Rolleiflex

kewri

kewri

Messages
104
Name
Kate
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi everyone,

I've just got my hands on a Rolleiflex camera, from searching online I believe it's a 1950s 3.5 X Synch. Although it's fully working, the viewfinder is a little on the dull side and the leatherette on the crank side of the camera is cracking and flaking off. I think it would benefit from a good clean inside and out, does anyone have any advice or recommendations for a good place I could get it serviced (UK based) that isn't going to cost more than the value of the camera?

Thanks,

Kate
 
Hi Kate,

Welcome to the best bit of the forum. For all things Rolleiflex Brian Mickelboro always gets good reviews on here.
 
kewri said:
Hi everyone,

I've just got my hands on a Rolleiflex camera, from searching online I believe it's a 1950s 3.5 X Synch.
Click to expand...

I would imagine the X sync just refers to the flash synchronisation capability, which most—if not all—post-war Rolleiflex TLR models would have had. Is the taking lens (the bottom one) a tessar/xenar lens or a planar/xenotar lens?

Regardless of the model, Brian Mickleboro is probably the first guy that I would turn to for repair/service, as @RaglanSurf has already mentioned. I have also used Miles Whitehead to repair some of my medium format cameras, including TLRs, as well.
 
Brians the man for the Rolleiflex repairs, he's done a couple of mine and they have both been excellent jobs.
If you fancy replacing tge leather then there are two places I would recommend and when I get home I'll look them up as my mind has gone blank.... again.
Welcome to f and c Kate.
 
Check the serial number at the Rolleiclub web site: http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/ to find out which version you have. And whatever it is, it's a Rolleiflex, so pretty much guaranteed to be wonderful.

Yes, I'm extremely biased.

Brian has serviced and repaired two Rollei's for me and did a great job both times. Highly recommended.

I fitted a Rick Oleson screen in my Rolleicord a few month's back (http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-175.html) and it's definitely brighter and possibly a little easier to focus. They are not mega-expensive, but not cheap after you have paid VAT and import duty. Worth doing if you intend to keep the camera, and it will add a little value if and when you sell.
 
skysh4rk said:
I would imagine the X sync just refers to the flash synchronisation capability, which most—if not all—post-war Rolleiflex TLR models would have had. Is the taking lens (the bottom one) a tessar/xenar lens or a planar/xenotar lens?

Regardless of the model, Brian Mickleboro is probably the first guy that I would turn to for repair/service, as @RaglanSurf has already mentioned. I have also used Miles Whitehead to repair some of my medium format cameras, including TLRs, as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks RJ, the lens is a Tessar 75mm.

FujiLove said:
Check the serial number at the Rolleiclub web site: http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/ to find out which version you have. And whatever it is, it's a Rolleiflex, so pretty much guaranteed to be wonderful.

Yes, I'm extremely biased.

Brian has serviced and repaired two Rollei's for me and did a great job both times. Highly recommended.

I fitted a Rick Oleson screen in my Rolleicord a few month's back (http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-175.html) and it's definitely brighter and possibly a little easier to focus. They are not mega-expensive, but not cheap after you have paid VAT and import duty. Worth doing if you intend to keep the camera, and it will add a little value if and when you sell.
Click to expand...

Thanks J, after further examination I'm pretty sure it's a Rolleiflex Automat Type 3 ("X"). It's not the super-collectible one (which I'll hopefully get my hands on one day!) but it's a good starting point and I've always wanted a Rollei after seeing the images they produce and can't wait to have a play around with this one. Hopefully I'll get some good results with it!
 
Should have asked this earlier, anyone got any current contact details for Brian please?
 
The Rolleiflex to look out for is the K4b automat 1956 with numbers after 1700,000 It was my second Rollei from new,and the Tessar lens, fitted in that model, was noted for being exceptional compared to those that preceeded it.
it is easy to distinguish, as the inter lock between the shutter and aperture wheel can be disengaged by pressing and turning the centre button, which has a cross line on it. Previous ones had a circle on them.
 
Rolleiflex service = Brian Mickleboro

Excellent work, pleasant chap, very reasonable prices.

Shooting with a Rolleiflex, especially one that is serviced (and with a clean screen), is a real joy.
 
I've got an old automat. They're lovely. My leatherette is peeling a bit too. It's part of the charm really.

I've just had the focussing screen replaced with an olsen one and I also got a new mirror as the old one was in a poor state. Both made for a dull view finder. It's much brighter now.
 
srichards said:
I've got an old automat. They're lovely. My leatherette is peeling a bit too. It's part of the charm really.

I've just had the focussing screen replaced with an olsen one and I also got a new mirror as the old one was in a poor state. Both made for a dull view finder. It's much brighter now.
Click to expand...

How have you found the Olsen screen? I thought it was brighter, but far more difficult to focus. I just stick to the standard Rolleiflex screens nowadays.
 
skysh4rk said:
How have you found the Olsen screen? I thought it was brighter, but far more difficult to focus. I just stick to the standard Rolleiflex screens nowadays.
Click to expand...

