Rollei TLR 45-degree prism finder

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MarkS

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Did Rollei ever make one of these? I found the Hasselblad version to be the perfect finder (on the Blad) and would love to use a Rollei with something similar.
 
I've never seen a 45 degree prism made for the Rolleiflex.

I have, though, made it happen myself. If you unscrew the mounting plate from the bottom of the NC-2 prism, it slides right inside the Yashica-Mat finder base. For my eyes, I've needed to shim the finder up 8-12mm to have focus on the screen.

Disassembling the full viewfinder isn't hard and it can be reassembled with some care. Then again, I have some spare Yashica-Mats to provide donor parts.

I was recently given a Rolleiflex 2.8A Tessar without a viewfinder or screen. It turns out that the Yashica-Mat base can be fit into the rollei. The second camera on this page is the result (brown if from the leather being removed, that's all- old camera poorly stored so I didn't bother preserving the leather when working on it)-
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41980&page=19

If you go down the page, you'll see a Yashica-Mat with this. I have set up a Minolta Autocord with the same system- great street shooter!
 
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I know they did make an eye-level prism. Right-side-up, right-way-round view of the picture. 45-degree? I dunno.
 
They made such a prism and so did another company (Mamiya; called Porro). I have both. The original prism is way too heavy, making the TLR less balanced. The Porro prism is dim, but very light.
 
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Really makes the camera top-heavy. Photojournalists used to use those prisms, mostly with the pistol-grip handle that goes under the camera.
 
I have a prism finder that came with a 3.5f Rolleiflex. It is a different experience compared to the WLF, but as David mentioned it makes the camera top heavy. I like it but have not use it much because of the weight. I'll have to try it more often.
 
You can put Hassie or Kiev 88 (same finder mount as Hassie) prism finders (eye-level or 45 degree) on a Rolleiflex using a Baierfoto adapter.

http://www.baierfoto.de/tlr_engl.html

I have the adapter & use it w/a Hassie HC1 eye-level finder ($72 used off eBay) & it works well w/my 3.5F, 2.8F, etc., though I have nice bright screens (Maxwell). The HC1 is comparable in brightness & considerably shorter than the original F&H prism.

MarkS said:
Did Rollei ever make one of these? I found the Hasselblad version to be the perfect finder (on the Blad) and would love to use a Rollei with something similar.
Click to expand...
 
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Most discussions of using a prism with a Rolleiflex are bsed on the 90 degree model. This places the camera full in front of oyur face and changes the ergonomics significantly more than the 45 degree prism, making something like the pistol grip very helpful for many people.

The 45 degree prism is actually very close to using the camera with a WLF, having it up close to look through the magnifier. No need for a pistol grip- it handles very smoothly, your hand will fall in the places you know from regular WLF use, etc.

Yes, the Hassleblad/Kiev prism makes it top heavy. Nothing extreme, and the strap points are high enough that the camera still hangs in its usual fashion around the neck.

For those of us without F models or other Roleis with interchangeable viewfinders, I am not sure what can be done short of something like my complete breakdown and construction. What I have shown is not interchangeable in the field for a WLF or such.
 
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Dan is right; there is a 45 degree and a 90 degree prism. I have the 90 degree prisms. I never use the prism. I now have sold my 2.8E and 2.8F many years ago, and my only remaining TLR with removable VF is a 3.5F and the Tele.
 
I have such a prism. I used it in wedding photography for better focusing.
 
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