froyd
Veteran
I don't know what it is about the Rolleiflex, but whenever I'm walking around with it, I never feel the need for anything else. It makes me happy. Witht he TLR around my neck, I feel that if something cannot photographed with it, then it's probably not worth photographing. Objectively, that feeling would seem unwarranted, given that TLRs are hardly suited for every subject and every situation under the sun.
Here is a recent example: at my sister's recent wedding the only camera I took with me was the Rolleiflex with its slow 3.5 lens. Loaded with Portra 400, the photo opportunities evaporated the moment the party moved indoors under dim lights. Yet, not for one second did I wish I had a faster lens, TTL flash metering or anything else that would have allowed me to continue shooting. I am very ready to accept the camera's limitations and I focus on having fun shooting what I can.
No tracking shots of the kids darting around on the soccer field? No problem, a tight portrait with coach and the soccer ball under arm will preserve the memory just as well and with astounding IQ to boot.
Conversely, when I'm out with the M, I often find myself wishing my lens was faster, that I loaded a different film, that I brought along a different focal length, that I did not bother to take along the bulky light meter, etc.
This is not limited to the Leica, but pretty much all my other cameras except the Rollei. I thought this might be due to the positive effect of fixed focal lens photography, but my other fixed lens cameras don't make me feel equally content.
So all this to say, THANK YOU Rolleiflex for bringing literal satisfaction to my photography!
Here is a recent example: at my sister's recent wedding the only camera I took with me was the Rolleiflex with its slow 3.5 lens. Loaded with Portra 400, the photo opportunities evaporated the moment the party moved indoors under dim lights. Yet, not for one second did I wish I had a faster lens, TTL flash metering or anything else that would have allowed me to continue shooting. I am very ready to accept the camera's limitations and I focus on having fun shooting what I can.
No tracking shots of the kids darting around on the soccer field? No problem, a tight portrait with coach and the soccer ball under arm will preserve the memory just as well and with astounding IQ to boot.
Conversely, when I'm out with the M, I often find myself wishing my lens was faster, that I loaded a different film, that I brought along a different focal length, that I did not bother to take along the bulky light meter, etc.
This is not limited to the Leica, but pretty much all my other cameras except the Rollei. I thought this might be due to the positive effect of fixed focal lens photography, but my other fixed lens cameras don't make me feel equally content.
So all this to say, THANK YOU Rolleiflex for bringing literal satisfaction to my photography!
