What happened to the Rolleiflex supply?

[motosacto]

So I have a couple of Rolleiflexes that I'm thinking of selling, and I went online to look up the current pricing situation. Seems like the volume of TLRs available at all of the usual places (KEH, eBay, Koh's Cameras, etc.) is just a fraction of what it was two or three years ago.

Any idea what happened? The economy? They've all disappeared into collectors cupboards? Something else?

 

[Al Kaplan]

Maybe people are using them?

 

[amateriat]

Maybe people are using them?

Stranger things have happened...


- Barrett

 

[Keith]

This would have to have made a difference. People are obviously not so keen to part with a camera that may be difficult to replace at a sensible price in the future as the collectors and speculators start to stash them away!

 

[Al Kaplan]

I sold both of my Rollies and a Minolta Autocord a few years ago. Recently I picked up a yard sale Autocord and got the shutter loosened up and working. Surprisingly the lens is pristine but the body is missing most of its vulcanite and a lot of its paint. I just ordered a bunch of cheap film from Freestyle!

Looking back over my contact sheets from the 1960's and '70's is a revelation! Imagine being able to get a good well exposed shot out of the three frames that you shot. I'm hoping that I can still pull it off.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com has some 120 shots that I posted in the past week or so. The scans are directly off the contact sheets so the quality isn't fantastic.

 

[valdas]

Myself, I have two Rolleiflexes (3.5F). A couple of years ago I tried to sell one but did not get a decent offer... This year several people knowing I own this equipment approached me offering the price I wanted previously, but somehow I did not feel like selling it anymore... Reason? It's getting more and more difficult to find Rolleiflex in good shape and decently priced...

 

[David Murphy]

The price of the fancier models are going through the roof right now, particularly the Planar 2.8's

 

[david.elliott]

I just recently had my 2.8D cla-ed and fitted out with a maxwell screen. Its love.

 

[Oscar Levant]

I've been looking for a Vivitar Series 1 Solid Cat for years.

Last weekend at a NYC flea market, I bought a Nikon EL with a tickmark f2 50mm Nikkor on it for $35. As I was leaving, the guy reaches under the table and hands me a big lens case. "Oh yeah, this came with it."

It was a mint 600mm Solid Cat with all filters, Nikon T-mount, etc. Made by Perkins-Elmer, the Hubble telescope company, in USA.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Those Series 1 lenses were right up there with the best! I wish that I'd never parted with my 90/2.5 Macro. Flea markets and thrift stores like Good Will are great places to shop.

 

[Disaster_Area]

I'm in the same situation.. I have a Rolleicord Vb that is in desperate need of a CLA and a Yashica 124g... I've always wanted a Rolleiflex but when I have the cash the prices are way too high... I only seem to see good prices when I'm broke. I think I'll just send the Vb to Harry Fleanor and be happy with that for now.

 

[david.elliott]

I'm in the same situation.. I have a Rolleicord Vb that is in desperate need of a CLA and a Yashica 124g... I've always wanted a Rolleiflex but when I have the cash the prices are way too high... I only seem to see good prices when I'm broke. I think I'll just send the Vb to Harry Fleanor and be happy with that for now.

Paul Ebel did my CLA - good work and turnaround time at a good price too. Just throwing this out there as another option.

 

[JeffGreene]

I just obtained my first Rolleiflex. It's the MX-EVS model ser # 171XXXX with a fixed WLF putting it at about 1954 or 1955. When I got it the shutter wouldn't work below 1/30 sec, viewfinder was hazy, and the film transport was sluggish. Lenses were immaculate. Sent it to Krikor and it's working beautifully now at all speeds, viewfinder is crystal clear, and the film transport is buttery smooth. I'm still getting used to it. I've been using it for street portraits, but have yet to become as comfortable with it as I am with my 330F, my old wedding tool. I'm fortunate in that my daughter works for Ritz and I get free processing. I'll post some images when I'm happy and feel more synced with the camera.

Al, I used to have an Autocord, beautiful glass on that camera.

 

[climbing_vine]

I've noticed this also. Over the past 18 months the supply of used bodies taking 120 has changed from about 70-30 TLR vs folders, to about 5-95 it seems. 😛 Between all the usual retail suspects, classifieds on here and photo.net, etc. Right when I'd decided not to mess with a folder, and go with an Autocord or Yashicamat or something.

 

[Al Kaplan]

The Autocord is the most ergonomic of the TLR's, and the 4 element Rokkor is a better lens than the Tessars and Xenars on Rolleis.

 

[Rayt]

I just shot a roll with my newly acquired Autocord and the results most definitely live up to the hype. It is better than the Tessar and Xenar at least wide open where I shot with it. The tech who did the CLA told me to be very careful with the focusing lever as it is made from cast metal and can break on mild impact and there are no parts available.

 

[Oscar Levant]

Test shot out my window with the 600mm Solid Cat and a Nikon D700. This antenna was probably a half mile away:

I wish I still had the energy to dog those flea markets, but your EL and Cat probably represent the best you have found in ages, I imagine.

The tick is worth probably a grand if decent. The cats seem to go cheap, no one knows what they are, they just look like a cheap vivitar.

jealous! 😉

The tickmark was near mint with only a tiny ding on the filter ring. Actually, I enjoy flea markets, I go almost every weekend. To my benefit, I find deals like this quite a lot because I have a good eye and see things other people miss.

Probably 100 people looked at the Nikon and nobody spotted the lens. A student had offered $20 and was turned down, so I picked it up and just paid his asking price. The seller obviously thought the Vivitar lens was worthless and didn't even display it.

 

[FA Limited]

so what's a reasonable price for a late model 2.8F with Planar lens?

 

[Al Kaplan]

2.8F? A lot more than a Rollieflex T or Minolta Autocord, and those big series III filters and hoods are hard to come by.

 

[Oscar Levant]

The original Yashicamat with the Yashinon lens is just as good as the Minolta.