Normally I don't do this kind of thing. Usually I can work through things to my own satisfaction, or at least I have learned to live with my decisions, good and bad.
But in this case I am really of three minds. I don't really expect anyone to make my decision but I am hoping that the discussion will help me climb off the fence.
First, some background. I am finally beginning to sell of some of my massive, and largely unnecessary, collection of cameras. I am making some decisions on my Rolleis.
The problem. I have three different Rolleiflex TLRs. They all work very well and are cosmetically nice. Obviously, they all take great photographs. However, that being said, they are different. But I can only keep just one.
First is a wonderful little Rolleiflex 3.5 Automat Model K4B with the 75mm Tessar lens. It was serviced by Harry Fleenor about 4 years ago and it works flawlessly. The only thing not original about it is the Maxwell focus screen. Interestingly, though these replacement screens seem wildly popular because of the fact that they are much brighter, I do not like them myself. I find them much harder to focus with. Of course, the primary attraction I have for this camera is that it is light in comparison to the others I own. I shoot this one a lot. This year alone I have shot over 100 rolls of film with it.
Next is my stunning Rolleiflex 3.5 E2 Model K4C3 with the 75mm Xenotar lens. Again, this one works flawlessly though I have no idea when it was last serviced. Very clean, it is completely original and includes the lens covers and the original leather case. It comes with a fully working meter. The Xenotar lens lives up to its reputation and provides wonderfully sharp photographs throughout the aperture range. Though I obviously like this camera it has not been used a lot. The last roll of film I used was loaded back in October 2014 and just finished recently.
The last one is the big gun, a Rolleiflex 2.8D Model K7D with the 80mm Planar lens. It includes the original leather case and comes with a beautiful strap from Luigi Crescenzi. I do like this camera a lot but, unlike my little MX-EVS Automat, it is heavy. As a result it does not get as much use as it should. It does have a meter and it works quite well. This one is not as pretty as the other two and comes with some war wounds. However, the focus screen and lenses are in perfect shape. It works great but I had Harry take a look at it last year. He gave it a clean bill of health so I'm pretty sure it will last for awhile.
I can only keep one. My head tells me to keep the 2.8 D for obvious reasons. But my heart tells me to keep my little workhorse, the Automat. Of course the 3.5 E2 is a viable compromise, a little lighter than the big 2.8 D, but with a very sharp 3.5 Planar style lens, with the meter to boot.
What to do, what to do? Maybe you will have some ideas?
But in this case I am really of three minds. I don't really expect anyone to make my decision but I am hoping that the discussion will help me climb off the fence.
First, some background. I am finally beginning to sell of some of my massive, and largely unnecessary, collection of cameras. I am making some decisions on my Rolleis.
The problem. I have three different Rolleiflex TLRs. They all work very well and are cosmetically nice. Obviously, they all take great photographs. However, that being said, they are different. But I can only keep just one.
First is a wonderful little Rolleiflex 3.5 Automat Model K4B with the 75mm Tessar lens. It was serviced by Harry Fleenor about 4 years ago and it works flawlessly. The only thing not original about it is the Maxwell focus screen. Interestingly, though these replacement screens seem wildly popular because of the fact that they are much brighter, I do not like them myself. I find them much harder to focus with. Of course, the primary attraction I have for this camera is that it is light in comparison to the others I own. I shoot this one a lot. This year alone I have shot over 100 rolls of film with it.
Next is my stunning Rolleiflex 3.5 E2 Model K4C3 with the 75mm Xenotar lens. Again, this one works flawlessly though I have no idea when it was last serviced. Very clean, it is completely original and includes the lens covers and the original leather case. It comes with a fully working meter. The Xenotar lens lives up to its reputation and provides wonderfully sharp photographs throughout the aperture range. Though I obviously like this camera it has not been used a lot. The last roll of film I used was loaded back in October 2014 and just finished recently.
The last one is the big gun, a Rolleiflex 2.8D Model K7D with the 80mm Planar lens. It includes the original leather case and comes with a beautiful strap from Luigi Crescenzi. I do like this camera a lot but, unlike my little MX-EVS Automat, it is heavy. As a result it does not get as much use as it should. It does have a meter and it works quite well. This one is not as pretty as the other two and comes with some war wounds. However, the focus screen and lenses are in perfect shape. It works great but I had Harry take a look at it last year. He gave it a clean bill of health so I'm pretty sure it will last for awhile.
I can only keep one. My head tells me to keep the 2.8 D for obvious reasons. But my heart tells me to keep my little workhorse, the Automat. Of course the 3.5 E2 is a viable compromise, a little lighter than the big 2.8 D, but with a very sharp 3.5 Planar style lens, with the meter to boot.
What to do, what to do? Maybe you will have some ideas?