Rollecord TLR Should I buy it?

gb hill

gb hill

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I visited a camera store today and behind the counter sat an old Rolleicord TLR. Very clean looking. The sales person was real honest and stated right off the bat that the shutter stuck at 125. the rest of the speeds were fine. I have been wavering on trying medium format, but I am a complete novice at them. The camera is visually new looking. It has no case nor a strap and the lens is a 75mm. Other than that I can't tell you anymore about it. The price is $100.00. Is this a good price on this Rolliecord & do you have any idea why the shutter may be sticking at 125. Any advice would be helpful. Also is the film for this camera 120 or 220. They dont make 220 film any more do they? Also any tips on what to look for if I go back to look at it. Oh and one more thing. It was real tempting to walk out of the store with it.😉

Thanks
gb
 
It is difficult to say if this is a good deal or not without knowing model number, etc. If it is a later Rolleicord (V, Vb1, Vb2) then it is a decent deal. If not, it might not be a great deal. Realize one thing - the stuck shutter means you will need to invest in a servicing, which could cost you $150 - 250 dollars. That would probably fix it up to be a reliable user for the next decade... but now your "good deal" is an expensive camera. For older cameras paying for servicing to gain reliability ought to be considered part of the cost of ownership but may people aren't pepared to invest in a camera quite that much. Next time you look, note the lens type, serial numbers - lens and body, and arrangement of the controls. Then check out the Rollei guides on the web to figure out what model it is. Are you saying, though, that the seller hasn't a clue as to what model it is?

120 film, not 220.
 
I'm sure they do know the model #. Thats why I didn't buy it on a whim. I know nothing really about these cameras and so i'm asking for your opinions and ideas so when/if I go back I'll have an idea what to look for.
 
Thanks Dan for this info. I added it to my favorites. Now can anyone tell me where on the camera is the serial # so I won't look like a clutz looking for it.😉
 
125 is a shutter speed that you will certainly want to use. It sounds like the camera needs a CLA which would double/triple the price. Without knowing the model this is very tricky. There are some repair sites that could give an estimate over the internet. Check that. The camera takes 120 film which is still available but processing is more expensive than 35mm (though the images are great.) I do not know the repair but I can guess why it sticks. If it is in great cosmetic condition then it sticks from lack of use. I had an Argus C-44 that stuck at that speed. It took a couple of weeks of just firing the shutter to free it up.
 
Why don't you read, print and take Dan's list with you. Ask the seller to identify the model and serial number. Dan's guide might make interesting conversation. It's not like he's going to jack up the price or think less of you because you are a Rollei novice... or will he?
 
Steve Bellayr said:
125 is a shutter speed that you will certainly want to use. It sounds like the camera needs a CLA which would double/triple the price. Without knowing the model this is very tricky. There are some repair sites that could give an estimate over the internet. Check that. The camera takes 120 film which is still available but processing is more expensive than 35mm (though the images are great.) I do not know the repair but I can guess why it sticks. If it is in great cosmetic condition then it sticks from lack of use. I had an Argus C-44 that stuck at that speed. It took a couple of weeks of just firing the shutter to free it up.
Click to expand...

Cosmetics were great. Looked well care for. Which is probably why your conclusion is right....Lack of use. Thats a bummer.🙁 But I gotta go back now and give it another look. Just to see what model it is. I'm courious. Oh btw I would develop myself and then scan the negatives.
 
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Gumby said:
Why don't you read, print and take Dan's list with you. Ask the seller to identify the model and serial number. Dan's guide might make interesting conversation. It's not like he's going to jack up the price or think less of you because you are a Rollei novice... or will he?
Click to expand...

I don't think so! They seemed really nice & he was a she😉 It's a family run business.
 
On the first 6 versions of the Rolleicord, you use the Triotar taking lens SERIAL # to identify the model....that serial # range runs from 1460000 to 2124000.

Then all the later version Cords use the BODY serial # to identify it...from 611000 to 2677498. # located on face plate under the word Rolleicord or on the shutter face plate in later models.

For user cameras, only buy a Cord with the Xenar lens. The earlier and cheaper Triotar is 3 elements and not as good as the 4 element, coated Xenar.

Cords sell all day long on ebay between $ 60 to $ 125 in working clean condition. You should ONLY buy one in GREAT working condition since a CLA will run you more than the camera costs....

Good luck,
Dan

PS - I recently picked up a clean YashicaMat 124G and a Rolleiflex GX 2.8 Expression ! I will be writing articles on both soon...


yashica124gsmall.jpg
 
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Sorry to say but i think it is way too expensive.
As said above, the CLA might run up more than 150% and you'll have to (probably) send it out somewhere and have it mailed back, meaning more time and more expense.
In the end you might get a good working 'cord for about 300 bucks.
Too much.
Of course it also depends: if you want to use it alot, you might not care about those 300$ (they ARE very good picture takers).
But if you add a bit more $ and some luck you could get a Flex with a 3.5 Xenotar.
 
I bought a really clean Rolleicord off Ebay a year ago ... I think it's a II or III ... I'm not up on them but it has the Xenar lens and works pefectly and came with the original case. It cost me $75.00 so I think this is way too dear considering it needs a CLA. 🙂
 
I have two of them - Va and Vb. The Xenar is surprisingly good. However IMHO the Rolleiflex has better ergonomics for handheld use. I don't think the T is that much more money.
 
gb, a number of good suggestions here, particularly Dan's last comment about getting one of the Automats. Getting that Rolleicord overhauled will easily be $150. They are well made cameras, to be sure, but not as well featured as a 'flex. But go back in armed with Dan's info and find out more about it -- see if they'll come down in price any, also.
 
gb, tony rose aka popflash has right now a rolleiflex with a tessar and based on the serial no. it's a postwar version. For $225. I think, supposedly it works fine, it's a better deal than buying the old 100$ 'cord and cla'ing it.
 
I bought a nice looking 'Cord Vb version II about a year ago on fleabay. It seemed to be in perfect condition, just a little dusty.

After a couple of shots I discovered the film advance mechanism was unreliable, the spacing between frames was uneven and sometimes didn't advance at all.
A good CLA did certainly cost more than the camera itself.


But it is certainly worth it, the Xenar is an amazing little lens, IMHO.

Good luck.
 
I agree with the mentioned above, the 125th speed is one of the speeds you are actually gonna be using often.

A sound Minolta Autocord is also a good option. Some say the Rokkor's compare favourable to the Xenars on the 'Cords...

Though the "mechanic feel" might not up to the Rollei's (i've heard and read...)
 
Usually when a camera needs a simple CLA because of the shutter speeds it's the slow speeds that start to stick, and typically under 1/30th. The fact that only the 1/125th is a problem is a red flag for me. That's not typical of just age or lack of use....

The price is good (assuming the shutter is not a big issue) if it's a later 'cord with a Xenar lens. If it's an earlier one with a Triotar lens it's not a very good price.
 
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