clark_roberts Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 Hi all, I going to purchase a Rolleiflex 3.5F that does not have a meter. Here's my question if I have the right meter parts for it could you install the meter into it, does it have the leakages and wiring inside already just to hook it up to have a working metering like to other Rollei's that already have them. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodeo_joe1 Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 "if I have the right meter parts for it could you install the meter into it, does it have the leakages and wiring inside already just to hook it up to have a working metering like to other Rollei's that already have them." - No. A big fat no. Just buy a handheld meter. It'll be far more versatile and accurate than any built in meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clark_roberts Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 Did anyone open one up to see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCL Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 The answer is basically no, it isn't pre-wired, etc. Now to the question of whether or not a person could install one...probably a skilled engineer with micro components could, it wouldn't be anything like the ones in other models, either in size, accuracy, or looks. So if one ever wanted to sell the modified camera, it would be considered totally defaced and probably worthless junk. I think if you even had to ask the question, that you lack the skills to successfully accomplish the task and to not have the resulting body look like a Frankenstein looking Rolleiflex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_hutcherson Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 I'll also tag on and say that if you want a metered one, you're far better off just getting one. Chances are any meter "parts" you find are because the selenium cell in the meter is dead. Selenium cells were used in their day because there either weren't other options, or the ones that existed had their own issues. In particular, I find that the small in-camera ones tend to only really work outside(even if they even work at all and are accurate there) and those are conditions where I personally can often go meterless. I've been shooting the snot out of my Hasselblad the past week and getting decent negatives by eyeballing EVs and setting them-you can do the same thing on a 3.5F. Basically, I see the metered Rolleiflexes these days as having more collector value than anything. If you are collecting Rolleiflexes(I don't fault you-I collect them, although I mostly play in the earlier, more affordable ones) you need the metered one. Trying to make a metered one from a non-metered will kill its collector value in both categories, and the result is you get a meter that doesn't really offer you anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomspielman Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 I have a Yashica metered TLR. If you've seen the Yashicas, you'll realize that they borrowed a lot from the Rolleiflexes in terms of design. Given what I've seen inside the Yashica, I really doubt that it would be easy to add an original equipment meter to a non metered model. There's not a lot of wiring outside of the meter housing itself except the battery wire, but there are mechanical connections between the meter and both the aperture and shutter speed knobs. Not having a meter may seem like a huge drawback to a camera but to be honest I don't have a ton of faith in that Yashica meter anyway. So when in doubt, I compare it to a meter app I have on my phone or what the Sunny 16 rule would dictate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Seaman Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 From "The Rollei Way by L. A. Mannheim, P220: "This model [3.5F] is also obtainable without the exposure meter. This can be built in subsequently and then affords the full coupled meter operation". This suggests to me that the bodies were pre-wired for the metering - the Rolleiflex T certainly was, as here: Rolleiflex T Series TLR medium-format Rollei camera Manual However I totally agree with what others have said, that it would be futile to try to retrofit one now. The chances are the parts would be inaccurate or defective anyway. Much better to leave the camera as is and use a hand held meter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clark_roberts Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 I have a meter a Sekonic so no problem there, it's would be sad that if you have a Rollei that has no meter in it and that Rollei never offered a upgrade meter kit to just pop in and it works but hey it was a great deal 12/24 model needs a clean-up and that's it's I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clark_roberts Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 I received the camera on Saturday and while it needs a bit of love, (used a lot) I took off the cover of the focusing knob and it does indeed have the linkages for a meter to be installed, this is good news because I have all the parts if I want to put it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Seaman Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 That's interesting, and confirms what I thought. Well if you already have the parts, that's a somewhat different question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBu Lamar Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 I thought that the Rolleiflex 3.5f never has a meter so I don't think they would have any wiring in it. Just use a meter or just guess exposure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil_poulsen8 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 I've always preferred using a handheld meter, typically a spot meter, with medium format. I have an RB67 with a metered prism. I doubt that I would ever use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clark_roberts Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 I've been working on the 3.5F and dug a little deeper into the camera, I did find out that while there's the bracket and contact's for the meter there's no wiring that goes from the bracket to the cell housing if I want to put one in. What I have to do is wire it up first then attach the meter cell and the mechanism that goes into the focusing knob. I might try it later but for know I'll use my handy meter, so I don't have to take the baby apart, I already have done that and it's working smooth and did I say quiet, I'm outside taking pictures and when I click the shutter button I here nothing, a lot different than the Hasselblad's ka-plop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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