Dreams do come true

I was at a local thrift store Saturday and found a Rolleiflex 2.8c in excellent condition. I have had tlr's in the past and currently have a Yashicamt 124g, but have never seen a Rolleiflex in person. It cost more than I have ever spent on a used camera, but I had to get it. The only thing I could find that isn't perfect on it is the focusing screen. I am thinking of selling the 124G to pay for a cla on the Rollei. Could the existing focusing screen be made brighter by cleaning, or would it be more sensible to replace the screen? Any suggestions from current or former Rolleiflex users would be appreciated.

 

 

Nice camera, congratulations. A Rollei-savvy member will arrive soon.

Congrats! May it bring you pleasure!

Congrats on your find; hope you got a lens cap with it.

 

A used 2.8C was my first serious camera, bought in the late 1960s, then used plenty for almost everything - weddings, newspaper stringer work, etc. They've always been fairly dim, especially so around the sides. If the sides are what really bother you it might be worth looking for a Rolleigrid, a drop-in Fresnel screen; I used one about 90% of the time. It has a clear circle near the center for focusing, then the edges are bright enough for framing. (Your camera should have the clips to hold it in place; two little wire clips at the rear of the gg will move in and out when you press button at the rear of the viewing hood.) As an alternative you might want to try getting one of those little Fresnel lenses used as reading aids, then cut it to size.

 

As a note, something you may not be aware of is the small focusing aid when using the sports finder - lower your eye slightly from the sports finder peephole and you'll be looking through a magnifier at a central spot on the gg, allowing you to critically focus before looking back through the sports finder. (To use the sports finder, raise the normal magnifier then push the front center of the hood in until it locks in place; to release it, gently tap against the top front of the hood.) I did the great majority of my paid work through the sports finder; if you can be stopped down to f/8 or so the dof will generally be good enough for most purposes.

Congrats on your find! Luck was with you: its highly unusual these days for anyone to "dispose" of a Rolleiflex via thrift store, much less one in such nice condition. Screen choice is a controversial topic, there are many many threads discussing this. There were more screen sources ten years ago than there are now, but the range of types is still roughly the same: about four overall.

 

Some choose to stay with the original screen, despite its dimness. This is especially popular with those fortunate enough to acquire a Rolleiflex in perfect working condition at a bargain price (below $500). If you expect to mostly shoot outdoors in daylight, it is workable, with time you might train yourself to use it successfully in lower-light situations. Adding a fresnel accessory overlay per Bill C's suggestion might make you more comfortable.

 

Most owners who decide to send their "new" Rolleiflex in for an overhaul have the screen changed to something else as part of the servicing package (it is somewhat less expensive than having it done separately at another time). In 2018, you have three primary alternative screen types still available to purchase brand new. The brightest, easiest to focus screen is sold by Bill Maxwell, but they are VERY expensive (figure in the vicinity of $250 + installation). More budget-conscious photographers opt for the Rick Oleson screens, which are brighter than the original screen but not quite comparable to the Maxwell. A standard "modern" fresnel screen with split-image center spot runs $50 + installation (this screen would be similar to your 124G). A somewhat better "Brightscreen" derivative with microprism center spot runs $80. As with Maxwell, customization is possible in terms of inscribed grid line patterns (if you want a grid). Finally, some adventurous owners have reported focusing screens sold for the Mamiya RZ67 camera will work rather nicely in a Rolleiflex if trimmed down a bit to fit. Mamiya sold several types of screen, most run approx $60 - $80 new old stock on eBay or via dealers like KEH.

 

Your 2.8c does not have a "user changeable" screen: many owners opt to save money by purchasing a screen and performing DIY installation anyway, but it can be tricky to get the focus aligned perfectly. Unless you're already fairly skilled at amateur camera modifications, have your tech install the screen as part of an overhaul/CLA. Depending on the tech, you would send them the screen with your camera, or they'll have their own stock or arrangement with screen suppliers. Investigate this when requesting estimates: the techs who can supply your screen preference themselves may or may not offer a better deal on the screen, vs buying it yourself and sending it to them.

Edited May 29, 2018 by orsetto

BTW: the biggest factor impacting the utility of the original Rolleiflex groundglass screen is the condition of the reflex mirror below it. If the mirror is very dusty/dirty, is covered with haze, or has desilvering issues, this will exaggerate the drawbacks of plain groundglass viewing considerably. Cleaning/replacing the mirror makes a significant difference for some owners, but being able to judge this requires using a local tech (so you can check the screen after cleaning and decide whether you want to change it, without going to the trouble and added expense of shipping the camera twice). If you must ship your Rolleiflex out of state for an overhaul, it may be more practical to have them upgrade the screen regardless of mirror condition.

My own paper weight has the mirror issues @orsetto mentioned. I never heard of any screen cleaning success. Clarifying: 35mm SLR wisdom says "Don't do it, don't touch it, don't spray canned air you'll make things worse." I can imagine that a conventional simple LF ground glass could get user optimized after spending a century in some chainsmokers' homes.