Which TLR?

Steve_F

Steve_F

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Hi all,
I'm thinking getting a TLR to go into my Billingham alongside my Leica. I'm after MF quality but I dont want to lug my RZ 67 around.
I'm looking to spend £100-£150. Some years ago a friend loaned me a Yashica that I enjoyed. I know I won't get 'blad or RZ quality but what the heck. It's bigger than 35mm.
The Mamiya C's are physically to large for the bag so all suggestions are welcome.
Any suggestions of UK recommended dealers etc would be welcome too.

Thanks,

Steve.
 
Seconded. A Rolleicord with Xenar lens (so a V, Va or Vb model) and in good condition should be obtainable for under £150.

All were very well made and should give great results.

Regards,
D.
 
I like small TLRs. I've used a Rolleicord IV, Autocord and a Yashica-Mat. All three of them produce nice images. The differences mostly come down handling reliability which probably varies more per camera instance than per brand:

- The Rolleicord IV feels like the smallest and lightest, though not by a significant margin. Mine has issues at slower shutter speeds but it feels like a very robust camera. I don't care for the 'move the lever one direction to wind, the other to shoot' design though. It isn't terrible but I've taken enough accidental shots... or shaken the camera by moving the wrong way. I should look into getting a soft release for it or something. Other than that, I really like the camera. I found this for $35 due to the slow shutter speed issue. Hasn't bothered me yet as I've always used it hand held anyway.
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=59657594%40N00&q=rolleicord&m=text

- Yashica EM. I had to spend some time repairing this camera. It made me very nervous about the winding mechanism; it looks like wear would hit this camera hard as the tolerances for the contact between two small parts is very low. If you look at Yashicas, be sure to test the winding thoroughly. $40 including parts to repair it, though it still isn't 100%. Nothing online with this camera yet.

- The Autocord is my favorite to handle so far. The ergonomics of the focusing lever are nice though I'm paranoid about breaking it. It made me realize how much I like a shutter button. The ground glass isn't as bright as I'd like (though I haven't done anything to improve it). I love the lenses rendering though - of my TLRs, it is the best. I found one with oily shutter blades for $40. A few hours of cleaning and it was good to go.
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=autocord&w=59657594@N00

I'd also suggest looking at folding cameras assuming you can find one with nearly new bellows. I am a huge fan of the Zenobia though that is 6x4.5. Very compact and has a nice lens. I picked up a near mint one for $60, though they seem harder to find than the Rolleicords and Yashicas around here.
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=59657594@N00&q=zenobia&m=text
 
I'd second the Autocord recommendation. Very easy to operate with the focusing lever; the film path (top to bottom) means flat film; sharp lens; and they can be found well within your budget if you're even just mildly patient. I picked mine up for $80 USD (meter's dead and the leatherette was chipped).

The thing to watch out for is the focusing lever -- make sure it is intact and doesn't bind as it moves. If it breaks the camera is basically "for parts only". Still, I'm not really paranoid about mine as it's smooth as can be. And do plan to pick up a hood for it, however, as the lens flares somewhat easily.
 
Minolta Autocord here, too

I found the Rolleiflex planar/xenotar to have better build, but the Autocord is a better design AND I like its lens rendering better. Its low cost allows me to have backup/spares, too. I have 3 now, and I am not selling nor buying. So I do not worry/care about its price going up 🙂

The Yashinon is also wonderful, but my 124G had spacing issues.

Avoid build in meters, budget for a CLA, too.

If you go for the Autocord, always swing the focus lever to min or infinity when opening the back.
 
I'm using a Rolleicord V and a Ricoh Diacord L. I like the Xenar lens on my 'cord a bit more than the Tessar variant on the Diacord. Both are very very sharp stopped down but the Xenar is perhaps a little bit more pleasing wide open. On the other hand Diacord's original ground glass is much better than the murky viewfinder hole of the 'cord (you can buy a new and bright ground glass for $30 so it's not a real issue)

One thing that I'd like to add. A TLR camera is a great system to use with filters especially when you shoot a lot of b&w. All Rolleicords, all Diacords and all Autocords (and some older Rolleiflexes too) accept common Bay-1 filters which are relatively cheap and easy to find. One set of Bay-1 filters with which you can use a multitude of TLR cameras is a good idea IMO.
 
Guess I'm on the Autocord bandwagon too. Hard to beat the Rokkor lens on them, though as Brian mentioned the ground glass isn't the brightest. You should be able to replace it yourself w/ something brighter if you're handy, and the mirror can darken your image if it isn't in good shape. I replaced the mirror in mine w/ one from US Camera that's designed for a Rolleiflex. Cost was only about $16 US. It's a little long and needs to be trimmed down some, but w/ a cut down Mamiya RB screen and a new mirror the focusing is a LOT easier.

