Rollei TLR recommendations...

jasonjoo · May 24, 2007

A meter is quite a bit! I'll have to take a look at the Rolleinars as well.

What kind of distortion are we talking about here? pin-cushion? Barrel distortion? In another category of its own?

rusty71 · May 24, 2007

I would recommend a good T rolleiflex. You should be able to find one at reasonable cost in "user" condition. ten years ago I bought a 2.8E Planar in user condition for about 300 bucks. Remember only the mint Rolleis have been driven up by collectors.

And someone made a good point about the Rolleicords. Anything from the model III onward is very usable. They have fine lenses and are cheaper. The only thing you give up is the automatic shutter cocking as the film advances. The advantage is the 'Cords are much easier to repair by any decent repairman and cheaper. I will vouch for Krikor Marallian being an honest guy. Harry is local to you, which may help. But his turn around time can be pretty long.

Rolleiflexible · May 24, 2007

Jason, it's perspective distortion. Actually, it's not distrotion at all -- it's a faithful rendition of the person photographed. But at a range of only two feet, closer objects begin to look disproportionately large, because of their closeness to you, in life as in photography. So, noses in portraits begin to look bulbous, because they are closer to the camera. That's the problem in a nutshell. Bigger noses.

Having shot thousands of rolls of portraits with Rolleiflexes, I can say with some certainty that if you think you are going to rely heavily on Rolleinars to create full-frame headshots with a regular Rolleiflex, you are going to be sadly disappointed. For that kind of work, you have two Rolleiflex options. (1) Shoot from about three feet away, without Rolleinar, and crop. (2) Buy a Tele Rolleiflex and a set of Bay 3 Rolleinars to go with it. The Tele Rolleiflex will set you back big cash (Ken Hansen has one in user condition for something over $1,500) and then expect to pay another $500 or so for the Rolleinars.

Sanders

jasonjoo said:
A meter is quite a bit! I'll have to take a look at the Rolleinars as well.

What kind of distortion are we talking about here? pin-cushion? Barrel distortion? In another category of its own?

Peter De Smidt · May 24, 2007

I'm with Sanders. I really love my Rollei Automat MV-EVS. (It was my fathers. He shot sports with it!) But Rollei TLRs are not great choices for headshot type photos. A Mamiya RB or RZ, a Hasselblad, a Rollei SLR or ... would make a better choice. The main advantage of a Rollei TLR is unobtrusive operation, low vibration, and portability.

Rolleiflexible · May 24, 2007

Peter De Smidt said:
But Rollei TLRs are not great choices for headshot type photos.

Tele Rolleiflexes excepted, of course -- they excel at tight portraits, if you fit them with Rolleinars.

Sanders

Helen B · May 24, 2007

There is a slight catch to the use of close-up lenses (aka diopters or dioptres, eg Rolleinars, ie expensive) for portraits. I mentioned it in the comments on Sanders' arresting portrait of Violetta, but that won't stop me from boring you with the trivial details here as well.

As you add diopters to your lens (call it a prime lens, in the old sense) you shorten the focal length. This is what enables you to focus more closely without increasing the lens extension. It is easy to calculate the new focal length - you just add up all the diopters. The diopter of a lens is the reciprocal of its focal length in metres, so a 135 mm lens is a 7.41 dioptre lens. The Rolleinar numbers equal their power in dioptres, so if you add a 0.35 and a 1 Rolleinar to a 7.41 diopter prime you get an 8.76 diopter lens, which is a 114 mm lens. Therefore to get the same magnification/framing you have to get closer than you would if you had the ability to extend the naked 135 mm lens far enough.

The new version of the Tele-Rolleiflex, the 4.0FT, focusses closer than the original. It is rather more expensive though, even if you add the cost of a full Fleenor/Krimar makeover plus a Van Stelten lens shampoo and set to the cost of an original Tele. I'm happy with my Tele-Rolleiflex and the swing-away 0.35 Rolleinar. It is a lovely camera to use, despite its limitations.

