Rolleiflexes, TLRs...

[JensH]

It's personal preference, and probably projection if you project your feelings to how you want it to look and what cameras you use. Perfect, it you ask me. In large format, or 6x9, I think you would prefer the original 6,3 Tessar instead of the normal 4,5. It has what Paul Rudolph intended with the Tessar, and faster ones have more compromises. The Planar is excellent but more clinical than any Tessar and thus can feel boring in the digital age.

Dear JPD,

thank You for the words.

I know, the 6.3 is one of the original Tessars, I've even been thinking about getting one...
For 6x9 I haven't found my favourite, the Tessar 4.5/10.5cm on my Super-Ikonta feels more like the 3.5/7.5cm.
With it's strange front lens focussing (maybe part of the problem here) no 6.3 Tessar can be swaped in to try.

Best wishes
Jens

 

[Paul Howell]

Anyone shooting with a Peter Gowland 4X5 TLR, the only time I ever saw one during a college field trip to a LA ad agency in the 60s, I think they a 4X5 and a 5X7.

 

[JPD]

I know, the 6.3 is one of the original Tessars, I've even been thinking about getting one...
For 6x9 I haven't found my favourite, the Tessar 4.5/10.5cm on my Super-Ikonta feels more like the 3.5/7.5cm.
With it's strange front lens focussing (maybe part of the problem here) no 6.3 Tessar can be swaped in to try.

One alternative could be using a plate camera for 6,5x9 and use a rollfilm holder. I saw a 6,3 12cm Tessar on eBay recently on an Icarette camera, and something like that could be used. Another alternative could be the 10,5 or 12 cm 4,5 Heliar, wich is very good. It's more "3D" than a Tessar and therefore a very nice lens with character. For 9x12 I wasn't pleased with the 4,5 Tessar. It's good but nothing special. But I found a 6,3/135mm Goerz Dogmar that is excellent. I wish to try a 6,3/135 or 150 Tessar one day.

The 'J' In my name JPD stands for Jens. I'm Jens Patric.

 

[JensH]

One alternative could be using a plate camera for 6,5x9 and use a rollfilm holder. I saw a 6,3 12cm Tessar on eBay recently on an Icarette camera, and something like that could be used. Another alternative could be the 10,5 or 12 cm 4,5 Heliar, wich is very good. It's more "3D" than a Tessar and therefore a very nice lens with character. For 9x12 I wasn't pleased with the 4,5 Tessar. It's good but nothing special. But I found a 6,3/135mm Goerz Dogmar that is excellent. I wish to try a 6,3/135 or 150 Tessar one day.

The 'J' In my name JPD stands for Jens. I'm Jens Patric.

Hej Jens Patric,

a small plate camera would be fine, as plate holders, a 120 back and some boxes of 6.5/9 APX100 are in the house for photomicroscopic use with my 1930 Zeiss Miflex... if you like, see here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/136145166@N02/albums/72157686135321996 .

A facinating idea would be a 6.3/21cm for 13/18...

Best wishes
Jens

 

[Luckless]

I'm a big fan of TLRs, and have three in the collection so far, but I am finding myself drawn to other designs for specific projects. And might even go with a little scale focus folder as a daily carry...

Between my Rolliecord, C330, and C330f, it is a hard decision for which to load with film when heading out the door. It is a great shame I can't get the 250mm lens of the C330's into a package nearer the weight and size of the Rolliecord...

That said, I'm also playing around with designs for a 4x5 TLR, because, why not?

 

[NB23]

Rollei FX! Such a fine looking gem

TLR are so great My Rollei FX is the last camera I will ever sell - and believe it or not the only MF camera I bought new 15 years ago (yes, I was that crazy back in the days - made quite a dent in my savings!) She has been my exclusive travel companion for over a decade. I like the convenience of MF quality and a light meter precise enough for slide film in a relatively small and lightweight package. I recently switched to Hasselblad, mainly for the convenience of changing lenses and film backs, but still regularly use the Rollei FX as well as my couple other TLR acquired in the meantime.

You forgot one point which makes TLR so great: square is the best format. Period.

 

[Ariston]

The lens on my Autocord makes me happy.

 

[eli griggs]

The lens on my Autocord makes me happy.

View attachment 242247

I feel the same way about mine, and I hope mine continues on into at least one more generation, but only after I'm past using it.

 

[EdSawyer]

I love Rolleiflexes, have been using them as a favorite choice for the last couple years. Such a well-designed camera! Really can't get enough of them.

4x5 TLRs: The gowland is ok, but the Cambo TWR is even better. Definitely hand-holdable and you can mount lenses from 150 to about 270mm (tele) on it and still reach infinity. somewhat rare but more common than the gowland I think, and better build quality.

 

[Paul Howell]

I had forgotten about the Combo TWR, don't think I've ever seen in person, not really a TLR, like the Konica Omega Flex, no flex, no internal mirror, still an interesting camera. If I had a studio I would think about hunting one up. Found the Gowland site, he also made an 8X10 TLR, sold 6. It was 3 feet tall. I have a vague memory that Playboy had one.

