Rolleiflex in E.U.

[Denis P.]

"why not...?"
Probably because he's in China, and all the positive feedback that he has lately (for high-value items) might be from hijacked accounts...

A seller in China and a high-value item on eboy - you're asking for trouble!

On eboy I buy only low-value items which I can't find locally.
I'd buy a high value equipment only from the people i "know" - like long-standing apug members, or long-standing members on some other forums I visit (nelsonfoto, RFF, LFF). The keyword is "long-standing member", though

 

[arigram]

Yes, but that's speculation: he's Chinese and the camera is expensive is not enough.
If someone has some proof against this seller I would like to know as to take action.

 

[dpurdy]

The seller is in Hong Kong and a lot of people feel perfectly safe dealing with Hong Kong dealers. I see that he has a lot of very expensive sales and I doubt it is an elaborate rip off scheme to get your money. I think the most likely scenario is that he sold the camera before he had it in stock and his supplier is behind. That is exactly the problem I ran into on one of the cameras I tried to buy out of New York. They had my money and kept telling me the Rollei guy was going to be in tomorrow and kept delaying. I just don't think people want to stock a bunch of those cameras. Your price is about 800 USD below what they sell for here new these days. Still it would make me nervous as hell to have a guy sitting on my money regardless of where it is and telling me he will ship soon still 10 days after I paid for it. (I am just guessing you paid for it about 10 days ago). If he is legit he will succomb to ebay pressure because he wants to stay in business. If he is not legit then you have a problem. My guess is that he is legit in that he sells cameras though his store might be a very small room at the back of his house. but what do I know.. nothing.
Dennis

 

[arigram]

I've had similar trouble with greek dealers.
For example, the former greek representative of Hasselblad took months in delivering
many thousand euros worth of equipment and I had to actually report them to Hasselblad.
Same thing happened with the greek representative of Elinchrom.
Thus, I learned that most merchants that sell expensive equipment that doesn't get sold quickly,
as is the case with professional analog cameras, they will run in all sorts of problems such as
grouping shipments together, having trouble affording the equipment to stock them, etc
My guess is that this guy only ordered the camera after I payed him and there is a delay in
the shipment from the factory or wherever he gets it from.
He lied about his ability to send it in two days time and he is not great with communication,
but he is not necessarily a crook.
I just hope the system works and I can get my money back if things turn even more sour.

 

[dpurdy]

http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...QAlways=1&SSPageName=PageAskSellerQuestion_VI

Ari, I found this list of questions put to your seller and you see that someone asked to come to his store in Hong Kong and he states that he has no store in Hong Kong and he offers to bring the camera to the person's hotel room instead.
Dennis

 

[arigram]

http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...QAlways=1&SSPageName=PageAskSellerQuestion_VI

Ari, I found this list of questions put to your seller and you see that someone asked to come to his store in Hong Kong and he states that he has no store in Hong Kong and he offers to bring the camera to the person's hotel room instead.
Dennis

Yeah, I saw it.
That's why I got very anxious, flooded him with messages and opened a case in PayPal. I even messaged a couple of buyers to ask about him.
But then, e-bay, is a store-front for all those who don't have a store-front. So, in the end, in matters little to me if he keeps the cameras in his bedroom, as long as they are brand new and sent in one piece.
I don't think a normal store would go for such a low price anyway.
So, I am praying to the gods that it will go well.
I gave him one week, till Thursday and he offered to take off the shipping costs and return me the money immediately.
Its a risk I know.
We will see how it goes.

 

[arigram]

So, I never got the camera, I gave him a negative feedback and he refunded my money.
Now, I am back to where I started: with no Rolleiflex.

 

[Dave Miller]

So, I never got the camera, I gave him a negative feedback and he refunded my money.
Now, I am back to where I started: with no Rolleiflex.

I guess the good news is that all you seem to have lost is time.

 

[keeds]

As Dave says... at least all you lost was time. Perhaps you'll reconsider second hand? From a reputable dealer with a guarantee is more money but safer, or take a gamble on the bay (not like the last one). I picked up a 3.5f which after a service is fantastic. All for less than £400. Just a thought... Best of luck with your searching

 

[dpurdy]

Bummer. There seems to be a lot of Karma involved with cameras. I believe it. When you get the right camera, it comes to you easily and works well for you.
Dennis

A little side interest note on the FX today. Rollei puts this teflon coated piece of tape on the tensioner that holds a new roll of film tight. I wore a little hole in the tape right away because you have to push against it pretty hard to get a roll of film in. Today I just peeled the tape off the spring steel tensioner and .. perfect. Holds nice and tight and is smooth and I don't know why they have that little piece of tape on there in the first place. Maybe just to keep from any wear mark on the tension steel.
Dennis

 

[André E.C.]

And once again, Ari!

That 2.8 GX looks neat.


https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/rollei-franke-heidecke-medium-format-tlr-cameras-c-1033_103330.html




Cheers mate!



