Was just given a ROLLEIFLEX...forgot how awesome these cameras were!

[CropDusterMan]

Was out for dinner at a friends last night, they invited us over because they "have something you'll like". When I arrived, they handed me an old
leather case, inside was the ROLLEI, in beautiful shape, along with lens hood, filters, an old GE light meter and other various accoutrement.

Gave it a quick cleaning and reminded myself on its operation...had played with them years ago when working in a camera shop. How cool.
Funny thing is, I'd just finished watching "Finding Vivian Maier".

 

[BrianShaw]

Very nice. What good friends you have.

But that's ROLLEI, not Rollie.

 

[CropDusterMan]

Sin corrected!

 

[Helinophoto]

Dude, if that is a mint Rolleiflex 2.8C, your friends just might have given away something that is worth a LOT more than they think:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...iflex+2.8C.TRS0&_nkw=Rolleiflex+2.8C&_sacat=0

With the accessories, original manuals and so on, I would think this camera is worth somewhere between $1000 and $2000.

 

[BrianShaw]

Sin corrected!

Sinner, you have repented!

 

[ToddB]

Make sure to use it. What a beauty!

Todd

 

[fotch]

Wow, what luck. Really nice friends.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

That looks like a 2.8C with the Xenotar. Phenomenal camera. If it is a C, one thing to keep in mind with the shutter is that if you are changing to or from 1/500th, do so without the shutter being cocked (ie don't advance the film before changing the speed). The 1/500th is tough to set because it uses a special powerful spring, and if you change the speed with that spring under tension you can jam up the shutter. Regardless of the apparent condition, I'd send it to a qualified Rollei technician to get it overhauled. But once you do, it will be good to go for another 60 years (with a few more CLAs in the interim). I love my 2.8Es so much I have two, and a Tele-Rollei. I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of the rest of my small format cameras and sticking to just those two for 99% of my shooting.

 

[CropDusterMan]

Wow gang, thanks for the input...I wouldn't say the camera is mint though...but definitely
nice condition. I just ran a roll of film through it, and the counter doesn't seem to work, even
having the film loaded through the rollers as instructed. Lens is a Zenotar 80mm 2.8, no scratches, haze or
fungus on either lens...and the manual says 2.8C. Gents, where can I get it CLA'd? I have very little knowledge on these
TLR's...

Am souping the film in a few min's. Flying Camera, thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Jason

 

[BrianShaw]

Oh, man... don't make me do it again. Not Zenotar, but XENOTAR.

In SoCal there are a couple of places to consider: Oceanside Camera (Fleenor) in Manhattan Beach, Steve's Camera Repair in Culver City, and Pro Camera Service in Thousand Oaks. Other folks recommend Sammy's too.

 

[mweintraub]

You and your friends suck! And I mean that in the nicest possible way.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Wow, great gift! Not quite worth $1000-2000 in that condition but easily $900 or more with all that gear. I recommend without reservation Harry Fleenor at Oceanside. Bar none the best. I have at least 6-7 Rolleiflexes and have had others work on some in the past and let's just say I will never work with anyone but Harry any more. He has my Tele-Rolleiflex right now fixing a focus issue and installing a Maxwell screen for me.

 

[CropDusterMan]

Oh, man... don't make me do it again. Not Zenotar, but XENOTAR.

In SoCal there are a couple of places to consider: Oceanside Camera (Fleenor) in Manhattan Beach, Steve's Camera Repair in Culver City, and Pro Camera Service in Thousand Oaks. Other folks recommend Sammy's too.

Dang it!!! I Suck!
Chalk up my sinful typos to my hands trembling with excitement!
Not sure what I did wrong the first time around, but just ran a dummy roll through it, and the counter and advance worked
flawlessly!
Shutter speeds sound very accurate.

Brian, please forgive me. Thanks for the CLA names gang, really appreciate everyones input.

Jason

 

[BrianShaw]

All is OK... I suck and sin on occasion also.

