Can you put Prism on a Rollei not meant to take one?

rknewcomb · Nov 11, 2022

The later Rollei 2.8f and 3.5 f and probably a few others have the built in little tabs so you can press them and simple exchange the waist level finder for a prism.
Is there an adapter or some DIY method where you can put a prism on say an E or C model where you don't have this quick exchange built in? I do not care if it is not a quick exchange method it just makes the slightly older camera better for my needs if I can have a prism.
Thank you for the help!
Robert

Ian Grant · Nov 11, 2022

I thought the E2 could take a prism, it is the first model to have a removable waist level finder. It's early evening and dark here in the UK & my Rollei books are in my darkroom (down at the end of my garden).

Ian

Dan Daniel · Nov 11, 2022

If you can locate a focusing hood that fits your model, you can remove the upper moving parts. A Haaslebad finder then fits in the opening. You need to put spacers inside the finder to raise the Hassy part up about 5mm to get it to focus on the Rollei screen (still in place and part of the hood base).

Be aware that the hoods changed a bit for various so check screw location and front and back point locations before destroying a hood from a model different than yours.

You can put the prism inside the hood base and tape the crap out of it to hold in place. Works fine.

Sirius Glass · Nov 11, 2022

As Dan stated in the previous post

, it has been done and there are posts on this website about how people did just that. Do a website search.

rknewcomb · Nov 11, 2022

Hi,
Thank you for the help. I would not have known about lifting the prism 5mm for sure,
Robert

reddesert · Nov 11, 2022

IMO, one way to deal with it would be to design and 3D print a piece that holds the (Hasselblad) prism in the right place. Then one would not need to locate and disassemble a finder, etc.

For example, here someone designed a holder for the Rolleiflex T (but I don't know what kind of prism it accepts): https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4407606

This is an adaptation where someone designed a holder that allows a Bronica SQ to take a Hasselblad WLF or prism: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4406818
and this is a similar adapter for a Mamiya C TLR: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3602062

An advantage of using Hasselblad prisms (or Kiev copies) is that so many were made and the older models are relatively inexpensive.

NB23 · Nov 12, 2022

Ian Grant said:
I thought the E2 could take a prism, it is the first model to have a removable waist level finder. It's early evening and dark here in the UK & my Rollei books are in my darkroom (down at the end of my garden).

Ian

The E2 and E3

Can you put Prism on a Rollei not meant to take one?

rknewcomb

Ian Grant

Dan Daniel

Sirius Glass

rknewcomb

reddesert

NB23

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