Rolleinar question for Tele Rollei

ymc226 · Oct 11, 2023

I am interested in a Type 2 Tele Rolleiflex which has a bay III mount. I've seen websites where the 0.35 or 0.70 tele Rolleinar is attached to both lenses and can swing out of the way but still remained attached. Given that the tele Rollei cannot focus close, I would also want the tele Rolleinars but the ones at KEH and Ebay (linked) don't seem to have the frame to support this swing out function. I also linked an APUG/Photrio ad from 2016 showing what I think the item should look like. Should I look for the more bulkier types?

ymc226 · Oct 11, 2023

Also, is the focusing screen user replaceable and if so, what size is the screen? I know the "F" series are very easily replaced and I have unscrewed the WLF on a 3.5A and Minolta Autocord to replace the screens with the Rick Oleson screens myself and it was quite easy as well.

JPD · Oct 11, 2023

Yes, the Rolleinars with the hinge are those that swing out, and the Tele-Rolleiflex uses the same focusing screen as the F.

ymc226 · Oct 11, 2023

Thank you JPD, have you had experience with the Beattie vs Maxwell screens or the ones from MagicFlex?

JPD · Oct 12, 2023

ymc226 said:
Thank you JPD, have you had experience with the Beattie vs Maxwell screens or the ones from MagicFlex?

No, I have only used the original screens. So far. My eyes aren't getting any younger.

ic-racer · Oct 12, 2023

My experience with the Beattie screen was that focusing was difficult, so I sold the Beattie and went back to the original screen which was much easier to focus.

ymc226 · Oct 14, 2023

ic-racer said:
My experience with the Beattie screen was that focusing was difficult, so I sold the Beattie and went back to the original screen which was much easier to focus.

I've read that the Beattie screen, although very bright, lacks contrast, making focusing harder than expected. Was this the reason for you? I have tried the Oleson screens and they are good but all his screens have the center circle (even if without a focusing aid). I wonder if anyone has tried the eBay plain bright screens?

Dan Daniel · Oct 14, 2023

ymc226 said:
I wonder if anyone has tried the eBay plain bright screens?

Yes. For a Rollei with a removable hood, this is the one to get-

Pardon Our Interruption...

'iscope2011' seems to be the established seller. You have to be careful with the Chinese screen sellers. Even with him, be prepared for a mark or two. Nothing big, but one screen of his I have seen had a small black dot of dirt in the plastic. I think that Magicflex is getting the cream of the crop and the minor defects go here?

So, bright, crisp, even illumination. Not a Maxwell, but up there with Oleson. And plain center!

ymc226 · Oct 14, 2023

Dan Daniel said:
Yes. For a Rollei with a removable hood, this is the one to get-

Pardon Our Interruption...

'iscope2011' seems to be the established seller. You have to be careful with the Chinese screen sellers. Even with him, be prepared for a mark or two. Nothing big, but one screen of his I have seen had a small black dot of dirt in the plastic. I think that Magicflex is getting the cream of the crop and the minor defects go here?

So, bright, crisp, even illumination. Not a Maxwell, but up there with Oleson. And plain center!

Thanks so much Dan. Happy to hear that it is equivalent to the Oleson screen; for some reason I think even the plain Oleson with a circle would be distracting.

OAPOli · Oct 14, 2023

I have one of those as well (cut down for a Reflex Korelle). Same experience as @Dan Daniel. I'll just note that it seems to have a subtle speckle pattern on top of the fine fresnel, but it may be my eyes playing tricks on me.

ic-racer · Oct 14, 2023

ymc226 said:
I've read that the Beattie screen, although very bright, lacks contrast, making focusing harder than expected. Was this the reason for you? I have tried the Oleson screens and they are good but all his screens have the center circle (even if without a focusing aid). I wonder if anyone has tried the eBay plain bright screens?

It looked in focus over a wide range of focus knob settings. I just got done using my 2.8f with prism finder and the original screen in very dim light and was surprised how well I could focus.

Dan Daniel · Oct 15, 2023

ymc226 said:
Thanks so much Dan. Happy to hear that it is equivalent to the Oleson screen; for some reason I think even the plain Oleson with a circle would be distracting.

Well, to be clear, I do think that the Oleson has a bit more 'pop' for focus. Minor but still. And slightly rougher fresnel lines, again very slight difference. That is of little matter in actual use. And the center spot is a matter of taste. I know that Bill Maxwell recommended no center focus aid if you are shooting a TLR wide open at close distances. Because of the way that a TLR is 'floating in space' more than most cameras held up to the face. And after focusing on screen center you will almost always reframe. With a TLR, the tendency to move the camera back and forth and such for framing is much stronger. I do think that this 'demand' of the center spot, with or without a focus aid, is what can be bothersome.

All in all at the end of the day it seems as if there are a few excellent screens out there these days.

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 16, 2023

I've got Oleson screens in my 2.8E bodies. My Tele has an (I believe) original fresnel screen in it that makes it nice and bright. I've gotten used to the Oleson screens with their center circle thing- in a perfect world they wouldn't have it but I've managed to adapt to it and now it doesn't really bother me any more.

Rolleinar question for Tele Rollei

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