rolleiflex, which is the best model?

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

One small point I'd never realised they changed with the E & F models, is the sliding depth of field scale which adjusts as you change the aperture. For landscape images I will often use hyperfocal focussing. Sometimes I will set the focus at one stop larger aperture than the one I have set (or perhaps, two stops) to ensure adequate sharpness. It is actually easier to do this with the earlier models that have a printed depth of field scale next to the focus knob. The later ones only show you the DOF for the aperture you've set, so I suppose you would have to actually change the aperture, to display the DOF points you wanted to set hyperfocally, and then change it back. Or use a DOF table, of course...

I don't want to buy into the relative qualities of the earlier versus "modern" Rolleis (as I have never seen or used a newer one), except to say that I think the older ones are more beautiful than the new models, which is fortunate for me as I could not afford to buy many late examples.
Regards,
Brett

 

[DaveO]

I have heard that the earlier models were built better than the GX's. I have the 3.5F with a Planar, but have heard the Xenotars were up there in quality too. I bought mine with a working meter about 15 years ago and paid about $ 700 or so. I use a handheld Sekonic meter so I could have saved a bit by getting one without a working meter.

DaveO

 

[shadowfox]

Thanks guys, especially Raid. I plan to use it with a handheld Pentax digital spotmeter. Therefore I will be looking out for the 2.8D

Good, get a 2.8D.
The wider max. aperture *matters* especially when we are talking about lenses that are as sharp as these Planars.

 

[valdas]

without any doubt - 3.5F. why? coz i have two of them...

 

[River Dog]

There is really something special about a 1956 piece of metal, leather and glass. It's like driving a classic of the period, so I would go for an older model like the 2.8 Planar (handheld meter) - that glass is wicked.

Doesn't mean it's the best of course, but you can have mine from my cold, dead hands. 😎

 

[RedLion]

The "best" ? If I had to choose, it would be the 2.8F

Here's some shots of mine: