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user1035

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Since: May 20, 2004
Posts: 31



(Msg. 1) Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 2:18 pm
Post subject: Rolleicords?
Archived from groups: rec>photo>equipment>medium-format (more info?)
Hi,

I've been using a couple of medium format cameras for a little bit - a
Lubitel 1 and a Fuji rangefinder (GS645)...

I've been finding myself using the Lubitel a lot (even though it's
ostensibly a much poorer camera than the Fuji) because I like the TLR
layout and viewfinder and also because I like the 6x6 square shots.

Anyway, at some point soon I'd like to pick up a better 6x6 TLR and
I've spotted a few Rolleicords around for low prices on eBay. Often
fairly basic models with Triotars can be had cheaply...

Are these any good? Am I likely to see a significant improvement from
the Lubitel?

What would be a reasonable price for one (either in UKP or US $)?

Thanks,

Matt

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photodad2

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Since: Jun 30, 2004
Posts: 3



(Msg. 2) Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 2:18 pm
Post subject: Re: Rolleicords? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
in article 4h7td0tdipi8cu6f5d4lgjvmnh4ql97f91.RemoveThis@4ax.com, Matt McGrattan at
matthew.mcgrattan.RemoveThis@bnc.ox.ac.uk wrote on 6/27/04 6:18 AM:

 > Hi,
 >
 > I've been using a couple of medium format cameras for a little bit - a
 > Lubitel 1 and a Fuji rangefinder (GS645)...
 >
 > I've been finding myself using the Lubitel a lot (even though it's
 > ostensibly a much poorer camera than the Fuji) because I like the TLR
 > layout and viewfinder and also because I like the 6x6 square shots.
 >
 > Anyway, at some point soon I'd like to pick up a better 6x6 TLR and
 > I've spotted a few Rolleicords around for low prices on eBay. Often
 > fairly basic models with Triotars can be had cheaply...
 >
 > Are these any good? Am I likely to see a significant improvement from
 > the Lubitel?
 >
 > What would be a reasonable price for one (either in UKP or US $)?
 >
 > Thanks,
 >
 > Matt
 >
 >

I am not familiar with the Lubitel, but I use a Rolleicord III (c. 1953).
It has been a great camera for me. How many 50+ year old cameras do you
know that still work flawlessly?

One of my biggest photographic regrets is that I sold my Rolleicord Vb years
ago when I got out of the wedding business. It was an incredible camera,
with a sharper lens than my III, interchangeable hoods, and other
improvements that made it much easier to use.

If you can afford the $200-$300 dollars (US) that a Vb costs, that's your
best bet. But you can get a III like mine for less than $100 US, and it's a
good camera also.

Walt<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->

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mcsalty

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Since: Jun 03, 2004
Posts: 299



(Msg. 3) Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 2:18 pm
Post subject: Re: Rolleicords? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
"Matt McGrattan" <matthew.mcgrattan.TakeThisOut@bnc.ox.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:4h7td0tdipi8cu6f5d4lgjvmnh4ql97f91@4ax.com...
 > Hi,
 >
 > I've been using a couple of medium format cameras for a little bit - a
 > Lubitel 1 and a Fuji rangefinder (GS645)...
 >
 > I've been finding myself using the Lubitel a lot (even though it's
 > ostensibly a much poorer camera than the Fuji) because I like the TLR
 > layout and viewfinder and also because I like the 6x6 square shots.
 >
 > Anyway, at some point soon I'd like to pick up a better 6x6 TLR and
 > I've spotted a few Rolleicords around for low prices on eBay. Often
 > fairly basic models with Triotars can be had cheaply...
 >
 > Are these any good? Am I likely to see a significant improvement from
 > the Lubitel?
 >
 > What would be a reasonable price for one (either in UKP or US $)?

I only used a Rolleicord once, and that was to test it before I gave it to
someone as a gift. The negs were rather sharp, though falloff seemed
apparent at wider apertures.

I bought it (a rather old, tatty one- 1930s, perhaps) for the princely sum
of £30 from a local camera seller.

