My Rolleiflex is winning me over.

johnny9fingers

johnny9fingers

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Aug 15, 2005
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Just a couple days ago I was considering trading my Rolleiflex Automat. Now, a new strap and a good outing with the camera has changed my mind completely.
The Domke Gripper strap made all the difference in how the camera handles. Since I still can't figure out how to insert a decent sized picture I will provide links to some pictures taken recently and posted in the RFF gallery.
These are pictures of Lake Superior....

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=117509&ppuser=3006

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=117501&ppuser=3006

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=117506&ppuser=3006

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=117503&ppuser=3006
 
Three of the pictures were taken near Cornucopia Wi, on the south shore of Lake Superior. That is about an hour and a half drive northwest of the Boulder Junction area. The picture with the illuminated ship is just outside the harbors of Duluth Mn & Superior Wi., also known as the Twin Ports.
 
Scweeet. I need to get up that way again. The family has a place on Lac Courte Oreilles near Hayward. Love that whole area Ashland, Superior, the Chequamegon National Forest...

William
 
Hi William, Wisconsin is a photogenic state. I'd like to get down to the southwest quarter and photograph some of the old historic towns. Then off to Madison to take in the late spring scenery of State Street.
 
So ... you're coming to grips with the square and a waist level finder!

The next step is to rid yourself of that TLR and get a Hasselblad! :D
 
charjohncarter said:
Glad to see you are at least thinking of holding on to your Rollei. Go to the section on this page that starts with: 'It's easier to...' it may remind you about what photography is really about. Of course, your photos are really great, taken at a perfect time of year. Good Luck!

http://theonlinephotographer.typepa.../10/my-advice-for-aspiring-photographers.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. It's a good reminder that the constant search for gear doesn't make your photography better....
 
Al Kaplan said:
Buying Hasselblad means chasing that next lens, going for a prism, gee an extra back would be nice, and pretty soon you're schlepping a huge kit that cost as much as your car and weighs twice as much as a 35mm kit. Get the Rolleiflex!

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
Click to expand...


So what's wrong with having a Hasselblad with one lens, one back and liking the waist level finder. My initial reaction was to get 'extras' but so far I'm very happy with what I've just described!

A 150mm lens would be nice though! :D
 
Keith said:
So what's wrong with having a Hasselblad with one lens, one back and liking the waist level finder.
Click to expand...

Why compromise with all that bulk
and complexity and loud clunky
mirrors and dread SLR design,
when you could have the same
square in the same focal length
with a light, simple, and elegant
Rolleiflex? :D
 
Sanders McNew said:
Why compromise with all that bulk
and complexity and loud clunky
mirrors and dread SLR design,
when you could have the same
square in the same focal length
with a light, simple, and elegant
Rolleiflex? :D
Click to expand...


I'm struggling to think of an answer ... damn! :p
 
This is what makes RFF such a great place, good people bouncing ideas and information off one another. I enjoy how the discussion in a thread can evolve. I prefer the fixed lens experience. When I grab a camera I know what I have and deal with it. Right now my camera bag contains my new found love, the Rolleiflex (75mm), Hexar AF (35mm), and a GRD (28mm).
And thats all I need for now....
 
Johnny, glad you're warming to the Rollei.

If you want to embed the pics in your post, try getting their URL (by right-clicking on the image and choosing "copy image address", or by going to your Flickr and "all sizes" for a particular pic, choosing the appropriate size, then copying the URL from the field beneath the photo).

Once you've copied the URL, make your post. When posting, click on the icon which looks like the sunrise-landscape (it will read "insert image" when you mouse over it). Paste the URL into the pop-up window, and voila.

(Alternately, type
after the URL. But the "insert image" icon does this for you.)

Hope that helps!

Edit: here's how it should look:

U3006I1256703570.SEQ.0.jpg
 
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Sanders McNew said:
Why compromise with all that bulk
and complexity and loud clunky
mirrors and dread SLR design,
when you could have the same
square in the same focal length
with a light, simple, and elegant
Rolleiflex? :D
Click to expand...


Best case for the Rolleiflex that I have read -- not seen :) ; yet I must admit I do struggle to use my Rolleiflex off of a tripod. I want to try to use it for getting cool angles in my street shooting like some of the guys here do. I have a f2,8 in fine condition, so it is great camera; I even possess the rolleinars for getting really close. I probably just need to practice and practice and practice some more --- any helpful hints anyone?
 
Yes, just enjoy the composition that happens in the viewfinder, I have started off with a Rolleiflex 35 years ago, and I bought a couple recently because these are such great cameras, and now also out of production...

3774348308_e90eec0485_b.jpg
 
Al Kaplan said:
Buying Hasselblad means chasing that next lens, going for a prism, gee an extra back would be nice, and pretty soon you're schlepping a huge kit that cost as much as your car and weighs twice as much as a 35mm kit. Get the Rolleiflex!
Click to expand...

Not always true, at least not in my case, and I'm as GAS-prone as the next guy. The most I personally need is some extra backs. The 80mm Zeiss is so great that I have no desire for another lens. Bought 150mm and hardly use it, prefer the 80. But that's just me.
On the other hand, just bought Rolleiflex 3.5F two days ago - what a beautiful camera! It's so QUITE it's scarry. Especially compared to Hassie.

Oh yeah, also (spoken from a pure Rollei noob perspective) setting the EV (shutter aperture) on 3.5F is clumbersome. Hope to get used to it soon, but certainly doesn't look like I'll be making any stealthy changes should a moment require it.
 
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