After a few days of colour film I now come back to a roll of black and white, because I really wanted to post some pictures from my Rollei. At the moment my Rollei is definitely my favourite camera. There is just something special about looking down onto that nice big focussing screen, even though mine is a little dark. It’s a shame that it’s not really the best camera to be shooting in the rain, so at the moment I don’t get to use it as often as I want with that miserable weather out there.
TLRs really are something special. One day I would love to also get to shoot one of these little baby TLRs that produce 4×4 format on 127 film instead of 6×6 on 120. And it definitely doesn’t have to be a Rollei to be nice either. Yashicas, Mamiyas, Flexarets, Seagulls, they are all nice cameras. I have to admit that every now and then I get stuck on ebay, looking at TLRs, especially baby Rolleis and Mamiya C220, even though I don’t even plan on buying another one. It’s just so much fun to look at these beautiful cameras! It’s great when cameras are photogenic themselves!
However, these days I’m rather too busy to be spending much time on ebay. Between working on my PhD proposal, playing around with C41 development, scanning, taking pictures and writing I sometimes don’t even get enough time to edit my pictures. It seems that 24 hours just aren’t enough for everything I want to do!
Oh well, I guess I have to take it one day at a time and hopefully things get done eventually. Today for example I shot two rolls, developed 2 rolls (not the same ones), edited one roll and spent the entire morning reading and taking notes. Tomorrow I actually hope for some quality time spent with my Rollei, although it will depend on the weather. Did I mention that I don’t like winter at all?
All pictures taken with: Rolleicord V, Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 75mm f/3.5.
Rollei RPX 400 stand-developed in Caffenol-CL, 60min.
© Lilly Schwartz 2014
I met this lovely cat while I was going up the hill with my Rollei back then when we still saw the sun occasionally. The girl who was out on a walk with this lovely creature kindly allowed me to take a picture.
© Lilly Schwartz 2014
I just can’t resist such shots.
© Lilly Schwartz 2014
I also take this picture every time I walk up this hill (which doesn’t happen very often, because I’m lazy).
© Lilly Schwartz 2014
I think I finally figured that shot out. It only works in square format!
© Lilly Schwartz 2014
No idea what it was meant to say.
© Lilly Schwartz 2014
Ah, sadly I don’t have a yellow filter for my Rollei. Once I get one I need to re-take the shot so that the upper right corner doesn’t end up so white.
© Lilly Schwartz 2014
Same goes for this shot. I really like it, but it would be even nicer with a yellow filter. This was pretty much taken against the sun. The Rollei definitely has some nice glass on it and I guess the lens hood helped. By the way I have a square original lens hood, because that’s just more photogenic. The idea of a round lens hood on a Rollei just doesn’t sit right with me!
Love the cat photo!
The Maxwell Screens, though pricey, make the viewing area very bright. (Now if I can just figure out why my Rollei shots don’t feel sharp!)
The cheaper Rollei lenshoods, made in India, will not allow use of a filter since they use the inner, rather than the outer bayonet. Go original!
Thanks!
I was thinking of getting one of those replacement screens but then having stuff shipped from the US is always such a hassle. I’ll get one eventually. By the way, if you have exchanged your screen it might be that the alignment of your focussing screen now doesn’t fit with the lens anymore. Another reason why I was hesitant.
And yes, I’m very happy with my original lenshood! Didn’t want one of those cheaper modern ones.
I think the replacement screens are worth it. I am going to have the focus alignment re-checked by someone who has an optical bench. Lastly, i had a brand-x screen ($36) put in a Yashica D and that’s definitely off since the split image does not align correctly at infinity and the camera focused spot-on before the screen was switched out!
Yes, definitely worth it. I saw one on a friend’s Rollei and it was much brighter. I will definitely replace it at some point and then have it CLAd too. The long times are also a bit slow in mine.
I highly recommend Harry Fleenor for this kind of work. He’s pricey, but most likely the best. http://rolleirepairs.com It’s about the cost of buying another good used camera if you get the new screen and a true CLA but your camera will be better than it was when new.
I think he’s too far away for me. There is a Rollei specialist near Düsseldorf, who’s been at it for many many years. He’s supposed to be really good and not so pricey.
If the tech in Dusseldorf is good, please post! At this point, the whole world is fair game. Tbe Maxwell or Beattie screens are about $270 US, that seems to be the going price. I’ve used cheaper ones in a Yashica recently, but either the screen or the install was not up to par even though it was done by a very good tech, Vermont Camera Works (highly recommend). Lastly, the 4×4’s are cute, and you can make a 127 film cutter using a filed cigar cutter, apparently, but the viewing screens too are notoriously dim and require serious modification to upgrade. Probably the Rolleicord is a better choice.
Love the Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar lens, Like the cat but favorite for me is the winding road.I do wish I had your faith in the Caffenol mix .
Yes, that Xenar really is wonderful! I originally wanted to go for a Flex with my Planar, but the cord is much lighter and the Xenar is really a great lens too! Not quite as sharp wide open, but I rarely shoot wide open anyway.
You should just overcome your fears and try that Caffenol mix. I’m really getting the best results with it lately. Especially RPX 400 / Kentmere 400 is pure magic with it 🙂 Go for it!!!