First Rollei

new2mf · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:55 am Post subject: First Rollei

I don't even have it yet, but purchased a Rolleiflex TLR at what I hope will end up being a bargain. I spotted it on ebay a couple days ago and won. From the serial number I believe it to be a 3.5E. It does have the Xenotar lens and appears to be in excellent functional and physical condition. No meter.

I've been wanting to try out MF for some time now. I originally intended to get a Yashicamat 124 or Mamiya C220 just to get my feet wet, but this one popped up at a comparable price. Please cross your fingers for me!

new2mf · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:01 am Post subject:

It came in today and it is a beauty for its age. There's no drag in the shutter at low speeds and the lenses are in great shape. It did turn out to have a meter, which does seem to respond to light. Physically it's very nice with only a couple spots of wear to speak about....a corner of the pop-up viewer fram looks like it was ground flat somehow. There's also some dry spotty brown (rust?) residue on the leather surfacing in certain spots. Other than that, a bit dusty.

I'm pleased, and will be running a test roll very soon. I'll likely send it off for CLA in the near future.

sjperry · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:22 am Post subject:

If the shutter is working ok at low speeds, I personally wouldn't go to the expense of a CLA until it needs it. In fact quite often using the shutter on a regular basis gets it working well and it may well work for decades without need of a CLA. Of course, if you want to be as sure as possible that you won't have a shutter hang up just when you're getting a great shot, then I guess the CLA could be worthwhile. Enjoy your new Rollei!