Converting TLR to wide angle?

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Thomas78

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Hello,

since

a) original wide angle TLR from Rollei are quite expensive (both classic and new)
b) the Mamiya C-Series TLR are huge and heavy:


My TLR collection von thomas.78 auf Flickr

I am considering the feasibility of converting a normal lens TLR with the 55 mm lenses (or any other suitable lenses) of a Mamiya C to a compact TLR.

From a first look the lens to film distance of this 55mm lens should not be to much different to the 80mm Mamiya lens. I will check the lens to film distance of the scale for the 55mm lens on my Mamica C330.



Does anybody of you considered this kind of conversion before?
What do you think about this idea?
What kind of TLR would you suggest as the new home for thie lens pair?
Are there any alternative lenses (in the range of 45 - 55 mm) to consider?

If possible I would like to keep the original shutter (to keep the automatic cocking and the original shutter release) and just replace the lenses but if that isn't possible I would also be happy to use the Mamiya shutter and live with separate transport and shutter cocking (like in a Rolleicord).
 
Shutter to lens size could be an issue and then there is the machining needed to mount a Mamiya lens pair in another shutter/mounting plate.

Few things are ever truly impossible, but it would require some precision measuring and machining to secure the lenses given the simple but effective Mamiya approach to fastening them which (as far as I am aware) no other type of TLR shares. You'll be doing this work yourself, and have the necessary precision measuring equipment and lathe/milling machine I take it?

Good for you if you can pull it off, and I'll be intrigued to see the finished product! But my own suggestions are to either:
(A) Live with the weight of the Mamiyas (try a C220--they're quite a bit lighter than some other C models);
(B) Procure a Rollei Mutar and 3.5 E, or;
(C) Save the pennies for a Rolleiwide.

Please, keep us posted with your progress, and good luck!
Cheers,
Brett
 
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I don't think you could make anything for less than the cost of a better alternative.

And frankly, a hard to focus and overly precious RolleiWide isn't worth the money when you can buy a Mamiya 7 or Hasselblad solution for a fraction of the cost with better optics....
 
If the flange-to-film distance of the 55 is the same or not less than the 80 (as I imagine it would be, since 55 is retrofocus), you may be able to simply swap the lenses, shutter and all. The issues that I see are,
-Size of shutter mount; I recall that Rolleiflex uses #00, Mamiya may be #0
-Flange distance; Rolleiflexes allow some adjustment of Infinity stop, but maybe not enough to offset the difference- especially if the 55 needs a much shorter distance.
-Mounting of viewing lens
-Fitting release/cocking mechanism under Rollei front plate to new shutter. It's a bit complicated under there, and designed specifically to fit a #00 Compur- #0 Seikosha won't just drop in (although #00 may, if that's what Mamiya used).
Nome of these are insurmountable problems tho! Especially if the Rolleiflex is a beater, it could be a fun mod.
 
i was thinking the same by using 55 lens to either autocord or yashica tlr.
But then I got stuck on this issue : lens/shutter mount of 55mm is big enough (as pointed above by other member), and distance between upper/lower lens is too far. So if you can mount the taking lens, you may not be able to mount/use the viewing lens.
 
As said above, I think, that a better solution would be a Hasselblad with a 50 or 60 Distagon if you want 6x6.
A great alternative would also be a Mamiya 6 with the 50mm, or if you don't mind 6x45 the Bronica RF with the 45mm - a stunningly small package and great optical quality - look up the photos by Shab in the Bronica RF thread.
 
This seems like a project that could keep you off the streets for many months. So many issues to consider. I would be tempted to use an auxiliary wide angle lens on a standard f/3.5 rollieflex. Of course, you'd need two.
 
Voigtländer sold their "Focar" lenses in doubble packs for the "Superb" - so maybe this could be a way to go.
I use the WW-Focar and the Tele-Focar on my Avus and Bergheil and love them.
 
Considering the cost of a Mamiya Cxxx and a 55mm I wouldn't even try to transplant such a lens. Not only that but for a little bit more you'd could even take a 80mm and 180mm with you as well and that would weight far less and take far less space than 3 small tlr's.
 
If you don't need a TLR then a 47/8 Super Angulon onto a simple box body with a Graflock back attachment is an alternative. Although it is still hard to do inexpensively... you might get lucky (or unlucky depending on your point of view) and find a Brooks Veriwide or Graflex XLSW.

Bang for the buck I'd get the Fuji GSW690xxx. Not only will it be sharper than almost anything else but the RF focusing will be more accurate than squinting at a TLR mirror/screen system.
 
Thank you all for your input to my thoughts!

Regarding the Hasselblad:

Frank Petronio said:
...
And frankly, a hard to focus and overly precious RolleiWide isn't worth the money when you can buy a Mamiya 7 or Hasselblad solution for a fraction of the cost with better optics....
Click to expand...

I think at the same focal lenght and the same max. aperture a SLR is as hard to focus as a TLR.

But the main reason against the Hasselblad is that I don't like its handling - specially without a tripod. And with the 50mm Distagon it is quite big and noth that light.

Regarding the Mamiya 7:

I already have a Mamiya 6 with all the three lenses (50 mm, 75 mm and 150 mm).
They truly give very nice pictures at a very high quality standards.
But it is a RF and not a TLR ;-)

Regarding the Mamiya C-series:

For me they are a bit to huge for for carrying them all day.

Regarding the Rollei Wide:

I think I will get one some day 🙂


But this here is one important reason:

Sejanus.Aelianus said:
..., unless you're a hacker by inclination. If that's the case, why not see if you can fit a Super Angulon? Mind you, I've no idea what you'd use for the viewing lens! 😀
Click to expand...

The problem with the Super Angulon is that it is quite big and heavy if you use a second one as the viewing lens.


Kate-the-Great said:
If the flange-to-film distance of the 55 is the same or not less than the 80 (as I imagine it would be, since 55 is retrofocus), you may be able to simply swap the lenses, shutter and all. The issues that I see are,
-Size of shutter mount; I recall that Rolleiflex uses #00, Mamiya may be #0
-Flange distance; Rolleiflexes allow some adjustment of Infinity stop, but maybe not enough to offset the difference- especially if the 55 needs a much shorter distance.
-Mounting of viewing lens
-Fitting release/cocking mechanism under Rollei front plate to new shutter. It's a bit complicated under there, and designed specifically to fit a #00 Compur- #0 Seikosha won't just drop in (although #00 may, if that's what Mamiya used).
Nome of these are insurmountable problems tho! Especially if the Rolleiflex is a beater, it could be a fun mod.
Click to expand...


This was exactly my idea, to check the flange distance at infinity for the 55mm against the 80mm lens from Mamiya.

I just checked:

At my Mamiya C330 the 55 mm lens has even 4.3 mm more flange to film distance than the 80 mm lens (both at the infinity marking of the distance scale).
(From inf to 1.2 m the 80 mm lens moves 5 mm and the 55 mm lens just 2.3 mm.)

I think this is a good point to start thinking...
 
Frank Petronio said:
If you don't need a TLR then a 47/8 Super Angulon onto a simple box body with a Graflock back attachment is an alternative. Although it is still hard to do inexpensively... you might get lucky (or unlucky depending on your point of view) and find a Brooks Veriwide or Graflex XLSW.

Bang for the buck I'd get the Fuji GSW690xxx. Not only will it be sharper than almost anything else but the RF focusing will be more accurate than squinting at a TLR mirror/screen system.
Click to expand...

Isn't there one in the classifieds from a respected fellow member, right now? 😀
 
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