Rolleiflex Meter problem

Hi,

I've just bought a Rolleflex 3.5F Type 5 (White Face) Xenotar. It was not cheap as the camera is cosmetically in superb condition and mechanically sound. However, trying it out over the weekend the meter is well out and behaving strangely. As we know the meter deflects from Right (Red area) to left as light increases. In low light There is some deflection so readings are not far out (a stop maybe) but as the light increases the sensitivity of the meter reduces. Even with very bright light the deflection does not even get half way across the meter face (400ASA gives an exposure of 3.5 @60th with very strong sunlight! My hand-held meter tells me 500th at 11 or 16 at least).

I'm planning to return the camera to the dealer for a refund but wanted to check first independently if this was a repairable fault (I suspect not). Or if, inconceivably there was something I was doing wrong that somebody could point out to me. (I have an older 3.5 Planar with a meter that works well so I think I'm doing everything right!) I do use a hand-held meter with my Leica M2 so i could use the new Rolleiflex but given the high price I paid for it due to its condition I would like it in full working order. Any comments would be appreciated. thanks

I have never trusted any of these meters (on Rolleis), they are old, inoperative and I don't think they can be fixed anyway. Hand held meter is the way.
I'm afraid the dealer will tell you the same thing.
Best,
G.

I disagree with Guillaume. I have a 2.8E which has a good meter. The 2.8 uses a selenium meter which requires no battery. Later models use a CdS meter which does. I am not sure on the 3.5F - does that have a selenium meter or CdS cell? If the latter, check the battery. With either, the problem should be repairable. With a selenium, a new cell could be required, but that doesn't run that much. I believe a good camera repair tech should be able to handle the repair.

Steve Perry

Guillaume and Steve,

Thank you for your help. The dealer did offer to have the selenium cell replaced but it turned out on running some film through the camera a couple of other problems emerged so he has taken the camera back with no quibbles.

For what it is worth, I purchased the same model camera a year ago from a dealer and had the meter professionally removed because I wanted as compact a camera as possible. Haven't regreted it at all. Fits in a very small bag.

It's only the very expensive GX, FX & FW models of recent years which have the CdS meters. Those of the F series which had meters were selenium and they are getting long in the tooth; sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. A hand meter today would be more reliable.

My Dad's 3.5 E2 has a selenium meter and frankly it's cute but not particularly useful.

I have an E that has a working meter and an F with a dead meter. In any case, I wouldn't expect a selenium meter to be reliable. If it is, I would consider it to be a bonus.

Does anyone know how to tune a faulty light meter on a Rolleiflex ? Mine is about 2 stops off.

I have made a nice set of links for Rolleiflex, including repair manual and patents :

http://artandflywork.nl/blog/?page_id=31

Regards,

Canonskogel.

I inadvertently purchased a 2.8F with a dead meter back in the 80s and wound up getting rid of it and getting one with a working meter (it still works after all these years!)

At the time (1980s) the Gossen "F" meter movements and new selenium cells were un-available. There were some conversion meters for the "E" series cameras available (as some were sold without the meter). These conversion meters came in a little box with the meter and a selenium cell and a little screw driver to install the pieces. These "E" meters were NOT interchangable with the "F" meters.