Just bought a Rolleicord Va II

H

hausen

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Well I have playing shooting my home town Auckland at ground level on my Manfrotto table top tripod with M9 or my Xpan. Winter is arriving here now and the thought of lying on the wet ground trying to frame shot with standard VF made me think maybe I should look at a TLR with WLF. A Rolleicord was on our local version of eBay for not much money so I bought it. What a darling it is. Everything to me has been thought of. double exposure lock, film winds on after shot and stops at next frame, finder is really bright it is just awesome. Put a roll of Tri-X through it this morning and am just waiting for it to dry and just started raining so might have to head to darkroom and print some. I can see now what all the Rollei fan boys here gush so much about these little darlings. Damn I think I am hooked.
 
There's something about that looking down thing, isn't there? And I find it even better when I don't have that subtle dread of the noise and mirror slap you get from an SLR like a Hasselblad.

Be careful holding a Rolleiflex. For all the sweetness of a Rolleicord, the 'Flex is a notch or two nicer in most ways. A 'Cord Va is in my bag most of the time as I move aorund. But when I go out specifically to photograph, it's the 'Flex that I take.

One of the absolute best Tessar-type lenses I have owned was a Xenar. the Xenar on my Va is another excellent shooter. Considering that I am not shooting professionally, rolls and rolls each week, about the only optical reason to go to a 'Flex is the Xenotar or Planar lens (feel is another, but intangible). I think that Rollei would have had a real winner with a 3.5 Planar in a Rolleicord Vb body. I guess they avoided Leica's mistake with the CL camera- something that competed too heavily with its top of the line series.


7118552565_2a689f4c52_c.jpg


Oh, my Va (I) came with the 16 exposure counter disk and inserts. Worth looking into the set if 4.5x6 is of any interest.
 
I had the first Va for a year or so until I let it go to finance a Rolleiflex. I loved it and got some shots I really like with it, you'll love yours, I'm sure. I was really sorry to let mine go, it was a cracker.
Congratulations.
Regards,
Brett
 
The negs look great, printed some and really happy. Going to drop them in get scanned and then I will post a couple.
 
Congratulations. The Flexes get most of the chatter here. But the Cord is easier to load, and some here who own both models say it's tough to tell a difference in image quality.

My only beef is the crummy shutter lever on my Vb; a more awkward set-up was never made. You've got to focus with a left knob, then push the lever beneath the lens with your right hand, potentially jarring the camera. Lately, I've even had some delay in firing, ruining some frames.
 
If the camera is adjusted correctly the lever will trip the shutter smoothly. I haven't used a Cord for a while since I bought a Flex but when I was using it regularly, I would place my left thumb against the left side of the camera, hook my left finger under the lever, and squeeze them together gently. I was able to release the shutter as smoothly as any button would. Try it. It works. If it doesn't, your Rolleicord needs some attention.
Regards
Brett
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
If the camera is adjusted correctly the lever will trip the shutter smoothly. I haven't used a Cord for a while since I bought a Flex but when I was using it regularly, I would place my left thumb against the left side of the camera, hook my left finger under the lever, and squeeze them together gently. I was able to release the shutter as smoothly as any button would. Try it. It works. If it doesn't, your Rolleicord needs some attention.
Regards
Brett
Click to expand...

Trouble is, on the Vb you focus with your left hand. If I understand you correctly, that means I must focus, then move my hand down to squeeze the body with my left thumb, while squeezing the lever with my left forefinger. Personally, I prefer to focus with one hand, and trip the shutter with the other. Much quicker for street work. Very awkward ergos on this camera.
 
Dana B. said:
Trouble is, on the Vb you focus with your left hand. If I understand you correctly, that means I must focus, then move my hand down to squeeze the body with my left thumb, while squeezing the lever with my left forefinger. Personally, I prefer to focus with one hand, and trip the shutter with the other. Much quicker for street work. Very awkward ergos on this camera.
Click to expand...

Right-hand focus is why they invented the Rollecord V. :) In this regard, the Va and Vb represented negative progress.

