rolleiflex best focal length

pollux · Jun 26, 2011

Hi, I am unsure as to what rolleiflex best suits my needs, and how I compose having not used the square format before. There are three lenses, a 55mm, 80mm and a 135mm. Is there a focal length where composition in a square feels more natural? Would a wide camera or a slight tele restrict photography to certain subjects? The 135 f4 looks like a portrait lens.

Sirius Glass · Jun 26, 2011

First it would help if you told us what subjects you plan to photograph and how far will you be from the subject. In other words, how are you going to use the camera.

Steve

Barry S · Jun 26, 2011

I don't think there's any "best" focal length for a square aspect ratio. I've been shooting with a 55mm lens on my Mamiya TLR and I love the focal length. It seems to work fine for any subject. I have an 80mm which is also nice but used less, and a 135mm I don't use much at all. Do you have a general preference between wide, normal, and telephoto? If so, it should apply equally to square format.

Jeff Kubach · Jun 27, 2011

For most shots go with the 80.

Jeff

Ian Grant · Jun 27, 2011

The Wide & Tele Rolleiflex's are rather expensive and rare, that should put you off

I'm very happy shooting with my Yashicamat 124 (in Turkey) and Rolleiflex E3 in the UK both with 80mm lenses. In the past (late 70's) I used a Mamiya C33 with a 55mm lens most of the time so can see the benefits of wider but don't miss it.

Previously I'd been shooting with a Leica M3 and 50mm Summicron for years, so switching to a MF camera with a fixed 80mm lens hasn't been an big problem and I love the square format.

Ian

Sirius Glass · Jun 27, 2011

With the same format but half the number of lenses [Read: Hasselblad] I use 80mm lens the most. I also have 38mm, 50mm, 150mm, 250mm and a 2X extender.

eddie · Jun 27, 2011

If the ability to switch focal lengths is important, the Rolleiflex probably isn't for you. It's hard to tell from your post if you're aware, but the 3 different lenses come on 3 different cameras. As Ian pointed out, the Wide & Tele will set you back a bunch, if you can find them. Even the 2.8, or 3.5, are pretty pricey... I have a 3.5f, with the 80, and I love it.
If you think you may want interchangeable lenses, the Mamiya C series is a good place to start. I once had a C220, with a few lenses. Good system, and you can probably get one, with 2-3 lenses for the price of a good user Rolleiflex.

As for the square format, I like it. It makes you compose differently. There's a natural tension to the image, as the eye is not directed in any particular direction. I often switch formats when I'm feeling "blocked". I find the square format most successful in this endeavor.

Sirius Glass · Jun 27, 2011

eddie said:
It's hard to tell from your post if you're aware, but the 3 different lenses come on 3 different cameras.

Heck, buy all three and put them around you neck when you go shooting film! That is analog bling!

jp498 · Jun 27, 2011

My rolleiflex is 75mm. I've used 80mm TLRs and it's pretty close. Both are nice.

2F/2F · Jun 27, 2011

80 will be the most "natural," generally speaking.

Also worthy of note is that the telephoto models are more expensive, and the wide angle models are usually at least 2 or 3 thousand dollars unless they are horribly trashed, and even more if they are in outstanding shape. Kind of out of hand for cameras that can only do one thing...and don't do it particularly better than the other options, at that.

If I was set on the idea of shooting TLRs as my only medium format cameras, I would get a nice Ciroflex model F, Yashica, or a similar camera for when I wanted to travel simple and light with a normal lens. And I would get a Mamiya C330 for the other focal lengths. The Mamiya system has the following lenses: 55, 65, 80, 105, 135, 180, and 250mm.

This being said, I do have a Rolleiflex Wideangle in as close to mint as they come without being NOS. I lucked out on it in a local thrift shop and bought it as an investment more than anything. But when I want to shoot wide with a TLR, the Mamiya is what I use.

andys93integra · Jun 27, 2011

I have a Tele (135mm) and 2.8E3 (80mm), the Tele would be more suited for head and shoulders portraits, along with a Rolleinar.

Here is the difference in focal length.

2.8E3 80mm, http://flic.kr/p/9JQdzC

Tele 135mm, http://flic.kr/p/9JMm12

Ian Grant said:
The Wide & Tele Rolleiflex's are rather expensive and rare, that should put you off

I'm very happy shooting with my Yashicamat 124 (in Turkey) and Rolleiflex E3 in the UK both with 80mm lenses.

Ian

"2.8" E3?

eddie said:
Even the 2.8, or 3.5, are pretty pricey... I have a 3.5f, with the 80, and I love it.

You mean 3.5F with 75mm lens?

Andy

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Jun 28, 2011

I recently bought the book "The Classic Rollei: The Definitive Guide" and one interesting claim made by the author is that the 75mm focal length was first adopted because it's the normal on 6x4.5cm. Photographers shooting 6x6 would, according to design, crop their photo one way or another. Later on, as the square format gradually established itself as a popular format, the 80mm lens was introduced for photographers who did not crop, since this focal length is closer to the normal on 6x6.

Might be best taken with a grain of salt (when did the square format really become popular? because of whom? only Rollei?), but in practice, I did notice that my 75mm Rolleiflex does not make me "see" the same way as my 80mm Yashica, and I've been more comfortable with the narrower angle of view for my composition. It's a slight difference, but similar to switching between a 40 and a 50 on 35mm.

piu58 · Jun 28, 2011

Michel Hardy-Vallée said:
...I did notice that my 75mm Rolleiflex does not make me "see" the same way as my 80mm Yashica, and I've been more comfortable with the narrower angle of view

I have a contrary experience: I love the 75mm over the 80mm. May be, because I started with a Rolleicord Va. Now I use a Rolleiflex 3,5F, which I selected because it has a 75 mm lens.

eddie said:
If the ability to switch focal lengths is important, the Rolleiflex probably isn't for you. It's hard to tell from your post if you're aware, but the 3 different lenses come on 3 different cameras.

There exist accessory lenses for the Cords/Flexes, which can mounted in front of the lens - the Mutars. I have both of them. They work find if you stop down at least at f/8 at least with my 3,5F. But these lenses are rare and expensive. The Mutars give 50mm and 110 mm focal length.

Neanderman · Jun 28, 2011

Are you set on a TLR? For pure flexibility, I'd opt for one of the modular SLR MF systems. Except for the Mamiya, with a TLR, you're stuck with one film type until you finish a roll. And if you're not using a Mamiya, you're not only stuck with one film type, you're stuck with one lens.

Ed

Pumalite · Jun 29, 2011

80mm is standard for 6X6. I use 45mm in my M645

rolleiflex best focal length

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