Rollei cut film back dilema

guitstik · Jul 7, 2010

I just received a package bundle of stuff for my Rolleiflex/Cord's and one of them is a cut film back. Does any one still use these and is the film still available? It seems rather pointless because I only have the two holders and the GG holder. That means that I either have to buy a lot more of the film holders to be able to take more than two pictures or I have to carry a changing bag and a light prof case to carry more cut film in. Decisions, decisions. Do I keep it and deal with the hassle or do I sell. Hmmmm

Tune in tomorrow for the answer to these and more exciting and perplexing questions on "RolleiPlexTitation Hospital".

JPD · Jul 7, 2010

guitstik said:
I just received a package bundle of stuff for my Rolleiflex/Cord's and one of them is a cut film back. Does any one still use these and is the film still available?

I have tried mine. They use 6,5x9 sheet film (if the cassettes still have their metal plates as adapters to compensate for the thickness of glass plates. They work like pressure plates). 6,5x9 sheet film is available from Efke and Ilford (I think).

dpurdy · Jul 7, 2010

I have quite a lot of the film holders and have tried to use them, but for me it is just more hassle than it is worth. Certainly it is interesting to be able to view with the ground glass on the back, especially to see if the taking lens and the focus lens agree on focus or if you want to see what you are really getting with the number 3 Rolleinar, and for me that is enough to justify owning one that I got off ebay for 25 bucks. They are pretty problematic in that you have to be very careful not to fog your film due to the leaky velvet and the soft bendable metal. the film is available by Efke but it is easy to cut down larger sheets. I cut a bunch down from 5x7 with very little waste. One other interesting thing about using sheet film is that the film lies absolutely flat.. so none of that film curl problem that is only mythical anyway.
dennis

guitstik · Jul 7, 2010

I have never used cut film is the reason that I am asking. It just seems that it would be a great pain in the posterior.

I have quite a lot of the film holders and have tried to use them, but for me it is just more hassle than it is worth. Certainly it is interesting to be able to view with the ground glass on the back, especially to see if the taking lens and the focus lens agree on focus or if you want to see what you are really getting with the number 3 Rolleinar

How many is "quite-a-lot". I already tote about five or three cameras around with me at any one time plus all the accessories that go with them plus film. It gets rather tiresome at times and if I didn't enjoy doing this I would chuck all down the drain and take up brain surgery for a past time.

dpurdy · Jul 7, 2010

guitstik said:
I have never used cut film is the reason that I am asking. It just seems that it would be a great pain in the posterior.
How many is "quite-a-lot". I already tote about five or three cameras around with me at any one time plus all the accessories that go with them plus film. It gets rather tiresome at times and if I didn't enjoy doing this I would chuck all down the drain and take up brain surgery for a past time.

I think I have 12 good holders and 4 backs. I have taken them out for landscape but in case I shoot more than 12 exposures.. which is pretty likely for me, I have to either carry a changing bag or the regular camera back. i think there is an insert made that once inserted you can use roll film but they are very rare.
dennis

guitstik · Jul 7, 2010

Having that insert would be the way to go giving the choice of different mediums. If I could find that I might just hold onto the back and buy more holders.

Curt · Jul 7, 2010

Have a hand held die cutter made to spec's for the size you need. The last time I checked I got a quote of a hundred dollars and they, I forgot who, in China, would make one to the dimensions of a sheet of film I sent to them. I could choose the notch configuration too.

guitstik · Jul 8, 2010

Don't "they" already make die cutters in various sizes?

Curt · Jul 8, 2010

Yes but the stock ones are not the "exact" size you need, a die cutter that says it's 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 maybe be that but the film size for the 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 isn't exactly those dimensions. A sheet needs to be a more precise size, which I don't have the dimensions right now without looking it up, otherwise it won't fit into the holder or septum as in Grafmatic or Mamiya.

guitstik · Jul 8, 2010

My head hurts.

bsdunek · Jul 8, 2010

I use the cut film backs on my Mamiya Super 23 for two reasons. 1. For close-up work you can use the ground glass for focus and composition - otherwise difficult on a RF camera. 2. Sometimes I just want one or two shots right now and hate to waste a roll of film. I have an old but like new FR sheet film developing tank that works fine for this.

guitstik · Jul 8, 2010

I have been doing a little research on these and there are certainly some advantages to using it but the one major drawback I see is that I would have to buy more holders and from what I have seen that means buying the back that comes with it. That's all fine and dandy if I use it on my 'cord but if I buy several sets that means I have to buy more Rollei's to fit them to. It's the old "we-got-new-curtains-now-we-need-new-furniture-to-go-with-them-but-now-the-carpet-doesn't-match-the-new-furniture-now-we-need-new-curtains" syndrome. It's a vicious cycle that just keeps on going. I'm thinking about keeping them but is there any way to replace the old felt?

bsdunek · Jul 8, 2010

guitstik said:
I have been doing a little research on these and there are certainly some advantages to using it but the one major drawback I see is that I would have to buy more holders and from what I have seen that means buying the back that comes with it. That's all fine and dandy if I use it on my 'cord but if I buy several sets that means I have to buy more Rollei's to fit them to. It's the old "we-got-new-curtains-now-we-need-new-furniture-to-go-with-them-but-now-the-carpet-doesn't-match-the-new-furniture-now-we-need-new-curtains" syndrome. It's a vicious cycle that just keeps on going. I'm thinking about keeping them but is there any way to replace the old felt?

