Smallest TLR? Autocord? Rolleicord?

[tron_]

Hello,

I'm in the market for the smallest TLR camera I can find (must be able to shoot 120 film). So far I've done some digging and it seems the Minolta Autocord or Rolleicord might be my best bets. But I was wondering if you guys had any other suggestions as to what else may fit the bill here.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yashicamat 124 or 124G, best lens would be the Xpres on the MPP Microcord (essentially a British made Rolleicord, it's sharper than theTessar and Yashinons at wider apertures but like the Rolleicords a touch heavier than the Yashicamats.

Ian.

 

[baachitraka]

Rolleicord V for its handling. Focus and rewind on right-hand side. After market bright screen can increase its usability at low light. CLA can be cheaper. Accessories are cheaper and are easy to find.

 

[Paul Howell]

Due to size of the negative (6X6) and the need for a 75 or 80mm all TLR are about the same size, the Rolleicords or Yashica D with the 4 element les are little lighter as they do have crank advance. A Mamyia 220 is lighter than a 330, but still in the same size range. To go lighter need to down size to a 127 format camera, but 127 film, what there is of it, is pricey.

 

[gone]

Voigtlander Focusing Brillant. Might take you a year or two to find one w/ a Heliar lens, and it will eat a Hasselblad for lunch. Should never have sold mine.

 

[benjiboy]

Baby Rollei http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolleiflex-Grey-4x4-Baby-Camera-with-Case-Strap-Lugs-TLR-Camera/321951098796. Uses 127 film.

 

[gone]

A baby Rollei does not take 120 film, and a Yashicamat 124 G is huge and heavy compared to even a Rolleicord. Neither has great lenses either. Good, but not great. There is no better 120 format lens than a Heliar.

 

[Maris]

My Seagull 4A103A, a Chinese Rolleiflex copy, is the smallest 6x6 TLR I've seen. And its the lightest at about 850 grams. The downside is that they were made in Shanghai by people in a hurry who didn't check their work. Some are good, some aren't. Mine has functioned perfectly for more that 20 years of busy use ... after I fixed it.

 

[Terry Christian]

As Paul Howell said above, they're all about the same size. However, their weights can differ greatly. Rolleiflexes and Ciroflexes seem to be the lightest I can remember; Mamiyas are boat anchors, but take great images extremely well.

 

[benjiboy]

A baby Rollei does not take 120 film, and a Yashicamat 124 G is huge and heavy compared to even a Rolleicord. Neither has great lenses either. Good, but not great. There is no better 120 format lens than a Heliar.

Uses 127 film".

I know that I used to own one.

 

[hsandler]

I briefly owned a Ricoh Diacord L and a Minolta Autocord at the same time, and they are nearly identical in size and weight, despite the Autocord having a crank advance (But the Diacord L having a selenium meter).

 

[jeffreythree]

Welta Perfecta maybe? At least when not in use.

 

[Dali]

Lubitel?

 

[michr]

I assume image quality comes first, but if you want small and light, how about a Holga http://shop.lomography.com/en/holga-120-twin-lens-reflex-camera-with-plastic-lens or a Lubitel.

I'd recommend the Argus Super 75, but I believe it takes 620 film, though it might be convertible.

 

[02Pilot]

Lubitel or Brilliant for low weight, but for external dimensions there are a lot in the same range. Flexarets might be a good option for nice optics, solid build, small size, and low price.

 

[Malinku]

Super ricohflex is pretty small and can be found Cheap. when Im not shooting my big old mamiya out comes my ricohflex. A nice retangle of metal with a very nice lens imo

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Lybitel-2, very small camera with very small price. Coated, sharp lens, fine shutter. But more like scale, viewfinder camera.
This camera by Cord and Mat.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kf095/18867569312/

 

[piu58]

Many years ago I owned a Reflekta II from Welta. I was the lightest and smallest TLR I owned. The taking lens is a triplett which was really sharp beyond f/8. Try to find a copy with an intact mirror and an intact shutter. There is not much more what can fail.

One example:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Fotoapparat-...252493?hash=item4af930004d:g:UC4AAOSwFNZWwH8S

I owned a Lubitel too, which is may be slightly lighter. But was nearly unusable.

 

[summicron1]

The older the Rolleicord, the smaller they are. I have one of the first, the art deco one, that is significantly smaller than any others, but some of the slightly more recent ones are about the same.

Find one of those, have it serviced, ur set for life.

 

[pagonzales]

side by side with my autocord, I find that a plastic bodied Argoflex (the earlier models) is way smaller and lighter. Lens is a 75/ 4.5 triplet. Can use 120 by removing the 620 film cradle in the film chamber with pliers.

 

[xya]

welta perfekta, as already said and, even a bit smaller, zeca-flex, the latter quite rare and expensive. I own both http://www.120folder.com/welta_perfekta.htm and http://www.120folder.com/zeca_flex.htm

 

[adelorenzo]

My Yashica D is very small and compact. It takes quite good photos. I would bet it's got to be one of the smallest.

I also have a Mamiya C330 and it's much, much bigger.

 

[faurefan]

How about a Semflex?

 

[Fixcinater]

The original Rolleiflex is smaller than the Old Standard Rolleiflex which is smaller in size than the later 'Cords, which is smaller than the Yashica crank winds. I have those 4 lined up right now in front of me, the early Flexes are lighter and smaller all around.

The Minolta Autocord (non-metered version) is not much smaller than the Yashica 24 I have handy but is in between the Yashica and the Rolleicord Vb for size.

 

[k.hendrik]

Lubitel 2; 549 gr. and can take shots like these

TX400 > Tmax dev.