Any idea what a Rolleiflex 2.8C Planar is worth?

[illumiquest]

I'm thinking about buying one some chap is selling for 450. Worth it?

 

[Ian Grant]

Probably, but it really depends on the condition.

Ian

 

[AgentX]

Just bought a 2.8C Xenotar for about that, cla'd from Koh's camera, with $15 upcharge to install a rolleigrid.

I really love the camera; only disadvantage is the need to have an uncocked shutter to get into the 1/500th shutter speed position.

The aperture blades have a circular opening, rather than polygonal, if that sort of thing matters to you.

 

[jimsberg]

Rollei 2.8C

I happen to prefer the later Rolleis that have the removable waist level finder so that a Rollei prism can be fitted allowing eye level viewing with unreversed image. The C, as I recall, does not have this feature; the E and F models do, as well as the Rollei T (I have this model) and the Rolleicord Vb, I believe. Your price for the C is probably OK. Frankly, the 3.5 Tessar on the T and the 3.5 Xenar on the Cord are perfectly fine lenses when in good condition without the very high prices of the -Flex E and F models. If you go for the prism models beware of condition of the prism--they often have glass separation problems which may not be fixable. As a matter of interest, the T model Tessar was considered to be quite a good lens using rare earth glass.

Hope all this doesn't confuse you! Condition of whatever you buy is the most important thing!!

 

[ntenny]

Frankly, the 3.5 Tessar on the T and the 3.5 Xenar on the Cord are perfectly fine lenses when in good condition without the very high prices of the -Flex E and F models.

That's true, but having shot a good 3.5 Xenar 'cord and a good 2.8 Planar 'flex side by side, I have to say I found the difference to be significant. It's not that the Xenar is *bad*, just that the Planar is something special.

What that difference is worth in price terms is another question. But US$450 sounds pretty reasonable to me for a 2.8C if it's in good user condition.

-NT

 

[Ian Grant]

It's not that the Xenar is *bad*, just that the Planar is something special.
-NT

Same goes for the Xenotar, both it and the Planar are that step up from the Xenar/Tessar.

Ian