Glad to hear that it is working good enough to run some film through it. Many years ago I acquired a Rolleicord that was older but in good shape. I used it a bit and then had it overhauled (at the place in TO)... and it was even better... and that overhaul was good for about a decade, and then I did it all over again several more times. I'm a believer in prophylactic servicing of cameras and generally feel that the money is well spent in terms of reliability. I dislike with a passion any sensation of worry/doubt about whether a camera will work right or not.

 

[CropDusterMan]

Ballpark Brian, what do you think a CLA runs for the Rollei these day, barring any major parts issues?

 

[BrianShaw]

Not sure; others will have more recent experience. $350 to 400 is what I seem to recall people saying for both shutter and film transport overhaul.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I just paid $400 for a complete CLA including fixing a (small) dent to the front of the lens mounting panel. This also included an alignment of the lenses to insure the taking and viewing lenses were matched.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Here's my recent invoice from Harry Fleenor on my Tele-Rolleiflex:

Service required: shutter overhaul (some speeds are off) & adjust focus $134.00, UPS shipping with $1,700.00 insurance $36.00, total is $170.00

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

FYI, here's another invoice for a repair Harry did about 5 years ago on a REALLY beat-up 2.8E Planar I sent to him for repair. I got it very cheap and I loved the signature of this camera's lens so I wanted it repaired to tiptop shape. Not cheap but a LOT of work was needed. And I could have gone "a la carte" and declined some repairs if I wanted. This can give you some sense of the different work and cost for each approximately.

Service required:

repair hood $49.00
shutter overhaul $134.00
transport overhaul (stiff) $134.00
straighten back $24.00
replace release lock & sync lock levers $39.00
replace back lock pin $22.00
replace rusted film feeler roller $29.00
repair focusing
re-align, collimate & adjust focus $110.00
repair depth of field scale (sluggish) $49.00
replace missing & damaged leather $29.00
CA tax on parts $8.63
UPS shipping $27.00
total is $654.6

 

[CropDusterMan]

Thanks a bunch Richard and Brian.

Best,
Jason

 

[Alan Gales]

I have a friend that owns four Rolleiflexs. He won't give me any of his!

You lucky dog!

 

[CropDusterMan]

Well, a small update...

Shot a quick roll of FP4 through the Rollei, hand metered and when I processed
the film, there is an issue....I see lots of squares, but there is a fog issue, appears
to be a light leak. Looks as though a small screw is missing under where the
camera closure latch is which snugs up the closure. Bottom of the cameras door
seems to perhaps have a slight gap that could be leaking a bit of light in.
Overall exposures seemed pretty good though...focus is sharp.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

If you plan to keep this camera long term just send to Harry. Within 2 days he'll email you his assessment and breakdown as above. He is at 8 weeks turn for repairs though. But again, the best and worth it. He's repaired many cameras I had "repaired" faster and cheaper elsewhere. Only to get it done "right" later.

 

[TheTrailTog]

WOW! You must have done something REALLY good in a former life because karma doesn't get much better than that!

As another option for a CLA, I highly recommend Krikor at Krimar Photo. I've never used Fleenor, but Krikor is factory trained and has been servicing Rolleis for longer than I've been alive. Fast turn around, friendly to talk to, and good prices. Call though as he's not big on email. Either should have that beauty purring like a kitten though.

 

[Dan Daniel]

WOW! You must have done something REALLY good in a former life because karma doesn't get much better than that!

As another option for a CLA, I highly recommend Krikor at Krimar Photo. I've never used Fleenor, but Krikor is factory trained and has been servicing Rolleis for longer than I've been alive. Fast turn around, friendly to talk to, and good prices. Call though as he's not big on email. Either should have that beauty purring like a kitten though.

I sent Krikor a 2.8C and let's just say that it didn't go well. When I called him to discuss the problems, his first response was, 'Well, it's an old camera and you can't get parts.' ??? I just gave you $300 and NOW you tell me that it's not fixable?

A second chance for him to fix it led to even worse clunking and such. And I've heard this from a couple of other 'C' owners, that this isn't the camera for him to work on. I know he gets high marks for later models, but I would strongly discourage anyone from sending a 2.8C to Krikor.

I sent the camera on to Harry Fleenor who made it hum. Send it to him.