I find the oft-missing shutter release extension really helpful for left-hand shutter release on right-hand focus 'Cords (V and prior models). But it's not much help on the Va or Vb, for the reasons you've noted. The left-hand focus handling issue is ameliorated on the 'Flex models by right-hand shutter release, and with a proper button as opposed to a lever.
 
Use your middle finger on the left hand to trip the shutter. thumb and index on focus knob, middle hanging below on the shutter release lever. I find the 'push' of the right index finger, my first inclination, is very strange- can't think of another camera I have owned where I push in a direction away from my wrist or thumb.

But agreed, it is a backward step. I really enjoy the 6x4.5 for my day to day shooting, but also keep eying Vs and IVs for the more natural release/focus setup.
 
You've got a good one, and have quickly gotten the hang of it. Enjoy the different WLF perspective.
 
My Rolleicord is probably my cheapest and, currently, close to my favourite camera.

They are lovely in the right situation.

I trip the shutter with my right hand using the extension button. Seems to ork fine as long as I'm careful to hold it properly.

Nice pictures too.

MIke
 
Dan Daniel said:
Use your middle finger on the left hand to trip the shutter. thumb and index on focus knob, middle hanging below on the shutter release lever. I find the 'push' of the right index finger, my first inclination, is very strange- can't think of another camera I have owned where I push in a direction away from my wrist or thumb.

But agreed, it is a backward step. I really enjoy the 6x4.5 for my day to day shooting, but also keep eying Vs and IVs for the more natural release/focus setup.
Click to expand...

Dan, Thanks. I'll have to fiddle with the left middle finger, lol.

As for the OP, pics look great. Enjoy your new-old Cord.
 
Releasing the shutter on Va or Vb - or on most 'Cords - can be much easier this way: track down an old Stitz flash bracket, drill the handle to take a sturdy cable release. You will then be able to focus with left thumb and index finger whilst holding the camera with the remaining fingers of your left hand. Right hand to cock shutter and wind-on. You can focus & shoot one-handed with this set-up. Works a treat. Tried and tested over quite a few years of Vb use.

Ray
 
Thanks guys. Printed some more from first two rolls and have to admit I am stunned by how good they are. Mine seems to have what looks like a cable release button as the shutter release. I just cock the shutter and push this button on left side of camera. Seems very simple.
 
Nice shots, David. Looksl ike you and the TLR fell into a nice groove on the first date.

OK, so someone explain this 'shutter release button' thing? Is the small silver thing with a knurled base that looks like an extension on some Va's and Vb's actually a shutter button?

If so, where do I get one???
 
Dan Daniel said:
OK, so someone explain this 'shutter release button' thing? Is the small silver thing with a knurled base that looks like an extension on some Va's and Vb's actually a shutter button?
Click to expand...

Yes, the shutter release extension is a button that screws into the cable release socket. It provides a useful alternative to reaching for the shutter release lever. In effect, it's a left-hand shutter release button for the V, Va, Vb et al. Regrettably it's often missing. I keep mine permanently installed on my V.
 
Congrats to your new Rolleicord! Excellent choice.

I'm one of those who prefer the 'Cords to the 'Flexes. In fact I will sell my 2.8C soon because I just use my Cord Vb more often. I love the shutter release of the Cord. The cocking and the release is all one motion, it's ingenious! You just have to get used to it. People don't like it because it's so different to anything else they have.
I have never seen a difference in IQ between the Xenar of the Cord or the Xenotar/Planar on the Flex if you stop the lens down to 5.6 and on. On the contrary I find the Xenar has more contrast and that's what I prefer.
I also learned to service the 'Cords myself. They are so simple and a joy to work on. Simplicity means less things can go wrong and in times of fewer an fewer techs around that is a big plus. So far I was able to fix up any old beater with minimum cost and got awesome users out of them.
It's amazing what bargains you can find, like this one I bought on the 'bay for $19:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archeophoto/sets/72157626949002369/

Dan Daniel:
I have a spare shutter release for the 'Cord because I don't use them. If you want it, we can work something out. PM me.
 
That is good hear your thoughts on comparisons between 'flexes and 'cords archephoto. The obvious temptation for me is to upgrade to a flex because I love the cord already. But the cord is just so easy to use and I love the results scanned or wet printed your comment makes it easier to be happy with what I have got:)
 
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