Rolleiflex? Rolleicord?

Dan Daniel · Oct 19, 2021

This used to be a place where nuance and a recognition of people having differing requirements and intentions had a place. No more. Last post for a long time to come.

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/fo...45501-rolleiflex-focus-screen-comparison-test

FotoD · Oct 19, 2021

250swb said:
They are the same thickness although the original screen may itself have been shimmed at the factory (can't remember which models this applies to).

Thanks @250swb! I have struggled with the GG on the Rolleicord outdoors for some time now, missing compositions b/c the image is so dark. Will have to look into Olesons glass.

Dismayed · Oct 19, 2021

NB23 said:
Perfectly fine? Name dropping?

No matter the psychology behind, a shitty screen is a shitty screen. Hasselblad made its name over rolleiflex and one of the main reasons was the much better screen.

You're tone is unacceptable. Welcome to mu "ignore" list.

NB23 · Oct 19, 2021

Dan Daniel said:
This used to be a place where nuance and a recognition of people having differing requirements and intentions had a place. No more. Last post for a long time to come.

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/fo...45501-rolleiflex-focus-screen-comparison-test

Look at the last picture, corner bottom right. You can say all you want but there is no human eye that can adapt to this easily, it’s a very frustrating experience to look through this screen. Takes a lot of guesswork and imagination to see the whole image.
I can understand anyone not liking the rolleiflex experience, after trying to shoot with this. An absolute nightmare. No, I am not tender when it comes to those screens.

This is quite revealing: all and any other screen beats the disgust out of the rolleicord/rolleiflex ground glass screens. And those screens were the standard all the way until the removable top series (F, T, tele, wise, rolleicord vb...). Quite appaling.

The rolleicord vb screen is much better, in your example, but do not forget: it is a removable top model as already specified before.

The removable top models have a much improved screen, but barely equal to any competition.

And don’t be a baby. So what if the ground glass rolleiflex/cord screens are disgusting as brilliantly proven by your examples.. No need to be a baby about it. It’s not like you and your mother are manufacturing them...

NB23 · Oct 19, 2021

FotoD said:
Thanks @250swb! I have struggled with the GG on the Rolleicord outdoors for some time now, missing compositions b/c the image is so dark. Will have to look into Olesons glass.

mamiya screens, just as good. 100$ or less. The original ground glass screens really ruin the whole rolleiflex experience.

NB23 · Oct 19, 2021

Dismayed said:
You're tone is unacceptable. Welcome to mu "ignore" list.

Thanks for letting me know. I will correct my wording, I will use Disgusting in lieu of Shitty.

shutterfinger · Oct 19, 2021

I use the flip up magnifier to focus any TLR that has one. Do any of you use it?
Oxidation and atmosphere build up, however thin, diminishes the brightness of the focus screen after a few years. Remove the focus screen, wash under running water with dish soap using your finger tips only to gently rub the surfaces of the view screen then rinse and air dry or dry with a lint free cloth. Handle by the edges only. Typical increase in brightness is 1 to 2 stops on screens that are 15 years old or older.

BrianShaw · Oct 19, 2021

Ha… I thought EVERYONE used the magnifier. I not only use it, but hold the camera up to my eye when doing so.

250swb · Oct 19, 2021

shutterfinger said:
I use the flip up magnifier to focus any TLR that has one. Do any of you use it?
Oxidation and atmosphere build up, however thin, diminishes the brightness of the focus screen after a few years. Remove the focus screen, wash under running water with dish soap using your finger tips only to gently rub the surfaces of the view screen then rinse and air dry or dry with a lint free cloth. Handle by the edges only. Typical increase in brightness is 1 to 2 stops on screens that are 15 years old or older.

That's just being disrespectful of people who have done the WORK to make the comparison. Yeah, wash the screen, and now it's only as bad as it was originally and not after thirty years of built up crud, so what does that prove and where does that get you? Are you saying nobody ever thought to clean the original screen to start with except you?

shutterfinger · Oct 19, 2021

250swb said:
That's just being disrespectful of people who have done the WORK to make the comparison. Yeah, wash the screen, and now it's only as bad as it was originally and not after thirty years of built up crud, so what does that prove and where does that get you? Are you saying nobody ever thought to clean the original screen to start with except you?

