Classic TLR's and Street Photography

baachitraka · Oct 14, 2016

Mine is from jinfinance: Total garbage and it is worse than GG screen.

But Rick's bright screen can be different and may be better.

Dan Daniel · Oct 14, 2016

Rick Oleson's present screen is a Brightscreen model that he is sourcing from the estate of the man who developed the Brightscreen. His version has a large microprism center spot. It is bright, clean, fine fresnel lines. Similar to a Mamiya RB67 screen. I love the Maxwell in one of my Rolleis (opinions vary on its use). If money is no object I will get a Maxwell again. In the real world the Oleson or Mamiya work for me.

Oleson used to provide screens along the lines of the cheap Chinese screens. The present screens are in a different (better) class.

DavidClapp · Oct 14, 2016

Dali said:
Long ago, I had a Oleson's screen on a Rolleiflex Automat: bright no doubt but very difficult to focus as the Fresnel was way too apparent, a pure crap.

I agree - I didn't think I would mention that I bought a Rick screen for my Mamiya C3, the the Fresnel grain is so heavy makes it really difficult to get critical sharpness, I wouldn't say i was pure crap, but I didn't think it was worth it.

BobMarvin11225 · Oct 14, 2016

I had a Rolleiclear screen installed in my 2.8E back in 1965. AFAIK this was the first "bright screen." I's a big improvemwnt on the original and I've never felt the need for any further upgrade

02Pilot · Oct 14, 2016

Like the OP, I have and use a Model 621 Old Standard, among other TLRs. I replaced the mirror (old Polaroid, cut down) and screen (Oleson) in order to make it usable. It's still not really bright enough for street work IMO, at least if you want to focus carefully rather than zone focus. The best stock TLR screen I've got is undoubtedly in my Zeiss Ikoflex Ic.

prumpkah · Oct 14, 2016

I've had good results with a Mamiya RB67 screen (plain matte), cut down to size for the Rollei. You can find various places online with DIY instructions on how to do it.

DavidClapp · Oct 15, 2016

prumpkah said:
I've had good results with a Mamiya RB67 screen (plain matte), cut down to size for the Rollei. You can find various places online with DIY instructions on how to do it.

Do you have a link to a tutorial in specific?

Dali · Oct 15, 2016

02Pilot said:
Like the OP, I have and use a Model 621 Old Standard, among other TLRs. I replaced the mirror (old Polaroid, cut down) and screen (Oleson) in order to make it usable. It's still not really bright enough for street work IMO, at least if you want to focus carefully rather than zone focus. The best stock TLR screen I've got is undoubtedly in my Zeiss Ikoflex Ic.

Agree! Ikoflex genuine screen are very good!

marcmarc · Nov 30, 2016

A little late to this but I acquired a couple of Rolleicords earlier this year. I had one overhauled by Harry Fleenor along with a Rick Olson screen installed. I've been using it on a steady basis ever since and I'm very happy with it. I'd like to get a late model Mamiya C330 like an "F" or the later "S" but they are hard to come by in the LA area for some reason. Someday...

chromacomaphoto · Dec 1, 2016

Bit late on this reply, anyway just wanted to add something seeing as it has risen up again....Don't forget that it will take a while to shoot candids and/or street with a TLR if you haven't done it before. There's a definite adjustment period required. Once you start to get more comfy it with it though, it a TLR can be a real weapon for that kind of thing. For God's sake, do use a hood with that camera though. I shot all of these on Rolleiflexes and even in the ones where it looks like the people knew, trust me when I say that they really didn't know...

Dead Link Removed

One thing that you already touch on also is that these kind of cameras are either met with indifference or a smile, both can work well for public photography, depending on your aims. It's never happened to me that people have reacted negatively to such a camera, they don't appear threatening at all. That said, after a while you might actually start to find the strangers striking up conversations with you about 'that quirky looking camera' around your neck can actually get in the way of your shooting a bit LOL!

KeithM · Dec 2, 2016

Back in the day (to coin a phrase) in the mid-70's I used a Mamiya C3 plus a Rolleiflex for weddings - which also involved having a big/heavy Mecablitz flash battery dangling from a shoulder. Good job I was young and fit! Nowadays weight is a very important factor (being old & decrepit) so my return to 6x6cm meant the purchase of a Rolleicord Vb. Not the quickest camera to use, ergonomics-wise but the lens is superb and the viewing screen bright. Have used it in various situations and the results are almost always pleasing (to me, anyway!). My Rolleicord Flickr album.

juan · Dec 2, 2016

I've used a TLR for street photography for decades. It was a pretty good stealth camera because few people knew what it was or how it operated.
Last fall, I was walking around with my C-33 when a woman shouted that there was one of those cameras. She had seen one in a movie about a woman in Chicago. She had never seen aTLR in person.
Damn Vivian Maier.

paul ron · Dec 2, 2016

where are the yashicas? light, good lenses n very durable. best feature of all.... CHEAP!

