Rolleiflex E(1) f/3.5 Xenotar. Serial #1781xxx. In very good USER condition with a couple of dings.
I bought this camera about 3 years ago as a knapsack/briefcase camera to go along with my main camera, a Rolleiflex 2.8C Xenotar. It worked well. But- well, I know, silly in a way- the aperture and shutter dials move in the opposite direction from the 2.8C. And the lens is 70mm, not 80mm. Both kept me from really settling in with this model. I recently bought another 2.8C that will make a great beater, so it's time to pass this one on.
This camera was overhauled a year ago by Paul Ebel. He cleaned the shutter, adjusted focus, cleaned the wind mechanism, installed a Maxwell screen, aligned lenses, etc. After his work, I installed a custom cut leather covering. This is a pebbled cabretta leather- you can see the texture in a couple of the close-up photos. It has a great feel- not slippery, a slight give, tough and stable. When I cut the new leather I eliminated the exposure guide on the back. When I got the camera, it had a meter block. The needle was moving and reacting to light, but I didn't care to see if it was of any use. I took it within the first hour and put an acrylic slug in the opening.
There are two dings. One is the back right corner of the focus hood. The metal has a rip, and the corner is bent. This affected the release mechanism of the magnifier, and I had to file a bit off of the magnifier catch to make the magnifier work. Other than the visual affect, the ding means that the magnifier doesn't release as smoothly as it could. The other ding is on the lens shroud next to the shutter release. Cosmetic affect only. Except- The focus action is less than super easy. My 2.8C- one finger tip can lightly roll the focus back and forth. This camera takes two fingers. Paul Ebel worked on it, and thinks that the hit to the lens shroud may have bent a rail slightly or such. Just enough to take away the smoothness, but not enough to make it hard to use. We decided that it wasn't worth putting new parts in (I've had people who know Rolleiflexes play with this camera and they think the focus is fine. Better than most cameras that haven't had a full Fleenor overhaul) (Paul Ebel also overhauled my 2.8C and the focus is super smooth). The shutter sings. Winding is smooth, frame spacing even. Aperture and shutter dials move easily.
Other than the two dings and the slightly less than perfect focus action, this camera is a great condition. Minimal paint loss, bright aluminum, etc. A great user.
Maxwell screen- I bought a flawed screen from Bill Maxwell. You can see a small rub mark in the upper left quadrant. My other Maxwell looks much worse after a couple of years, so I figured I'd save some money and get the first rub mark over with. It is a split image center, microprism collar.
Lens condition: there is a slight rub mark on the outer edge of the taking lens. I can't get a photo of it. About 1 square, a smudge. Not a scratch, not a 'cleaning mark' whatever that means. It's a smudge in the coating. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't. Other than that, the taking lens is clean. The viewing lens has a similar smudge in its center.
Mirrored lens cap
Rollei lens hood, worn and chipped and still stops the sun. Go figure... With leather case.
Acrylic cover for the taking lens that I made. And a cover for the lens hood.
Meter block (assume the meter is dead)
Rolleifix tripod plate- beat up and works, like the lens hood
Alligator clips, no strap (fully assembled, just broken off)
Bay II to 52mm filter adapter
A set of Bay II Rolleinars. #1, #2, #3, leather cases for each, boxes for #1 and #2. Each is a full set. Clean, no scratches, some slight mottling in the coating, a smudge mark or two, and dust.
PRICE: $875. Including insured shipping and Paypal fees. US only.
Album of photos here- Dead Link Removed Ask if you want to see something specific.
I bought this camera about 3 years ago as a knapsack/briefcase camera to go along with my main camera, a Rolleiflex 2.8C Xenotar. It worked well. But- well, I know, silly in a way- the aperture and shutter dials move in the opposite direction from the 2.8C. And the lens is 70mm, not 80mm. Both kept me from really settling in with this model. I recently bought another 2.8C that will make a great beater, so it's time to pass this one on.
This camera was overhauled a year ago by Paul Ebel. He cleaned the shutter, adjusted focus, cleaned the wind mechanism, installed a Maxwell screen, aligned lenses, etc. After his work, I installed a custom cut leather covering. This is a pebbled cabretta leather- you can see the texture in a couple of the close-up photos. It has a great feel- not slippery, a slight give, tough and stable. When I cut the new leather I eliminated the exposure guide on the back. When I got the camera, it had a meter block. The needle was moving and reacting to light, but I didn't care to see if it was of any use. I took it within the first hour and put an acrylic slug in the opening.
There are two dings. One is the back right corner of the focus hood. The metal has a rip, and the corner is bent. This affected the release mechanism of the magnifier, and I had to file a bit off of the magnifier catch to make the magnifier work. Other than the visual affect, the ding means that the magnifier doesn't release as smoothly as it could. The other ding is on the lens shroud next to the shutter release. Cosmetic affect only. Except- The focus action is less than super easy. My 2.8C- one finger tip can lightly roll the focus back and forth. This camera takes two fingers. Paul Ebel worked on it, and thinks that the hit to the lens shroud may have bent a rail slightly or such. Just enough to take away the smoothness, but not enough to make it hard to use. We decided that it wasn't worth putting new parts in (I've had people who know Rolleiflexes play with this camera and they think the focus is fine. Better than most cameras that haven't had a full Fleenor overhaul) (Paul Ebel also overhauled my 2.8C and the focus is super smooth). The shutter sings. Winding is smooth, frame spacing even. Aperture and shutter dials move easily.
Other than the two dings and the slightly less than perfect focus action, this camera is a great condition. Minimal paint loss, bright aluminum, etc. A great user.
Maxwell screen- I bought a flawed screen from Bill Maxwell. You can see a small rub mark in the upper left quadrant. My other Maxwell looks much worse after a couple of years, so I figured I'd save some money and get the first rub mark over with. It is a split image center, microprism collar.
Lens condition: there is a slight rub mark on the outer edge of the taking lens. I can't get a photo of it. About 1 square, a smudge. Not a scratch, not a 'cleaning mark' whatever that means. It's a smudge in the coating. Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't. Other than that, the taking lens is clean. The viewing lens has a similar smudge in its center.
Mirrored lens cap
Rollei lens hood, worn and chipped and still stops the sun. Go figure... With leather case.
Acrylic cover for the taking lens that I made. And a cover for the lens hood.
Meter block (assume the meter is dead)
Rolleifix tripod plate- beat up and works, like the lens hood
Alligator clips, no strap (fully assembled, just broken off)
Bay II to 52mm filter adapter
A set of Bay II Rolleinars. #1, #2, #3, leather cases for each, boxes for #1 and #2. Each is a full set. Clean, no scratches, some slight mottling in the coating, a smudge mark or two, and dust.
PRICE: $875. Including insured shipping and Paypal fees. US only.
Album of photos here- Dead Link Removed Ask if you want to see something specific.
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