--
Martin Francis <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.sixbysix.co.uk" target="_blank">http://www.sixbysix.co.uk</a>
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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fotocord

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Since: Jun 03, 2004
Posts: 1869



(Msg. 4) Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 5:13 pm
Post subject: Re: Rolleicords? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Matt McGrattan wrote:

 > Hi,
 >
 > I've been using a couple of medium format cameras for a little bit - a
 > Lubitel 1 and a Fuji rangefinder (GS645)...
 >
 > I've been finding myself using the Lubitel a lot (even though it's
 > ostensibly a much poorer camera than the Fuji) because I like the TLR
 > layout and viewfinder and also because I like the 6x6 square shots.
 >
 > Anyway, at some point soon I'd like to pick up a better 6x6 TLR and
 > I've spotted a few Rolleicords around for low prices on eBay. Often
 > fairly basic models with Triotars can be had cheaply...
 >


I'd step up to at least a tessar/xenar model. Also the early ones had
uncoated lenses which need care to use without getting flare problems. I
have a cord V with a coated xenar lens and it's nice. The other problem
with those old rolleis is they have an extra dim focus screen which is all
but unuseable IMHO. I upgraded mine with a Maxwell screen but they aren't
cheap. For the price of a good screen installed into a cord, you can buy a
minoltacord which already has a brighter screen and a lens that is just as
good.

--

Stacey<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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davidjl

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Since: Jun 03, 2004
Posts: 1804



(Msg. 5) Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:11 pm
Post subject: Re: Rolleicords? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
"Matt McGrattan" <matthew.mcgrattan.RemoveThis@bnc.ox.ac.uk> wrote:
 >
 > Anyway, at some point soon I'd like to pick up a better 6x6 TLR and
 > I've spotted a few Rolleicords around for low prices on eBay. Often
 > fairly basic models with Triotars can be had cheaply...
 >
 > Are these any good? Am I likely to see a significant improvement from
 > the Lubitel?

I'd recommend holding out for a real Rolleiflex. Check out the bargain grade
'flexes at KEH.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.keh.com/hmpg/index.cfm" target="_blank">http://www.keh.com/hmpg/index.cfm</a>

That 2.8D Xenotar looks real nice...

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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user1045

External


Since: May 26, 2004
Posts: 102



(Msg. 6) Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 3:22 am
Post subject: Re: Rolleicords? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Stacey wrote:
 >... The other problem
 > with those old rolleis is they have an extra dim focus screen which is all
 > but unuseable IMHO. I upgraded mine with a Maxwell screen but they aren't
 > cheap. For the price of a good screen installed into a cord, you can buy a
 > minoltacord which already has a brighter screen and a lens that is just as
 > good.

A few days ago I was lucky enough to get a Rolleigrid to my old 'flex.
It's only a slab of plastic, but still the effect is pretty stunning.

-- Lassi<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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fotocord

External


Since: Jun 03, 2004
Posts: 1869



(Msg. 7) Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 3:22 am
Post subject: Re: Rolleicords? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Lassi Hippeläinen wrote:

 > Stacey wrote:
  >>... The other problem
  >> with those old rolleis is they have an extra dim focus screen which is
  >> all but unuseable IMHO. I upgraded mine with a Maxwell screen but they
  >> aren't cheap. For the price of a good screen installed into a cord, you
  >> can buy a minoltacord which already has a brighter screen and a lens that
  >> is just as good.
 >
 > A few days ago I was lucky enough to get a Rolleigrid to my old 'flex.
 > It's only a slab of plastic, but still the effect is pretty stunning.
 >
 >

Almost anything is better than the -ground piece of glass- those old
rollei's came with!
--

Stacey<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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kfritch

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Since: Feb 04, 2004
Posts: 45



(Msg. 8) Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 3:16 pm
Post subject: Re: Rolleicords? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
The viewing screens on the later Rolleis like the Vb and 3.5F weren't all that
bad.
Oddly enough, though, I've found that in really dim situations, the older
MX-EVS is best for me since I can fit a focuspot to it. These were made by
Kalart and seem only to fit the older 3.5 rolleflexes.
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