What do you shoot with your TLR?

Ara Ghajanian · Apr 3, 2006

I am about to make a major life decision. I am going to sell my Hasselblad system and use my Rolleiflex 3.5E exclusively for medium format work. Since obtaining my Blad I've shot maybe 10 or so rolls with it. It's weight makes it very prohibitive as far as any type of travel and the price of accessories... well, I could buy three lenses for my Nikon F3 for the price of a 150mm Sonnar. Anyways, the decision has been made. I will be shooting environmental as well as nature landscapes, portraits, some candid work and who knows what else. I was just curious as to what other TLR owners like shooting. Maybe we can give each other ideas.
Ara

Incidentally, the Hasselblad that I have is a 500c/m (I believe it's the 50th anniversary model, but don't quote me). It comes with the 80 Planar, waistlevel and A12 back all in original boxes with instructions all in near mint condition. I also have a Polaroid back in the box also mint. I have an NC2 prism that is a little shabby appearing, but fully functional. If anyone is interested in talking to me before I list it on the auction site (cringe), feel free to PM me.

Jim_in_Kyiv · Apr 3, 2006

When I had my Mamiya C33, I wanted to start on b&w portraits - the chest-level perspective was used well about 60 years ago by the people who invented the Rolleis. Ended up using it mostly for color nature shots, especially at Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden near Philadelphia. I just couldn't get over the look, especially compared to 35mm.

argus · Apr 3, 2006

I use the old Voigtlander mainly proof shots before I walk by with the LF kit but I'm looking out for a Rolleicord / Autocord with slightly better lenses to use in the city.

G

BrianShaw · Apr 3, 2006

Ara Ghajanian said:
I am about to make a major life decision. I am going to sell my Hasselblad system and use my Rolleiflex 3.5E exclusively for medium format work.

I went the opposite way about a year ago. I'm quite happy wiht the Hasselblad... but I'm in total agreement with you about the weight and cost of accessories. Since I'm somewhat of a photographic minimalist, it's not so bad. I bought a used 150 for about $600 at the auction site and it's working great for me.

But often are the days when I look at the Rollei that is now in my "museum" and think about shooting with it again. I used the Rollei for about 20 years to shoot virtually everything -- lots of landscapes, many portraits, a bunch of stills (including some light-duty macro work), and a little architecture. The only area which I was never satisfied was architecture - too much keystoning, etc. I especially liked the Rollei for travel photography. It's light and when Rolleifix'd to a monopod is very convenient to carry and use.

avandesande · Apr 3, 2006

I'll update my 'adventures with a rolleicord' when I do some shooting with it. I will keep my rb though because it was so cheap and I like using it for macro.

Papa Tango · Apr 3, 2006

I am using my Yashicamat 124 for just about everything. Part of the challenge is to avoid "filling up" the frame as I often do with 4x5. This allows printing in both rectangular and square formats. The TLR is a perfect comprimise between 35mm convenience and LF clarity.

Smaller structures such as one-story houses, barns, etcetera do not pose a great challenge for architectural work any more than using a 35mm for the same purpose. I have found the 6x6 format to be great in recording detail that is unwieldy for larger cameras.

I especially like the ability to shoot at slower speeds with the leaf shutter. Routinely exposures of 1/30 and 1/15 are made and come out very clear. Doing the same handheld with a focal plane shutter can be a real crapshoot.

antielectrons · Apr 3, 2006

I went the other way: 2.8f ---> Rollei SL66. The fixed lens Rolleis are fantastic cameras but I missed the wide angle and telephoto lenses for Landscape work.

Blighty · Apr 3, 2006

Ara,
I use my Mamiya C330f (and various lenses) for candid portraits and a bit of landscape. I love it. The amount of times I've heard people whisper 'Now that's a real camera!' I did use it on one occasion for phtographing a cornflower close up. The bellows focussing is brilliant for this. There are obviously parralax issues to consider, but they're not insurmountable. I applaud your decision, although I must admit I'd love to use a 'blad for a while to see what all the fuss is about. Regards, BLIGHTY

jovo · Apr 3, 2006

Ara Ghajanian said:
It's weight makes it very prohibitive as far as any type of travel [/SIZE]

Weight? Hmmm...the only time I've actually held a Hassie I was blown away by how light it was, at least compared to my P67. But, in any case, for just that reason (weight) I love my C220 for traveling. The whole kit with three lenses, paramender, and even the prism finder is very manageable and rather small by comparison.

When traveling, of course, I use it for everything, but at home I love it for close ups. The paramender utterly solves the paralax problem, and the bellows and exposure compensation indicators on the side of the bellows make it almost ideal (the only downside is the inability to check DOF, but you can sort of get around that with charts.)

raucousimages · Apr 3, 2006

If I am out with a 4x5 I use a C330 to backup in color or if I run into bad weather the 4x5 stays in the pack and I shoot the C330. I can't afford to loose my RZ or Hassy due to rain but I will risk it with the 330. As I walk I wrap it in a shower cap I keep a cleaning kit in the truck and give it a good drying with Q-tips and canned air, so far so good.

ricksplace · Apr 3, 2006

Interesting. I have a Pentacon Six system with lenses from 45mm to 250mm that I use quite a bit, but lately I have been using my Rolleiflex more and more. It's smaller and lighter than the pentacon and the results are every bit as sharp. I love the small "tick" of the shutter release that makes the pentacon sound like a gunshot. I really don't find myself limited by "only" the regular lens.

