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Re: [Rollei] Newbie - help me select an old Rolleiflex or Rolliecord TLR
- Subject: Re: [Rollei] Newbie - help me select an old Rolleiflex or Rolliecord TLR
- From: bigler@ens2m.fr
- Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2000 13:08:01 +0100 (CET)
- References:
Please find attached
1) my personal summary about Rollei TLRs.
2)a RUG FAQ document recently released that will help you in your
research.
Happy New Year
- --
Emmanuel BIGLER
<bigler Besancon France
I'd like to add a short summary to the different Rollei TLR grades,
those regularly built in the '60s and '70s (last models except some
crazy gold plated models made afterwards in the '80s).
Most affordable : Rolleicord, (last model VB). Taking lens Schneider
Xenar 3.5, 4 elements/3 groups, tessar design. No crank, no display of
speed/aperture on top but only on side of taking lens. Speed/aperture
setting directly on the Compur shutter with a lever like for a view
camera. Optional film masks for 16 4.5x6 frames. Filter bayonet size I.
Slightly more expensive : T model. Zeiss tessar 3.5. Folding crank but
no double exposure, not automatic feeling of the beginning of film,
optional non coupled meter. Speed/aperture setting directly on the
Compur shutter with a lever like the 'cord. Speed and aperture visible
from top trough a belt mechanism. Optional film masks for 16 4.5x6
frames. Filter bayonet size I.
3.5 E or 2.8 E optional non coupled meter like in T but otherwise
settings with 2 wheels in front like F models. Display visible from
top trough a gear mechanism like in Fs.
3.5 F coupled meter, all deluxe features. Zeiss planar 3.5 or
Schneider Xenotar 3.5. Filter bayonet size II. Rock-solid but
significantly heavier than a 'cord or a T. Planar or Xenotar (5 or 6
element lenses) are better than a tessar/xenar only a wide apertures
f/3.5 to f/5.6. Beyond, at f/8 of f/11, a good tessar/xenar will
perform as well as any planar or xenotar.
2.8 F same but with 2.8 Planar or Xenotar. Filter bayonet size III.
Some people tend to prefer the 3.5 supposed to by slightly sharper
than the 2.8. The subject is *very controversial* among Ruggers. But
this is part of the Rolleiflex myth : a subtle mixture of true,
proven, technical facts and subjective user feelings and dreams.
2.8 GX : body basically like a T i.e. not automatic rollers-feeders
for the beginning of film, but control wheels and speed/aperture
mechanical display through a geared display visible from top like a F.
Built-in TTL light and flash meter, but since the shutter is
mechanical (like a Rollei 35) can operate without battery if yo have a
hand-held meter. Filter bayonet size III. Some conservative people do
not like it as being "decadent" with respect to the F from the "Golden
Ages". A really hot topic among Ruggers. And also, supreme sacrilege,
the last models are fitted with a Japanese shutter instead of the
beloved German Synchro-Compur. So one the aperture wheel turns in the
opposite direction with respect to an early 2.8GX of a classical E or
F.
Cameras with Zeiss lenses are sold at a higher price than a Schneider.
This is not at all justified to my humble opinion. So a
Schneider-equipped R-TLR is a good user choice. The optional 120/220
option is for me useless. As an amateur I only use 120 rollfilm. Some
F's were fitted with a glass plane to flatten the film. Useless also
because the expected gain in film flatness is from a user point of
view destroyed by the burden of keeping this glass spotless clean.
A R-TLR always kept in its original leather ever-ready case looks
always prettier than one always kept without protection. Unfortunately
most pros in the old times never used the ever ready case to save time
on assignment.
As far as filters and accessories are concerned, original Rollei
accessories are easy to find on the second hand market. Bayonet III
accessories are still made by Rollei for the 2.8 GX. Moreover one may
find adapter-rings fitting the 3 sizes of R-TLR bayonets to various
standard metric threads. I myself have bought such adapters from SRB
film service, (UK) and some made made by Heliopan (Germany) ; this
company maintains a full line of bayonet filters, lens hoods, adapters
etc all made of brass for Rolleiflexes, Hasselblads, Zeiss Ikon
classic cameras. In Germany B&W also has a comprehensive range of
Rollei bayonet filters and accessories. Several US companies offer
similar products.
- --
Emmanuel BIGLER
<bigler
Besancon, FRANCE
- --------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Frequently Asked/Answered questions on the Rollei Users List.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Contributors, alphabetical order
Emmanuel Bigler <bigler
Ross Bleasdale <ross
Jan Boettcher <jab
Jan Decher <Jan.Decher >
Peter Kotsinadelis <peterk >
Marc James Small <msmall >
Ferdi Stutterheim <ferdi
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Revised: December 21, 2000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Ferdi Stutterheim this document is hosted on:
http://www.stutterheim.nl/rollei/faq.txt
To get a copy of the last version of this document by e-mail, please
send a blank e-mail message to <bigler with the subject
line:
send rug faq
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to our list. In addition to the welcome message please find
here a document to help you to find useful information about the
discussion list itself as well as general information about Rollei
cameras. There is another FAQ project, different in its spirit and
complementary, under the form of a web page (for more information
please e-mail Ed at <edhoo >)
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/3762/Rollei/index.html
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Linguistic foreword: we are an international group mostly speaking
about German cameras, although the exchanges do take place in English.
Group members frequently use various acronyms, abbreviations and
trademarks explained below.
The original German pronunciation for "Rollei" sounds like "Roll-eye" in
English.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Frequently used acronyms and trademarks (TM)
Various film sizes and formats
Goldeck cassette 16mm film special cartridge for Rollei 16
and Rollei 16S
APS for Rollei Nano
110 pocket film cassette for Rollei A110 and E 110
126 instamatic cassette for Rollei A26 and Rolleiflex SL 26
127 size code for small rollfilm used in the "baby" Rolleiflex TLR,
12 frames, image size 4x4 cm (38x38 mm, 1.5"x1.5") "superslides".
135 most popular film size used for 24x36mm and 18x24mm cameras and
or 35mm also on Rollei 6x6 TLRs with the Rolleikin adaptor.
120 size code for un-perforated rollfilm, width = 61mm, with black
backing paper, used in medium format cameras. Allows various
formats to be obtained on the same roll, namely (metric sizes in
cm) 4.5x6, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8, 6x9, and panoramic 6x12, 6x17.
220 similar to 120 but with twice as many frames per roll, no backing
paper except at start and end of film.
6x6 6x6cm (2"1/4x2"1/4) square format (actually ~ 56mmx56mm) used by
medium format cameras including of course Rollei TLRs and SLRs.
6x9 6x9cm (2"1/4x3"1/4) format (actually ~ 56mmx82mm) used by medium
format and view cameras on 120 or 220 rollfilm.
6.5x9 6.5x9cm (2"1/2x3"1/2) format (actual film size ~63.5x88.5mm)
sheet film size adaptable on a Rollei TLRs or SLRs with a
special adaptor back.
4x5 4"x5" sheet film size used on view or field cameras
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
favourite acronyms, photographic terms and trademarks
CLA Clean, Lube, Adjust: maintenance of a mechanical shutter
Compur (TM) a famous type of leaf shutter used on various Rollei
cameras. Formerly a brand name of the Deckel company, Munich
(Germany).
Synchro-Compur (TM) same as above but with a contact system to allow
flash synchronisation.
CZ Carl Zeiss (Germany)
CZJ Carl Zeiss Jena (Germany)
Cord 'cord or short for "Rolleicord"
Distagon (TM) wide-angle lens made by Carl Zeiss or Rollei under licence
found on the rare Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR "wide", on 6x6 SLRs,
and 35mm cameras.
DBP/DBPM DBP means Deutches BundesPatent or "German Patent". BGM stands
for "Deutsches Bundesgebrauchsmuster" which translates to
"German Federal Registered Design" and is a simplified form
of a patent. These mentions were engraved on R-TLRs.
