First shoot with a Rolleiflex

[River Dog]

Different strokes and all that, Dan. I consider the look-down, square format view the easiest and best of all viewfinders for composition. In fact, I bought an Olympus E-PL1 with the VF-2 viewfinder specifically so I could set it to square format and tip up the viewfinder so that I can look down into it to compose.

I bought a NEX-3 body so I could use a load of old lenses and look down on the finder. I think of it like stepping back from a painting.

 

[Keith (M)]

Hi, RD. Just came across this thread - congrats on the 'Flex! We seem to be treading the same path - there is a 'Cord Vb on it's way to me from the Netherlands. Should be arriving early next week. Rolls of FP4 & HP5 arrived yesterday in anticipation!

 

[River Dog]

Hi Keith! I was going to sell you my Yashica Mat. Great cameras, I am sure you will love the 'Cord and TLR street style. Did you catch my first Ektar roll thread?
p.s. when will you ever learn and go buy some Neopan Acros? 🙂

 

[Keith (M)]

Hi RD. Sell me your Yashica - now you tell me! 😉 Ref your Ektar thread, no (but I have now - talk about impressive results!). Think I'll stick to B&W for the time being at least - after all, the M9 has to have some use...

Okay, okay, I'll try some Acros when the 5 x FP4+ and 5 x HP5+ rolls have been put through my new acquisition, always assuming the Vb arrives OK next week.

 

[River Dog]

Hi RD. Sell me your Yashica - now you tell me! 😉 Ref your Ektar thread, no (but I have now - talk about impressive results!). Think I'll stick to B&W for the time being at least - after all, the M9 has to have some use...

Okay, okay, I'll try some Acros when the 5 x FP4+ and 5 x HP5+ rolls have been put through my new acquisition, always assuming the Vb arrives OK next week.

Try exposing the Acros at ISO 200 and pushing it 15% for some strong blacks. You'll love it.

Good to see you here, it's a lot livelier than the RPS. I have had some great advice and more importantly, loads of encouragement.

 

[Darshan]

I don't go chasing moving subjects with a TLR, I wait for them to come to me - fishing rod versus pistol is the way I look at it.

I like the analogy 😎, but I find it hard even with steady objects like buildings..:bang::bang:. What makes it hard is the right-to-left orientation and the skewed horizon.

Don't get me wrong, I feel relieved when composing through a TLR's WLF...it's like, I just wanna keep doing it, it's addictive. 😛

@Dave Jenkins: I completely agree with you..

 

[andredossantos]

You got some great shots, congrats.

Composing is PITA with a TLR, how do you manage?

I couldn't disagree more. For me, the WLF and square format where a revelation. It's much easier for me than viewing through an eye level finder. That being said everyone is different 🙂

To the OP: Great work! Once you go Rollei you never go back!
And you analogy about "fishing" is spot on. You find an interesting setting or light and wait for "stuff" to happen (and it usually does if your patient).

 

[River Dog]

I have posted an article about my first colour shoot with the Rolleiflex and Kodak Ektar 100 on my blog. It would be great if you can let me know what you think by leaving a comment there as it is a new site and I am testing the software config. Hope you find it useful.

 

[goffer]

Lovely series, great street shots! I'm going to try and take my TLR for a walk this weekend 🙂

 

[Max Jenkins]

Fascinating article - I am not too experienced in color processing, save for the old Cibachrome method, but I like your results enough to put this on the list to try. The photos you produced, as I said before, were very nice indeed.