Rolleiflex contra Ricohflex...

[gandolfi]

I have a lot of cameras - and among those these two:

A perfect working Rolleiflex 2.8F and (three) Ricohflex'es....

No comparison!

Well - ALL my "shitty" Ricohflex'es has broken down ... so last week, when going to my favourite forrest, I grabbed the rollei and took pictures using that one..

Coming home, I developed the films, and imidiately after developing - looking at the developed films - thought: "I MISS my Ricohflex"....

Don't get me wrong; I love my Rollei, but for some reasons, the Ricohflex would just the camera for that forrest.

The sharpness of the Rollei is fantastic, but the rendering of the OOF areas just can't be beaten with the Ricohflex. So creamy and dreaming... I sometimes look at the matt screen on the Rollei - loving what I see, and then gets almost disapointed, when I see the results... whishing I could turn the two lenses up side down, and then use the wieving lens as taking lens....

Just goes to show you, that sharpness is not always the most important in a picture...

I just have to get me another Ricohflex! And hope that will last longer than the three allready gone....

 

[ic-racer]

Minolta Autocord is similar to the Richo and the service manual is available here: http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...GyXY1t&sig=AHIEtbRubV9FLMugw6RBF1WmbOAdnACKFw

Another advantage of these Japanese cameras over the Rollei; the Rolleiflex service manual most certainly does NOT start out with this phrase:

The [Minolta Autocord] service manual is prepared for both skilled technician and beginner in instructing sequently the method of trouble shooting, disassembly and repairing.

 

[gandolfi]

Minolta Autocord is similar to the Richo and the service manual is available here: http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...GyXY1t&sig=AHIEtbRubV9FLMugw6RBF1WmbOAdnACKFw

Another advantage of these Japanese cameras over the Rollei; the Rolleiflex service manual most certainly does NOT start out with this phrase:

wow - no, I don't think so....

When you say the Minolta is similar - what do you mean? (I don't care about the camera it self, but I do care about the lens on it...)

 

[Brian Legge]

Whats wrong with the Ricohflexes?

 

[outwest]

Why don't you get a Rollei with a Tessar lens? That's what you are seeing from the Ricohs. Rollei reliability with Tessar image effects.

 

[gandolfi]

Why don't you get a Rollei with a Tessar lens? That's what you are seeing from the Ricohs. Rollei reliability with Tessar image effects.

hehe - just not true...

I have several Rollei's with tessar lenses - it's nothing like the Ricohflex - don't know why...

 

[MDR]

The Ricohflex has a triplet lens that gives a completely different look imho, to the tessar lens. I often prefer the look of a triplet to the tessar look, the tessar is often harsher and doesn't have the smooth look of a triplet. The Triotar on the Rolleicord, or the Novar on an Ikoflex should be able to give you a similar look to the Ricoh lens. One of my favourite triplets is the Ludwig Meritar on the Welta TLR cameras

Good Luck
Dominik

 

[ic-racer]

wow - no, I don't think so....

When you say the Minolta is similar - what do you mean? (I don't care about the camera it self, but I do care about the lens on it...)

I believe they are similar in mechanics. So if you want to fix up you Ricoh, that Minolta service manual may be of some help. I'd show a link to a Ricoh service manual but don't know of one.

 

[outwest]

Or, I have a surplus Super Richoflex sitting around.

 

[Trask]

You could also check out the Yashikor triplets on early Yashica TLRs. FWIW, I've read that W. Eugene Smith preferred Ikoflex cameras to Rolleis.

 

[JPD]

Don't get me wrong; I love my Rollei, but for some reasons, the Ricohflex would just the camera for that forrest.

Nothing can beat the feeling you like.

My Rolleiflex 3,5F with Planar gives the sharpest results, but extreme sharpness isn't always what I want. A Rolleicord with the three element Triotar can often produce more pleasing results and a dreamy quality shot fully open.

