having tripets

[hsandler]

..thanks - nice tonality to your photos. About your Rolleicord, did the lenses acquire a natural 'bloom' (which would improve contrast) and what's the film chamber like? Is it flocked or a smooth finish?

No bloom. I sold the camera, but I don’t recall any flocking.

 

[macfred]

I briefly owned a Rolleicord II, model 1 with a Zeiss Triotar. Here are two shots, both fairly stopped down. The lens was pretty good for circa 1936 uncoated.

Great results with the old uncoated Triotar ! Howard, why did you sold your Rolleicord - do you prefer your Autocord ?
You have a remarkable flickr photostream !

 

[hsandler]

Great results with the old uncoated Triotar ! Howard, why did you sold your Rolleicord - do you prefer your Autocord ?
You have a remarkable flickr photostream !

Thank you. I sold it because the shutter only worked at the top speed, and I have a Rolleicord Va...and an Autocord and a Diacord...and about 15 other cameras. I am somewhere between a collector and a user. My son has the Autocord, so I have not used it lately. The Diacord is my favourite of the TLRs.

 

[JPD]

I briefly owned a Rolleicord II, model 1 with a Zeiss Triotar. Here are two shots, both fairly stopped down. The lens was pretty good for circa 1936 uncoated.

Nice photos. Having used many Triotar Rolleicords the sharpness and tonality doesn't surprise me. Wonderful lenses.

About your Rolleicord, did the lenses acquire a natural 'bloom' (which would improve contrast) and what's the film chamber like? Is it flocked or a smooth finish?

No Rolleicord has flocking. They are painted matte black inside the film chamber. Later models, starting with the Rolleicord IV if I remember correctly, have light baffles, but those have the Xenar lens. The only Rollei TLR I have seen with flocking inside is my Original Rolleiflex.

The Triotar lens has good contrast even without visible "bloom". Use a lens shade to minimize stray light. I have owned about 15 Rolleicords, and the only one with low contrast is the Rolleicord I, type II with 3,8 Triotar. Maybe it was just that lens, and that other 3,8 Triotars are better. It's still a nice lens with personality. With the 4,5 and 3,5 Triotars I have always been happy.

The main difference between Triotars and Tessars on Rolleis from this pre-war period is that the Triotar has more visible aberrations at the edges and a little more swirl fully open. The Tessar has little better resolution. Both are great lenses, and which one I choose depends on my mood.

 

[Helge]

Thought this deserved a place here:
https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/4018761887_8ff8725f6b_o.jpg

From Hans Kerensky Novar vs. Tessar test:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/3690216957
And also his similar Apotar vs Solinar test:
https://flic.kr/p/7KD3aJ