Durability of Rolleiflex 2.8F

[regit]

I'm a long time 35mm user whom recently decided to venture into MF. Having bought into a Hassy system and recently, a Rolleiflex 2.8F.

I'm not so concern about rough-handling the hassy... but the Rolleiflex?!?! :think:

It seems to be quite fragile mainly because it feels complicated, with its coupled meter and matched/aligned lenses pair, etc. Seems like a slight knock or rattling may result in some kind of mis-alignment.

How durable is a Rolleiflex? I don't really baby my camera (esp when travelling), and I would like to know the limits of abuse (perhaps a wrong choice of words, but you get what I meant).

Cheers!

 

[Ian]

I'm a long time 35mm user whom recently decided to venture into MF. Having bought into a Hassy system and recently, a Rolleiflex 2.8F.

I'm not so concern about rough-handling the hassy... but the Rolleiflex?!?! :think:

It seems to be quite fragile mainly because it feels complicated, with its coupled meter and matched/aligned lenses pair, etc. Seems like a slight knock or rattling may result in some kind of mis-alignment.

How durable is a Rolleiflex? I don't really baby my camera (esp when travelling), and I would like to know the limits of abuse (perhaps a wrong choice of words, but you get what I meant).

Cheers!

They will take a moderate amount of abuse, but any TLR is more prone to damage than an SLR. With that said photographers from the 50s through 70s used Rolleiflex TLR's in times when travel was a hell of a lot rougher than today and they survived okay.

 

[regit]

They will take a moderate amount of abuse, but any TLR is more prone to damage than an SLR. With that said photographers from the 50s through 70s used Rolleiflex TLR's in times when travel was a hell of a lot rougher than today and they survived okay.

Thanks for the input Ian :thumbsup:

Can't tell you how much I'm enjoying the Rolleiflex. It is to me, what a Leica is to 35mm, quiet and light. I can take pictures of my 4-months old without waking him up :bsmilie:

 

[Ian]

Thanks for the input Ian :thumbsup:

Can't tell you how much I'm enjoying the Rolleiflex. It is to me, what a Leica is to 35mm, quiet and light. I can take pictures of my 4-months old without waking him up :bsmilie:

Indeed, the leaf shutters are so quiet, no mirror slap and flash synch at all speeds. If travelling with it, it's worth making a custom carrier for it so the leather case can be encased in padding with a waterproof nylon cover. Quite often a small 6 can drink cooler can be modified to suit the job, as long as you know someone who can sew.

 

[hifinut]

just to add. I recently took out my dad's Rolleiflex 3.5F. it's been in storage on and off for more than 10 years, together with some other gear. the other stuff will need some serious CLA, but the Rolleiflex was working perfectly mechanically. shot one roll last sunday to test out, will be developing it tomorrow. I can let you guys know the outcome if you like.

but in short, I find the Rolleiflex to be seriously tough mechanically. the only thing that failed on mine (after years of storage) is the built-in metering, but that's kinda expected for a camera that's older than me!! I think it's about more than 40 years old now.

 

[paapoopa]

was wondering if thats how most TLRs user do when bringing their TLRs for travel.

Just wanted to hear more opinions on how you protects your TLRs when you bringing it overseas, as thats what I am going bring for my coming trip.
I was actually planning to just put it in my daypack naked (without the leather case) before I came across this thread.

Indeed, the leaf shutters are so quiet, no mirror slap and flash synch at all speeds. If travelling with it, it's worth making a custom carrier for it so the leather case can be encased in padding with a waterproof nylon cover. Quite often a small 6 can drink cooler can be modified to suit the job, as long as you know someone who can sew.

 

[enivre]

was wondering if thats how most TLRs user do when bringing their TLRs for travel.

Just wanted to hear more opinions on how you protects your TLRs when you bringing it overseas, as thats what I am going bring for my coming trip.
I was actually planning to just put it in my daypack naked (without the leather case) before I came across this thread.