Micro-Tools has a lot of materials for camera restoration. Here is a link for Light Flocking: Dead Link Removed
I have put new seals in all my film holders because they were very deteriorated. Mine were foam, which gets gooey, and then crumbly. Leaves dirt all over and doesn't seal any more. It's not hard to replace this stuff.

guitstik · Jul 8, 2010

Bruce, did you ever live in Mississippi? Your work has a familiar colour to it. I had a visiting photography instructor when I attended the Memphis College of Art 20 some odd years ago, that your work reminds me of. I especially enjoy the old heavy machinery and factory shots. A lot of my work back then fell along the same lines and I still picture in my minds-eye the shots I would love to take.

dpurdy · Jul 8, 2010

if you decide to pursue the sheet shooting, it is very easy to cut film... assuming you have a dark room. I just used a regular chopper type paper cutter and taped it so I could feel it in the dark. Take a 4x5 sheet of film and cut a half inch off the 4 side so you are left with 3.5X5 and then cut that in half so you have two 2.5x3.5 sheets and that fits the holder. The image will be exposed in a square at one end of the film so you can figure out how to only handle the part that doesn't get exposed in camera. I have a rule of always working emulsion side up and putting the cut sheets in the box emulsion side up so that way I always know which side has the emulsion.. after cutting off the code notch.
For tray processing the little sheets I found the perfect little trays by buying some covered glass butter dishes. The cover turned over makes a great tray for little sheets.
It would be great if you could cut down sheets from roll film but unfortunately it is too curly. You can cut down from 5x7 film without waste... 4 sheets 2.5x3.5
dennis

guitstik · Jul 27, 2010

updated for todays hip audience

Ok, so I decided that I was going to keep the cut film holders and try to use them so that meant that I needed more holders cause in my mind you just do. Back to fleapay to search for someone selling just the holders at a good price and that's what I found. Two holders and a "regular" back that will take the pistol grip/tripod adapter that I already have. Well, when I got the mail the other day and opened the box, what should I discover but that the back is actually the much sought after cut film AND roll film back with the pressure plate, cool. Upon closer inspection I found that the pressure plate is broken. There are two flat pieces that are the actual springs that maintain the plate at a certain distance and four tabs that are "glued" to the pressure plate that are supposed to hold the springs. Two of the tabs are unglued and the springs appear to be broken off of the tabs. I have no idea if there are more pices that are missing because the PP has two holes in it as if it came off of a regular back but there are no wear marks in them just as there doesn't appear to be any indication that film has been run past it. There is however wear on the backside of the PP where it looks like the springs have moved back and forth over it. I have not been able to find any information on this back even on the Rollei sites, nothing but rumor, conjecture and innuendo. This is where I could use the collective resources of APUG, any info would be great.

dpurdy · Jul 27, 2010

I didn't realize that there was a dual use back. I was of the impression you put an insert into the sheet film back. Whatever it is an extremely rare thing and I have never seen one.
The sheet film backs and film holders are one of those ebay items that no one is sure the value. So you see them listed with widely varying prices from hundreds of dollars to nearly nothing. I was patient when I got mine and waited for those listed with low starting price and no reserve. I found that I usually had no one bidding against me.
If you wanted to communicate with a guy who knows as much as it is possible to know about the Rollei cameras and systems you could join the Yahoo Rollei User Group and put the question on there. A man named Carlos prides himself in knowing all the answers. He will know about the back.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rolleiusers/

Dennis

guitstik · Jul 27, 2010

Dennis,
Thanks for the heads up on Carlos, I will try to see what he can tell me. As far as the dual format back, I had heard rumors floating around about that possibility but never really gave it much credence. I had originally ordered this one just for the holders and a back that I could use the pistol grip with When I got it and started checking it out I couldn't figure out why it had a felt light seal at the top. I was surprised as all get out when I pulled the dark slid back out. Here are a couple of shots notice in the second one the tabs that are absent from the other back in the shot.

this is the actual auction and you can see the red felt at the top of the back.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230480833221&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

dpurdy · Jul 27, 2010

Wow. OK I think I get it. You open the seemingly hinged back door and put the pressure plate in place then put a film holder in the other side to block the light and then close it up. Then the back works like a regular back and you open it from the bottom and put in the roll film. I would really like to have a look at that.
thanks
Dennis

Rollei cut film back dilema

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