TLR owners/users (If you dare admit if)

TLR owners/users (If you dare admit if)

  • Do own a TLR?

    Votes: 45 7.1%

  • If so, do you use it a lot?

    Votes: 134 21.2%

  • If so, do you use it some?

    Votes: 266 42.0%

  • If so, do you seldom use it?

    Votes: 116 18.3%

  • Does it sit on a shelf looking longingly at RF's

    Votes: 47 7.4%

  • Wouldn't dirty my hands on one and handle my RF's

    Votes: 5 0.8%

  • What is a TLR?

    Votes: 20 3.2%
  • Total voters
    633
I started using TLRs with a Rolleiflex 2.8D...made some of my best photographs with that camera. I stupidly sold it. Then I purchased a YashicaMat D (with Yashinon lens), 2 YashicaMat 124s, YashicaMat LM, Bronica SQA, Mamiya C22, and Ensign Autorange.

Even though I am emotionally attached to the Rolleiflex experience, I think it feels better in use than the YashicaMats. However, I think they produce equal technically similar images. In other words, the limitation lies within the image making ability between my ears.

The thing that I love about the TLR is that I could really compose the image in the viewfinder as compared to the viewfinder in a 35mm camera. By looking down at the viewfinder from a few inches, it feels similar to looking at a photo that I am critiquing while sitting at a table. My photo imaging ability changed dramatically.

They are all good cameras (the ones listed above) in their own right. The YashicaMat D and LM with Yashinon lens is a great buy.
 
My option isn't in the poll :( I don't have one, but it's an experience I wouldn't mind having. I actually got round to buying a Rollei 66 once (OK, that's an SLR, but if you use the waist level finder, the main difference is the single lens) but it was far too bulky for me. Luckily, it was also damaged in transport, so I got my money back :) I would love to try the square format one day. And seeing the image reversed sounds like an interesting way to pay more attention to composition. I sometimes find the straight image of an RF/SLR distracting, particularly when framing in on people.


Peter.
 
I have a flexaret V. I bought it on evilbay to "cupog" and it works perfect as he said. If you want to try an inexpesive but good working TRL this seller from Slovaquia sells CLA Flexaret, Yashicamat and other TRL.

I enjoy using the TRL, but I don´t use it a lot, because I prefer RF cameras.
 
Just bought 2 rolls of Ilford FP4 (120 format) for my rolleicord, so I can use it again.

I thinks I need to replace the focusing screen though, its so damn dark!!! I do like them though, apart from the image mirroring/reversal - very confusing :)
 
There's a pretty Rolleicord IV for sale in the classifieds right now. (shameless plug)

EDIT: SOLD
 
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When I first took up photography, I was an engineering student at SUATC Farmingdale. The school also had a photo tech curriculum and a library full of related books. Fritz Henle's books really caught my eye and, not able to afford a Rolleiflex, I bought a Yashica D (Yashinon). After many other cameras (Leica, Nikon, Konica Reflex, Sinar, etc.), I once again have tlr's. Now they're Rolleiflexes, three of them, an MX, MX-EVS, 3.5E. I just bought a copy of Henle's "fritz henle's rollei." My only disappointment is I'm no longer 19 years old. Oh well...I can still sometimes act 19 years old.

MikeyGaGa said:
Greetings:

I learned photography back in the mid 60s when TLRs were very much still in use.

My ROLLEI 3.5E was my main tool(I was a pro)for years.

If you are as enamored with TLRs has I am,see if you can find anything by FRITZ HENLE.

He wrote a TLR column for PoP or Modern Photography for a number of years,and also published a number of book..CASALS;VIRGIN ISLANDS;NEW ROLLEI PHOTOGRAPHY.

He was known as MrRollei;Rolleiflex published a box set of his prints for their 50th or 75th anniversary.

Anyone who rememnber Henle and was inspired by him,please reply.

Mikey GaGa
Click to expand...
 
iñaki said:
I have a flexaret V. I bought it on evilbay to "cupog" and it works perfect as he said. If you want to try an inexpesive but good working TRL this seller from Slovaquia sells CLA Flexaret, Yashicamat and other TRL.
Click to expand...