 

[trondsi]

Here's one of my photos, taken with my favorite camera, my Rolleiflex 2.8

 

[Ray Morgenweck]

My first TLR was a Rolleicord Vb, borrowed $65from my Grandmother to help pay for it. It was probably my first really precision camera. One trip to do photos was at Laurel Hill Cemetary in Philadelphia, about 1979. Just a few weeks ago I found a roll of Vericolor .....and developed it as BW in D76. Great results!

 

[Huss]

-By owning a TLR, one signs a binding contract of caring and repairing any TLR he owns, no matter how “economically sound”. Keeping a TLR alive is a good deed.

I was so happy when I managed to sell my Lubitel 166 Moscow Olympics Edition TLR to some chump on craiglist.
Chump because I said it was broken - film transport failed after the 2nd roll of film (and I bought it NOS) - yet he didn't mind because it looked 'cool'.

On the other hand, I had Harry Fleenor repair a Rolleiflex 3.5 that a non photog friend lent to me even though I really didn't want to borrow someone else's camera (I have 2 Rolleiflexes of my own).
That one 'broke' with me just exercising it, so I had to do the good deed. Even though it wasn't mine..

 

[Huss]

I think we can all agree that my 2.8GX 60th Anniversary Edition is the prettiest camera ever made.
However my 2.8E is definitely built to a much higher standard.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I think we can all agree that my 2.8GX 60th Anniversary Edition is the prettiest camera ever made.
However my 2.8E is definitely built to a much higher standard.

I have read this many times. In what ways was the GX compromised? I use a 3.5E from 1959 - love it.

 

[darinwc]

I've had a number of tlr's.. currently 3 cords and a Rolleiflex. But I've never really bonded with them.

 

[EdSawyer]

2.8F Platin is the prettiest and best of the Rolleiflexes, IMNSHO.

 

[StepheKoontz]

I'm actually REALLY enjoying shooting with 127 film "Baby" TLRs. My favorite is a Sawyers Mark IV but the baby rollei seems nice too, just wish it was a crank wind.

 

[Huss]

I have read this many times. In what ways was the GX compromised? I use a 3.5E from 1959 - love it.

The 'new' FX/GX series are built to a much lower standard. The bodies are lighter, there is no automatic film feed (you need to line up the film start arrows even though I actually don't mind this), the viewing hood needs to be lowered more carefully and assisted, the numbers and markings on the body e.g. around the focus dial are painted on not engraved. The fantastic mechanical DOF preview scale which adjust to the aperture settings is gone. The shutter release action is much less smooth but this may be in part that it is now used to activate the meter.
The upside is they have excellent semi spot meters, and much much brighter easy to use focusing screens.

 

[pentaxpete]

YO !! I have 4 Rolleis now and did a VIDEO with the Stories how I got them and some PICS ( PS -- Don't tell THE WIFE ! )

 

[GG12]

The 'new' FX/GX series are built to a much lower standard. The bodies are lighter, there is no automatic film feed (you need to line up the film start arrows even though I actually don't mind this), the viewing hood needs to be lowered more carefully and assisted, the numbers and markings on the body e.g. around the focus dial are painted on not engraved. The fantastic mechanical DOF preview scale which adjust to the aperture settings is gone. The shutter release action is much less smooth but this may be in part that it is now used to activate the meter.
The upside is they have excellent semi spot meters, and much much brighter easy to use focusing screens.

I had heard that the original dies for the Rolleiflexes were lost, and the GX was made using Rolleicord dies. That might have something to do with it. Also, there were ~3 different trigger switches used - the first ones were really sticky, with a harsh change about ½ way thru; they changed manuf, and the last ones were much smoother....

 

[rulnacco]

Anyone shooting with a Peter Gowland 4X5 TLR, the only time I ever saw one during a college field trip to a LA ad agency in the 60s, I think they a 4X5 and a 5X7.

If anyone here is in the Orlando area, Kiwi Camera Service has (or at least did have, when I was in a couple of months back) a Gowlandflex in the shop. What an amazing beast! Whenever the virus leaves us at last, if they still have it, it's worth dropping in and having a look at--along with all the other amazing and tempting stuff (including a fair bit of TLR related goodness) they have there.

 

[Martin Rickards]

Well, ebay eventually delivered a Minolta Rokkor CE 80 mm, so I couldn't put off trying some enlargements. Not to good so far.I'm afraid. First the negs;they weren't as well focussed as I had hoped and even the best For the moment, 35 mm a bit on the thin side. So I had to dial in about 40M to get the contrast up a bit. The test strips gave me about 13 sec at F16, which seemed very short for a 24x18 print. I've still got a long way to go. Maybe practice will make reasonably proficient. However, 35mm wins hands down for the moment. ...

 

[Donald Qualls]

@Martin Rickards You might want to get a piece of ground glass (or put frosted tape on a piece of clear plastic) and put the frosted side on the film gate, then verify with a loupe that your taking lens and your viewing lens are focusing in the same place. I've had TLRs where they were out of sync (Kodak Reflex II that had slipped a tooth on the synchronizing gear rings, for instance), and if they don't focus together, you'll never be happy with your negatives.

 

[Chrismat]

YO !! I have 4 Rolleis now and did a VIDEO with the Stories how I got them and some PICS ( PS -- Don't tell THE WIFE ! )

Pentax Pete,
I love this video! I've seen it a few times and it always brings a smile to my face.