For Sale REDUCED! Film Tested Rolleiflex 3.5 Zeiss Opton Tessar - Sample Shots - Super Performer!

I am selling what I would rate as a user-grade Rolleiflex, but it works nicely. The serial number is barely discernable, but I believe this is a post-war Automat model from about 1950. The taking lens is a coated Zeiss Opton 75mm F3.5, known of course for its phenomenal performance.

The good:

The camera takes stunning images. See the attached photos taken within the last two weeks on Kodak Gold 200. The taking lens is clear and clean with no internal problems and at worst, a few negligible micro cleaning marks. The condition is notably better than most vintage Rolleiflexes actually. One reason is that I had it professionally cleaned recently. The mechanical controls are smooth and normal. The hood opens and closes normally and the magnifier works as expected. The image on the viewing screen is normally bright for a Rolleiflex of this era (which means fairly dim, but certainly workable!). The shutter fires at all speeds and sounds right except 1 sec and 1/2 sec, which seem about like 2 sec and 1 sec, respectively. Before me the camera was owned by a working photojournalist who apparently took care of it as there are no signs of mistreatment.

The bad:

The mirror has many dark spots on it and that are either debris or more likely, coating loss - not sure. Amazingly this has not really reduced the brightness of the image noticeably IMO. The focusing screen looks undamaged and without obvious dust, but as with all old Rolleiflexe, I'm sure it could use cleaning - it still does the job however! Replacement mirrors are commonly available as are newer, brighter focusing screens for those who want to trod that path (all at modest cost). The case has a lot of wear and is missing stitches on one side, but it still serves its main purpose of protecting the camera. There is paint chipping on some parts and the leatherette could use updating for cosmetic purposes, but everything is still intact. The camera had a slight cigarette smell. I wiped it lightly with some alcohol and that might clean that up, but a good airing should, in time anyway.

Yes it is a user Rolleiflex for sure, but I have little doubt it will still deliver the goods. The camera is sold as shown with the case and take-up spool and priced accordingly.

Happy New Year!!!

Price: $275 plus shipping

Who wants to buy me a Chanukah present?

This is my dream rollei, still works but banged up enough to go out and play.

Good luck with the sale. I'm keeping an eye on this in case I win a scratch off or dreidel.

Happy New Year! Now film tested and still available. Awesome performance.

Reduced!

ok, you're tempting me with photos of my home town! Did you know that that roadrunner was made from garbage and used to be at the garbage dump back when it was on the east side of town? (now bulldozed over and houses built on top)

abruzzi said:

ok, you're tempting me with photos of my home town! Did you know that that roadrunner was made from garbage and used to be at the garbage dump back when it was on the east side of town? (now bulldozed over and houses built on top)

Click to expand...

Wow! Small world. Yes that was taken at the NM visitor's center in Las Cruces as you know. I did not know the history of this sculpture, but I love it and apparently it's becoming sort of iconic these days. I pass through Las Cruces frequently being originally from Texas, but now in California.

davela said:

Wow! Small world. Yes that was taken at the NM visitor's center in Las Cruces as you know. I did not know the history of this sculpture, but I love it and apparently it's becoming sort of iconic these days. I pass through Las Cruces frequently being originally from Texas, but now in California.

Click to expand...

The funny thing was I first saw your Rolleiflex 2.8 for sale and when looking at the sample photos, I thought it looked exactly like an area north of Deming, NM, based on the small mountain peak that has a "shark fin" shape, but then I was--nah, there have to be other mountains with the same shape, it can't possibly be Deming.

Unfortunately having already spent my year's allocation for camera funds I can't, or more to the point, I shouldn't take you up on this. But I'll keep looking at my pennies to see if I can manage it.

How much would it cost to ship to Germany?

Note for non-US members, that I can ship internationally, but in the current era, international shipping has now become extraordinarly expensive for ordinary working folks like most of us. Those still interested can estimate shipping costs themselves at www.usps.com, selecting International Priority Service as it's the least expensive insured and tracked international service. The shipped weight is about 3.5 pounds.

davela said:

Note for non-US members, that I can ship internationally, but in the current era, international shipping has now become extraordinarly expensive for ordinary working folks like most of us. Those still interested can estimate shipping costs themselves at www.usps.com, selecting International Priority Service as it's the least expensive insured and tracked international service. The shipped weight is about 3.5 pounds.

Click to expand...

Shipping by buying the shipping label directly from UPS etc is extremely expensive. It’s way way cheaper to buy your shipping label through a rate aggregator like Shippo or PirateShip.

Here’s an example of a lens I shipped to England.

Yes I am aware that discounted services are less expensive. I usually use PayPal shipping which offers discounted rates and it is cheaper than USPS retail, and sometimes UPS is as well (not always however) - it's not so simple these days. Insured and tracked international delivery is still expensive. I've had parcels shipped overseas using USPS non-insured services and they ended up lost or damaged with no recourse, so I am very careful these days. I'll look into this further however.