My first Rolleiflex...

snaggs · Mar 23, 2007

I just won a Rolleiflex GX 2.8. Any tips before I run my first role of film?

Daniel.

bdial · Mar 23, 2007

Learn how to move to the right when the moving object you see in the viewfinder is moving left.

Vaughn · Mar 23, 2007

Remember to thread the film leader underneath the first roller!

And have lots of fun!

Vaughn

Terence · Mar 23, 2007

bdial said:
Learn how to move to the right when the moving object you see in the viewfinder is moving left.

The first time I held my Rolleicord and panned, I almost fell over from dizziness. Years later it seems perfectly natural.

light leak · Mar 23, 2007

Vaughn said:
Remember to thread the film leader underneath the first roller!Vaughn

Only the first roller! The first time I loaded mine I went under the first roller, and the second, and the third.... It didn't work so well.

Jonathan

Vaughn · Mar 23, 2007

light leak said:
Only the first roller! The first time I loaded mine I went under the first roller, and the second, and the third.... It didn't work so well.

Jonathan

I had an advanced student (a Rollei TLR user) help out in a photoclass one time. He "helped" another student load a loaner Yashica TLR -- and put the film under the first roller. What a scratched mess of film that was, LOL!

Vaughn

erikg · Mar 23, 2007

I'm not positive, but I don't think the GX has the film detection feature using the first roller. They went to the "line up the arrows" method with this model. Too much difference in film thicknesses, they said. Rollei's are great cameras, lots of fun and super image makers, hope you enjoy it!

Richard Jepsen · Mar 23, 2007

My Rollei TLR guide does not indicate the film detection feature is missing on the GX. There is no self timer on the GX. Use a hand meter and consider using a tripod. Use of the neck strap will help stabilize the camera. Don't give up on the Rollei if it feels awkward, you get use to it. With B&W film the Rollei makes exceptional images which 135 film can not match. I printed recently shot Rollei negatives last week and now find it hard to consider enlarging my Leica negatives.

patrickjames · Mar 24, 2007

Pick up the appropriate close up filters for it because sooner or later you will definitely need them. Other than that enjoy the camera, and shoot lots of film! I have two R's and never use them. Don't be like me.

Patrick

erikg · Mar 24, 2007

Excerpted from this review:
http://www.photographical.net/rolleiflex_gx.html

"Apart from the added TTL light meter and TTL flash meter there are some other changes compared to the F model (I'm comparing to the F model here, because that was the latest model produced prior to the GX).
The automatic film-detection or film load has been removed - you now have to roll the film all the way to the arrows."

Small loss. Have fun, MF rocks!

spark · Mar 24, 2007

Filters can cost a fortune, keep your eyes open for a bayonet adapter that lets you use series filters on the 2.8. Enjoy shooting!

Rob Skeoch · Mar 24, 2007

I hope you love the camera.

snaggs · Mar 24, 2007

Thanks all.. taken it in for a CLA, there was alot of dust on the mirror, and the meter didn't seem to be working properly.. or at least the battery indicator didn't.

However, maybe I just didn't know what to do. When you press the green button beside the focus dial.. should the green LED light up?

Daniel.

JosBurke · Mar 25, 2007

Meter aside--I never use mine (on the camera)--I prefer m Pentax Dig. Spot with all my cameras when shooting B&W or portraits !! Play with it--use it and see just what the rave is all about---i'm a big fan myself anf to me A RolleiFlex Planar or Xenotar and a roll of Ilford Fp4 + are perfect companions !! If I had only one camera and one focal length---it would be a Rollei TLR---no if's !! It would need a Maxwell split image screen too tough--as that is such a big impovement in actual use---I have older models with the standard dark screen--horrible !!

snaggs · Mar 25, 2007

Surely the screen on the GX would be pretty modern already?

Daniel.

JPD · Mar 25, 2007

snaggs said:
Surely the screen on the GX would be pretty modern already?

Yes. Bright and contrasty.

My first Rolleiflex...

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