Yet another buying advice request

[Beemermark]

No one has mentioned the Ikoflex line of TLRs. My first one was a Ikoflex Favorit 877/16 with a built in meter. Worked perfectly but using the meter was more cumbersome than using a handheld meter. Being somewhat rare I sold it and bought a Ia. Another great camera. Buy post war, I think they all have Tessars which are really nice.
http://www.tlr-cameras.com/German/slides/Ikoflex%201A%20854-16.html

I also have a 2.8F & 3.5F. I really don't see much difference in use with the 2/3 stop difference. It's easy to shoot a TLR down to 1/30 sec with a strap. I've owned quite a few 2.8F & 3.5F models and the meters are always dead nuts accurate. They are also easily adjustable if you find it off a little. If you find one that doesn't work something is broken.

But Rolleiflexes are expensive and a late model Rolleicord is a great camera also.

The Mamiyaflex is nice, but huge and way too heavy for me (and that was true when I was a lot younger).

The Autocords and Yashicamats were entry level cameras, sturdiness was not a strong point, and after all these years most are ready for retirement. I'm sure there are people out there using them with good results but given the prices they are going for I wouldn't buy one.

 

[leica M2 fan]

For the OP. I have a Rolleicord V with 3.5 lens ( Tessar type) and love it way more than my Rolleiflex 3.5 with Schneider lens. The 'Cord is right handed focus and film advance and is lighter to carry. It's a peach and gives nice sharp pictures. They aren't super expensive either.

 

[CMur12]

...
The Autocords and Yashicamats were entry level cameras, sturdiness was not a strong point, and after all these years most are ready for retirement. I'm sure there are people out there using them with good results but given the prices they are going for I wouldn't buy one.

I disagree that the Minolta Autocord was an entry level camera. It was optically and mechanically distinctly superior to the Yashica Mat.

I have had very positive experience with an assortment of Autocords. In the case of the Yashica Mat, however, the wind mechanism has failed on every one of them I have known.

The Yashica D and 635, are simpler, more robust cameras, compared to the Mat. They have knob wind film advance, with automatic stop (no red window). They typically have the three-element Yashikor lens, which is quite decent - perhaps with more "character" than the Tessar-type Yashinon lens of the Yashica Mat. You have to cock the shutter manually, but this never bothered me.

Any older camera such as these would likely benefit from a CLA. You could also have a modern bright screen installed.

- Murray

 

[Deleted member 65559]

RH, as Beemermark and Leica M2 fan have said..... the 3.5 lenses are terrific. I owned Rolleiflex 2.8 F (several) before selling to move to LF. I also used a Mamiya 6 as my main MF camera for several years. I now have one TLF a '58 Rolleiflex T. I love the lens character, and close up with the Rolleinar attachments the OOF background is really smooth. Those bayonet 1 accessories are far cheaper than bayonet 3. I've made successful prints up to 20" x 20" and really like the Tessar character. If you look around ebay there are lots of choices, Minolta autocord, Yashicamat, Rolleicord. Pick a price range and decide what you will be happy with, because selling and buying up is what will cost you money. I'd say $500 can buy you a lot of camera.

IMG_8463 by , on Flickr (wide open w Rolleinar 1)

 

[Dan Daniel]

Maybe I missed the mention- Rolleicord. From the Rolleicord IV (4) forward they have double exposure prevention so idiots are safe. The Xenar lens is a wonderful Tessar-type lens. You can get a IV, V, Va, or Vb starting at maybe $150 going up to maybe $400?

I love the Autocord. There are many around with a meter on the side, and many of the meters still work fine for outdoor work; horrible low light sensitivity, common for selenium meter cells.

No matter which camera you get- so many perfectly usable to excellent models out there- condition is the key thing. You should either buy from a trusted seller or be prepared to start collecting Ebay cameras as you hope to find a camera that matches a seller's description.

 

[Hari]

i just got a rollei T, had it CLAed, and found
the few filters/close-up lenses plus
the 16 exposure kit for the rollei T. Rolleicords
are just as top great however and a lot
take their own 16 exposure kits. The T
was a step up camera from the rolleicord.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

TLRs are kind of not crystal clear on film loading, rewinding.
Any Mamiya 22, 33, 220, 330 with porrofinder and 2.8 blue dot lens will do.



Mamiya C33. by Kostya Fedot, on Flickr

80mm f2.8.


Sergey Plyshevskiy. Poet. by Kostya Fedot, on Flickr

You have best meter on your picture.
I find Yashica Mat 124G standard glass to be best among others.
But non of them has character in lens. They are just sharp lenses.
Rolleis, which have best lenses (with character, but no flaws) have aftermarket better focusing glass.

 

[rhechcapel]

Thank you so much for all the advice folks!

