stephen_lumsden
Well-known
My Rollei T has a shutter problem and I have been told there was fungus on the lens (it was left unloved for about 5 years). I left it in my local camera shop and they have got me a quote for a repair and CLA. Its £307 and I am wondering if its worth it. I bought a Yashicaflex new B in (like the D) frustration (in near mint) for £179. I will be using it mainly stoppoed down for landscapes and I am wondering should I pay for the Rollei repair. Its shutter let me down before and I think I may be better off selling it for parts. I like the idea of having 2 bodies though. Any advice?
DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
I'm in Australia, but the price you have been quoted seems high to me. What exactly will the repair center be doing to the camera??
For that money, you should get a detailed quote.
You say your T has given you lens problems before. None of mine have so far (touch wood) and in the past all I've ever had to have done on my four Rolleis (two 'flexes and one 'cord) are CLAs and one shutter speed adjustment. Those Ts are tough cookies and if used carefully they go on working for a long time.
Can you see the fungus in the lens?? If the lens has to be taken apart (always risky) to clean the fungus, that may be why the quoted cost is so high.
Admittedly, good and reliable repair people are somewhat thin on the ground these days. Here in Oz Land, repairs for many cameras (mostly digital) now cost so much, in recent years I've taken several of my older cameras to Singapore for CLAs and not-too-complex mechanical fixes, with my repair costs averaging A$100-$150. One shop in Singapore CBD seems to do work on Rolleis (I've yet to take one to them, but if I had to then I would) and their shop windows are full of nice-looking TLRs, all without price tags which in itself says a lot...
I would also be phoning around to talk to other repair centers in your region (if you can find any) to enquire what they can do and for how much.
For that money, you should get a detailed quote.
You say your T has given you lens problems before. None of mine have so far (touch wood) and in the past all I've ever had to have done on my four Rolleis (two 'flexes and one 'cord) are CLAs and one shutter speed adjustment. Those Ts are tough cookies and if used carefully they go on working for a long time.
Can you see the fungus in the lens?? If the lens has to be taken apart (always risky) to clean the fungus, that may be why the quoted cost is so high.
Admittedly, good and reliable repair people are somewhat thin on the ground these days. Here in Oz Land, repairs for many cameras (mostly digital) now cost so much, in recent years I've taken several of my older cameras to Singapore for CLAs and not-too-complex mechanical fixes, with my repair costs averaging A$100-$150. One shop in Singapore CBD seems to do work on Rolleis (I've yet to take one to them, but if I had to then I would) and their shop windows are full of nice-looking TLRs, all without price tags which in itself says a lot...
I would also be phoning around to talk to other repair centers in your region (if you can find any) to enquire what they can do and for how much.
Nitroplait
Well-known
If the repair shop is known for doing good work on Rolleiflex, then the quote is not too bad. It is my understanding that T’s are a little tricky so better use an experienced tech.
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
Thx. I have been told it had some damage on the lens from fungus which I could believe as I had not used it for 5-6 years. In that light I am not sure I could justify paying the money as I intended on getting the screen upgraded which would bring the whole cost over £400. I was thinking about getting a Rolleicord as a second TLR, but bought a Yashica B (new model like the D) and really like its bright screen.The first role I did is promising. Sure the Yashicor may not be quite as good as the Tessar but I only ever print up to 8X8 and usually stop down below F8 in any case. I bought the T as a step up from a 124 G I had a while back but I did not find the pictures really that different. The 124G crank would jam occasionally so I am going with a knob wind model from here on in and this feels more solid. Right now I am waiting to hear back from the repair people as I have toldt hem I would like sell it to them and they seem interested.
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
hi
Just following up on this. There was some confusion in working through my local and they repaired it anyway. I decided not to kick up a fuss and paid for the repair. The people who repaired it were Aperture , based in London. They have a good reputation and all looks good now. That said, I still may get rid of it and sell it on as it is still under warranty for another few months. At this stage the Split level viewfinder annoys me (even though they have cleaned it up well) and the left hand focusing know (with distance in ft) annoy me also. I cannot justify spending any more money on it and would like to recoup some. The Yashicalflexex with their fresnel screen seem much easier to work with.
Just following up on this. There was some confusion in working through my local and they repaired it anyway. I decided not to kick up a fuss and paid for the repair. The people who repaired it were Aperture , based in London. They have a good reputation and all looks good now. That said, I still may get rid of it and sell it on as it is still under warranty for another few months. At this stage the Split level viewfinder annoys me (even though they have cleaned it up well) and the left hand focusing know (with distance in ft) annoy me also. I cannot justify spending any more money on it and would like to recoup some. The Yashicalflexex with their fresnel screen seem much easier to work with.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
You now have a perfectly functioning Rolleiflex T. If you just don't like the handling (focus knob on the left; split screen finder), then I am quite sure you will get at least recoup what you've spent. I just got a T myself this year and like it a lot. I think many others feel the same. Get yourself a gently used Yashicamat 124.
stephen_lumsden
Well-known
The T is a good user camera all right. I have had it for 15 years and I was more angry with having to repair it when I was testing it and deciding whether to keep it after not using it for 5 years.During the time I was thinking about getting rid of it I got a yashicaflex B (I had the 124G before and the winder was a bit dodgy). I have used the T a few times now and is a joy to use. I had forgotten how much fund the TLRs are to use and will be posting pics from both in the future.
DownUnder
Nikon Nomad
Persevere - you will eventually get used to handling your T. Every camera is different. It's all a matter of using them and becoming familiar with them.
I bought two Ts in the 1990s when they were much less expensive than they've now become - like you are experiencing now, I found it took me a while to ge used to the different places for the focusing and winding, also the unique shutter button which sits at a 45 degree angle. All the more so as I had been using a 3.5E2 (which I bought new in 1966), so my Ts were an entirely different user experience.
A few years ago I lucked into a Rolleicord Vb kit at a low price, and the fun and games of learning a new system started again... now the Vb is my usual go-to TLR for bush trekking and day trips, even with the unusual (and I have to admit, initially annoying) left-right lever to trip the shutter.
The T (also the Vb) can take a 16 exposure kit and with a bit of 'creative' cranking, you can easily get an additional image from a 120 roll, so it's really a 17 exposure kit, ha! I have these kits on my Ts and the Vb and they do make an amazing difference to my composing. I suggest you get one - not expensive on Ebay. Then go wild and buy a 24 exposures on 120 kit... Either will expand your creativity and greatly improve your enjoyment of using the T.
The Tessar lens on the T has a unique look - it can be difficult to describe, but to me it's something in the mid-tones, also a 'character' pattern in the images, especially with B&W negatives. One of my two Ts shows this more than the other - odd, as the serial numbers are only a couple of 10,000s apart from each other, so they surely date closely to each other in manufacture. I've also found that the Zeiss lenses on the Rolleis tend to 'wrap' the light around the subjects - a trait I've noticed with other Zeiss lenses.