Rolleifles DRP?

ToddB · Aug 24, 2012

Hey guys

Anyone familiar with the Rolleiflex DRP cameras? What format are they? Are they 120?

toddB

dehk · Aug 24, 2012

ToddB said:
Hey guys

Anyone familiar with the Rolleiflex DRP cameras? What format are they? Are they 120?

toddB

DRP only stands for... "The models that has the letters DRP on the left and to the right DRGM on the front of the camera means that they were made before World War II, because DRP means 'Deutsches Reichs Patent' (German Reich Patent) and DRGM means 'Deutsches Reichs Gebrauchs Muster' (basically a copyright for the name). In post WW2 models you will find DBP and DBGM. They switched from Reich to Bund (German Federal Patent)." From Wikipedia.

Rolleiflex are all 120 except for "Baby Rolleiflex(s)"

ToddB · Aug 25, 2012

Great.

There is a beauty on eBay right now for reasonable price. I so want a Rolleiflex TLR, they are so expensive. Don't get me wrong, I love Mamyia C220, but the Rolleiflex camera look so awesome. Anyone on APUG want to let one go?

ToddB

Two23 · Aug 25, 2012

I bought one made in 1951 a couple of months ago for about $375. It's in good shape and came with a leather case, filters, and shade. You do want a shade. The f3.5 models are usually more reasonable than the f2.8. I use mine a lot since I bought it.

Kent in SD

ToddB · Aug 25, 2012

Hey Two,

Did you get it on eBay?

Dan Daniel · Aug 25, 2012

I believe that there are Rolleiflexes made after WWII with the DRP and DRGM marks. The official adoption of Bundes by Germany didn't happen until 1949. Lenses made after WWII have a colored mark to indicate 'coated.' A red T on Zeiss and a red triangle on Schneider? This might be a better indicator of date than the DRP/DBP mark on models that span the war (K3 Automat comes to mind).

tony lockerbie · Aug 25, 2012

In answer to the original question, they are all 120 in 6x6cm format. The Rolleiflexes always command a high price, especially the late model F's, with the 2.8 version going for the highest amount.
All Rolleis are beautifully built, so buying an older model shouldn't be a problem if it has been looked after. Also, don't discount the Rolleicords as they are also fine picture takers, just have knob winds and the viewfinders are somewhat darker.
The Rolleiflex T is usually a good buy also, but you will find prices on ebay usually very inflated, so keep an eye on the classifieds here as Apug people are more in touch with reality (mostly) and are more knowledgeable about condition etc.

Two23 · Aug 25, 2012

ToddB said:
Hey Two,

Did you get it on eBay?

Yes. I was just patient. Patience is always rewarded on eBay. I went to a threshing bee and tractor show today and shot 5 rolls. I'm heading back tomorrow. I shot 6 rolls last weekend at another steam tractor show. The results are great. I love this camera!

Kent in SD

Two23 · Aug 25, 2012

Dan Daniel said:
I believe that there are Rolleiflexes made after WWII with the DRP and DRGM marks. The official adoption of Bundes by Germany didn't happen until 1949. Lenses made after WWII have a colored mark to indicate 'coated.' A red T on Zeiss and a red triangle on Schneider? This might be a better indicator of date than the DRP/DBP mark on models that span the war (K3 Automat comes to mind).

You are correct that the DBP didn't start to appear until several years after the war. My Rollei is dated to 1951 by the serial number, and it has DBP instead of DRP. I'm not sure about the marks on the lens. I can just tell by looking at the lens with a light shining on it. A coated lens has a blue sheen. I believe that all lenses after WW2 will be coated. Leica lenses started to be coated somewhere around 1943. Be careful with older coated lenses as they can be scratched or rubbed off if you get aggressive with them. I "poof" mine off with a Rocket Bulb, then VERY gently wipe with a premoistened Zeiss lens cloth I bought from Walmart for $2.97 per box.

Kent in SD

jochen · Aug 27, 2012

Hello,
Rollei began to coat the lenses about 1949. They have a blueish shine. The 1951 model, which is known here in Europe as Rolleiflex A has both lenses coated. In this period you can find Carl Zeiss Jena Tessars (from the original factory in the Soviet occupied zone), Zeiss Opton Tessars made in West Germany in Oberkochen (there were problems with the brand name between east and west) and even some Schneider Xenars. Lateron the East German Zeiss factory stopped the delivery to Rollei and Zeiss West became the preferred supplier.

Ulrich Drolshagen · Aug 27, 2012

Two23 said:
You are correct that the DBP didn't start to appear until several years after the war. My Rollei is dated to 1951 by the serial number, and it has DBP instead of DRP. I'm not sure about the marks on the lens. I can just tell by looking at the lens with a light shining on it. A coated lens has a blue sheen. I believe that all lenses after WW2 will be coated. Leica lenses started to be coated somewhere around 1943. Be careful with older coated lenses as they can be scratched or rubbed off if you get aggressive with them. I "poof" mine off with a Rocket Bulb, then VERY gently wipe with a premoistened Zeiss lens cloth I bought from Walmart for $2.97 per box.

Kent in SD

I own a Rolleiflex Automat 3.5A (K4A) supposedly dating from early 1954 which is still marked DRP, DRGM. The 'Bundesrepublik Deutschland' was founded in 1949. So I suppose it needed some time to reorganize. It may well be that the part carrying the imprint had been produced in larger quantities before the transition.
As a side note: the other Germany, the 'Deutsche Demokratische Republik' aka East Germany, had at least one institution which never dropped the term 'Reich' in it's name until it's end in 1990. It was the 'Deutsche Reichsbahn', the railway company in East Germany.

Ulrich

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 27, 2012

My Rolleiflex 2.8 E is dated by serial # to 1956, and it says DBP DBGM.

Rolleifles DRP?

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