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Post by yashica1943 on Dec 2, 2015 5:38:47 GMT -5
I mentioned elsewhere that I had bought a Voigtlander Color-Skoparon 28mm with a QBM mount off an ebay seller who hadn't bothered to describe it properly. So I then needed a camera to mount it on. Last Sunday, on ebay, I was trying to choose between three Rolleiflex SL 35 - two were Singapore built and this one was German and appeared to be in better condition than the first black SL35E that was closing at 8 pm. I watched that one and the bidding went right past the figure I was prepared to pay, more than double in fact. And that one was not pristine with scuffs on the base and a RUSTY screw! This made me quite sure that the second German made Rollei was going to go astronomical 40 minutes later so I sniped it at the last second with the absolute top amount that I thought was nearly 'sensible'. I bought this one at £16 less than the Singapore version, which I thought was a good buy because the German built ones are said to be more reliable. The second SL35 M went for a more sensible £34 nine minutes later.. The camera arrived today, it is absolutely immaculate, the only fault that I can see at the moment is that the film wind lever is a bit stiff. It has a very clean f 1.8 Planar lens. I assume that the lack of hotshoe might have counted against it? Or the lack of a black finish?
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Post by camfiend on Dec 2, 2015 22:24:24 GMT -5
I've always prefered the use of a coaxial plug in flash socket anyhow so that wouldn't be a problem for me... nice looking camera but know little about the Rolleiflex and have never had the pleasure of using one Bob
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hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
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Post by hansz on Dec 3, 2015 8:25:13 GMT -5
People liked the clean finish of the top plate. German manufactured ones are a bit more expensive (less cheap) these days. The early planars are very competent lenses; the SL35 is also a good platform for the distagons and sonnars of this world (of course, only the "Lens made in West Germany" ones...) In my collection I have SL35, SL35M, SL35ME and the 35E. The earliest (SL35) and the latest (SL35E) I like best. Interesting lineage btw, for the Rolleiflex SLR (both Rollei and Zeiss Ikon), read Claus Prochnov about it... Hans
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Post by yashica1943 on Dec 3, 2015 9:37:18 GMT -5
Hansz, are the lever winds of your SL 35's very stiff to operate? When my camera was delivered it was very cold, the lever was quite hard to use. As it warmed to room temperature it was slightly easier. I am concerned that with a film in, it might strain the workings. There is a camera mechanic living nearby, I wondered if I should get him to open it up?
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hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
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Post by hansz on Dec 3, 2015 17:14:39 GMT -5
My SL35's are very easy to operate - as should be, no stiffness here. Like you said, have the SL 35 fixed, from the picture, you have a very pristine example! My Sl 35, also German, is a bit worn, and its Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 2.0 lens was quite heavily used. Here it is with a planar lens (Made by Rollei, though) IMG_5384 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Maybe Stephen has some suggestions?
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Post by belgiumreporter on Dec 3, 2015 18:08:10 GMT -5
This is my rolleiflex SL 35 E I think it is a beautifull designed camera wich has a unique look and feel to it. Shutterspeed adjustment isn't as smooth as i would like it to be but everything else works fine. I can recall a friend of mine used to own a SL35 and he broke the transport shaft because he'd thought the film transport went " a little " stiff. Over the years i have come across several SL 35 with the same problem so i guess it's a weak point or a design flaw of the sl35. The Sl 35 of my friend was a Singapurian made don't know if the same problem exists with the german made ones.I don't want to bash on rollei but i must add i had trouble with just about every rollei i've own(ned) SLX, Rolleicord, Rolleiflex 2,8F, 35se,s35...
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hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
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Post by hansz on Dec 4, 2015 3:54:00 GMT -5
I agree with Francois that Rolleis are not always perfectly working... Here is another example: IMG_0958 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Maybe we should create a thread about the working solidity of cameras...
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Dec 4, 2015 12:56:27 GMT -5
I never owned one, but they had a reputation in the trade for developing problems with the film transport and internal linkages. Stephen.
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Post by Rachel on Dec 4, 2015 16:36:21 GMT -5
I have one but it has some shutter capping problems at higher shutter speeds. I've never bothered to do anything about it. I've never had any problems with their TLR cameras.
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Post by yashica1943 on Dec 6, 2015 11:42:15 GMT -5
I have just bought a 'spares or repairs' Rolleiflex SL35 in not too bad cosmetic condition. It apparently has a stuck mirror. I am going to take the top cover off, and prepared to delve further, see what goes on inside. If I can learn something I will be quite happy. If I get it working to any level mechanically - it will be a bonus. In any case I will have a supply of spare parts - for £3.20 I do not have to worry.
I have looked on YouTube but couldn't find anything about this camera. I know that books on the subject are available, but they are too expensive for me.
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
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Post by Stephen on Dec 6, 2015 14:50:24 GMT -5
A good start on the Rollie may be the bottom plate, most reflexes cock and drive the mirror from the bottom and side of the mirror box. I am not familiar with the internals of these, but you can't go far wrong at the price! Have a look at the shutter, it may be a shutter tape, they are cloth shutters, has come adrift, and preventing completion of the shutter cycle.
Stephen.
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Post by yashica1943 on Dec 7, 2015 5:16:36 GMT -5
Thank you Stephen. The camera has arrived, it is quite good cosmetically, but the shutter, wind-on and mirror are all out of synch. Will have a look inside later.
Incidentally, whilst I was looking on ebay a grey (gray!) Baby Rolleiflex 4 x 4 in what looked like good condition appeared on the screen as a buy-it-now. I thought 'that looks cheap'. As I owned one in about 1963-1965 I contemplated it, then somebody bought it, all within about 5 minutes!
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
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Post by Stephen on Dec 7, 2015 18:41:47 GMT -5
The baby Rollei were always a premium item, I am not surprised it got snapped up.
Stephen.
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Post by yashica1943 on Dec 8, 2015 11:35:03 GMT -5
I took the bottom cover of the 'spare' SL35 off, nothing appeared to be amiss, but due to the layers of interlocking parts inside I am not going to take anything more apart. The shutter button was sticking down, which prevented anything from happening. So, what I did was to give a very short squirt of contact cleaner down the body, close to the hinge end. The result was that the shutter, lever wind and mirror started to work in sequence, but slowly. I left the bottom plate off for a few minutes for the cleaner to evaporate and put the bottom plate back on. The shutter then jammed open with the mirror up preventing any more testing. So I shall just leave it alone.
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
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Post by Stephen on Dec 8, 2015 16:15:39 GMT -5
Sounds like dried up grease, dirt, or even sandy grit in the works, more cleaner,(lighter petrol is OK), applied fairly carefully and mopped up, will do the trick, it can't be far off working. Stephen.
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