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donetskiy

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Jun 29, 2025
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Hi everyone!
I’ve recently joined the forum. I’m from Germany and helping a family friend rehome a collection of vintage film cameras, mostly from the mid-20th century. I’m also starting to learn more about analog photography myself and happy to dive in here — looks like a great community!
 
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donetskiy

donetskiy

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I’ve been recently looking more closely at a Rolleiflex Standard K2 (1937) from a family collection. It’s surprisingly well-preserved and still snaps beautifully. Love how solid and precise the build is. Anyone here still shooting with these old Standard models?
 
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donetskiy

donetskiy

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I have a Voigtländer Color-Skopar X 1:2,8/50mm — is this lens known for a particular "look" or rendering? Wondering if it’s better kept or passed on as part of the sale. Any experience?
 
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donetskiy

donetskiy

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For anyone who's used both: How would you compare shooting with a Flexaret versus an early Rolleiflex Standard? Handling, optics, usability? I noticed the Flexaret feels a bit more compact but not as refined.
 
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donetskiy

donetskiy

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I was going through the old camera bags from the collection and found two OKANO leather cases in very good shape. Anyone here know if they were common accessories for Flexaret or Voigtländer cameras?
 
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donetskiy

donetskiy

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Jun 29, 2025
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Garmany
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Just finished photographing a Flexaret VI before listing it — such a unique piece of Eastern European camera history. The mechanics are lovely. Didn’t expect to enjoy the design this much.
 
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donetskiy

donetskiy

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Jun 29, 2025
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Garmany
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Do people here ever try to sell vintage collections as a whole lot rather than piece by piece? I’ve got about 10–12 cameras (Flexaret, Rolleiflex, Adox, Konica, etc.) from a friend's estate and debating the best way to go about it.
 

JPD

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The Rolleiflex Standard has the famous Carl Zeiss Tessar lens (uncoated), Compur shutter, lever wind and focusing knob. No flash sync unless modified. Same lever for cocking and releasing the shutter.


I haven't used a Flexaret, but they have a lever for focusing under the taking lens, Meopta Belar (four elements) or Mirar (three elements) taking lenses, and most have Prontor shutters with flash sync. Most have knob winding, but some models have lever wind. How the shutter is cocked and released differs between the models.

The Rolleiflex Standard is "more class", better shutter and the Tessar is superb, but a Flexaret with Belar and flash sync could be better for colour (coated lens) and easier to use if you use flash a lot.

I have three Rolleiflex Standard, but haven't used them for some time because the low gearing for the focusing knob makes it difficult to focus (for me). The later Rolleiflex Automat feels "snappier" to focus, so I use this camera instead. Same fine Tessar lens. Since someone in your family has a Rolleifex Standard, test how you feel the focusing works for you.

Some people like and some don't like the lever focusing the Flexaret has either, so it's up to personal preference.
 

MattKing

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Thread moved as its former location is reserved for announcements about forum system issues.
 

MattKing

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For clarity, in order to sell on Photrio you will need to become a paid subscriber and list such sales in the Classifieds section. Check the "Support Us! link nearer the top of the page for details about subscribing.
 

AZD

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Joined
Jun 11, 2021
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314
Location
SLC, UT
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35mm
Individual is better for you unless your goal is simply to re-home them and be done with it.

Very few people are interested in buying as a lot unless it is cheap. Nobody really wants to get into and use ten different antique cameras seriously. Maybe 1-2 at best, but the they have to re-sell the remainder, which is why it’s only worth their bother if the lot is essentially free, or there happens to be a real prize among them.

I recently saw a local add trying to sell a lot of 100+ cameras of what I’d call the “aw, what a cute old camera!” variety. $5000. Nope. An extreme example but you get the idea.
 

JensH

Member
Joined
May 30, 2017
Messages
502
Location
Schaumburg, Germany
Format
Multi Format
I’ve been recently looking more closely at a Rolleiflex Standard K2 (1937) from a family collection. It’s surprisingly well-preserved and still snaps beautifully. Love how solid and precise the build is. Anyone here still shooting with these old Standard models?

Yes, from time to time...
I sometimes expose a roll in my Old Standard (a 1934 K2 620 with very nice and clean f/4.5 7.5cm Tessar).
So a week ago. They are faster than the Rolleiflex Original (Ur-Rolleiflex) due to the crank and the combined shutter release. Well build indeed, not as fragile.
Downside is the finder loupe not blocking ambient light that well as in the K1s.

Enjoy and greetings
Jens
 
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