I'll let you know once I've run a film through it (y) Did you get the one with the fresnel area or the plain one? There's also the fold down magnifier to help. I may find I need that more perhaps?
 
I have an Olsen screen in my Rolleicord.

I do find it difficult to focus. I have to use the magnifier and peer very carefully.

Is there any chance of getting hold of an original Rollei screen?
 
simon ess said:
I have an Olsen screen in my Rolleicord.

I do find it difficult to focus. I have to use the magnifier and peer very carefully.

Is there any chance of getting hold of an original Rollei screen?
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, how old is your Oleson screen? The new ones are apparently cut down RZ67 screens and easy to focus. I got mine about a year ago and like it, but no idea which one it is (it's got a large circle of prisms in the middle).
 
simon ess said:
It's about year old.

It has a split prism circle thing.

The split is at 45 deg.
Click to expand...

I think that makes it one of the older ones. Going off a couple of other threads I read, the new ones should be a little brighter and easier to focus. Although I find that brightness and ease of focus can often be inversely related, in that bright screens don't 'snap'.
 
srichards said:
I'll let you know once I've run a film through it (y) Did you get the one with the fresnel area or the plain one? There's also the fold down magnifier to help. I may find I need that more perhaps?
Click to expand...

FujiLove said:
Out of curiosity, how old is your Oleson screen? The new ones are apparently cut down RZ67 screens and easy to focus. I got mine about a year ago and like it, but no idea which one it is (it's got a large circle of prisms in the middle).
Click to expand...

Hmmm... I hadn't realised that his screens had changed, but I see the price has gone up nearly 150% from when I last looked and it now features a microprism centre, so this seems likely. I presume that I had the old one, as I had the 45-degree split.

Mamiya screens are nice, if that is what he is now using, although it's a shame that he is using the microprism model, as I find microprisms to be the least useful of available focusing aids. I have a plain RZ67 screen I've been threatening to install in one of my TLRs for a couple of years now.

Given the costs of the current Oleson screen, I'd argue that it'd be better for most people to just find a cheap RB67/RZ67 screen online and then pay either Brian or Miles to instal it. The price probably wouldn't be much different to buying the Oleson and you'd know that the screen is properly positioned, as this is easy to misalign in most Rolleiflexes, save for the late E and F models. In my mind it's pretty pointless to get a new screen for better focusing and composition if it's then not going to be properly calibrated.
 
skysh4rk said:
Given the costs of the current Oleson screen, I'd argue that it'd be better for most people to just find a cheap RB67/RZ67 screen online and then pay either Brian or Miles to instal it. The price probably wouldn't be much different to buying the Oleson and you'd know that the screen is properly positioned, as this is easy to misalign in most Rolleiflexes, save for the late E and F models. In my mind it's pretty pointless to get a new screen for better focusing and composition if it's then not going to be properly calibrated.
Click to expand...

Agreed. They are fairly easy to install in the later Rolleicords too because they have the removable hoods and drop in screens. Nevertheless, I had Brian check over my handiwork as it was going for a service anyway.

And of course, his service was as good as always.
 
FujiLove said:
Out of curiosity, how old is your Oleson screen? The new ones are apparently cut down RZ67 screens and easy to focus. I got mine about a year ago and like it, but no idea which one it is (it's got a large circle of prisms in the middle).
Click to expand...

This is what Brian has suggested I do, and he's going to cut it to size and fit it. He's been fantastic so far, he's incredibly helpful and his prices are fantastic. I know I've not sent the camera off yet but with the reviews everyone else gives him I'm not concerned that the service he'll provide will be anything less than excellent. As a price reference for anyone considering using him, I emailed several London and UK based camera repair shops, all offering services by 'Rollei specialists', and most of them refused to give me a price before they looked at it (which I knew would just drag me into having to pay them). I know the camera works fine, I just want it cleaning and a new screen but they wouldn't listen to me. One company in SoHo finally gave me a rough quote, saying that for a basic service it would cost almost £350 not including VAT (!) - roughly three times the price I paid for the camera itself. With Brian, I'm looking at around £80-100 including the screen purchase, fitting it, and he's going to service the camera while he's at it.
 
kewri said:
This is what Brian has suggested I do, and he's going to cut it to size and fit it. He's been fantastic so far, he's incredibly helpful and his prices are fantastic. I know I've not sent the camera off yet but with the reviews everyone else gives him I'm not concerned that the service he'll provide will be anything less than excellent. As a price reference for anyone considering using him, I emailed several London and UK based camera repair shops, all offering services by 'Rollei specialists', and most of them refused to give me a price before they looked at it (which I knew would just drag me into having to pay them). I know the camera works fine, I just want it cleaning and a new screen but they wouldn't listen to me. One company in SoHo finally gave me a rough quote, saying that for a basic service it would cost almost £350 not including VAT (!) - roughly three times the price I paid for the camera itself. With Brian, I'm looking at around £80-100 including the screen purchase, fitting it, and he's going to service the camera while he's at it.
Click to expand...

Don't tell him that, or he'll be putting his price up ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top