Best,
Helen

dpurdy · May 24, 2007

http://dennispurdy.com/Portraits/Portraits.html

I disagree but understand your point and to each his own and several other cliche's. I really like working close with the TLR and I like the intimacy of it. I am not opposed to using the #3 for drama and humor.

In the above link you will see a variety of stuff but the squares are all done with a Rollei TLR full frame and some with the 3.5 and some with the 2.8 and some with all of the different Rolleinars.

Rob Skeoch · May 24, 2007

Sanders do you have a shot that was taken at min. focus with the tele rollie without using the filters?

-Rob

Rolleiflexible · May 24, 2007

Rob Skeoch said:
Sanders do you have a shot that was taken at min. focus with the tele rollie without using the filters?

-Rob

Rob, without the Rolleinars, the old Tele Rolleiflex will not focus closer than about eight feet. Here's a portrait I took with my Tele at minimum focus distance, wide open, without aid of Rolleinars:

http://www.mcnew.net/6x6/slides/0110Dasha07.html

The Sonnars on the Tele are fantastic lenses.

Sanders

Rolleiflexible · May 24, 2007

Helen B said:
I'm happy with my Tele-Rolleiflex and the swing-away 0.35 Rolleinar. It is a lovely camera to use, despite its limitations.

Oooooo, Helen, I didn't know you were shooting a Tele also! Now, how can I tempt you uptown for a shoot? I am especially kind in making portraits of other photographers....

Sanders

Rob Skeoch · May 24, 2007

Just checking if I have this right.... if you're shooting a person and you don't use the filters you can get slightly tighter with the 75 then with the tele because of the min. focus on the old model. However the tele might have a more pleasing look.
A newer model of tele might focus closer but are hard to find used and expensive either new or used.

-Rob

jasonjoo · May 24, 2007

I'm not really looking for TIGHT portraits or headshots. More along the lines of candid portraits. I would like to get closer than 3 feet or so, but if I cannot, that's fine.

If I can take a photo of a person across the table from me, I'll be more than happy!

Thanks for the advice and help so far. APUG is truly a fantastic resource and I appreciate your kindness and patience!

Rolleiflexible · May 24, 2007

Rob Skeoch said:
Just checking if I have this right.... if you're shooting a person and you don't use the filters you can get slightly tighter with the 75 then with the tele because of the min. focus on the old model. However the tele might have a more pleasing look.
A newer model of tele might focus closer but are hard to find used and expensive either new or used.

-Rob

Yup.

For portraiture, you need the Rolleinars for the Tele Rolleiflex. But the longer lens on the Tele will lessen the effects of perspective distortion that the Rolleinars cause on the regular Rolleiflexes.

Rob Skeoch · May 24, 2007

I checked out the Rollei website.... they only mention the 50mm and 80mm cameras.... is the tele no longer being made?
Can you still find the Rolleinars?
-Rob

Ulrich Drolshagen · May 25, 2007

Have a look at this:
Dead Link Removed
It's in german unfotunetely but the technical stuff in the pdf may be readable for you.

Ulrich

jasonjoo · May 25, 2007

And here's Google's attempt at translating the HTML:

http://tinyurl.com/2oczdt

David H. Bebbington · May 25, 2007

jasonjoo said:
And here's Google's attempt at translating the HTML:

http://tinyurl.com/2oczdt

Ist wunderbar! Eine Maschine vot is speakink ze pairfekt Geairmann!

Let's face it - if you want the perfect lens, you just can't afford to ignore cutter cross after [Schneider = cutter/tailor, Kreuz= cross, nach = after].

As a professional translator, I am delighted to concur that the Google translation is pure garbage! The guy who wrote the translation program in question should find out what "algorithm" means and then develop some!

Mike Kovacs · May 25, 2007

GENAU!

Rolleiflexible · May 25, 2007

I just uploaded another tight portrait with the Tele Rolleiflex into the gallery:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

As before, this is at f/5, using a 0.35x Tele Rolleinar with a Rolleinar 1 stacked on top of it.

