1/500 th precautions on a Rolleiflex Automat.

[haziz]

I have a Rolleiflex Automat (MX EVS) with a Tessar f3.5 lens (1954-56 vintage) that I am getting to know and love. Perusing the online manual of an earlier Automat as well as the "Rollei Manual" book by Alec Pearlman (1957 edition) there are dire warnings against engaging the 1/500 s setting on the shutter after film advance/shutter cocking. Both advise to change to and from the 1/500 s setting before film advance/shutter cocking. Because I have the EVS model which engages the shutter speed and aperture rings, I have on more than one occasion accidentally engaged the 1/500 s specially since I am still occasionally turning the dials in the wrong direction. Am I causing real damage to the shutter mechanism or are these precautions excessive or they don't affect my model. On my LF lenses, mostly modern Copal, but some synchro compur of 50s-60s vintage I have not encountered difficulties with shutter speed change.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Hany.

 

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

Hi Hany,

the advice not to engage or disengage the 1/500s with the shutter already cocked does in deed not affect your model. The earlier Synchro Compur shutters had two separate springs for 1/500 and all the other speeds. If you have one of these you will know. The 1/500 can only be engaged by force when the shutter is cocked already and you can only get out of it after you have released it.

Regards

Ulrich