andrealimphotography
Member
Thanks! I'm on to researching both the 24 and the Mat right now!
Which TLR?? Help!
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Thanks! I'm on to researching both the 24 and the Mat right now!
andrealimphotography
Member
The seller says that everything is working, shutter fires at all speeds. He hasn't tested a roll though.
k__43
Registered Film User
Oh, nice .. the original lens cap. that was the first thing my girlfriend lost when I gave her a Rolleicord III for christmas.
I think this one can be cleaned, the taking lens seems ok on this shot. the price i a bit higher than what I'd pay for it in germany (a IV in great shape maybe), but then again you are in australia.
I think this one can be cleaned, the taking lens seems ok on this shot. the price i a bit higher than what I'd pay for it in germany (a IV in great shape maybe), but then again you are in australia.
miragem5
Well-known
I bought a Cord IV in about the same looking condition a few months ago with the slow speeds not working for $120 NZ ,so $180 aus sounds good to me .Did not take me more than 3 hours to clean lenses , get shutter freed up leather cleaned, mirror cleaned etc. dropped a cut down 124G fresnel screen on top of the ground glass and shes a beaut mate. Very easy to use, light, with a lovely lens ,only thing that would be nice would be a self timer.http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveod2007/8236726606/in/photostream
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
Just get a Rollei. Believe me, you want one, now or later. Might as wel be now and save some money.
andrealimphotography
Member
That's nice. Problem is that I can't repair anything on my own and there isn't anybody in sydney that could service it as far as I know. So if i take the risk of buying it and it doesn't work after say 5 rolls, I have no idea what i'm going to do with it 🙁
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
I have a Rolleiflex 2.8D in user shape + a C3 in pristine shape. Side by side the Rollei invites pickup/pack, and the Planar has given me at least 2 images that astonished me, being emotionally far beyond what I composed in the frame, and many others that turned out at least as handsomely as I had hoped.
It cost 2x the trade value of the C3 with 3 lenses (65, 80, 180). I take the C3 when I'm going to shoot in local crowds with a tri/monopod and want to change the focal length but not my location, and it's flawless. The Rollei travels far more easily. So there's a luxury of different occasions/purposes. But the Rollei would be my keeper.
Good luck!
It cost 2x the trade value of the C3 with 3 lenses (65, 80, 180). I take the C3 when I'm going to shoot in local crowds with a tri/monopod and want to change the focal length but not my location, and it's flawless. The Rollei travels far more easily. So there's a luxury of different occasions/purposes. But the Rollei would be my keeper.
Good luck!
miragem5
Well-known
You take a punt with any old camera you buy , only way to find out is to try it ,if the seller tells you it works you can only take his word . . For that money its worth a go
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
If you want to start out with a reasonable TLR, both with reagrds to usability, quality of results AND be pretty sure it works out of the box, try a Flexaret from seller "cupog" on ebay. He is a stand up guy, and a model V, Va or even later models will set you back about $100. I got my Va from him and it's been no trouble at all. In the extreme cold it's the only leaf shuttered camera I can use with confidence. All others seize up. That tells me it has been given a good going over.
Yes there is a great guy who fixed a Rolleicord someone else bent accidentally after I sold it to him. He also sent me a few fasteners I needed for the Tele free of charge even though I wanted to pay him. Let me know if you want his details.
Regards
Brett
If it was tidier I think the price would be OK as our overseas friends do not always understand that here in Australia we cannot score Rolleis of Craigslist in working order for $60 like they still occasionally do. But for that price in that cosmetic condition I would want it to be in good working order.
I could go into a lot of detail about how to check a Rollei and what to look out for, but, to mention a couple of things, don't just fire the slow speeds and timer once or twice and assume they are perfect. I couldn't tell you the number of times one has arrived and fired off perfectly on the one second speed the first few times I tested it, only to begin stalling after a little exercise. So fire it off on the one second speed at least ten or more times listening carefully. If it is still perfect after a number of firings it may stay good for some time. If the one second time works the other slow speeds will be OK, and faster ones rarely give trouble (although ensure 1/15 and 1/30 are distinctly different as they'll fall together if the escapement adjustment is off). Same with the self timer. Run that a lot, too. I do not know why the escapements do this, and can only assume that when one has been sitting for some time, perhaps activating the escapement a few times will stall the pallet with old lube after they are fired enough to move it. I can't think of any other reason they will work perfectly a few times and then decide to stick, but stick they will. Exercise doesn't always fix them, sometimes it simply permits them to manifest the need for a CLA that much faster...