I also would recommend a Rolleiflex Standard w/ uncoated Tessar if you can find one in good shape. Makes beautiful B&W images and is a bit smaller and lighter than the other TLR's.
 
Rolleicord Va. Best bang for the money. Excellent image quality and built quality to match. It's also easy to convert into 16 6x4.5
90% of the time I can't tell a difference in image quality compared to my Hasselblad's Planar. I think the Xenar is even more contrasty...

Steve_F said:
Hi all,
I'm thinking getting a TLR to go into my Billingham alongside my Leica. I'm after MF quality but I dont want to lug my RZ 67 around.
I'm looking to spend £100-£150. Some years ago a friend loaned me a Yashica that I enjoyed. I know I won't get 'blad or RZ quality but what the heck. It's bigger than 35mm.
The Mamiya C's are physically to large for the bag so all suggestions are welcome.
Any suggestions of UK recommended dealers etc would be welcome too.

Thanks,

Steve.
Click to expand...
 
Of the late model Rolleicords, I prefer the V to the Va and Vb. Not only is it cheaper, but it is the high-water mark of the right-hand focus models. The Va and Vb are both left hand focus; ergonomic preferences are personal. In automat TLRs, I like the Minolta Autocord, which is lever-focusing, and Ricohmatic 225, the top of the line and only automat among the dual-lever focusing Ricoh TLRs. The 225s are a bit thin on the ground to find, but when available they are the most undervalued of the Tessar-type automats. Unlike the Autocord, the dual focusing levers are very robust, and the meter is more likely to be functioning. I prefer the Ricohmatic 225 to the Autocord, but I enjoy using them all.
 
PMCC said:
Of the late model Rolleicords, I prefer the V to the Va and Vb. Not only is it cheaper, but it is the high-water mark of the right-hand focus models.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Rolleicord III, IV and V are easier to use with a hammer-style flash like some Metz models. Then you can hold the flash with your left hand, focus and wind the film with the right. 🙂
 
Last edited:
icono said:
I'm all for Autocord as well. It can make amazing shots and the price is really low for such a camera, which stands really close to Rolleiflex in my opinion, so i think Autocord is kind of underestimated.
You can also see some of the photos I've made with this camera here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/icono/sets/72157622630702399/. I think it can help talk you into it))
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your absolutely lovely photos.
 
I am also going to recommend my Autocord. I had a Yashica 124G but sold it because it didn't feel as solid as the Autocord. It's a great camera and very fun to use. The ergonomics are perfect.
 
I concur with what's already been said about the lens quality of the Autocords, and their build quality -- though the fragility of the focusing lever is definitely its Achilles heel.

Ergonomically it's not the best, though. The focusing lever for me doesn't come to hand as easily when looking through the finder as does a focusing knob (I mistake it for the shutter button) or the Diacord's "seesaw" levers, which are pretty nice to use. Also, I find setting the shutter speed and aperture is rather fiddly, and the settings can easily be changed inadvertently.

The Rolleicords are top quality in terms of build, though as mentioned a replacement focusing screen is really a good idea. The shutter charging and tripping lever is unique, but actually isn't bad at all -- it trips easily so minimizes shake at slower speeds. And I think they're the only ones of the knob wind TLRs (other than the Mamiyas) with double exposure prevention, which is pretty key. A drawback for me of these cameras is the way the shutter speed and aperture settings are locked together -- a common feature of '50s TLRs but a pain when you want to change settings.

The Diacords are really nice -- I'm looking right now at a G (unmetered, knob wind) that I just got back from repair and am eager to use. The Rikenon Tessar clone is quite good on these. No double exposure prevention, though, so you need to have a consistent shooting procedure in order to make sure you don't mess up.

The Yashicas -- seems like a lot of people sneer at them, but I have to say the Yashinon lenses are really very, very good. Not as good as the Xenar on the Rolleicords, and probably a little behind the Rokkor of the Autocords, but I've seen and taken some fine pictures with these. The 124 (not the 124G) might be my favorite of the whole series -- very good CdS meter, lever wind, and very sharp looking. I love the way the meter turns on when you open up the viewing hood. Frame spacing is sometimes an issue, but I think this is overstated. (About the only cameras with just about perfect spacing are the Rolleiflexes, it seems to me.) The wind lever sounds very rough with no film in the camera, but when loaded it's very smooth -- zzt-zzt.

One thing that's overlooked with TLRs is the aperture of the viewing lens, and here the Yashicas shine -- f2.8, with an excellent fresnel screen. Of all the cameras people have mentioned already, these are definitely the easiest to focus accurately in lower light.

And here's my "sleeper" -- the late model Yashica D, with the Yashinon lens (not the three element Yashikor on the earlier models). It has the f2.8 viewing lens and fresnel screen, and Rolleiflex-style focusing and aperture wheels, which are super easy to adjust. The only minus is that the camera has no double exposure prevention. These are underpriced -- I see them for US $100 and less all the time.
 
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