Help identify this Rolleiflex

[Agulliver]

A friend of mine's dad died last weekend, and my friend is helping clear his house. There were a couple of cameras including this Rolleiflex. Can anyone identify the model? I'm unfamiliar with these...I just know they're bloody good and I won't be able to justify the going price!

 

[jeffbennett]

Rolleiflex T, looks like Type 1 from late 50s/early 60s. This one has the uncoupled exposure meter. The Tessar lens on these is quite nice, with excellent contrast and sharpness out close to the edge.

 

[craigclu]

I agree with Jeff. It appears to be a Type 1 T. There were some variations (gray leather, with and w/o Rolleikin ability), made from 1958-1966. I had one many years back and the glass is excellent, especially from ƒ5.6 and beyond.

 

[Agulliver]

Plan of action is that once the formalities surrounding a death are over I'll get together with my friend and we'll run a test film through it. They might keep it, as it is a thing of beauty.

THanks for the help identifying it.

 

[Down Under]

A grey-leather covered T from the 1950s. Very elegant. There were many on the market, here in Australia, 20 years ago, but they now seem to be quite rare - and expensive, as is almost everything that's worth buying these days on Ebay...

It can be adapted to shoot 16 and 24 exposures on 120 film, with slip-in kits. So economical and flexible to use as well.

The story goes that the T's Tessar lens was recomputed for this series and is a much better lens than that in the older Automats.

In all, a very nice find. Look to see if it comes with any accessories, which again these days are worth almost as much as the camera.

 

[shutterfinger]

Check the serial number against this reference for a more accurate DOF.
http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/A-F_tlr.shtml
The T is about mid page.

 

[shutterfinger]

Date of Manufacture

 

[Down Under]

My 1958 "T"
An article I wrote: https://photoscapes.com/shooting-a-rolleiflex-with-studio-flash-and-rolleinars/​

A beaut photo - it reminded me of another big 'plus' for the Rollei T series, the accessories - no end of them available for every purpose you can imagine, almost, and they are the bayonet I series, so not expensive.

Apropos the accessories, about the only one I can think of that the bigger pro Rolleis took but the T doesn't, is the plate glass insert - I have three of these but I've never used them, and to be honest I do wonder why anyone ever would.

To me the 16 exposure kit alone makes the T an outstandingly good budget buy, given the cost of 120 film these days.