Based on all this I am leaning toward the Rolleicord because of the right hand focusing and a new pair of glasses 🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

I worry about TLRs. They are great: I have three, but one will be almost impossible to repair if the one little belt fails, the other two have Seiko shutters which are fussy. I hope mine out last me, but the heartbreak of a failure is just too much for me.

All in all they are the best though:


Efke IR820 HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

 

[CMur12]

I think a Rolleicord is a good choice. It is a simple, rugged TLR with a great lens.

Not all of them had focusing on the right, so you will need to watch for this feature.

The focusing screen on these cameras is very dim. Installing a modern bright screen would greatly enhance the user experience.

The shutter release is really just a threaded socket for a remote release cable. The camera also came with a downward-facing plunger release that screwed into said socket. If possible, find a camera that includes this shutter release, as finding a separate one will add hassle and expense.

(You can also release the shutter with the shutter cocking lever, by pulling it in the opposite direction from that used to cock it. I find this very unsatisfactory, however, as it is difficult to fire the shutter in this way without causing camera shake.)

May you find a Rolleicord that brings you great satisfaction!

- Murray

 

[rbiemer]

Can't disagree with earlier posters' thoughts but, since you've said you like the Seagull's lenses, maybe the 4a-107 or 109?

For myself, I had a 107 and it was fine but didn't seem especially robust. I much preferred the Yashica Mat. And I did have a Rolleiflex for a while. That one was a bit rough but worked pretty well.

No TLRs now, if I were looking, I'd likely be looking at Autocords or (possibly) a Flexaret.
However, as has been mentioned, condition is key and I will always choose better condition over specific brand.

Good hunting!
Rob

 

[aizan]

Top pick for me is a Rolleiflex Old Standard.

 

[Ambro51]

Buy the smoothest Rolleicord Vb (with case) you can afford. I had one, and cannot think of any bad points.

 

[Krosya]

The "idiotproof" rings loudly for me. I love the Yashica D, which ticks many boxes, but its problem is that you can make double exposures (or miss a frame inadvertently by unnecessarily winding). It also has a 2.8 viewing lens, which makes a big difference in ease of focusing (plus it has a good Fresnel screen). The Ricoh Diacord G is excellent too, very much like the Yashica D.

Someone mentioned the Yashicamat 124G -- a good choice, as is the 124 (no G) and should tick just about all your boxes. (I say "just about" because the taking lens is 3.5 -- truth be told, you don't need a 3.5 taking lens. And Tessar-type lenses for MF are going to typically be a 3.5 maximum aperture anyway, which is about the maximum aperture you can have for that design without performance falling off noticeably.

The Rolleicords are "idiotproof" from the double/missed exposure standpoint, and excellent cameras. The viewing lenses are f3.2 I think, and don't have anything more than a groundglass for focusing.

I think this is the best advice/answer. Yashica made lots of TLRs and for the money they are very well made and perform. I would go with D , which usually comes with the Yashicor lens, which has more character. Yashinon lens is very good too, but gives a more modern look.
There are many good TLRs out there, but many have issues or quirks, so if you want a simple and reliable, Yashica is a good place to start imo.

 

[DownUnder]

Buy the smoothest Rolleicord Vb (with case) you can afford. I had one, and cannot think of any bad points.

Yes yes yes. The Rolleicord Vb is the little 'sleeper' darling of the entire Rollei TLR line, a superb piece of machinery that goes on shooting forever and a day, needs only infrequent servicing, and with a little care will outlast the shooter and go on to be a family heirloom - or used as long as 120 roll film continues to be manufactured.

A close second is the Rolleiflex T, the black later version which replaced the early grey models. The T was an amateur model (so most were used less hard than the pro models) and it has had some negative reviews, but these I think are overkill, they are fine cameras.

The Rolleicord Xenar and the T's Tessar (both 75mm f/3.5) have unique visual signatures and produce exceptionally fine black-and-white negatives.

The two cameras take bayonet 1 accessories, which are plentiful and not expensive. You can also add a 16 exposure kit (the Vb has 16 and 24 exposure kits) on 120 film, and 35mm kits or backs.

My advice to the OP is to take your time, save your money, and shop around - I would buy from an established dealer who offersg a warranty in place of a home seller who may have tinkered with the camera and damaged it as they often do, in which case you'll be up for potentially expensive repairs.

Yashica TLRs are fine cameras (I've owned four) but a Rollei, whether 'flex or 'cord, is a lifetime investment. The quality is there and you will feel it in your hands when you use it. As I've found in 58 years of active shooting, a Rollei TLR is an addiction for life - and love.

Mind, if you dislike TLR ergonomics, look for something else. I had this problem with Hasselblads, but it took me 20 years and four 'blads to learn my lesson. Such is life - and photo gear.