Rolleiflex B and T settings

Toffle · Feb 2, 2008

I've really been enjoying my "new" Rolleiflex 3.5f, which I got back in December.

I am interested in doing some extreme low-light work with this camera, but I can't seem to figure out the "B" setting. The model description says "Synchro-Compur MXV shutter 1/500 to 1, B." Mine has what seems to be 1/500 to 1, (fractions of a second) then 2 to 60. (whole seconds) I haven't seen a "B" anywhere on the dial. I would have assumed that "B" would follow sixty. The time setting goes to 60 and then stops. Also, in the longer time settings, the aperture dial seems locked to the smaller apertures, which makes sense to me.

If truth be known, I haven't taken any shots at over 1 second, so there is probably a whole bunch I have to figure out there. For now, I'm just trying to find the Bulb setting.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Cheers,

Marco Buonocore · Feb 2, 2008

Tom,

Any of the green number (2s - 60s) all act as bulb settings. Here's a page from the manual.

Toffle · Feb 2, 2008

Thank you for that. Now, how do I take LONG exposures. I'd like to do some star trail shots of 3-4 HOURS. Would this entail using a locking cable release in the green end of the scale?

Thanks again.
Cheers,

elekm · Feb 2, 2008

Yes, can use a cable release. However, you might be able to also push in the release and then turn the locking collar to lock the shutter open.

I'd probably just get a cable release, because you don't have to fiddle with the camera.

Toffle · Feb 2, 2008

elekm said:
Yes, can use a cable release. However, you might be able to also push in the release and then turn the locking collar to lock the shutter open.

I'd probably just get a cable release, because you don't have to fiddle with the camera.

Yes, thank you. This version of the 3.5 does not have the collar-style locking system. It is more like a rotating toggle that locks/releases the shutter plunger from the inside of the camera. I already have a cable release that works quite nicely; I've tested it on this camera... it fits and fires as it should.

A further question: would I have to set the shutter time all the way to where it stops past 60 sec in order to shoot the very long exposures I need?

Thanks again.
Cheers,

dpurdy · Feb 3, 2008

No the green numbers are all B. they won't actually time your shutter. Just set it on any green number and lock the shutter open either with a cable release or with the shutter lock.

Toffle · Feb 4, 2008

So I see, (I did some visual tests yesterday while I had the back open to change films.) Which does beg the question, "Why bother?" If anything slower than one second is Bulb, why have a range to 60 seconds?

Cheers,

Ulrich Drolshagen · Feb 4, 2008

Toffle said:
So I see, (I did some visual tests yesterday while I had the back open to change films.) Which does beg the question, "Why bother?" If anything slower than one second is Bulb, why have a range to 60 seconds?

It's just for metering purposes. You will be able to meter the nessessary time in low light conditions if your inbuilt meter is still working.

Ulrich

dpurdy · Feb 4, 2008

There are some Rolleis that allow the fstop and shutter to be locked together. That would theoretically give you an indication of the time necessary for different fstops.. though reciprocity failure would keep it from being accurate. The Rollei from GX on only have B, no green numbers.

eddym · Feb 5, 2008

Toffle said:
Yes, thank you. This version of the 3.5 does not have the collar-style locking system. It is more like a rotating toggle that locks/releases the shutter plunger from the inside of the camera.

The rotating toggle that you are describing sounds like the same lock that my 2.8F has. If so, it can be used to lock the shutter open. Just set the shutter speed to any of the "slower than 1 second" speeds, push and hold the button, and rotate the toggle to the locked position, which will lock the shutter open.

Toffle · Feb 5, 2008

eddym said:
The rotating toggle that you are describing sounds like the same lock that my 2.8F has. If so, it can be used to lock the shutter open. Just set the shutter speed to any of the "slower than 1 second" speeds, push and hold the button, and rotate the toggle to the locked position, which will lock the shutter open.

Thanks, Eddy. I will have to try this. (I will do a dry run next time I change films) I really am impressed with the engineering that went into constructing this camera.

Cheers,

Rolleiflex B and T settings

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