André

 

[arigram]

And once again, Ari!

That 2.8 GX looks neat.


https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/r...-medium-format-tlr-cameras-c-1033_103330.html




Cheers mate!



André

I went ahead and bought that one.
I hold you directly responsible for it Andre.
You have a long passionate kiss if its perfect
and a knife on the throat if it gives me trouble.

 

[arigram]

I went ahead and bought that one.
I hold you directly responsible for it Andre.
You have a long passionate kiss if its perfect
and a knife on the throat if it gives me trouble.

WHAT THE FUCK?!?

I went through the whole procedure to buy the camera and
just got an email that it was sold. I mean, can't they just update
their system?
Now, I am angry.

 

[keeds]

Now that is annoying. I ordered an Used Oly E1 and the decent 14-54 lens only to be rung to be told the lens had already been sold. I was a little dischuffed at the time...

 

[dpurdy]

WHAT THE FUCK?!?

I went through the whole procedure to buy the camera and
just got an email that it was sold. I mean, can't they just update
their system?
Now, I am angry.

Don't let it get to you Ari. I am very jealous of your trying to get a new camera. I found this on ebay and the seller has been working there a long time and I believe is reputable with a main office in Germany. I read other people say they are good:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rollei-Rolleifl...goryZ297QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

have a look
Dennis

 

[arigram]

Okey then.
Since Andre invited me to the dance floor, I wasn't gonna stop on my first fall.
So, I found a 2.8GX Expression in mint condition at Photo Arsenal.
More expensive and doesn't include all the nice extras, but atleast this one is mine.
And anyway, I was going for a metal hood and SCA adaptor, not included with that one.
It is still a bit higher than I can afford at the moment but it will be easier to pay off.
And it comes from Germany, so no troubles there.

I seriously believe though that some bastard here saw the link that Andre posted
and snatched it before me. Well, curses to him and I hope it breaks on arrival!

 

[dpurdy]

That one looks good, I had a look at it. The older GXs had the Synchro compur shutter that people like better than the newer Seiko shutter. Personally I have no opinion about it. Congratulations and now to see some work.
Dennis

 

[arigram]

There are projects I can't do with the Hassy, waiting for that Rolleiflex.
My guess is that the resulting photos will look pretty much like the ones I haven been
taking so far, but maybe catching people in more unexpected poses.
Don't expect ones with their pants down though.

Btw, is the finder screen the same as the FX or will I need to get a brighter one?

 

[dpurdy]

The screen is the same. And as I have gone back and forth between the Maxwell and the new Rollei stock screen, I have come to a conclusion that the Rollei screen is better for the WLF but I prefer the Maxwell with the prism. For some reason I find the stock screen hard to focus off axis with the prism but that doesn't seem to be a problem with the WLF.
Dennis

 

[André E.C.]

Sorry about that first camera Ari, it was begging for you, but whatever, you got a nice piece of equipment anyway.


As for Maxwell screens in Europe...


http://www.dekamera.com/


And in case you prefer Beattie...


http://www.fotomayrhofer.com/beattieprice.htm


The site isn't ready yet, but you can always send an e-mail with your questions, you know, just in case, you might need a screen change at some point



Cheers



André

 

[arigram]

Btw, if anyone has a hood and/or a SCA adaptor to sell, let me now.
I keep looking on the Internet but haven't found anything worth it yet.

 

[dpurdy]

People say these after market lens shades are high quality. They actually might be better than an original Rollei metal hood because the Rollei hood is highly reflective and can cause a glare on your viewing screen. This Fotodiox hood has a crackle finish to stop that.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bay-III-Lens-Ho...ryZ78999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
-----------------------------------------------------------
Another thing you can do is get a bay3 to 49mm adapter that alows you to use regular screw on filters and lens shade. I have one, but only use it with a screw on polarizor since the Rollei Polarizor filter is so expensive. The one I found here is quite a bit more expensive than what I paid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BAY-3-III-t...ryZ67358QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[arigram]

People say these after market lens shades are high quality. They actually might be better than an original Rollei metal hood because the Rollei hood is highly reflective and can cause a glare on your viewing screen. This Fotodiox hood has a crackle finish to stop that.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bay-III-Lens-Ho...ryZ78999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
-----------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, I just ordered one. Its cheap enough and I trust your word for its quality.

 

[dpurdy]

I will wait to hear what you think of it then I might get one as well.
DP

 

[arigram]

Splendid.
I just got the Rolleiflex I ordered from Photo Arsenal
and it has a huge cleaning mark/scratch on the taking lens
and a large scratch on the finder screen.
They advertised it as being "like new, absolutely without marks or scratches"
and I fall for it even though it did not have a good photo of the lenses
and screen.
I called them and this guy answered telling me to email them because he's out of Germany
(where did I call?).
So I email them.
I am so fucking pissed off right now.
This is not going well at all.