I believe cupog a.k.a. Gejza Dunay, goes over his wares before selling them.
 
Just posted about this on another thread, but I have a Flexaret VII that I bought in Slovakia a few years back. It was CLA'd and works pretty well. I've beaten it pretty bad and it's tempermental now, but I'd say they're good values, especially the CUPOG ones. He seems quite trustworthy.
 
There's a Rolleicord II in the box that hasn't seen action for the past 8 months. Needs a new mirror and film advance needs fixing. Shutter also needs CLA. It was cheap, though.
 
oftheherd said:
How many own and how many actually use TLR's (poll suggested by FrankS)
Click to expand...

There is something wrong about this poll. I voted for option 1 and then I need to vote for one or more of the rest but there is no way to vote twice.
I own a TLR and use it often. How would I vote here?

Raid
 
Rolleiflex 2.8D, Rolleiflex Automat, Tele Rolleiflex.
These are my workhorses in MF.
Sharp, sharp, and sharp.
 
My Mamiya C330 sees a lot of action when I am feeling strong enough to lug it around. the only drawback is the square negative format which can be a bit limiting in terms of composition. I generally prefer a rectangular negative.

I am thinking of creating a 'Lubiloid' by sticking a Polaroid back onto a Lubitel TLR. Has anyone done this?
 
BrianShaw said:
TLR + monopod go together like coffe + cream. This was my primary rig for many, many years. It's a great combination! Try it, you'll like it!
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I live in a very tourist rich environment here in the 'peg, I put my C330 on a skinny little manfrotto pod and stroll along five blocks of coffee patio. It tends to cause a lot of double takes.
Funny though, no one ever seems to ask it that one's a digital. :D
I also have an ancient Zeiss IKOFLEX which still works like a charm.
 
My first experience was with an old Mamiyaflex (if I remember correctly) around 1976 in my school's photo club.

The first one I bought some five years ago was a YashicaMat 124G. I put a few rolls through it and quite liked the experience. I've been meaning to take it out again one day, but somehow that never seems to happen...

Then I have a Ricoh Diacord, but I'm not even sure it works: the frame counter doesn't jump back to zero when I open it. Never tried it.

Then another, earlier YahicaMat still waiting to be tried out. And finally, I just won an eBay auction yesterday for a British MPP Microcord II. I've been wanting one ever since I read about them in a "Classics for use" article by Ivor Mantanle in Amateur Photographer some years ago. Curious how that will turn out... and when I'll put my first roll through it ;)

Apart from that, still looking to buy a Minolta Autocord (maybe) and a Mamiya C330 (certainly).
 
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Squonk said:
My first experience was with an old Mamiyaflex (if I remember correctly) around 1976 in my school's photo club.

The first one I bought some five years ago was a YashicaMat 124G. I put a few rolls through it and quite liked the experience. I've been meaning to take it out again one day, but somehow that never seems to happen...

Then I have a Ricoh Diacord, but I'm not even sure it works: the frame counter doesn't jump back to zero when I open it. Never tried it.

Then another, earlier YahicaMat still waiting to be tried out. And finally, I just won an eBay auction yesterday for a British MPP Microcord II. I've been wanting one ever since I read about them in a "Classics for use" article by Ivor Mantanle in Amateur Photographer some years ago. Curious how that will turn out... and when I'll put my first roll through it ;)

Apart from that, still looking to buy a Minolta Autocord (maybe) and a Mamiya C330 (certainly).
Click to expand...


Could you post your results of Microcord? I heard not so many good things about it. I would be really interested to see your results and hear your comments firsthand,
Thanks,
George
 
Just "re-animated" my B.I.G. Twin 4 and really like it. So I voted for some use.
Currently I am also waiting for a Yashica 12 in very good condition (hopefully) bought on the bay :)

Cheers
Thomas-Michael
 
16 rolls of Lucky camera film coming my way. Not sure if £30 posted was a bit steep, but at least I've got a lot to play with now!

Has anyone seen that digi-tlr? its on Robert White I think.
 
I have two of them. One is a Rolleiflex the other is a Rolleicord. I like them both. But I have two Hassy's and shoot with them most of them time when I want a larger negative.

Regards,
Tom
 
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