ZeissFan
Veteran
This would be a wrong assumption. Carl Zeiss has always prided itself on producing top-quality products and has production standards that are second to none. Leica is on equal footing when it comes to attempting to produce the highest-quality optics possible.
If anything, Rollei's standard slipped, particularly in the 1980s when it comes to its line of 35mm SLRs and the Rollei B35/C35/35LED and the somewhat sketchy Rollei XF 35. Even the Rollei 35 models were cheapened when Rollei decided to use a synthetic gear -- which was easily damaged -- in the film advance.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Anyone using Rolleinar .35 or .7 ?
Uncle Bill
Well-known
I just picked up a Bay I Rolleinar 1 for my Rolleicord. I can't wait to try it out.
JPD
Retina and Rollei user
The Zeiss Proxars aren't third party accessories at all. They are the original close-up lenses for Rollei. No one would call the Zeiss Tessar lens on a Rolleiflex a third party lens.
http://www.rockycameras.com/ekmps/s...se-up-proxar-set-cased-boxed-8.99-19182-p.jpg
http://www.janboettcher.de/images/PROXARE.JPG
This is one of my Rolleiflex Standards with Proxars and Rolleiparkeil:
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00H/00H0Ao-30684684.jpg
nksyoon
Well-known
Rolleinar 2 portrait
Lilserenity
Well-known
I picked up a Rolleinar 1 this week myself after posting about getting a higher + closer view point with my TLR, an Autocord (which I like very much indeed) but sadly the aperture has jammed on it over the past couple of days, not sure why, just went to use it one day and the aperture arm is not moving, so it's off to Karl Bryan as I had been planning but had wanted to shoot the one roll of 160NC in the camera and then send it off having got some Rolleinar 1 results in the bag.
Anyway, great little accessory, makes the camera much more versatile for those close in portraits where you don't want to crop and lose detail.
Managed to snag mine in great condition for £25 which seemed a pretty good deal. In the future I may look for a Rolleinar 2 but in no hurry now.
Vicky
Anyway, great little accessory, makes the camera much more versatile for those close in portraits where you don't want to crop and lose detail.
Managed to snag mine in great condition for £25 which seemed a pretty good deal. In the future I may look for a Rolleinar 2 but in no hurry now.
Vicky
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I use a Rolleinar 0.35 on my Tele Rolleiflex. Works great and I like the ergonomics of the hinge/swing.
Sanders stacks a Rolleinar 1 onto a 0.35 on his Tele Rolleiflex for his wonderful head shots. I need to get a bay 3 Rolleinar 1 still. Seems to be a magic combo with that 135/4.0 Sonnar.
Cal
Towermax
Member
Thanks for the reply, Mike. I own several Zeiss cameras and lenses, as well as a Zeiss Tessar and Sonnar for my Exakta--and I'm in full agreement with you.
My error was in assuming that these were less expensive East German substitutes for the Rollei close-up lenses. I've heard/read that postwar Zeiss Jena lenses have excellent design, but that manufacturing often left something to be desired. Certainly, my CZJ lenses for Werra and Exakta, while very nice, don't appear to be manufactured to the same standard as my Zeiss-Ikon lenses.
JPD's post stating that these are "the original close-up lenses for Rollei" makes it clear that these Proxars were OEM, not third-party. I'm looking forward to trying them out.
Towermax
Member
The Zeiss Proxars aren't third party accessories at all. They are the original close-up lenses for Rollei. No one would call the Zeiss Tessar lens on a Rolleiflex a third party lens.
Thanks for the info in this and the preceding posts. Do you know when the Proxars were first offered for sale? Are they pre- or post-war?
JPD
Retina and Rollei user
1929 - 1949. With bayonet mount 1937 - 49. After that they were renamed "Rolleinar".
Carl Zeiss still makes (?) the Hasselblad close-up lenses under the name "Proxar".
Proxar lenses were also used on plate/large format cameras to shorten the focal length as a cheap wide angle accessory. Zeiss also made Distar lenses with negative power, that made the focal length longer.
joachim
Convicted Ektachome user
I find that it obvious in the finder that the Xenar on my 'cord gets wider when I use a Rolleinar.
Using a +1, the focal length changes from about 75mm to about 70 mm and about 65 mm for the +2. This is not dramatic, but noticeable.
furcafe
Veteran
I use both, but w/the Tele-Rolleiflex, as they were intended (to get within "normal" ranges of closeness w/that model for environmental/head & shoulder portraits, etc.). Per Calzone's post, you can use the stronger Rolleinars w/the Tele-Rolleiflex, too, if you want to get really tight.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Ok great to know. I have both with the tele Rolleiflex I bought from another rff member. The .35 seems natural but the .7 is confusing me when I mess about with it. Like there is a gap in the focus range or maybe a gap between my ears
(more likely)Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Ok great to know. I have both with the tele Rolleiflex I bought from another rff member. The .35 seems natural but the .7 is confusing me when I mess about with it. Like there is a gap in the focus range or maybe a gap between my ears
Check out Sander's work. He does some great head shots using Rolleinars and a Tele Rolleiflex.
Cal
jibanes
Member
Where does the focus ring has to be when using a rolleinar?
t.s.k.
Hooked on philm
ianstamatic
Well-known
sometimes they are just great to get in a little closer.
Rollinar 1 bay3 on 2.8e planar
Rollinar 1 bay3 on 2.8e planar
Uncle Bill
Well-known
Themckane
Member
So I just picked up a Rolleinar 1 for my rolleicord V. question: Do you see a difference when looking thru the view finder? I did not see a difference
thanks
thanks
froyd
Veteran
You should be able to get the lens much closer to the subject than usual, and the viewfinder should show a focused image at that close-up range.
Make sure you are using the adapter on both the taking and the viewing lens, and that the viewing lens piece is outfitted with perspective correction, to compensate for parallax.
Make sure you are using the adapter on both the taking and the viewing lens, and that the viewing lens piece is outfitted with perspective correction, to compensate for parallax.