Re: [Rollei] 220 film in 'ordinary' Rolleiflexes

[keller.schaefer@t-online.de]

I took a deep breath and decided to challenge you there, Mr. Knoppow.

a) The purpose of the shifting pressure plate is not to make room for 
the Rolleikin lever. It DOES make room for the lever but the purpose is 
to position the plate differently, i.e. closer to the camera. If the 
sole purpose of the shifting mechanism was to make room for the lever 
it would have been far easier to make the cutout in the plate a little 
longer. The intention to make that cutout just as long as it is, 
obviously was to make it impossible to close the back with the plate 
wrongly set to 6x6 (as previously described). 

b) There certainly is a 'film channel' in the Rolleiflex and the 
so-called pressure plate does NOT go flat against the sides of the 
aperture (and it always stays well clear of the guide rollers). When 
the back is closed there remains a definite gap between pressure plate 
and camera body (the sides of the film aperture). The size of the gap 
is controlled by the position of the plate. You can work out what size 
the gap approximately has with calliper and ruler. I found that with 
the Rolleikin fitted it is something like 1/100 of an inch between 
plate and Rolleikin (35mm film definitely is thinner).  
In the 6x6 position it is more than 2/100 of an inch between plate and 
body aperture sides (surprisingly, as film and backing paper together 
are not much more than 1/100 inch). So there is nothing like 'the film 
lifting the pressure plate' but the film running in a gap (a channel) 
of exact dimensions. Otherwise, with the film squeezed between plate 
and body aperture sides it should be impossible to transport the film 
at all. 
  
Sven Keller

> I think this has already been addressed. The purpose of 
> the shifting 
> pressure plate is to clear the release lever of the 
> Rolleikin. If you close 
> the back with the plate in the 6x6 position the release 
> lever pushes the 
> plate away from the film causing blured focus. You will 
> also find you can't 
> wind the film because the release lever can't operate.  
> There is no "film 
> channel" in the Rollei, the pressure plate goes flat 
> against the sides of 
> the film aperture and guide rollers. The film lifts it 
> away somewhat so it 
> presses the film against the guides at the  sides of the 
> aperture and 
> against the top and bottom rollers (for roll film). The 
> Rolleikin becomes 
> the film gate or aperture when it is installed, with its 
> own guides. Since 
> the film lifts the pressure plate away from the focal 
> plane it is also 
> lifted off the 6x6 side guides by the film which is 
> pressed against the 
> 35mm guides on the Rolleikin adaptor. The guides extend 
> well beyond the 
> aperture assuring control of film flatness at the ends of 
> the frame.  
>   The Rolleikin is about as elegant a makeshift as you 
> are likely to find.  
> ----
> Richard Knoppow
> Los Angeles,Ca.
> dickburk  
> 
>

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