Help with a Rolleiflex 2.8 E3

[nickbot]

Apologies, I’ve tried to upload an image but without success so I’ll try to describe the issue in text!

I’m looking at purchasing a Rolleiflex 2.8 E3. From the sellers photographs, I note the spindle on the top LHS of the camera as you hold it (above the light meter) has a counter that goes up to 36.

I’m presuming this means the camera has the Relleikin 35mm adapter installed? On one hand this is pretty useful, but my main use would be with 120 film. I’ve asked if the camera comes with the original spindle and am awaiting a response.

I suppose my query to the Rolleiflex experts (I’ve more experience with Hasselblad and Leica) is have I assumed correctly it has the 35mm adapter installed, or do all 2.8E3’s have a similar frame counter that goes up to 36?

Many thanks in advance for any wisdom members can offer!

Nick

 

[Glenn2]

Hi Nick, Just had a look at my 2.8 E to be sure. It has the dial and have never used 35mm.
Think they all come that way in case you want to use an adapter.

Glenn

 

[nickbot]

Fabulous, thank you Glenn!

 

[Beemermark]

Even if it has the adapter you can just remove it to use 120 film..

 

[nickbot]

Thank you Sir 🙂

 

[DownUnder]

All my Rollei reference books are packed away after an interstate move, but I recall the 35mm wheel was a standard feature on the Rolleiflex 2.8E models. Oddly, I have a 3.5E2 which does not have the wheel. So go figure, I...

The 35mm adapter referred to in another thread is called the Rolleikin. Two different sets (sensibly called '1' and '2') were available, also an earlier 35mm back to convert the older Tessar models and coincidentally my two Ts, which the said back fits perfectly. No wheel was required for this back as a counter is built in. The older backs are collectables and they can be expensive.

Rolleikins are available on Ebay or from many secondhand dealers. You can buy one and (if it's complete, as it has many small parts) be assured it will work, as you already have the wheel mounted on your E3. Do be sure to buy the second ('2') version which I believe was designed for the 2.8s - but then to complicate things further, I've been told both backs will work on either the 28s or 3.5s. Somewhat of a mystery here.

(Someone please correct me or elaborate on this last point if I'm wrong.)

I've had my Rolleikins since the 1970s but alas, I can count on my fingers and toes the number of times I've used them, with slide film, to shoot small objects or do home portraits. The quality of results is usually good, but it pays to focus very carefully and whenever possible, use the camera set as closely as you can to infinity to ensure your images will be sharp.

 

[nickbot]

Thanks again to all! I bit the bullet and ordered it 🙂

I will now have quite a trio of bucket list cameras - Leica M3, Hasselblad 500CM, a Rolleiflex 2.8 (plus a couple of older Leica screwmounts and a few Hasselblad ElMs haha!)