Secondly, take a really good look at the lens mount at eye level. It should look even on all sides but it is also important that it glides in and out evenly on both sides as you turn the focus knob. If it "rocks" top to bottom, or one side leads the other slightly then the slide rails and/or cam followers are worn and/or out of adjustment. This is an easy, but fiddly, fix if you have the right gear and know how to do it, and a pain in the arse if you don't.
If the camera checks out well I'd buy the Rollei but I am one eyed about them so bear that in mind...
Regards
Brett
There is also a shop in Melbourne who will tackle Rollei service. I have been known to do the odd one myself, although it is a labour of love for me and I generally tend to work on my own cameras or occasionally, friends'.
Regards
Brett
Richard G
Veteran
Is that Camera Exchange Brett?
My Automat IV cost me $320 plus postage I thnk, from the classifieds here. It was in excellent condition. Some recent pictures in my gallery. A lovely machine to use. The loading is ingenious. The amount I paid could be quickly run up in junk cameras not fitting the bill and, God forbid, repairing them. The only extra expense I have had was buying a lens hood, a necessary accessory.
miragem5
Well-known
That Rolleicord is a IV and does not have the self timer that was on the V onward .
What Sarcophilus Harrisii said of the shutter speeds is a good description ,also I note from the photos that the camera has a hood on ,agree with Richard G a most necessary bit to have with any TLR. Rolliecord IVs trade from $130 to $250 NZ and if you look at ebay some dealers are asking real silly money.
Just for interest this is currently on our local trademe site http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=561308854
What Sarcophilus Harrisii said of the shutter speeds is a good description ,also I note from the photos that the camera has a hood on ,agree with Richard G a most necessary bit to have with any TLR. Rolliecord IVs trade from $130 to $250 NZ and if you look at ebay some dealers are asking real silly money.
Just for interest this is currently on our local trademe site http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=561308854
Yes, from memory I believe that is them although I have not used them.
In Sydney there is also Sargon Evanian (aka The Rollei Expert). I have not used him although he was kind enough to send me some fastners I needed to replace some that a previous owner had snapped on my Tele Rolleiflex, free of charge. I also sold a gorgeous Rolleicord Va to a really nice chap in Adelaide who had the misfortune to drop it off his table and badly bend the lens board cockeyed. He sent it over to Sargon who replaced bent slide rails for the lens carrier and trued it up beautifully, a fiddly job (having adjusted back one myself I know). So I am happy to recommend him on this basis. His contact details are:
220 Fairfield Street
Fairfield NSW 2165
02 9724 7127
Regards
Brett
Yes of course, you will be looking for the timer lever for a long time on a IV, I forgot that! Where it is fitted to the model (V; Va & Vb) if you plan on using it then it should be fired off a number of times unless you intend to get a CLA anyway...
Regards,
Brett
Richard G
Veteran
Thanks for this recommendation. I'll record this somewhere safe. Fortunately mine is working well at the moment. I have the Tessar 3.5, and I can see that in the future I am going to find it hard to resist getting a 2.8 Planar Rolleiflex eventually.
andrealimphotography
Member
Hi Brett,
It'd be great if I could get his details. I really appreciate all the information as well! I'll be sure the check the lens, saw a photo once where mold was growing right at the edge. Thanks for the reminder, it completely slipped my mind!
I'm also glad the person selling it is a user of the camera and not just a collector, so at least he knows how the camera should function. He's been pretty honest and patient with all my questions over 3 days :X I'll be sure to check all the knobs etc when collect it.
I considered a Ricoh Diacord L as well, after some suggestions and found one :O but it was under the same seller that told me the C33 had LIGHT webbing... clearly not. So i'm really not confident in him.
Hi,
you'll find Sargon's details in post 35 of this thread, I had to look them up from his correspondence with me but he was very prompt and helpful and insisted on not charging for the fasteners I required, which impressed me too.
Best
Brett
andrealimphotography
Member
Oh yes, thank you! 🙂 Sounds like really good service. So glad you stumbled upon this thread! This is going to be my first tlr, hope I enjoy medium formats.