Huh? I just throw it in the camera bag like any other camera. Bare camera, no leather case.

Of course mine's a Yashica 124G, not the pricier Rollei, so there's no real need to baby it. But then again, I'll do the same even with a rollei.

I think they are much sturdier than you think. ;p

 

[regit]

just to add. I recently took out my dad's Rolleiflex 3.5F. it's been in storage on and off for more than 10 years, together with some other gear. the other stuff will need some serious CLA, but the Rolleiflex was working perfectly mechanically. shot one roll last sunday to test out, will be developing it tomorrow. I can let you guys know the outcome if you like.

but in short, I find the Rolleiflex to be seriously tough mechanically. the only thing that failed on mine (after years of storage) is the built-in metering, but that's kinda expected for a camera that's older than me!! I think it's about more than 40 years old now.

Would be most interested in the results Do post them.

 

[regit]

Indeed, the leaf shutters are so quiet, no mirror slap and flash synch at all speeds. If travelling with it, it's worth making a custom carrier for it so the leather case can be encased in padding with a waterproof nylon cover. Quite often a small 6 can drink cooler can be modified to suit the job, as long as you know someone who can sew.

Due to space constraint, I'll probably skip the case. I've ordered one of those thick "wet-suit" wrapping and into the camera bag wrapped. Hope this would be good enough :think:

 

[chiif]

I would definitely suggest a strap for your rolleiflex if u decide to bring him for a trip. Understand that the 2.8 & the 3.5f require some kind of crocodile clip strap, u can actually improvise with a normal ring.

Spare parts for the rolleiflex is very hard to come by. Mine has been in the workshop for one and a half years and still couldn't find the part to revive him...

 

[regit]

I would definitely suggest a strap for your rolleiflex if u decide to bring him for a trip. Understand that the 2.8 & the 3.5f require some kind of crocodile clip strap, u can actually improvise with a normal ring.

Spare parts for the rolleiflex is very hard to come by. Mine has been in the workshop for one and a half years and still couldn't find the part to revive him...

Sorry to hear about your camera being stuck in the shop :cry: Hope it will be back in working order soon.

As for the strap, I got one from Luigi (Leicatime), the hybrid ones with no end rings. Works well reasonably priced :thumbsup:

 

[hifinut]

Would be most interested in the results Do post them.

this is one of the shots that I felt was better among those I shot last sunday. I have yet to scan the negatives, so this is the scanned copy from the lab. I imported the images into LR3 Beta for anti-clockwise rotation, and resizing for net upload. no other post processing was done.

http://gallery.clubsnap.com/data/500/medium/D1000004-20091119.jpg

overall, I am very happy with this 40+ year old camera. any poor performance is probably due to my poor shooting skills not with the camera!

yea... now can play with my TLR!!!:lovegrin:

 

[regit]

this is one of the shots that I felt was better among those I shot last sunday. I have yet to scan the negatives, so this is the scanned copy from the lab. I imported the images into LR3 Beta for anti-clockwise rotation, and resizing for net upload. no other post processing was done.

http://gallery.clubsnap.com/data/500/medium/D1000004-20091119.jpg

overall, I am very happy with this 40+ year old camera. any poor performance is probably due to my poor shooting skills not with the camera!

yea... now can play with my TLR!!!:lovegrin:

Nice Did you use the build-in meter for the shot?

 

[Ian]

Due to space constraint, I'll probably skip the case. I've ordered one of those thick "wet-suit" wrapping and into the camera bag wrapped. Hope this would be good enough :think:

That will be more than adequate!

 

[hifinut]

Nice Did you use the build-in meter for the shot?

Hi regit, no i didn't use the built-in meter cause I think it's dead after all these years. so I took the test shots by pure guesswork using the f/16 rule.

 

[regit]

Hi regit, no i didn't use the built-in meter cause I think it's dead after all these years. so I took the test shots by pure guesswork using the f/16 rule.

Cool If I were to guess exposure, I think the result will be quite different :bsmilie: