Deardorff38
Mentor
Very nice example! If I weren't insanely over invested in 25+ other silly things, I'd have bought it in the past five minutes... LOL!
G
Me too.... but i have a fine working Rolleiflex overhauled by H F and i'm not getting into the acquisition game either.
G
flvU3Dp
Member
Thanks everybody for your insights and feedback.
I have looked at or been in touch with most of the folks mentioned here including Oceanside and didn't really find what I was looking for. As far as the "magicrollei" website, as tempting as it is to spend 10k for a mint Rollei TLR, I think I would rather not do that. My budget is around 2-3k max and that should be enough to find something with clean optics.
I should also mention that I am in Australia and it is a tiny market for vintage cameras. Things are more expensive to begin with and imports get slapped with duty tax and additional fees. There is an abundance of old Leica M bodies and some other iconic cameras but clean TLRs are probably harder to come by than Europe and North America.
I almost want to go with an SL66 or Hasselblad 500cm because those can be found in much much better shape and for relatively cheaper than a Rollei. But alas, nothing comes close to that vintage rendering of TLRs and the feel of holding one in my hands.
I have looked at or been in touch with most of the folks mentioned here including Oceanside and didn't really find what I was looking for. As far as the "magicrollei" website, as tempting as it is to spend 10k for a mint Rollei TLR, I think I would rather not do that. My budget is around 2-3k max and that should be enough to find something with clean optics.
I should also mention that I am in Australia and it is a tiny market for vintage cameras. Things are more expensive to begin with and imports get slapped with duty tax and additional fees. There is an abundance of old Leica M bodies and some other iconic cameras but clean TLRs are probably harder to come by than Europe and North America.
I almost want to go with an SL66 or Hasselblad 500cm because those can be found in much much better shape and for relatively cheaper than a Rollei. But alas, nothing comes close to that vintage rendering of TLRs and the feel of holding one in my hands.
Nitroplait
Well-known
It just takes patience and an alternative approach. If you look where everyone are looking, the gems are far between or you have to pay the Magicflexcamera premium for perfect and instant gratification.
Just two weeks ago I won an auction on a local site; a lot consisting of a 3.5E a 3.5MX-EVS a 'Cord Va mod II and a 'Cord II v I, the whole lot for the equivalent of US$550 incl. fees etc.
This local auction site mainly deals in estate sales and is not specialised in anything in particular, but once in a while something pops up, out of sight of the usual hawks.
I have been looking for a reasonably priced Planar 3.5 for 8 years - and here it arrived, at no cost if I sell the other parts of the lot.
I already own a Rolleiflex T and a Rolleiflex Automat, so I haven't been suffering during the 8 years wait, but patience pays off.
Just two weeks ago I won an auction on a local site; a lot consisting of a 3.5E a 3.5MX-EVS a 'Cord Va mod II and a 'Cord II v I, the whole lot for the equivalent of US$550 incl. fees etc.
This local auction site mainly deals in estate sales and is not specialised in anything in particular, but once in a while something pops up, out of sight of the usual hawks.
I have been looking for a reasonably priced Planar 3.5 for 8 years - and here it arrived, at no cost if I sell the other parts of the lot.
I already own a Rolleiflex T and a Rolleiflex Automat, so I haven't been suffering during the 8 years wait, but patience pays off.
I'm in Australia and sold a gorgeous 3.5F only a couple of months or so back. Glass was mint and mint is not a word I will frequently use. It found a delighted owner in Melbourne via eBay. It was well described. Thoroughly checked and tested with film. They are harder to find but around. Try to purchase from an original owner or their relatives, if possible. At least then it is likely to still be as it was made. Too many now have doctored lenses and other poor quality repairs by clueless owners watching too many clueless video bloggers.
Highway 61
Revisited
Exactly.
I have a 3.5F and a 2.8F. I got both for ridiculously low prices, which I wouldn't even dare telling here. They had been put for sale on estate sales websites by random individuals, not camera collecting speculators. Both are in extraordinary condition. Both were in need of slow speeds escapement service (which is fully normal) but that was all about it. I carefully performed the service myself, this is not more difficult than on any other camera, if you're used to it. Nobody had opened them up before I did it. I will never sell those gems out, in spite of the huge profit I could make off them. I used the 3.5F almost everyday during this summer and, man, what a delight.
The F models innards benefit from a pair of heavy bronze cylindrical focusing rails, instead of the light alloy parallelograms installed on the previous models. That counts and lowers the risk of buying an expensive Rolleiflex with a twisted focus plane.
RObert Budding
D'oh!
Here is a nice 2.8 F, but not cheap:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/rolleiflex-2-8f-whiteface.185898/#post-2455971
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/rolleiflex-2-8f-whiteface.185898/#post-2455971
flvU3Dp
Member
So this search for a Rolleiflex is turning into some next level stuff. In the space of 24 hours, I sold my Leica M6 and three Rolleis became available via online auctions and shop. All three have pretty clean glass although I am pretty sure they have coating wear. One is pretty mint, the other two are in good shape.
One has some marks on the bottom of the focusing plate but has had a recent CLA, which is great. I'll see if I can score at least one of these for now. If I come across another one in better shape, I can always get that and flip what I have.
What a Rolle-rcoaster-iflex this has been.
One has some marks on the bottom of the focusing plate but has had a recent CLA, which is great. I'll see if I can score at least one of these for now. If I come across another one in better shape, I can always get that and flip what I have.
What a Rolle-rcoaster-iflex this has been.
Bill Clark
Mentor
Will you process the film and make prints?
It’s getting more difficult, at least where I live, to find a business that processes 120 (medium format) film any more.
It’s getting more difficult, at least where I live, to find a business that processes 120 (medium format) film any more.
flvU3Dp
Member
I develop black and white film at home and have two very good labs within 10kms of where I live. They both stock lots of film and process 120 and 35 in-house. Really lucky in that sense.
Bill Clark
Mentor
That’s great.
Like you I still have an analog darkroom.
Like you I still have an analog darkroom.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
That's great!
There are few and far between places near me, anymore, that want anything to do with film. This doesn't bother me since I have always processed and rendered all my B&W film myself, and I'd rather shoot with digital capture for color anyway.
I'm sure with patience and the budget you have something will eventually turn up to your liking. I was a Rolleiflex TLR user for many many years, but switched to Hasselblad 500 cameras about 25 years ago. No regrets ... but there is something special about the Rolleiflexes, no question.
My favorite was my last 1953 MX, fitted with a modern focusing screen and equipped with the Tessar 75mm f/3.5 lens. It was light, handy, and took great photographs. The guy I sold it to in Japan still uses it.
G
Beemermark
Mentor
In 2017 I bought a late model 2.8F for $600 plus tax at a local shop. It was a very nice looking camera but the WLF was beat to heck and it had other issues. They ha a 3.5 and swapped the WLF (which was mint) to make the sale. I took it with me on an across the country motorcycle trip from East to West coast. I hand delivered it to Oceanside camera. The 3 or 4 rolls of film shot going across country turned out great. Harry took 6 months and charged me an arm and a leg but it was worth it. Accept any 50+ year old Rollei will need servicing so find a cosmetically nice one and send it for service.
flvU3Dp
Member
Well, I found one in an auction in the UK and bid on it and won.
I asked for some close-up photos and the taking lens looks to be in pretty good shape. It has a lot of dirt and dust around the edge and no major issues from what I can see (I believe there is a giant thumb print and maybe some lens coating damage but no major scratches).
Can anybody identify any issues from these images?
Also, interestingly, this is a 2.8F without a meter. I checked with a reputable service tech and he said that is not unusual--apparently some 2.8Fs were ordered without a meter from the factory.
Based on the images, my guess is that it was a single owner camera that was largely unused (very little wear and tear on the crank side).
Thoughts and opinions welcome. I do have a 14 day return privilege.
I asked for some close-up photos and the taking lens looks to be in pretty good shape. It has a lot of dirt and dust around the edge and no major issues from what I can see (I believe there is a giant thumb print and maybe some lens coating damage but no major scratches).
Can anybody identify any issues from these images?
Also, interestingly, this is a 2.8F without a meter. I checked with a reputable service tech and he said that is not unusual--apparently some 2.8Fs were ordered without a meter from the factory.
Based on the images, my guess is that it was a single owner camera that was largely unused (very little wear and tear on the crank side).
Thoughts and opinions welcome. I do have a 14 day return privilege.
