Hello everyone - my new (to me) Rolleicord

[pixiepearls]

Hey guys, I've been lurking on these forums for nearly a week and finally got access to post.

My FIL sent me his fathers Rollleicord III from 1953, came with a flash of some sort and a cool slide viewer that is electric and still works. I've dreamed of a Rollei forever, i still want a flex but from what I've been reading this is about just as good (save the 2.8 on a flex). It's a 3.5 of course on the cord. Its a Schneider lens.

It had a roll of Kodachrome in it which I am sure craptastic ritz will send back rejected, and I got two rolls of Ilford Delta 100 I am going to send out to Labwork hopefully this week so I can find out if the dang thing works (i can only assume it does). It had a cracked filter on it but the lens underneath was pristine. It came with a series V lens holder thingy and the various shutter speeds seem to vary properly.

I ordered a lens cap for it, and a lens hood which I think is legit and I snagged for $30 on ebay, looked properly vintage with the R logo and the metal rim.

I just ordered 2 dolls of 3200 and 2 rolls of 400 (both delta) which I think will be more fun then 100! The guy at labwork told me I could shoot the 3200 at 1600 as long as I let them know before they developed it.

if the shots come out clean and things go well, I'm thinking I'll get a scanner for the negs and maybe a kit to dev my own negs for fun.

When it had the slide film in it, I would have sworn it would allow me to advance the film as long as I reset the shutter, sense I've run two rolls through it I have to push in the advance nob before it lets me turn it, but I would swear it did not when the slide film was in it, it would advance as long as I re-set the shutter. So wondering if I am loading it wrong. I put the film under the first metal bar but not the second (though I've seen youtube video's in which they didn't put it under, and a youtube video in which someone said you had to put it under so conflicting reports there) The manual doesn't really have good visuals for it either.

I also snagged this guy early last summer and have never tried to use him, someone told me it looks like the advance lever is broken. It is in really good condition, box and original sales/info tag and everything. $25 at a antique shop.

OH yeah my name is Brandy, and here is my flickr stream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixiepurls/

I take shots with my Canon 5D, my iphone with instagrahm and hopefully soon my Rollei!!

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Hi there, welcome to the fold.
Most Rolleiflexes have an extra pair of rollers for the mechanism that detects the beginning of the film taped to the backing paper of a roll. Hence you must load the film under the first roller so it goes in between the first pair and then over the single roller at the bottom of the camera.

Your Rolleicord, on the other hand (or any other Rolleicord, for that matter) does not feature this system. Hence, you simply need to insert the spool of your new roll of film into the bottom of the camera, and unroll a little film over both the rollers in the back of the camera, and then feed the end of the roll into the take up spool at the top, wind on until the arrow on the backing paper lines up with the two red dots on the camera, and close the back. Keep a little tension on the film while you do this.

If you have inadvertently fed the film underneath the bottom roller, I would imagine it will be dragging against the end of the film rails and would be harder to wind on. And it could scratch the film, too. If so, you might want to open the camera back in a dark room, unclip the take up spool, and slowly and carefully wind the film back onto its original spool. As long as it is wound tight, you can then turn the lights back on and load it again, correctly, with the film running over both rollers. Just wind the film a quarter inch or so past the arrow on the backing paper this time, and fire off the correct number of blank frames with the lens cap on and the shutter set to the maximum speed, and you can save the rest of the film.

The Xenar is a very good lens, capable of excellent results. Enjoy.
Regard,
Brett

 

[Dan Daniel]

Don't blame Ritz for not processing your Kodachrome. NO ONE can get Kodachrome processed. The last rolls were done at the end of last year, and that's the end of the line.

Brett is right- just lay the film across the rollers top and bottom, not underneath any rollers.

Maybe the film had already wound through with the roll inside the camera? This will let you shoot and wind in any order, any amount, any time.

 

[pixiepearls]

I think that the first roll in the camera was not put under the metal bar so that was probably why it was easier to wind. I'll find out next roll!

I am angry at Ritz because of how un-knowledgable their staff is, their business model in general and how much they charge. I would rather go to walmart (and will in the future!).

As it is I am excited I found a real B&W lab to deal with, much more pleasant to deal with!

 

[JPD]

Here's the correct manual for the Rolleicord III: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/rollei/rolleicord_iii/rolleicord_iii.htm

Yes, when loading the camera you wind the film until the start arrows points to the red dots on the sides of the film gate, and then close the back and wind until it stops, and then you see the number (1) in the counter window.

Other than the film loading, the main differencies between a Rolleicord and Rolleiflex from the same period is that the 'flex is a little bit faster to use because it has the lever that both transports the film and cocks the shutter at the same time. It also has a little faster viewing lens. The Xenar/Tessar was also used on the Rolleiflex for a long period. Excellent lenses.

Of course, Rolleiflexes with Planar or Xenotar lenses are a little sharper, but you only see the difference in the corners at large apertures. The 2.8 lenses are only a half stop faster, but not better than the 3.5 Planar/Xenotar.

I have sold my 2.8 Rolleiflexes and kept the 3.5 F with Planar. Then I have a couple of Rolleiflexes with Tessar, and Rolleicords with the three element Triotar. They all have their charm and can produce stellar results. 🙂

Does your camera have an adapter for threaded filters? It looks so. You can remove it if you want to use Rollei-filters (bayonet I).

And welcome to RFF!