Thank you! now learn to see to the bridge of your nose before trying to see beyond it.
Rolleiflex Automat 1090594 goes out for a roll or two the 32nd of every month except February which is done on the 30th rain or shine.

Vaughn · Oct 19, 2021

I learned photography with a 1950s Rolleiflex f3.5 with original screen, so I guess I just got use to it and thought (still think) that it fine and dandy. Especially after traveling with a Ciroflex and working with that screen!

I do use the magnifier, but I can take my glasses off and see just as well without the magnifier (I'm very near-sighted). I have been using older Rolleicords lately. One trick is learning to do 90% of the composing without the camera and then use the screen to tighten it up. It is a habit I picked up using large format cameras when deciding if I should take the camera of of the pack and go through the effort and time to set it up. I do not often look through a camera to find images. People who are use to scanning the scene through the viewfinder of a 35mm camera would find a Rollei screen dark -- and backwards, of course.

The one taking lens of the Rolleiflex/cord, and experience with it, encourages learning how the camera sees...or one can take a framing device. I generally print full-frame (platinum/palladium), so it is good to know what is happening in the corners, too.

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Vaughn · Oct 19, 2021

Might be the same fellows after getting fancied up! I took mine about 15 years ago, give or take a few.

JensH · Oct 20, 2021

Hi,

yes, the view with a non fresnel, non HiD screen is dimmer and uneven... that's the way it is, and not a problem for me.

I have several Rolleiflexes with plain glass screens, the ones I use mostly are Rolleiflexes Original and give
much joy with the original screens. Never had problems focussing or composing.

Replacing them with modern alternatives would be like installing power steering in a 1930s Bently...

The original configuration is part of their fascination...
No, these vintage cameras are great the way they are, even if the finder is dimmer.
I have a HiD screen on a modern Rolleiflex, great match here.

Best
Jens

JensH · Oct 20, 2021

JPD said:
I have difficulties using the Rolleiflex Standard cameras due to their dark screens and low-geared focusing, and it got worse with age. I replaced the screen in one of them with a fresnel one for the GX but it felt wrong since I was also a collector, so I removed and sold the GX screen. I prefer my Rolleis to be as original as possible, but I can certainly understand why a lot of people want brighter screens. My advice would be that if you replace the screen with a non-original one, keep the old one and let it go with the camera if you sell it.

+1
That's how I see it, too.

250swb · Oct 20, 2021

If only somebody made hair shirts with the 'Rolleiflex' logo and a branded leather scourge, what a saintly club could be formed.

FotoD · Oct 21, 2021

redrockcoulee · Oct 24, 2021

NB23 said:
The screens from the “removable Top Rolleiflexes” are very good. The “removable top” rolleiflexes are the F line and later, and the latest Rolleicord.

All the cameras below that (think 2.8E, 3.5E, rolleicords...) have the shittiest screen in mankind. Your 2.8F is fine.

find

are you sayng the ground glass in the Rolleichird Vb i s fine or not find

MarkS · Oct 25, 2021

When I owned a Rolleicord Vb, 2006-10, I found focusing it to be difficult, although I persevered.
Had I been able to keep it (sold due to financial problems) I'd have found an upgraded screen for it. Otherwise a fine camera with a superb lens (75/3.5 Xenar). Wish I still had it.

choiliefan · Oct 25, 2021

My primary requisite these days in a Rollei or 'cord Vb is a split-image rangefinder patch in the center of the screen.
This enables the nailing of critical focus where its desired and the rest is strictly for composition.
I realize a revelation such as this will ruffle a few feathers among the bantam roosters here...

JPD · Oct 26, 2021

choiliefan said:
My primary requisite these days in a Rollei or 'cord Vb is a split-image rangefinder patch in the center of the screen.
This enables the nailing of critical focus where its desired and the rest is strictly for composition.
I realize a revelation such as this will ruffle a few feathers among the bantam roosters here...

I don't use the split-image patch myself, but I certainly understand that it's useful and that some people use it. Same with the brighter third-party screens. Cameras are after all made to be used and not just sit on a shelf. But I always recommend not throwing away the original screen.

NB23 · Oct 26, 2021

redrockcoulee said:
find

are you sayng the ground glass in the Rolleichird Vb i s fine or not find

if it’s ground glass, then it’s not good.

Rolleiflex? Rolleicord?

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