TheFlyingCamera · Dec 2, 2016

Huge Rolleiflex fan here. I have two 2.8Es and a Tele. They're great cameras for street work. I don't care about the non-working meters in the Es (the meter is uncoupled for starters, and when street shooting unless you're in deep shade or working in generally low light, it's Sunny-16 all the way). Sorry I'm a little late to this thread, so I'll just re-iterate what others have already said - they make terrific street cameras. They're friend-makers, and they lend a different perspective to your images. Whatever camera you do use, in the end, if it's some kind of vintage TLR, use a lens hood with it as a lot of those 1950's - 1970s (or earlier!) lenses seem flare- prone.

mklw1954 · Dec 4, 2016

I have a Yashica Mat 124 with a good meter. However, given the time it takes to set the exposure and focus I would never use it for street photography. A 35mm SLR (manual or auto focus) or a rangefinder with auto exposure allows capturing moments more quickly.

pentaxpete · Dec 4, 2016

Keith Mercer -- i had a look at your 'Rolleicord Album' and as I have one too I thought I would 'Follow You ' on Flickr -- " Look Behind You --- !!!! " ( PS -- it IS Panto Season )

Harry Stevens · Dec 4, 2016

I use a Flexaret,Rolleicord VA and a Rolleiflex MX K4A...........I am so glad you guys never get hassle I was verbally attacked by a shop owner accusing me of taking pictures of her shop whilst sitting outside it on a public bench taking a break and adjusting my camera settings.......

frank · Dec 4, 2016

If you use an older Rollei TLR with a dim screen for street photography, zone focus using the distance scale and 400 speed film to access a smaller f-stop with greater DOF. Take the pic when the subject walks into your focus zone, or when you walk towards the subject to place them there. It's a bit like shooting blind; just trust yourself.

My model 3.5E has a good screen but my Automat 2 does not.

NDGulag · Dec 4, 2016

pentaxpete said:
Keith Mercer -- i had a look at your 'Rolleicord Album' and as I have one too I thought I would 'Follow You ' on Flickr -- " Look Behind You --- !!!! " ( PS -- it IS Panto Season )

Oh no it isn't!

tomfrh · Dec 4, 2016

I bought one and had grand plans of being stealth master around Sydney. I found I may as well have been wearing a clown suit!

"what's that thing???"
"..is that a camera???"
"whisper whisper what's that guy carrying"

maybe I was doing it wrong...

ME Super · Dec 4, 2016

A neat budget TLR if you can find one that's recently serviced is the Super Ricohflex. Mark Hansen also works on these. It's a bit of a sleeper - better than you think but pretty inexpensive. The one I picked up off of evilbay had the focus seized up on it. Mark had one ready to go and we swapped + $50 (about what Mark would've charged me to fix the focus on mine). I ended up spending about 100 USD on it, altogether, but have the knowledge that it's a recently serviced camera. I've ran 3 rolls or so through this camera, and I REALLY like the pictures I get with it.

KeithM · Dec 6, 2016

pentaxpete said:
Keith Mercer -- i had a look at your 'Rolleicord Album' and as I have one too I thought I would 'Follow You ' on Flickr -- " Look Behind You --- !!!! " ( PS -- it IS Panto Season )

I'll have a look for you on Flickr. BTW, the Rolleicord is sulking on the shelf, having had its nose put out of joint by the arrival of a Hasselblad 500C - which also has its own Flickr album...

doctorpepe · Jul 17, 2023

Of course, you can still enjoy the wide view offered by the rolleiwide if you don’t want to use the swc.

Nokton48 · Jul 17, 2023

Minoltaflex XX SRT Flash YG by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is the Minolta SRT Electroflash 1, hooked up to a Minolta Autocord. The Stovepipe is Hasselblad and works perfectly. It's FUN to use, I've been popping off shots, on Eastman XX 5222 120 film. Really enjoying using it, it carries easily and works without fuss. Good for incognito photography.

Pioneer · Jul 17, 2023

tomfrh said:
I bought one and had grand plans of being stealth master around Sydney. I found I may as well have been wearing a clown suit!

"what's that thing???"
"..is that a camera???"
"whisper whisper what's that guy carrying"

maybe I was doing it wrong...

I went out with my Rollei Automat a couple weekends ago and that was my experience. I have never been stopped so many times while walking around with a camera. But it did give me a chance to get some decent portraits that I would not have been able to get with my rangefinder.

I will say, if I intend to do street with this camera it will take some practice. Right now I am using Zone focus and that seems to work but when I did have the chance to focus directly on someone it took longer than I liked. But for now daylight, ISO 400 or 800 and catching people in the pre-set zone has been semi successful. If I do need a better screen for focusing I'll just start carrying my Ikoflex IIb.

I did have a lot of fun and got to talk to a lot of people so I think I'll keep working with it.

Classic TLR's and Street Photography

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