DRP/DRGM same for pre-WWII cameras and until ~1951.
DOF Depth of Field
ERC Ever-Ready Case. Often mocked at as 'Never-Ready'
Flex 'flex or short for "Rolleiflex"
Heidoscop (TM) Early stereo camera (for plates, later a roll film
adaptor available)
JSK Jos. Schneider, Bad-Kreuznach (Germany)
LTM Leica Thread Mount 39mmx26tpi thread lens mount for Leica cameras
and compatible
MXV system found on synchronised shutters that allows either M-agnesium
flash synch, electronic (X) flash synch and self-timer (V)
P11 (TM?) a classic Rollei dual format medium format slide
projector from the sixties
Planar (TM) 5-, 6-, or 7- element lens by Carl Zeiss or Rollei under
licence found on Rollei TLRs and SLRs
R-TLR Rollei twin-lens reflex camera
RUG Rollei Users Group, this list
Rolleiflex (TM) trademark of various TLR and SLR cameras by Rollei
Rolleifix (TM) quick-release plate for Rollei TLRs.
Rolleikin (TM) a device allowing the use of 35mm film in a Rollei TLR
camera.
Rolleidoscop (TM) Evolution Heidoscop stereo camera for roll film only
Rolleiscop (TM) Projector for slides in 5x5 cm mounts
Rolleinar (TM) Close up lens for Rolleiflex, later brand name of
Rollei-SLR lenses
Rugger a member of the RUG discussing list
SLR a Single-Lens Reflex camera like the Rolleiflex SL66, SLX and SL
6000 series as well as 35 mm Rollei SLR's.
Sonnar (TM) 5-element lens by Carl Zeiss or Rollei under licence found
on the Tele-Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR, on 6x6 SLRs as well as some
35 mm cameras
TLR a Twin-Lens Reflex camera like the classical Rolleiflex.
Tessar (TM) 4-element lens by Carl Zeiss or Rollei under licence found
on various Rollei TLRs as on some Rollei 35mm cameras.
Triotar (TM) 3-element lens by Carl Zeiss or Rollei under licence
found on early TLRs as well as on some Rollei 35mm
cameras.
UV Ultra-Violet (for optical filters)
WLF Waist Level Finder, associated with a folding viewing hood.
WWII The second World War like in ".. it was a pre-WWII design.."
Xenar (TM) 4-element lens made by Schneider Kreuznach found on various
Rollei TLRs
Xenotar (TM) 5- or 6-element lens by Schneider Kreuznach found on
rollei TLRs and SLRs
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Other acronyms, also shared by discussion groups in English on the
Internet
FS For Sale ; according to the RUG's rule: Friday's Buy/Sell posts
IMHO In My Humble Opinion
OT Off-Topic posts (in the subject line)
WTB Want To Buy for Friday's Buy/Sell posts
For other Internet acronyms and jargon you should refer to Eric
Raymond's authoritative work <esr > available (among
numerous other sites) on the following web sites
http://murrow.journalism.wisc.edu/jargon/
http://www.new.ox.ac.uk/admin/jargon/html/index.html
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Information available on the World Wide Web
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Archives of the Rollei Users group:
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=rollei
To get, for example, a list of messages related to the subject
"rolleiflex t", type the previous keywords in the "keyword, search"
field.
Below is a list of useful keywords to look for, as an answer to
frequently asked questions. Select either "subject" or "body" or both
according to the number of relevant messages you get. You sometimes have
to refine your search (additional keyword) to narrow down to a tractable
number of messages. Clicking on one message shows the full text of the
Rugger's contribution as well as related posts which is often useful
also.
keyword(s) search: related topic:
repair CLA "Where do I get my Rollei repaired ?"
planar vs xenotar "Which is the best lens ?"
