Sigh. ANOTHER Rolleiflex...

[Scott]

Well, after pondering the whole portable camera thing today, I impulse-sniped my way into yet another Rolleiflex.  It's dirty and will likely need some work (and a new covering at a minimum), but the seller says everything is operational (except a stuttering self timer).  Now, the seller listed it as a 3.5F, and the picture was of a late Automat.  Regardless, with the way prices on these things are skyrocketing, I feel good for what I paid.

Now, the Yashica-Mat is going to be my all-time favorite TLR, but something keeps drawing me back to Rolleis.  They're fun to work on, feel good to use, and (generally) offer stellar images.  So, yet again, I have a Rolleiflex on its way here.  Someone stop me.

[radiophoto]

Mama, slap thet boy!

[Mike Kovacs]

Try your local methadone clinic. Its the only thing that worked for my Rollei addiction LOL

[Scott]

I knew I could count on you guys!  We should start a support group.  Or have we already?

Here 'tis, in its pre-rehab condition


I am hopeful.

[Scott]

Well, there you go.  Has the Xenar, which should be the equivalent of another manufacturer's Tessar.  Disappointing, though.  The seller says he'll refund my money if I don't want the Xenar - for $88, whatchoo guys think?

[radiophoto]

Tell the seller to wait for your decision until you can run a test roll thru it.  Let your images decide for you.

[Mike Kovacs]

Are you kidding? The Schneider lenses are great! My Xenotar is sharper than my Planar.

Camera looks pretty rough. Hope that isn't water damage, I see signs of corrosion.

PS the triangle on the lower lens is Schneider's code for coating. Triangle is good boys

[wlewisiii]

Only Xenar I ever had was a very good lens. For the price you got it at I'd keep it.

[Scott]

I replied that, so long as there are no "cleaning marks"/scratches/fungus I'd be okay with it.  Haven't heard back yet.

Pete, there's less than no chance that he'll ship it then take it back if I'm not happy with the images.  Very basic seller - cancel now or take what you get.  I'm okay with ugly; bad glass is another thing.

[Scott]

BTW, good to know about the coating, Mike.  Let's hope the lens is good...

[taulen]

Nice, looks like a cool little project, hope it isnt too bad

[joho35mm]

Looks like you have an Automat X there, one of the first postwar Automats (1949-1950). I recently got the exact same camera as a gift from a family friend, except mine has a Jena Tessar, and was one of the dirtiest, most battle-worn cameras I've ever seen. Evidently the family friend's father bought the camera in Vietnam in 1949 or 1950, after fleeing to the country following the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, and subsequently used it as his one and only camera for the rest of his life. Seems like a lot of these Automats were very well cherished (and heavily used), by the examples I've seen. I'm sending mine to Mark Hansen to have CLA'd in a week or two.

At any rate, it's a superb camera, and having tried several different Rolleis, I like the Automat X the best for its combination of light weight, sturdiness, coated lenses, and no-nonsense operation. I hope you enjoy yours!

Oh - and by the way - most Automat X's I've seen have uncoated viewing lenses; yours has a coated one, which is a nice plus, provided the glass is in good shape.

[Scott]

C'mon, Joseph - what's the fun in sending it out for a CLA?

Heard back from the seller, who claims the glass is clear and scratch-free.  Looks like I have a new Rollei!

[Scott]

Well, again putting the cart afore the horse, I've been trolling RB67 screens to replace the notoriously dim Rollei screen, and old beater Polaroids for new front-surface mirrors.   If the screen is somehow a Beattie or something, I can resell the RB screen.  The Polaroid will be useful sometime.  But I'd like to have this camera up and running in short order, so the parts'll be coming in quick. 

I love this part!

[Mike Kovacs]

You'll find the automat a joy to work on if you haven't done one before. What's really nice is the self timer is a separate unit attached to the inside of the front standard cover.

Very easy to get to.

If you have to pull the shutter out for a detailed cleaning you're in for a little more fun getting all the linkages back together the right way. But nothing like a 2.8F

If you pull the lens standard off the camera to deal with stiff focus cams etc make absolutely sure you know which shims go where. Its very difficult to get it parallel and it has to be perfect or you will see one or more unsharp corners in your photos.

Saves time on the lens standard cover too to make a good note of the shims. But that can be fit by trial/error unlike the lens standard itself.