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Andrew O'Neill

Andrew O'Neill

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A student brought in this old Rolleicord. Used to be her Grand dad's. From the little poking around I did, I think it's a Rolleicord Va - Model K3E Type 1. Anyone out there own one? Anyone know how to use one? It's very different from my C330's. It would be great if my student could use it. Thanks!

Rolleicord.jpg
 
It's a rather basic camera. Only "odd thing" is that the lever on the bottom of the lens plate gets pushed to the left to cock the shutter and to the right to release the shutter. Oh, and the shutter speed and aperture are interlocked to take advantage of EV setting I used a Rolleicord Vb for about 3 decades. Great camera. I'm 99.8% sure that the operating manual is easily available on the internet.
 
They are great cameras. I am currently using one...a little earlier with the focus knob on the other side of the camera. I find the shutter release to work smoothly. One must instruct the student(s) well -- and anyone else that might handle the camera -- not to press inwards on the shutter release. it is too much of a habit...and since the 'button' does not give, they push harder.
 
To test fire the shutter, etc., move the lever on the focus knob side between the two lenses down. A red dot will be exposed. This allows for double exposure and for firing the shutter without film in the camera. With actual film in the camera, having the knob down with the red dot exposed doesn't hurt anything, it just makes it possible to do a double exposure. With heh knob up and the red dot covered, you need to wind the film to the next frame before you can cock and fire the shutter.

To trick the camera to operate as if there is film in the camera, put a 120 spool in the top chamber and close the back. Now wind the film knob forward until it gets to 1 and stops automatically. It makes things less jattery if you put a few wraps of masking tape on the inner spool rod at the left end so that the silver gear inside the takeup chamber is rdsing on the tape, not on the plastic reel, but this is aesthetics, not technical.
 
Just one other item I can think off. DO NOT change the shutter when cocked , especially the 1/500 setting. I was warned of this a while ago. I have since tended to change shutter speed then cock the shutter on the Rolleicord.
 
Canuck said:
Just one other item I can think off. DO NOT change the shutter when cocked , especially the 1/500 setting. I was warned of this a while ago. I have since tended to change shutter speed then cock the shutter on the Rolleicord.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that important tip! Hopefully the student will remember that! :wondering:
 
Andrew O'Neill said:
Thanks for that important tip! Hopefully the student will remember that! :wondering:
Click to expand...

Actually, changing the shutter speed when cocked is not a problem. And even the 1/500 speed can be reached with the Va. This has a later model Synchro-compur shutter that doesn't use the crazy heavy duty booster spring to get the top speed, and that did need to shutter uncocked to set without risk of damage.
 
I'm running the risk (again!) of being a tad pedantic here, but... are you sure it's a Va??

Is there a removable 'wheel' on the right side of the camera with the numbers '12' or '16' or even '24/ on it?? If yes, then lucky you - it's a late model Vb on your hands, dating to the late 1960s to early 1970s.

IIRC, it was known as the Vb model III, but then again I'm going on memory and with a guess and I may be wrong on this, as I so often am on such things.

Is that dirt of a touch of rust on the 'M' button on the front?? Whichever it is, it may clean that up nicely with little or no effort.

Whichever model you have, it looks in VG condition, and you have a wonderful camera on your hands. A great little shooter, the lens has heaps of character and personality, and it doesn't have the Rollei automatic film loading system, which can be a problem with the older cameras. Takes Rollei bayonet I accessories which were made for the legendary Rolleiflex automat and sold by the zillions, not expensive. Win-win for you.

Use it and enjoy it.
 
ozmoose said:
I'm running the risk (again!) of being a tad pedantic here, but... are you sure it's a Va??

Is there a removable 'wheel' on the right side of the camera with the numbers '12' or '16' or even '24/ on it?? If yes, then lucky you - it's a late model Vb on your hands, dating to the late 1960s to early 1970s.

IIRC, it was known as the Vb model III, but then again I'm going on memory and with a guess and I may be wrong on this, as I so often am on such things.
Click to expand...

The serial number shows it as a Va Model 1 produced 1957-58. The 'removable wheel' - exchangeable frame counter is on all Va and Vb models.
 
Are you sure it is not broken. There is no real 'secret' to using it.
 
Jeez! Have you seen the price of Rolleicords on ebay??!! And the price for the wee soft shutter release! Mine does't have one. I'll settle with one of my shorty cable releases. Hopefully, I'll have time to run some HP5 through 'er today...
 
Andrew O'Neill said:
Jeez! Have you seen the price of Rolleicords on ebay??!! And the price for the wee soft shutter release! Mine does't have one. I'll settle with one of my shorty cable releases. Hopefully, I'll have time to run some HP5 through 'er today...
Click to expand...
You could find one of the wee shutter releases? I looked for years and eventually just paid some stupid high price. Convenient but in the end I’d rather use a cable release or the cock-release lever.
 
BrianShaw said:
You could find one of the wee shutter releases? I looked for years and eventually just paid some stupid high price. Convenient but in the end I’d rather use a cable release or the cock-release lever.
Click to expand...

I have one from my Japan days. 10cm. Belonged to my wife's great grandfather. He had a photo studio in town.
 
A fine camera with a marvelous lens. I sold mine ten years back (out of financial necessity) but would have another any time.
 
I bought the Vb version when I was stationed in Germany in 1975. I still use it. Here’s my receipt. That would be a bit over $700 in today’s dollars.

639A77A0-E51A-4A35-A846-579A067A01DB.jpeg
 
Took it out for a quick test run yesterday, loaded with HP5. Everything is in working order. Negs are pretty consistently exposed. Very easy camera to use. Shot some wide open and some closed to to f/16, f/22. I'll need to put a neckstrap on it as I see some more wanderings with this little gem.
Film exposed at EI 250. Developed in Xtol-R.

RolleicordTest.jpg
 
Try a monopod. Better than a neck strap in my experience. Especially when using a Rolleifix quick-release attachment.
 
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