Rare Rolleiflex or FrankenRollei?

[Krosya]

Everybody who's familiar with the TLR cameras knows a well respected model in Rolleiflex line - 3.5F. Well known and respected and even loved.
It is typical that these come with either Planar or a Xenotar f3.5 lens.
Well, one I came across has a Tessar lens. What's more interesting is that its a Jena Uncoated Tessar lens. At first I thought it was a franken camera - it looks and works inside and out like F3.5, just with the Tessar lens in it. I figured that maybe someone just swapped it's original lens for a Tessar for some reason, but then I came across this site:

https://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/A-F_tlr.shtml

which does indeed list that some F3.5 Rolleis did come with the Tessar lens.

So, are there any experts here to clear up the mystery?
Here are some pics of it:

When I got it - it was a pretty poor shape, frozen shutter and aperture controls, poor focus action, dirty, etc. SO, I had to spend some time bringing it back to a reasonable condition. Took a little while but now it works very nicely, all smooth. I ran just one roll of film through it. Seems to do Ok - these are poor scans from the prints, but still - for a Tessar that looks uncoated - I'm pretty happy with the results:

SO, does anyone have any idea what is this ROllei that I got?

 

[KoNickon]

Gotta be a FrankenRollei -- the taking lens looks definitely prewar, just based on the engraving, in addition to its not being coated. The 3.5F came with a Planar or Xenotar, never a Tessar. And the viewing lens is not marked at all; it also looks uncoated.

I think someone (skillfully) added earlier lenses to a camera that dates otherwise from the late '50s at the earliest. Can't argue with your results, though -- just make sure you have a hood.

 

[Gregm61]

Someone butchered a perfectly good 3.5F, or the original lens was already ruined and the guilty party swapped the lens out or had a tech do it for them.

Yes, there were 3.5 Rollei's (earlier Automat models made until the mid-50's or so before the E and F models) that had Tessar and Xenar f3.5 lenses, but not the last 3.5F models.

I definitely see nothing "collectible" or desirable about this particular camera. The lens is probably two decades older than the body. I hope you got it at a seriously discounted price from the usual 3.5F model values, or you overpaid, grossly.

 

[Greyscale]

The serial number shows that the taking lens was made in 1941.

 

[Krosya]

Someone butchered a perfectly good 3.5F, or the original lens was already ruined and the guilty party swapped the lens out or had a tech do it for them.

Yes, there were 3.5 Rollei's (earlier Automat models made until the mid-50's or so before the E and F models) that had Tessar and Xenar f3.5 lenses, but not the last 3.5F models.

I definitely see nothing "collectible" or desirable about this particular camera. The lens is probably two decades older than the body. I hope you got it at a seriously discounted price from the usual 3.5F model values, or you overpaid, grossly.

Well, according to this - there were some 3.5F's with the Tessar:

Rolleiflex 3.5 F Model 2 - Model K4E

Highslide JS February 1960 - November 1960, 11,500 pieces
Serials: 3.5F-2.230.00 - 3.5F-2.241.499
(reserved range up to 2.249.999)
Taking Lens:
Tessar 3,5/75mm Carl Zeiss Oberkochen
Xenotar 3.5/75mm, Schneider Kreuznach, both Bayonet 2
Finder lens:
Zeiss or Schneider Heidosmat 2,8/75mm, Bayonet 2
Shutter:
Synchro Compur MXV, 1 - 1/500 sec., B, M + X-sync., self timer.
Film: 120 for 12 or 24 exp. 6x6, and 35mm adapter Rolleikin 2.
Film Transportation: winding lever with auto stop on first exposure, exposure counter for exposures 1-12. Blank film pressure plate.
Can come with or without built in exposure metering.
Dimensions: 11.2x9.8x14.8cm.
Weight: 1,220 grams.
Can not be used with Rolleimarin.

33

Taken from the link I posted above.
As far as Collectible - I didnt expect that. Desirable - well, that is different - I actually like the idea of this combo - best mechanics (arguably) of all the models, very nice and bright original screen, yet with the Tessar lens, uncoated to boost - I actually like those old Tessars but they are usually attached to very old and abused cameras with screens that are impossible to focus. This way I get a great user with the lens/drawing I prefer.
Oh and no - I didnt pay a lot for this camera. I have seen Old simple Rolleiflex TLRs go for double what I paid for it. So, all in all - I dont think I did poorly with this purchase.

 

[raid]

In the end, you got a very cool Rollei TLR camera with a 1941 taking lens.

 

[Krosya]

In the end, you got a very cool Rollei TLR camera with a 1941 taking lens.

Thats how I feel about it!

 

[KoNickon]

Rolleiflex 3.5 F Model 2 - Model K4E

Highslide JS February 1960 - November 1960, 11,500 pieces
Serials: 3.5F-2.230.00 - 3.5F-2.241.499
(reserved range up to 2.249.999)
Taking Lens:
Tessar 3,5/75mm Carl Zeiss Oberkochen
Xenotar 3.5/75mm, Schneider Kreuznach, both Bayonet 2
Finder lens:
Zeiss or Schneider Heidosmat 2,8/75mm, Bayonet 2
Shutter:
Synchro Compur MXV, 1 - 1/500 sec., B, M + X-sync., self timer.
Film: 120 for 12 or 24 exp. 6x6, and 35mm adapter Rolleikin 2.
Film Transportation: winding lever with auto stop on first exposure, exposure counter for exposures 1-12. Blank film pressure plate.
Can come with or without built in exposure metering.
Dimensions: 11.2x9.8x14.8cm.
Weight: 1,220 grams.
Can not be used with Rolleimarin.

Interesting -- this is a mistake -- the author meant to say Planar rather than Tessar. The 3.5F was outfitted with the Planar or the Xenotar.

You have a fine machine, maybe the best of all the Rolleiflexes, outfitted with an earlier vintage set of lenses. Someone who clearly knew what he was doing swapped out the lenses, for whatever reason. But you can see the Tessar is a fine performer, from the pictures you posted. Enjoy the camera.

 

[TenEleven]

Yeah the one listed in the Rollei-list has a Carl-Zeiss Oberkochen lens and should thus be labelled "Opton" and not "Jena" it also would have been T-Coated. So yeah this one has had the lens swapped. As others have already said it has a serial number from 1941 which clashes massively with the camera manufacture date.

Since the viewing lens also appears to be uncoated (judging from the pictures) they at least both got swapped and proper focus should not be an issue. However it's probably closer to an MX-Automat in value than a 3.5F

 

[Krosya]

I don't really care about its value to others, but rather its value to me. And to me, as I said before, its important that it's a well built camera with a lens I like that delivers results I am happy with. I don't plan to re-sell it. And so far results please me. I think that's what matters the most.