider lens you will not be disappointed.

A Rolleiflex is easier to use as it has a film wind lever which also cocks the shutter. The Rolleicord has a film wind on knob and a separate operation to cock the shutter.

This minor inconvenience is irrelevant when you see that a Rolleicord can be bought for about a third of the price of a similarly specified Rolleiflex.

I have a Rolleicord V and it would be the one camera I would keep if I had to reduce my collection of about sixty down to one - and there is also a Rolleiflex in that collection.

Every time I make a print from a Rolleicord negative I am surprised at how sharp the lens is.

A common criticism of Rollei TLRs is that they have a fixed 'normal' focal length lens. If you think that is a limiting factor, go to a library and borrow England Observed by John Gay and you will see that having just the the one focal length on a TLR is no barrier to great images.


Steve.
 
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Thanks Steve. Often shoot with just a prime anyway so fixed is not an issue. Do they have different focal lengths, and apologies for the basic questions but do they all take the same type of film or do they vary?
 
They all take 120 film, and if my memory serves me correctly they did Rolleiflexs of 135mm (tele), and a 55mm "wide" (as well as the far more popular 80mm, the "standard" lens, which roughly equals a 50mm "standard" lens on a 35mm camera), so they would be roughly equal to an 85mm or a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera) - hope that makes sense!:D

To further confuse matters, I've also seen a small version that uses 127 film (rare!)
 
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Hey Simon. Don't discount the YashicaMat. Great results with the yashinon lens. Plenty of good clean non metered examples well within your budget.
Very good entry into TLR shooting. Takes 120 film.
 
Rolleicord with a 75mm Tessar will probably be in your budget if you can find one.

B&W 120 fillm A good Ilford Delta 100 if nice & bright or 400 if dullish.

They are great to use "hand held" with the neck strap helping support the weight (they aren't too heavy to carry about though) leaning against something.
 
2.8 models are 80mm, 3.5 models are 75mm. They're great cameras and you can't really go wrong with any model if they're in good shape.
 
A few points I would like to clarify/add to.

To further confuse matters, I've also seen a small version that uses 127 film (rare!)

The 127 film version was the Rolleiflex 4x4, but most of them are obviously smaller (as you would expect), and aside from early models, all of them have a very different paint job to the 'conventional' Rolleiflex/Rolleicord models. They look like fun, but command a small premium for some reason, and a similar priced Rolleicord IV/V/Va/Vb which takes 120 film would be a much better camera to own and use.

Just about all Rolleis ever made have the standard 80mm lens (some might be 75mm) but they did (do?) make a Tele Rollei and a Wide Rollei - but they cost serious amounts of money!

Franke & Heidecke probably produced more models with 75mm lenses than 80mm lenses. The earliest models, the Tessar-equipped Automats, all the Rolleicords, Rolleiflex T, all the 3.5 lettered models - all were 75mm. Even the unloved Rollei Magic was 75mm.

2.8 models are 80mm, 3.5 models are 75mm. They're great cameras and you can't really go wrong with any model if they're in good shape.

Definitely the case for later models (think 2.8/3.5C or D onwards) but the Rolleiflex T is renowned for having inferior internal mechanical parts (Harry Fleenor is believed to be quite disparaging about this), the Rollei Magics are almost entirely reliant on often dead selenium cells, there was a large batch of 2.8As with mismatched lenses etc. etc.

On a budget of £100, I would look for a Rolleicord IV/V or a Rolleiflex Automat. The former are likely to have had less film through them though, and are younger, and offer a lot of Rollei for very little outlay.
 
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Looks like a lovely one in classified section, can't justify that though on something I may not like!
 
Looks like a lovely one in classified section, can't justify that though on something I may not like!

That one... A general point though, if you don't get along (and TLRs aren't for everyone), they do hold their second value very well.

EDIT: thought you were talking about the 2.8 from before, just seen that 3.5.
 
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Well, just bit the bullet and ordered a rolleicord VA, looks like a good example with case. 120 film ordered too, so this weekend will be interesting!!
 
Well, it turned up Sat. Seems to work fine, will find out about 12pm as thats when I can pick my film up!!! It takes a while to get used to the fact that the viewfinder is the 'other way round'. Other than that it feels nice to use.
 
Well, it turned up Sat. Seems to work fine, will find out about 12pm as thats when I can pick my film up!!! It takes a while to get used to the fact that the viewfinder is the 'other way round'. Other than that it feels nice to use.

Great, don't forget to post your results.
 
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