(~90 relevant messages ;-)
tessar vs xenar
serial number "Which model do I have ?"
battery (ies) replacement batteries for older 35mm models
battery 35 for the rollei 35
cementing rebuilding a lens, repairing a prism
coating anti-reflection coating
exposure meter many Rollei camera have a built-in meter
selenium but many Ruggers use a hand-held meter as well
meter E specific meter of the 'E' and 'T' R-TLR
meter diffusor
rolleiflex t
rolleicord
rolleiflex 3.5 advice on specific
rolleiflex 2.8
rollei 35 S
rollei 35 T camera models
rollei SL35
rollei SL2000
qz 35
....etc...
ISBN favourite reference books
leather
strap taking care of camera cases and straps
case repair
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Many questions related to general photography, (which *strictly
speaking* should be off-topic), are also discussed on the RUG list and
the RUG archive is a good source of information.
About basic questions regarding photographic lenses, you can read
http://www.graflex.org/lenses/photographic-lenses-tutorial.html
For specific depth of field questions related to the use of Rolleinar
lenses, see:
http://www.stutterheim.nl/rollei/rolleigraphy.html
A list of photographic subjects for which you may find good advice on
http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=rollei from expert Ruggers:
keyword(s) search: related topic:
depth of field depth of field issues
DOF
film
slide "Hi, What is your favourite slide film here ?"
negative
darkroom
enlarger
--------------------------------
filter self-explanatory subjects, but
flash
strobe combine with another keyword !
--------------------------------
tripod
case bag
pixel "Hi, Do you think digital is the way to go?"
scanner
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Rollei factory web site in Germany http://www.rollei.de
Famous lens companies, partners of Rollei for a long time:
Carl Zeiss http://www.zeiss.de
Schneider Kreuznach: http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com (Germany)
http://www.schneideroptics.com (USA)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
A short list of non-commercial web sites where you'll find useful
information and links to numerous other Rollei-related web sites not
listed here:
http://www.matthes.com/#Rollei.org
http://www.foto.no/rolleiflex/index.html
http://www.stutterheim.nl/rollei/rolleigraphy.html
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/3762/Rollei/index.html
http://people.we.mediaone.net/wymanburke/The_Rollei_Page.html
Rollei threads in Medium Format Digest:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-one-category.tcl?topic=Medium%20Format%20Digest&category=Rollei&topic=Medium%20Format%20Digest&category=Rollei
http://www.photo.net/photo/medium-format/rollei-tlr.html
http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/tlr.html
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/rollei/
http://www.rflex.de (Germany)
- -------------------------------------------
Rollei 600X camera series:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/3762/Rollei/index.html
http://www.photo.net/photo/rollei-6008.html
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Rollei 35 model:
http://www.rolleicamera.dial.pipex.com
35 SE model:
http://www.cameraquest.com/rol35se.htm
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Serial numbers:
http://www.matthes.com/#Rollei.org and also:
http://home.worldonline.dk/~rongsted/Rolleisn.htm
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
A web site hosting images taken with Rollei cameras:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=43175&Auth=false
For more information please contact Daniel Alexander <pndalex >
