Rollei TLR Buying Guide Advice

Regarding entry-level tessar-based TLRs:

I have a Yashicamat 124G, a Minolta Autocord III and a Rolleicord Va, all of them CLA'd, focus-calibrated, and in near mint-condition. My most expensive purchase was the 124G, followed by the Autocord, with the cheapest being the Rolleicord (Rolleicords in excellent condition can be found for very low prices in Europe).

While I agree with other people that the Minolta and the Rolleicord look and feel like overall better cameras than the Yashicamat, I much prefer the Rolleicord Va to the Minolta Autocord III.

The rendition of my Xenar is just stunning. The Rokkor in the Autocord is great, too, and noticeably better than the Yashinon. But the Xenar is on another level, for my taste. Simply put, it has soul. On top of this, the Rolleicord is extremely light, nimble, it feels well built. The Autocord is noticeably heavier and, in my opinion, clunky-feeling. Also, the famous focusing lever of the Autocord is, for my usage, not ideal and certainly far from the ergonomic miracle some people make of it. I use my TLR on tripod a lot, and the Minolta lever can get in the way. Not so with the Rolleicord and with the Yashicamat. Hope it helps, enjoy the world of TLRs!

This has been a great thread. thanks for all the advice. I bought a "Ugly" Rolleiflex 3.5 MX from KEH and just finished a roll with it. Doesn't seem to have any mechanical issues. Seems like KEH usually states if a camera does. In better condition than expected. Off topic a little but any recommendations for CLA's and when does one know its time for a CLA? Safe to assume any camera this age needs one? thanks

JADoss23 said:

This has been a great thread. thanks for all the advice. I bought a "Ugly" Rolleiflex 3.5 MX from KEH and just finished a roll with it. Doesn't seem to have any mechanical issues. Seems like KEH usually states if a camera does. In better condition than expected. Off topic a little but any recommendations for CLA's and when does one know its time for a CLA? Safe to assume any camera this age needs one? thanks

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Well for all Rollei in the States Harry Fleenor is the top.

Thank you! Is Harry Fleenor the go to for Rollei CLA or any other good options as well? Thanks

Fleenor is probably the gold standard, but there's a long wait. Others can do well from what I have read (Krimar, etc., and some places in Germany) but no first-hand experience.

If you are patient and careful, you can find decent deals on ebay, but it will take a while - most of these are overpriced on there and some sellers can be iffy.

-Ed

JADoss23 said:

Thank you! Is Harry Fleenor the go to for Rollei CLA or any other good options as well? Thanks

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Harry is THE name in Rollei world for CLAs. I had mine 3.5f done years back including Maxwell screen installation. I have not heard any complaints about his services in any discussions. However, had I read he is charging $10 for a 10-page advice on how to best buy a Rollei TLR before sending mine in, I might have had second thoughts.

JADoss23 said:

This has been a great thread. thanks for all the advice. I bought a "Ugly" Rolleiflex 3.5 MX from KEH and just finished a roll with it. Doesn't seem to have any mechanical issues. Seems like KEH usually states if a camera does. In better condition than expected. Off topic a little but any recommendations for CLA's and when does one know its time for a CLA? Safe to assume any camera this age needs one? thanks

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Since you bought it from KEH, they will do a CLA for free if you ask them shortly after you bought the camera. I bought a 500mm Hasselblad lens from them and the shutter would not work. It took a while for the work to be done, but they do a CLA and complete ens alignment for me at no charge. They always get repeat business from me.