Instead of filling my pockets with a 45 and 120mm lens for the pentacon, I throw a retina 3c in one pocket and a can of juice in the other when I go for a walk.

As for what I shoot, this summer at the request of some of my neighbours, I will be shooting the old outhouses that adorn some of the cottages and homes on the lake where I live. Some of them are functional, some are decorative. All have their own character. I'll use the Rolleiflex, since I plan on doing all the shooting on foot from my house. Talk about a crappy assignment....

If my darkroom starts to smell like poop I promise I won't start a thread about it.

Rick.

TheFlyingCamera · Apr 3, 2006

I too don't know what the complaint about how heavy a Hassy is. Granted, my entire Hassy system is heavy, but we're talking about three lenses (50, 80, 120 ) four backs, two bodies (500C/M and Superwide with attached 38mm), plus light meter, and about 40 rolls of film. Put all that in a Lowepro backpack along with an Xpan, and you've got 30 lbs of stuff to haul around. But that's a LOT of kit. The 500C/M with one lens on it is quite manageable. I used to take just two lenses with me - the 80 and the 50 most of the time- and a few rolls of film in the day bag that came with the Lowepro, and leave the rest behind in my hotel room, to go on walkabouts in Spain. Sometimes I'd put the Superwide on a neckstrap and wear it, and carry the C/M in my hand. The weight around my middle is far more an obstacle to using any camera over long distances than the weight of the camera itself, at least util you get to my 8x10

wclavey · Apr 3, 2006

I would have to say that I shoot most everything with my TLRs (Mamiya c-220, c-3). I have the 65mm and 180mm lenses in addition to the normal 80mm lenses. While I would not advocate it for sports, I have done it in the past (basketball and baseball). It is a "measure-twice, cut-once" style of photography for me and I enjoy the slower pace it brings - - I feel personally rewarded at the end of a day when I have spent it shooting with the TLRs. For faster pace, I use a 35mm SLR (OM-2), a RF (Zorki-4) or a 120 folder (Ansco 4.5) - - all of them promote faster shooting for me.

I would say that in my 35+ years with one, the subjects that the TLRs seem to excell in are people, architectural detail, and outdoors/landscape.

And I'd love to see some threads where people posted, commented and shared suggestions on TLR shooting.

butterflydream · Apr 3, 2006

One of my club member has shot a series of photography of Seoul subway (just like Bruce Davison) with Rolleiflex. The advantage of TLR here was people didn't know they were being photographed, and the result was very natural.

http://leicaclub.net/gallery/browseimages.php?do=searchresults&searchid=8991

He did with Leica, too, but the photos taken with Rolleiflex are even more lively.

Ara Ghajanian · Apr 3, 2006

Okay, okay. You guys convinced me. I'm keeping both cameras. Who am I fooling? For me, selling a camera is like putting a child up for adoption. The only problem now is I have no money to get the Rollei's shutter fixed, so it's going back up on the mantle.
Ara

Richard Wasserman · Apr 3, 2006

Ernie,
Thanks for the link, it's good work.

Richard Wasserman

battra92 · Apr 4, 2006

I love my TLRs and shoot a lot of different things with them.

I do plan on using my Yashica 44 127 TLR a lot more this summer for everything I like shooting, which a lot of times comes to shooting landscapes and cows. ^_^;;

narsuitus · Apr 4, 2006

When I owned TLR cameras (Mamiya C3, C22, and C220), I used them primarily for portraits, weddings, and product close-ups. Occasionally, I would leave the 35mm at home and carry the TLR with a pistol grip, a telephoto lens, and a prism finder to shoot football.

bill schwab · Apr 4, 2006

Ara Ghajanian said:
Okay, okay. You guys convinced me. I'm keeping both cameras.

Sound choice IMO. Although I loved my old Rollei's, I would never turn back.

Bill

felipemorgan · Apr 4, 2006

Ara Ghajanian said:
I was just curious as to what other TLR owners like shooting.

Everything.

I use my Rolleiflex to photography everything within realm of still life/nature/people. It's not my only camera, but the percentage of good photographs made with this camera outpaces every other camera I've owned. The Rollei gets my vote for best all-round camera. The 75mm lens seems to have the ability to be wide when needed and normal when needed, and good technique with this camera allows latitude for cropping when 75mm is too wide.

Certainly there is a style of photography which demands a camera more flexible than the Rollei, but the Rollei is a camera that can thrive in 80% of the photographic situations that present themselves to me.

Peter Schrager · Apr 4, 2006

repair

A little off topic but I'd like to know who does good repair work on Rolleis (?)
Best, Peter

Richard Wasserman · Apr 4, 2006

Peter, Harry Fleenor is the best I know of. See: http://rolleirepairs.com

Richard Wasserman

What do you shoot with your TLR?

Ara Ghajanian

Jim_in_Kyiv

argus

BrianShaw

avandesande

Papa Tango

antielectrons

Blighty

jovo

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raucousimages

ricksplace

TheFlyingCamera

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wclavey

butterflydream

Ara Ghajanian

Richard Wasserman

battra92

narsuitus

bill schwab

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felipemorgan

Peter Schrager

Richard Wasserman

What do you shoot with your TLR?

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