TLR owners/users (If you dare admit if)

[rover]

I have my 124G out and boxed to go off for a shutter repair, and I want a Rolleiflex 2.8 now.

 

[mjflory]

I bought a very nice Kalloflex Automat TLR made by Kowa Optics.
The optical and build quality are on par with Rollei.

Don't hear them mentioned too often, but I've enjoyed shooting with mine very much. The mechanism's been very reliable. I did a very close comparison of the same shots taken with the Kalloflex and a friend's YashicaMat LM, by the way, and the Kalloflex was a hair softer, but not by much.

-- Michael

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

A couple of pics. from earlier this year from my first roll of film with my R'Cord 1a which G,Man brought back to life.

 

[kully]

Bought a Seagull 4A back from China. Shot a couple of rolls of B&W through it so far - one of them I had enlarged and is now hanging in my dining room.

Using Lucky 100 film - the photos have a wonderful softness around the edges and a delightfully honest (non-digital) look about them.

I still get dizzy trying to frame with the bloody thing though.

 

[rover]

I am still obsessing by the way.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolleiflex-2-8-...53QQihZ002QQcategoryZ3354QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[RicardoD]

Holy cow Rover does that Rolleiflex have all its gears lined in gold!

 

[rover]

I wish I had the cash to be able to buy it and give you an answer based on first hand experience.

 

[robert blu]

In the last three four month I started to use my (really it was my father's) Rolleiflex (Tessar) more than the other cameras. I found using it enable me to think-act in different way when taking pictures. And at a "end of summer" party I took pictures of people without disturbing them. They were just laughing, a part a very young boy who ask me : How many megapixel has thise strange camera ?"

 

[jano]

I got to play with a yashicamat for a little.. wow, it was fun But the ratchety film winding noise was a little annoying.. do the minolta or rollei make any noise when advancing film? I'm just being picky here

 

[Pherdinand]

they don't, Jano. Or at least they should not. I think the Yashica also should not.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

www.lomography.com has some Seagull TLR's in stock.

 

[kully]

www.lomography.com has some Seagull TLR's in stock.

Woah! That's expensive, I paid £20 for a good CLA'd 4A from a shop in Beijing. Should have filled my bags with those instead of Lucky film.

For £200 I think I'd rather go for an excellent condition Yashimat 124, you could get a CLA in and probably still be under the price.

The Seagull is nice and working perfectly (except for the self-timer which has a mind of its own) but the build quality is not too good.

 

[Mark]

Guilty of collecting them

Guilty of collecting them

I collect odd ball TLR's and do use them on occassion. Most TLR's look like the Rollei and take 120 film but the are plenty that don't. Here are a couple interesting ones that I own: Welta Perfecta - a folding TLR made in germany that takes 120 film. Pilot - a folding TLR that takes 127 film, Ontoflex- a french TLR that shoots 6x7 with a revolving back (if you can believe it!), Bolsey C- a 35 mm TLR of very compact size, Gemflex - a japanese sub-mini that took a proprietary film size, Agra Flexilette- 35 mm camera that looks like a SLR at first glance but has two leneses. Here are a few I don't own but would like to acquire some day: Meisuppi - a japanese TLR with the lenses oriented horizontally, Contaflex - complex 35mm TLR with interchangable lenses.

 

[v3cron]

rollei 2.8e. love it.

 

[dingadingdang]

Yep, TLR's were my first film cameras (well, forgetting the disposable and cheap cams I used to own) and I really love them.
I started with a Seagull 4B (I live in Shanghai and the local junk shops are awash with them), then got a 4A and recently got hold of a Yashica 124G. I'm tempted by a rolleiflex at the moment a friend is selling.
I find them to be excellent for street photography, quite discreet, because I'm looking down all the time I don't seem to attract much attention.

Pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dingadingdang/sets/72157594343631311/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dingadingdang/sets/72157594246297559/

What are the rules on the gallery here, can I post TLR pics or is it only for RF pics?

 

[RicardoD]

dingadingdang (great userid!),

I have seen many people post TLR photos in their galleries here. I think that is all I have in mine at the moment. I am just stating to get into medium format with my TLR. I very much enjoyed the photos in your Flickr site. I go to Shenzhen a few times a year and you have inspired my to bring my TLR and try and capture some of the same streets scenes near the factories I visit. I think your talent shows through regardless of the camera you own, but everyone here on RFF seems like a gear head and I completely relate with chasing a Rolleiflex.

I started with a Yashica MAT 124G TLR, only went through a few rolls and immediately set my sites on getting a Rolleiflex. I now have a Rolleiflex 3.5E Xenotar. I have yet to shoot my first roll with it. It just returned today from a complete overhaul by Mark Hansen in Portland, Oregon, USA.

 

[Otter]

Hi
Their is a set with hood, 5 B&W filters and 2 close up lenses (actually 6 lenses one for taking lens ,one for viewing lens and parallax correction lens )gtimes 2 for two levels of close-up) all in a leather case. You might find one on eBay for under $200. I have one for my Bay 1 Rolleiflex MX. You can find a manual from one of the manual download websites. One thing is really important (for Rolleiflex and I believe Rolleicord) -do not change shutter speed to 1/500 after shutter is cocked-it will break the 1/500 speed.
hope this helps
Otter

 

[Abbazz]

I collect odd ball TLR's and do use them on occassion... Ontoflex- a french TLR that shoots 6x7 with a revolving back (if you can believe it!).

Hi Mark,

Can you show us pictures of your Ontoflex? I love these cool beasts

BTW I thought Ontoflexes were 6x9 cameras. Am I wrong or are there other models?

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[kully]

This was taken in 'Camera City' in Wukesong in Beijing. The glare was horrible, this was the best I could do.

No idea if these were for sale or not, but there were a lot of TLRs of all makes in the little shops in this photographic aladdins cave.


On a sidenote I've just realised I've accidently deleted one whole GB card of images (~180). Found this while I am looking through what I do have with increasing alarm...

The 120 film I took is safely sitting in a folder at home.

 

[Ash]

I love how there's still a Lubi on the bottom shelf

I feel really bad for you about those photo's. I lost all 100 shots of Greece thanks to a dodgy digital camera a few years ago. It's harrowing!