Rolleiflex 3.5G listing on eBay, seems odd

Paul Sorensen · May 6, 2009

I am trying to find out what the heck is going on with this eBay listing:

The item looks for all the world like a 3.5E with the meter gone, at least from the information I can see on the web for dating cameras with their serial numbers. I also searched for the 3.5G and there is very little info out there. I can't find it on any of the serial number guides and the only real info I found were some old magazine ads being sold which show the camera as having the meter, and really push that aspect of the camera.

Does this look odd to anyone else? Are any of the resident Rolleiflex experts willing to chime in on it?

Thanks!

j_landecker · May 6, 2009

I think you're right. My 3.5F has a removable WLF and no numbers on the shutter speed dial (which the E has), as well as other small differences. On this page is a picture of a 3.5E (type 2) with no meter, which looks very close to the ebay camera (except for the emblem on the WLF). The S/N is close too.

Leigh Youdale · May 6, 2009

I think it's model T K8 v3. The serial numbers for that model run from 157,000 to 199,999.
Have a look at < http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/A-F_tlr.shtml>

Leigh Youdale · May 6, 2009

A bit more. I don't think there ever was a G model until the recent owners of the name created the infamously expensive GX. The last continuous model was the F. I recently bought an E2 f2.8 Planar and had the meter fitted during a CLA. Originally the E2 was sold either with or without the meter.

JPD · May 6, 2009

It's an ordinary 3,5E (3,5C in Europe). It could be bought with or without meter. The seller must be confused.

Paul Sorensen · May 6, 2009

Leigh Youdale said:
A bit more. I don't think there ever was a G model until the recent owners of the name created the infamously expensive GX.

Here is an interesting old magazine ad that someone is selling that I thought was interesting: Dead Link Removed

I also didn't find anything indicating such a model from the serial number lists on the web, but here is an ad for the thing. Of course, it has a meter.

JPD · May 6, 2009

Paul Sorensen said:
Here is an interesting old magazine ad that someone is selling that I thought was interesting: Dead Link Removed

I also didn't find anything indicating such a model from the serial number lists on the web, but here is an ad for the thing. Of course, it has a meter.

Must have been a local naming by the importer or something like that. They were called 3,5C and 2,8E in Europe (at least in Germany) and 3.5E and 2.8E in America.

You can sometimes see models like "Rolleicord IId" on eBay and collector pages. It's just a naming scheme some book authors used instead of "type 4" and so on. The only Rolleicords with letters in their names are the Ia, Va and Vb.

Whiteymorange · May 6, 2009

Don't know much about the particular camera but I have done some business with the seller, both on-line and in person at PHSNE shows. They (husband and wife) have always been up-front and easy to deal with. Contact them with your questions. They know a lot about cameras.

c.d.ewen · May 6, 2009

Want Whitey said. Jay's always been honest in my dealing with him.

Charley

Resoman · May 6, 2009

It's a 3.5E (type 2) according to the Collectors Guide to Rollei Cameras, by Arthur Evans.

Gary,

East Snook, TX

Rolleiflexible · May 6, 2009

Resoman said:
It's a 3.5E (type 2)

Nope: It's a 3.5E Type 1. The finder hood is
not the removable kind and the serial number
is not preceded with "E2."

There's nothing odd about the camera -- it's
a typical older 3.5E. This model was my first
Rolleiflex and I still shoot it when outdoors or
on the road.

Paul Sorensen · May 6, 2009

Thanks for the input, and it is good to know that the seller is good. I am keeping an eye on the auction. Now that I have told everyone else to do the same!

Resoman · May 6, 2009

It's a 3.5E type 2

Not to nitpick but,

According to my reference, Collectors Guide to Rollei Cameras by Arthur Evans, this camera is definitely a 3.5E (type 2). The type 1 had a meter, and the camera in question does not. The serial number given (1861195) is within the range of numbers listed for the type 2. The highest number for a type 1 is 1,787,999.

Gary,
East Snook, TX

Fotoguy20d · May 6, 2009

I've also dealt with this seller before. Definitely reputable and knowledgable.

Dan

JPD · May 6, 2009

Rolleiflexible said:
Nope: It's a 3.5E Type 1. The finder hood is
not the removable kind and the serial number
is not preceded with "E2."

No, it really is a 3.5E type 2. The type 1 was only sold with a meter and had a serial number below 1.800.000. The type 2 was sold with and without meter and could also be equipped with Xenotar. Serial number above 1.800.000. The E2 is a different model.

Rolleiflexible · May 7, 2009

JPD said:
No, it really is a 3.5E type 2. The type 1 was only sold with a meter and had a serial number below 1.800.000. The type 2 was sold with and without meter and could also be equipped with Xenotar. Serial number above 1.800.000. The E2 is a different model.

Rolleiflex typology is an arcane science.
Serial numbers are generally not conclusive
as there is disagreement in the sources as
to which numbers correlate to which models.
That said, the best available lists show the
E2 beginning at 1870000, and the camera
in the listing is 1861195, at the end of the
3.5E run.

I believe it to be a Type 1 for the following
additional reasons:

1. The finder hood is fixed, not removable.
This to me is the conclusive tell. E2s
had removable hoods so the user could
mount a prism or change out the screen.
Compare the finder hood of this Type 1

http://johnsrolleionlypage.homestead.com/files/3.5E_1755329_Large.JPG

with the finder hood on this E2:

http://johnsrolleionlypage.homestead.com/files/3.5_E2_large.JPG

The removable hood was the E2's distinguishing characteristic:

Dead Link Removed

and a Type 1 cannot be retrofitted with one.

2. The serial number is not preceded by
"E2" as it would have been had it been an E2.
The Type 1s have 7-digit numbers without
a prefix, on the top center of the nameplate.
The Type 2s have an E2 prefix and the
number appears below the taking lens:

http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages...63,248980019&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0

[F+H moved the serial numbers for the
Type 3s back to the nameplate, with the
E3 prefix.]

3. The lack of a meter is not telling. Most
but not all Type 1s were sold with meters.
Others, like mine, have since had their meters
removed. (I had mine removed because I
do not use it, and it adds bulk to the focus
knob.)

EDIT: If you are suggesting that there are
Type 1 and Type 2 Rolleiflexes within the
3.5E model run, that precede the E2 line, I
have never seen such a suggestion before,
and it is not reflected in the serial number
lists available online, such as this one:

http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/serial_numbers.shtml

But I am always happy to learn something new.

JPD · May 7, 2009

Rolleiflexible said:
EDIT: If you are suggesting that there are
Type 1 and Type 2 Rolleiflexes within the
3.5E model run, that precede the E2 line, I
have never seen such a suggestion before,
and it is not reflected in the serial number
lists available online, such as this one:

http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/serial_numbers.shtml

But I am always happy to learn something new.

I was referring to Claus Prochnow. The later 3,5E was available with and without meter. A very minor difference to the earlier E, but Prochnow called it "type 2".

craigclu · May 8, 2009

Just for reference, here's Arthur Evan's summary on this.

Rolleiflex 3.5G listing on eBay, seems odd

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency