Which Rollei to keep and with what accessories? Xenotar, Tessar, Planar

[fates]

Hey guys, speaking of First World problems... I've got to slim down my kits. I have a lot of Rollei stuff that I'm just not using, that should be in a shooter's hands. Here's what I'm thinking about doing. I have 1950's Xenotar that I seem to like more than then others. Each has it's own merits tho. I was thinking of packaging all the accessories I have for 2.8c and 3.5 into respective kits and then just keeping one Xenotar body.

This would be the Planar kit I would get rid of:

And this would be the Tessar 3.5 kit I would dump:

Then just keep the one Xenotar body. No hood, no filters. No close up adapters. Is there something in either of these kits is a must have that I'm an idiot for letting go of? Something I have to try before selling? Thanks for your input!

 

[Frontman]

For me a hood is a "must have", "ought-to-haves" are a Rolleinar 2, a yellow filter, a red filter, and the Rolleifix.

 

[kknox]

If you are going to keep the Xenotar, you should keep the hood, UV & yellow filters. You find that w/out the hood you will have some flare, the filters will protect the lens at least.

The new buyer can hunt down the accessories that you don't keep.

 

[fates]

I've mostly done in studio stuff with these or under shade shooting. I haven't been plagued by glare yet... and the glare I have seen, I've quite liked. But I could see how it could be a major factor. So keep a hood then. Great advice!

Thoughts over which 2.8 lens is better or if I shouldn't over look the 3.5?

 

[raid]

I have the Tessar, Planar, and Sonnar, but not a Xenotar.

 

[kknox]

Both 2.8 lens are stand up quality, the Planar is the newer of the 2.8's I would keep that one. I have a 3.5F with a Planar lens, great camera. Also have a 3.5 Tessar, hard pressed to see the difference in photos. The 3.5 you have is much lighter to carry, and how often will you need the extra stop. If you are looking to recoup the most money now sell the 2.8's and keep the Tessar 3.5 with hood, and filters.

 

[Dan Daniel]

You don't say the aperture of the Xenotar. That 2.8C Planar you show has a ten-bladed aperture; 5 blades were the norm afterwards.

My keeper is a 2.8C Xenotar. My backpack camera is a 3.5E Xenotar. I guess you know which camera I'd keep if I was you....

 

[Frontman]

I have the 2.8 Xenotar, 2.8 Planar, and 2.8 Opton Tessar. The Planar and Xenotar are pretty much indistinguishable in performance, the Tessar is no slouch, but I prefer the other lenses.

 

[fates]

Sorry the Xenotar is also a 2.8(c i think... serial 1,467,xxx) and also has a ten blade iris. Does that make it even rarer than the 10 blade Planar?

My dad was a Large Format guy that always went for Schneider... might explain why I like the rendering of the Xenotar more...

 

[PMCC]

Keep 'em all, and then post to the "Too many TLRs?" thread.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Sorry the Xenotar is also a 2.8(c i think... serial 1,467,xxx) and also has a ten blade iris. Does that make it even rarer than the 10 blade Planar?

My dad was a Large Format guy that always went for Schneider... might explain why I like the rendering of the Xenotar more...

Keep this one.

The Xenotar was the more common version of the C, I believe. If the coatings are good, keep it. And keep the Bay III hood. Personally I'd keep the Bay III Rolleinars, but you know which makes sense for you- the money or the close-up capability.

 

[fates]

I saw that the last ten blade 2.8c Planar sold for 1630 usd on ebay. There's no way my Xenotar is worth anywhere close to that right? So from a I'm-broke-as-a-joke standpoint selling the rarer Planar makes the most sense... i'm thinking.

 

[f16sunshine]

Are you at all feeling like the boy with the most cake? 😉
nice kit. Good luck with the choice. I also would not part with a hood or green filter in my case. Great for portraits.

 

[fates]

Are you at all feeling like the boy with the most cake? 😉
nice kit. Good luck with the choice. I also would not part with a hood or green filter in my case. Great for portraits.

After reading the "Too many TLRs?" thread... not feeling glutinous anymore.😱
Starting to firmly believe I need to keep a hood.

The searches I've done to try and compare the rendering of the Planar vs the Xenotar have only shown me that using the Planar will make bicycles appear in your photos.

 

[Noserider]

In addition to the hood I'd think about keeping one set of the Bay lll Rollinars, those are always going to be tough to find.

I like my 3.5 Opton Tessar because its not a Planar.

 

[jmilkins]

I have the 2.8c planar. not complaining! Was originally after the xenotar when i went looking. I concur with the masses - keep the xenotar.

have fun.

 

[mfogiel]

Keep one 2.8 body, Rolleifix, the Rolleinars, the filters and the hood, the rest is not essential.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

You'll definitely get more for the Planar 2.8C as the first run of Cs was, according to the information I've seen, comprised of all Xenotars. The 2.8 Xenotar is a fantastic lens (I have one) but most people seem to want the Planar. The only real advantage I see in the Zeiss as far as the earlier ones are concerned, is that so many Xenotars have less than perfect front coatings. If you have one in good order, it's unlikely to suffer much in the future if, after all these years since manufacture, it hasn't yet. On the other hand, a difference between 2.8 Xenotars and Planars is that the Xenotar front cell is a single piece of glass. The 2.8 Planar is a cemented pair and occasionally they can separate (but not as frequently as the Sonnars fitted to the Teles, purely from on the basis of my own observations).

In a nutshell there's no real difference in performance betwen the two lens types other, I suspect, than individual sample variation. If you're a user keep the Xenotar and sell the Planar. If you're a collector, vice-versa.

Of course as Peter says, the correct answer, really, is to keep all of them and use them more, instead. But in your shoes, if I really had to let one go, I think I'd quit the Planar and keep the Xenotar and Tessar, simply because you'll get more for the Planar 2.8 if that's a major consideration. And although the Planar and Xenotar are really too close to call, the Tessar is a different design and may appeal for certain uses (portraiture for instance?).
Regards,
Brett

 

[k__43]

I'd keep the Planar but if you like the Xenotar better than keep this one.
Keep a red and yellow or just the orange filter. I'd keep the rolleinar I for portraits and/or the III for close ups.
I'd definitely keep the hood and the rolleifix if you use a tripod at all.

The rolleimeter is one of the weirdest accessories ever .. people must give you a strange look when you actually use that thing on the street.

 

[KoNickon]

Keep the Xenotar -- really no practical difference between it and the Planar. You'll likely get the best value from selling the Planar. That's a very nice Tessar (Automat) setup too -- consider keeping it, since you will get somewhat different results from the Tessar (still excellent).

If you must part out the various pieces, you'll get a lot of interest here (including from me). But definitely keep the hood, and if you shoot portraits at all, the Rolleinar 1 is really useful.