excuse my french here, but wtf is this?

Dan Daniel · Jul 21, 2021

Tracking down some info on a customer's Rolleiflex, I came across this camera. Anyone seen anything like it before? Rolleicord shutter and aperture levers, not Rolleiflex dials. Rolleiflex shutter and aperture readouts in a top window. And defintely Rolleiflex shutter release.

https://www.brennanprobst.com/2017/07/spotlight-rolleiflex-model-k4-640.html

BrianShaw · Jul 21, 2021

That’s the Uber-rare French Rolleiflexcord!

Dan Daniel · Jul 21, 2021

cœur'olleiflex?

JensH · Jul 21, 2021

Hi,

that's a Rolleiflex New Standard (Standard neu, K6 640), made May 1939 to June 1941, one of the rarer birds...
Don't know why the link calls it a K4 as it is no Automat.
Looks very good and original!

Best wishes
Jens

JPD · Jul 22, 2021

Yes, like Jens Hallfeldt says, it's a Rolleiflex Standard Neu. It was made for a short period and sold at a price point between the Rolleiflex Automat and Rolleicord. It uses a red window for the first frame, almost like the earlier Standard. The production was stopped in 1941 because of the war. The concept was picked up again in the late 1950's with the Rolleiflex T.

A manual can be found here: https://www.butkus.org/chinon/rollei/rolleiflex_standard/rolleiflex_standard.htm

craigclu · Jul 22, 2021

In case it adds anything... Here's a page from Arthur Evans' book. The photo agrees with your post.

Dan Daniel · Jul 22, 2021

Thank you, everyone. Learn something new every day. Interesting mix of the 'Cord and 'Flex and the 'Dard (ok, sorry, Standard).

Helios 1984 · Jul 22, 2021

BrianShaw said:
That’s the Uber-rare French Rolleiflexcord!

You mean " Rolleiflexcorde"

Alex Varas · Jul 23, 2021

I would say it’s a nice camera for winter, no rounded knobs to spoil the globes

JPD · Jul 23, 2021

alexvaras said:
I would say it’s a nice camera for winter, no rounded knobs to spoil the globes

If it was 1939 and I wanted and could afford a Rollei, I might have bought this one. When it's loaded with film it could be even quicker to use than the Automat because of the levers for the settings. They have the same Tessar lens and cock the shutter when you wind. And, yes, easier to use with gloves in winter.

xya · Jul 23, 2021

BTW the automat doesn't work in winter. I had 2of these, both had shutter problems below +12° C on windy days...

Dan Daniel · Jul 23, 2021

xya said:
BTW the automat doesn't work in winter. I had 2of these, both had shutter problems below +12° C on windy days...

Uh.... 12c?? That's not even cold, much less winter. If the shutter has problems at that temperature, the shutter needs a good cleaning and quality lubes.

Alex Varas · Jul 23, 2021

This day was a hell of snowstorm, beautifully pictured by an K4Automat
https://flic.kr/p/QLxWn4

xya · Jul 23, 2021

Dan Daniel said:
Uh.... 12c?? That's not even cold, much less winter. If the shutter has problems at that temperature, the shutter needs a good cleaning and quality lubes.

no, that's not cold at all. both of my automats had the same problem. they seemed to fire, but got stuck in in the process and overexposed beyond usability. if you kept the camera warm inside your coat, no problem. so maybe the snowstorm photos were taken with a well protected camera...

maybe a good service would solve the problem, but I found nobody in germany who would service an automat. too complicated they said and a too fragile meter to attempt any service.

both cameras were bought from reliable sellers on ebay, so I sent them back and got a refund.

Alex Varas · Jul 23, 2021

Well... it was served by me but I’m confused... a Rolleiflex Automat are the ones between Old Standard and the new 3.5A-F if I’m not wrong, I mean models such described here
https://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/automat.shtml
and no one has a meter or are fragile IMO.

excuse my french here, but wtf is this?

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