Any Rolleiflex TLR users here?

I almost bought a second 'flex lately - twice! One was a 2.8E with shutter issues - went for 400$ finally so i didn't go for it. Second one went yesterday on the german bay, i was playing table tennis and missed it. :bang: Gotta check now how much it went for. It was a 3.5E / Xenotar in great shape.

Todd, how does your s.8E compare with the 3.5F?
 
I am late to this, but I have been using a MX EVS, 3.5 Xenotar for sometime now and find it a blast. Upgraded the viewfinder, sorry about that, the focusing screen to a Beatte and it is a joy to use. I have a raging debate with myself, I am not nuts, about which to carry on a trip, the Rollei or the Fuji GS645 folder. Both weigh about the same, the Fuji gets 15 shots per roll the Rollei 12, but they are bigger. Oh, what to do?
 
TLR's are fun. I have a Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar and a YashicaMat LM should be arriving any day now.

Gene
 
Good to see some more folks chiming in. I'd love to see a forum like this one for TLR's and folders with a gallery and such. Maybe one day I'll figure out the whole web thing and put something together ;)

Todd
 
GeneW said:
TLR's are fun. I have a Rolleiflex 3.5F Planar and a YashicaMat LM should be arriving any day now.
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Like ... TODAY!! Yay! The YashicaMat from Rick arrived and it looks like a really fun camera.

Gene
 
Joe,
I have been looking at a couple in some local shops here, amazing how close you can focus with those Mamiyas, it's like a macro TLR .


Todd
 
todd, exactly!
and the mamiya lenses are superb. knew a guy back in n.y. that used one.

and gene, i did!
been thinking more about it since you beat me to the yashicamat.
i was surprised at how quickly i responded and to how disappointed i was not to get it. the depth of my reaction suprised me.

of course it would be a pita cause my scanner is for 35mm so i'd need another one or use a lab for process & scan (cheaper than scan alone).

right now i'm rebuilding the war chest, and needing to decide between the hexar af or a nice c330.

i might try to trade my 2 bottom feeders for either one.

being poor but ambitious sucks...;)

joe
 
I confess I have a number of TLRs -- they're just too cheap and retro (rather like rangefinders!) to resist. Most recently I have acquired a couple of Mamiyas, the C220 and C330f, though haven't run film through them yet. These are both rather massive cameras, the 330 especially, so they might be a little better suited for tripod use. The interchangeable lenses and macro capabilities make the Mamiyas by far the most versatile of the various TLRs. They're also the easiest to load, since the flat back swings straight down -- no L-shaped back (which contributes to curling the film if it's been sitting in the camera for any length of time). If the camera's on a tripod, you don't have to dismount it to reload, which is great.

I haven't read through this whole thread, but I wanted to put in a special word for a couple of lesser known but excellent TLRs -- the Ricoh Diacord and the Kalloflex. Both have fine Tessar-type lenses. The Ricoh (which is not to be confused with the Ricohflex) has maybe the best focusing mechanism of any TLR -- levers on either side of the lens standard that are diagonally opposed, so you can, essentially, hold the camera with both hands while using your thumbs to focus. Very convenient. Knob wind.

The Kalloflex is a most impressive (and relatively rare) beast -- more substantial than any TLR but the Mamiyas, and beautifully made. Lever wind on the right side (as you hold it) that's on the same axis as the focus knob, which makes for quick handling.

Nick (whose current stable includes Kalloflexes (2); Diacords (2); Mamiya 220 and 330f; Yashicamat 124G; Rolleicord V and Vb; Rolleiflex MX-EVS; Autocord CDS III and Type IV). Oh yes -- a 127 Primo Jr. (cute!)
 
The only TLR I found worth having is the Autocord, sold one to help funding a Rolleiflex GX :bang: , and after very little I flogged the GX on e-bay and was happy to see the back of it, could not get used to the funny focusing knob, the autocord lever is much better.
 
GeneW said:
Like ... TODAY!! Yay! The YashicaMat from Rick arrived and it looks like a really fun camera.

Gene
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It is ! Found this one today in my shoebox, did not post it 2 years ago from reasons I cannot remember, maybe it insires you a bit ?

Best,
bertram
 
GeneW said:
Like ... TODAY!! Yay! The YashicaMat from Rick arrived and it looks like a really fun camera.

Gene
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INSPIRE I meant, sorry for the typo ! This one is the other side of the bridge.
In France, Wissembourg en Alsace.

bertram
 
Ah, the Rolleiflex, retro-looking, antiquated, no bells, no whistles, beautiful lens...excellent for candids and street photography. The day they make a digital camera that handles like this, that'll be the day.
 
Digital-Shmigital, I can have my 120 negs scanned to 20-22 megapixels, to get that from in a digital camera I'd have to spend about "ten large" (10,000 USD) on a digital back for medium format.

Granted, the Rolleiflex has only one lens, but oh but what a lens it is! ;)

Todd
 
Here are a couple from my YashicaMat 124, great TLR's for a great price:
 
Todd.Hanz said:
Here are a couple from my YashicaMat 124, great TLR's for a great price:
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Todd, I like the first one, the one with the movement, a nice effect. Here is one I took with my YashicaMat 124. It's from around 1980 (give or take 1 or 2 years)... :) I'm playing with the new Rolleiflex now.
 
Here's a pic of all my TLRs - from left to right:

YashicaMat - my first medium format camera, bought at Foto Skoda in Prague.

Rolleicord Va - really shoddy externally, but works well (as you can see on some of the shots in my 'Barcelona' gallery).

Mamiya C220 with non-original hood, and 105/3.5 lens (I also have the 135mm lens, and a broken 80mm).

YashicaMat 124G - my latest addition to the stable, 'mint' condition ;) - even the light-meter works correctly.


Roman
 
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