Most people say that the important thing is the results on prints. But for me it's equally true how I feel for my equipment (plus how I felt that day, the weather, the smells, the sounds around me...). On one day I may use a Rolleiflex Automat with Tessar, and on another day a Rolleiflex Standard also with Tessar. Same lens, but I feel different for the two cameras and remember that feeling when I look at the photos. It's personal and difficult, if not impossible, to share.

 

[prumpkah]

My Rolleiflex 3,5F with Planar gives the sharpest results, but extreme sharpness isn't always what I want. A Rolleicord with the three element Triotar can often produce more pleasing results and a dreamy quality shot fully open.

Totally agree with your overall point. I'm always bemused when people ask which [Rollei] lens is the best -- seems to me it depends on what image effects you are after. Sometimes you want that APO look, sometimes you want a flipped meniscus lens.

Most people say that the important thing is the results on prints. But for me it's equally true how I feel for my equipment (plus how I felt that day, the weather, the smells, the sounds around me...). On one day I may use a Rolleiflex Automat with Tessar, and on another day a Rolleiflex Standard also with Tessar. Same lens, but I feel different for the two cameras and remember that feeling when I look at the photos. It's personal and difficult, if not impossible, to share.

In this case, I happen to agree with most people. Nevertheless, I can appreciate that handling, ergonomics, haptix -- the overall gestalt of the camera in your hands and at your eye -- are subjective but very powerful elements of the process of photographing. I'm not at all sure, however, that the experience reliably maps to the results, and hence I can be disappointed or happily surprised by the disconnect between how I felt during the shooting and what came out on the film. In the first case, it can be lesson in humility; in the latter case, one learns to welcome the gifts of luck as part of the process.

 

[PaulMD]

Yeah, I'd tend to agree that how I feel about equipment plays a significant part in how well I shoot. Some gear just feels right, some just feels wrong. It's a totally personal thing.

I absolutely love my Zeiss Ikonta 521/16 with Novar Anastigmat triplet. The bokeh's gorgeous. It's a shame I don't get to see it more often, as I tend to shoot the Ikonta at a maximum of 1/150 due to shutter shake and the lack of a rangefinder for accurate wide-open or close-up focusing. I really need to do some portraits with it where I measure or bracket focus. An Ikomat with a triplet also wouldn't be a terrible idea.

If the equipment makes good results, who cares about the specs? A good triplet probably beats a bad Tessar anyway, and it's very possible that it has better bokeh. Portraits aren't judged for their sharpness anyway.

 

[gandolfi]

Or, I have a surplus Super Richoflex sitting around.

working?
for sale?

Thanks all for your replies - I have been away to Prague for some time - surely missed the Ricohflex....

I have to check that rolleicord out though...

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Just goes to show you, that sharpness is not always the most important in a picture...

How true. Perfect sharpness back to front is often very very boring. I think I may have found just about the ultimate camera with a nice Leica M body and exploring older lenses with it. A lot less expensive than newer, sharper, higher contrast, multicoated lenses, but in my opinion a lot more interesting.

If you love the Ricohflex, I'm sure there are some to buy. But I understand it's not just you who find them great, so the prices have gone way up.

 

[removed account4]

working?
for sale?

Thanks all for your replies - I have been away to Prague for some time - surely missed the Ricohflex....

I have to check that rolleicord out though...

hi emil

i have an ancient 1930s rolleicord 1a type 3 with a triotar lens
shot wide open it is beautifully dreamy ...
good luck if you look for one !

john

 

[niho]

Let's fix the Ricohflex's

Hi Emil
Let´s have a look on your Ricohflex's and see if we can fix them. I have downloaded the service manual and can drop by with a screwdriver and a huge sledgehammer next time I´m on the top of Denmark -

I have just looked into service manual and the camera is not so complex, so let´s give it a try. It worked well with "The legend" last time.

Niels

 

[niho]

I have to check that rolleicord out though...[/QUOTE]

Me too

 

[goodfood]

Got a nice Ricohflex Model VI with Anastigmat f:3.5 80mm lens . It has 3 shutter speed plus B. Didn't try it. Don't know three elements or not.