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
In English
"Complete Rollei User's Manual", Parker, Ian, ISBN 1-874031-96-7,
HOVE FOTO BOOKS (Jersey) (1994)
"Rollei TLR, The History", Parker, Ian, ISBN 1-874657-01-7,
HOVE FOTO BOOKS (Jersey) (1992)
"Rollei TLR Collector's Guide", Parker, Ian, ISBN 1-874031-95-9,
HOVE FOTO BOOKS (Jersey) (1993)
"Collectors guide to Rollei cameras", Evans, Arthur ISBN 0-931838-06-1
"The Rollei Way", Mannheim, L.A., 10th edition,
ISBN 0-8038-6351-9 (USA only)
and-0-240-44911-8 (excl.USA) FOCAL PRESS (1974)
"Rolleiflex SL66 and SLX Way", Mannheim, L. Andrew, ISBN 0-240-50788-6,
FOCAL PRESS, London. ca. 600 pp. (1975)
"Rollei 35 Guide", Emanuel, W.D., ISBN 0-240-50696, FOCAL PRESS (1974)
"Advanced Rolleiflex and Rolleicord Guide", Tydings, Kenneth S.,
(for Rolleiflex 4x4; Rolleiflex 3.5,2.8; Rolleicord and Tele-Rolleiflex)
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. (60-15377)
AMPHOTO MODERN CAMERA GUIDE SERIES, (1996)
"Fritz Henle's Guide to Rollei Photography", Henle, Fritz, 208 pp,
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 56-10900. THE STUDIO PUBLICATIONS
INC. NY. (1956)
A camera book of general interest covering the early sixties:
"Cameras, the facts, a collector's guide (1957-1964)", Emanuel, W.D
and Matheson, D., historic edition edited by L. Gaunt,
ISBN 0-240-51062-3, FOCAL PRESS (1981)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Bi-lingual German-English
"Rollei Technical Report", Prochnow, Claus, ISBN 3-89506-156-5, LINDEMANNS (1996)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
In German
"Rollei-Werke, 1920-1945", Prochnow, Claus, Rollei-Report Volume I
(pre-WWII cameras), ISBN 3-89506-105-0, LINDEMANNS (1993)
"Mini-report 1" same but condensed ISBN 3-89506-116-6
"Rollei-Werke, Rollfilmkameras", Prochnow, Claus, Rollei-Report
Volume II (6x6 rollfilm cameras), ISBN 3-89506-118-2, LINDEMANNS (1994)
"Mini-report 2" same but condensed ISBN 3-89506-117-4
"Rollei-Werke, Rollei Fototechnic 1960 bis 1995", Prochnow, Claus, Rollei-Report
Volume III (35 mm cameras), ISBN 3-89506-141-7, LINDEMANNS (1995)
"Mini-report 3" same but condensed ISBN 3-89506-142-5
"Rollei-Werke, Rollei Fototechnic 1958 bis 1998", Prochnow, Claus, Rollei-Report
Volume IV (projectors, flash units, 2.8GX TLR), ISBN 3-89506-141-7,
LINDEMANNS (1997)
"Rolleiflex SLX und 6000 Report", Prochnow, Claus, Rollei-Report
Volume V, ISBN 3-89506-183-2, LINDEMANNS, (2000)
"Rollei, Das grosse Handbuch", Beckhusen, Dieter and Maschke, Thomas,
ISBN 3-874675831 LATERNA MAGICA (1997)
"Rollei 35", Pangerl, Franz, ISBN 3-895061301 LINDEMANNS (1999 )
"Rollei 35, Kameras und Objektive", Afalter, Udo, ISBN 3-895061301
LINDEMANNS (1994)
"Rolleiflex, Rolleicord", Afalter, Udo ISBN 3-920890-09-4
AFALTER (1991)
"Rollei-Vom Heidoscop zur Rolleiflex 6008", Afalter, Udo ISBN 3-928126-51-2
LINDEMANNS (1992)
"Das Rolleiflex Buch", Heering, Walther (reprinted from last 1967 edition)
ISBN 3-928126-00-8 LINDEMANNS (1991)
"Rollei 35, Eine Kamera-Geschichte.", Prochnow, Claus,
ISBN 3-930292106 LINDEMANNS (1998)
this book includes a summary in English ISBN 3-00-004582-1
"Rollei fototechnic" Weyer, Helfried, ISBN 3-524680453,
UMSCHAU BRAUS (1997)
"Rolleivision twin MSC 300/300P", Scheibl, Josef, LATERNA MAGICA
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
In French
The following book on medium format cameras has a section on the
Rolleiflex 2.8 GX:
"Les moyens formats, tome 2", Salvaire, Paul , ISBN: 2-862580694,
EDITIONS VM, (1996)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Note about Copyright issues: we make every effort to enforce
applicable copyrights. Contact <msmall > for details.
------------------------------