Rolleiflex T: is this fungus? Is it rust?

mau · Jan 20, 2025

Hello all,

I got my hands on a Rolleiflex T in a pretty bad shape.
At a first glance it looked like the taking lens had fungus, but I'm not so sure anymore

I took off the front and back element of the lens, and it's clear that whatever that is, it's just on the aperture blades.
Can it be just rust? Is it possible that it's still some kind of fungus that just prefers to chill on the blades?

Help, I don't have enough experience to figure this out

Thanks

ic-racer · Jan 20, 2025

That oxidation (rust) is unfortunate, but sometimes happens because these blades cannot have any protective oil. Is the shutter rusted shut?

mau · Jan 20, 2025

It's a bit erratic but it opens, it's not rusted shut.
So definitely rust in your opinion? Is there some remedy or should I just let it be?

ic-racer · Jan 20, 2025

mau said:
It's a bit erratic but it opens, it's not rusted shut.
So definitely rust in your opinion? Is there some remedy or should I just let it be?

When you posted 'in pretty bad shape' I presumed this is the start of a repair/restoration article. But, if your intent is to just use it, check it with some film. You know reversal film has less lattidude than B&W negative, so that will give a better indication of how slow the shutter will be. Assuming you don't have a shutter tester.

Otherwise, yes, send it off for cleaning.

mau · Jan 20, 2025

The intent is to have fun and understand how it works. It's the first time I've disassembled the front and shutter, and I figured I would do it with a camera with little hope of being in working conditions again.

That being said, I'm just a little concerned about fungus as a concept, so I was seeking reassurance that it's indeed not fungus.

OAPOli · Jan 20, 2025

This is rust. I don't know if the shutter blades are salvageable. After disassembly, you can try to clean the blades with a solvent then polish them with a cotton swap and metal polish.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 20, 2025

OAPOli said:
This is rust. I don't know if the shutter blades are salvageable. After disassembly, you can try to clean the blades with a solvent then polish them with a cotton swap and metal polish.

It could be both, rust on the blades and fungus on the lens, from too humid of a storage.

mau · Jan 21, 2025

the lenses look pretty clean actually (see pictures in the first message for both front and back element)

Romanko · Jan 21, 2025

mau said:
So definitely rust in your opinion? Is there some remedy or should I just let it be?

Rust. You can disassemble the shutter and polish the blades.

They would not look like new but they should work fine. If you have not cleaned a shutter before I would recommend you get your camera professionally serviced. If you are brave enough to give it a go you can watch Chris Sherlocks videos on Youtube. Chris goes into all the details on how to disassemble, clean and reassemble Compurs and other leaf shutters.

Good luck. Your Rolleiflex definitely deserves another chance. This is a very nice camera. I have an Old Standard and I love it.

baachitraka · Jan 21, 2025

CLA and buy yourself a hygrometer.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 21, 2025

Romanko recommended Chris Sherlock's videos on youtube. I agree. I was able to open up the shutter on my Rolleicord, clean it, then put back together. Got a nice, working camera now. In one of his videos, he even takes all the blades out to clean them, then put back together. It helps having a "for parts" camera to work on, which I have. I'm hoping to have even that camera working one day

mau · Jan 21, 2025

Yes, Chris Sherlock and mikeno have been a huge help!

This one was supposed to be my "for parts" camera (and it was, I cannibalized part of the winding mechanism already), but I'm still trying to get it to work

Anyway, thanks everybody for your input!

Dan Daniel · Jan 21, 2025

By the way, the winding mechanism of the T is the same as on the Rollei Magic. You can usually pick up one of those for not much since they are usually not working.

mau · Jan 21, 2025

wait what? oh god I didn't know, thanks Dan!

Rolleiflex T: is this fungus? Is it rust?

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