Attachments
flvU3Dp
Member
Asim
Well-known
My father handed me a Rolleicord Vb that he gifted his brother. But the brother didn't want it. My father had no use for it but held on to it since 1970. I have only put about 5 rolls through it. And though it's not a Rolleiflex... i do own a 'like new' Rolleicord.
The images are amazing and i hope to use it quite a bit more.
The images are amazing and i hope to use it quite a bit more.
astrosecret
Recovering rollei snob
My father handed me a Rolleicord Vb that he gifted his brother. But the brother didn't want it. My father had no use for it but held on to it since 1970. I have only put about 5 rolls through it. And though it's not a Rolleiflex... i do own a 'like new' Rolleicord.
The images are amazing and i hope to use it quite a bit more.
in lots of ways preferable to a flex. imo. i use my cord v more than any rolleiflex ive owned
Highway 61
Revisited
Hard to tell but, yes, it seems to be the perfect one-owner Rolleiflex which spent most of the past years sat unused on a shelf. Thus, the slow speeds may very well need a service, which would just be normal 100%. Do not use your 14-days return privilege if the shutter speeds below 1/30s are sticky. You won't find any largely unused 1970's Rolleiflex with strong and snappy slow shutter speeds. Between an ugly, suspect of having been tampered by butchers, yet fully working, and a very clean example in need of a full shutter service, there is no debate.
An unmetered Planar 2.8F is a very, very good deal. Could be the ideal Rolleiflex, at the end of the day. Congrats ! Rather buying an originally unmetered one than a metered model with a non-working meter and/or some parts of the meter unit (meter needles focusing knob cover and/or selenium cell plate) removed at some point of the camera life, and not properly nor immediatly replaced with matching parts for the unmetered models.
On one image, there is something strange at the camera back black paint left trim (see attached pic and the red circle I added on it). Could look like a hole in the metal with something the shape of a pin protruding through the hole, from the inside of the camera ; but it's rather a scratch in the finish, probably.
Attachments
lxmike
M2 fan.
I sort of hit lucky, I have a Rolleiflex, 3.5 MX, bought it off facebook market place, (a risk I know), it was cosmetically challenged but had been CLA'd by the seller who was trained on Rolleiflex, (back in the day). It wont win any beauty prizes but it works perfectly. I later bought a Rolleicord wich I sent to hime and he serviced it and cleaned the optics for me, he charged £85 for the service and the Rolleicord only cost me 90. Guess I got lucky, good luck in your quest.
flvU3Dp
Member
Hard to tell but, yes, it seems to be the perfect one-owner Rolleiflex which spent most of the past years sat unused on a shelf. Thus, the slow speeds may very well need a service, which would just be normal 100%. Do not use your 14-days return privilege if the shutter speeds below 1/30s are sticky. You won't find any largely unused 1970's Rolleiflex with strong and snappy slow shutter speeds. Between an ugly, suspect of having been tampered by butchers, yet fully working, and a very clean example in need of a full shutter service, there is no debate.
An unmetered Planar 2.8F is a very, very good deal. Could be the ideal Rolleiflex, at the end of the day. Congrats ! Rather buying an originally unmetered one than a metered model with a non-working meter and/or some parts of the meter unit (meter needles focusing knob cover and/or selenium cell plate) removed at some point of the camera life, and not properly nor immediatly replaced with matching parts for the unmetered models.
On one image, there is something strange at the camera back black paint left trim (see attached pic and the red circle I added on it). Could look like a hole in the metal with something the shape of a pin protruding through the hole, from the inside of the camera ; but it's rather a scratch in the finish, probably.
Yep, I saw this and thought the same thing. It could be a hole with something protruding but I figured it's most likely a paint chip on the finish. I figured a replacement film door shouldn't be too hard to source or even some foil and electrical tape would suffice in making the camera light tight.
On another note, there seems to be some rust on the spring hinge that controls the hood. Photo attached. Is this potentially a sign of more rust somewhere else or best left alone?
Attachments
Highway 61
Revisited
I wouldn't feel concerned with rust on those springs. They rust quite easily. Mine do show quite the same. A tiny tab of light oil and an old toothbrush will help to remove most of this begnin surface rust. This is not the sign of malignant corrosion elsewhere.