Sanders

Rob Skeoch · May 28, 2007

Another nice shot... thanks Sanders.
-Rob

luvcameras · May 28, 2007

Rolleiflex TLR price and info guide

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/rolleitlr.htm

Dan

Jordan · May 31, 2007

I have used a Yashicamat 124 for a few years and just got a Rolleiflex 3.5E in great condition for an excellent price (at one of our local camera fairs). My 'Flex has the Xenotar f/3.5 lens. I've only put one test roll through it so far (I've only had it a couple of days) but I like what I see. It has a subtle "glow" in the highlights that I haven't noticed with the Yashicamat.

I can't say anything about lens sharpness yet, but I will say that the screen in the Yashicamat is much nicer and easier to use than the Rollei screen.

Some images from the Rolleiflex 3.5E test roll (HP5 Plus, Thornton's two-bath):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosensitive/519076438/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosensitive/519102761/

Yashicamat 124 (Acros, Instant Mytol):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosensitive/479188062/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosensitive/479187516/

jasonjoo · Jun 1, 2007

Wow Jordan, I really liked each of those photos! They all have a nice "feel" to them. Thanks for sharing!

Mark Fisher · Jun 1, 2007

[/QUOTE]One last thought: You might contact Ken Hansen and see what he has available. Ken had a shop on Madison Avenue for decades, and sold Rolleiflexes and Leicas and large-format gear to New York's most prominent photographers. (He sold 31 Rolleiflexes to Richard Avedon over the years.) Ken closed his shop a few years ago, but he continues to trade in Rolleiflexes and Leicas from his apartment here in the city. His prices are not the cheapest. But he has every Rolleiflex he sells cleaned and adjusted by Krikor Maralian of Krimar Camera (on a par with Harry Fleenor), and a Maxwell screen installed, before the camera leaves his hands. And Ken warrants the cameras, and will always take a camera back if it does not meet your expectations. I bought my first Rolleiflex from Ken in 1999, and I just bought a Tele Rolleiflex from him last November, and I cannot overstate his integrity, or recommend him highly enough. You can certainly find a Rolleiflex less expensivley on eBay, but you will likely end up spending more money putting it into working condition. With Ken, you get a measure of assurance that the camera is in sound condition, with no hidden issues, and no need to send it out for repair.

You can reach Ken at KHPNY19@aol.com. Honestly, you should check with Ken before springing for a camera from KEH. KEH is a fine business, but I'd buy from Ken first if he has something that meets your needs.

Sanders[/QUOTE]

I just contacted Ken looking for a user Rolleiflex.....all he had were wonderful, nice cameras......he has a fully cla'ed 3.5F with Maxwell screen for $800 which is a bit much for me, but also seems like a great bargain considering what you are getting. BTW - he seems like a great guy to deal with.

Rolleiflexible · Jun 1, 2007

Mark Fisher said:
I just contacted Ken looking for a user Rolleiflex.....all he had were wonderful, nice cameras......he has a fully cla'ed 3.5F with Maxwell screen for $800 which is a bit much for me, but also seems like a great bargain considering what you are getting. BTW - he seems like a great guy to deal with.

I bought a 3.5E with Maxwell screen, freshly overhauled, from Ken in 1999 for $800.

The Maxwell screen alone costs $150, so when you figure in the cost of the CLA and the benefit of the warranty, $800 is a really sweet deal for the camera.

Sanders.

Rollei TLR recommendations...

jasonjoo

rusty71

Rolleiflexible

Peter De Smidt

Rolleiflexible

Helen B

dpurdy

Rob Skeoch

Advertiser

Rolleiflexible

Rolleiflexible

Rob Skeoch

Advertiser

jasonjoo

Rolleiflexible

Rob Skeoch

Advertiser

Ulrich Drolshagen

jasonjoo

David H. Bebbington

Mike Kovacs

Rolleiflexible

Rob Skeoch

Advertiser

luvcameras

Advertiser

Jordan

jasonjoo

Mark Fisher

Rolleiflexible

Rollei TLR recommendations...

Advertiser

Advertiser

Advertiser

Advertiser

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency