Rollei Automat

<p>Nothing like an old Rollei, new ones are ok too! I particularly like the post war Automats, they seem to have an extra dollop of smoothness, and the Tessar has a really nice signature.<br>

I took mine for a walk in the late winter sun to give it a workout. First the camera in question.</p><div></div>

<p>...and a few pics.</p><div></div>

<p>2.</p><div></div>

<p>3.</p><div></div>

<p>4.</p><div></div>

<p>5.</p><div></div>

<p>6.</p><div></div>

<p>A couple with the lens wide open.</p><div></div>

<p>Lucky last, the dogs on a hay bale.</p><div></div>

<p>Fuji Across in Pyro-Cat HD, scanned on Epsom V750</p>

<p>"Old gate" is gorgeous. I <em>do</em> love my Automat.</p>

<p>Really great tonal gradations in #1, 2 and Gate. Shows what the camera/film/development can do. Fine compositions as well.</p>

<p>Nice results and good looking camera. Thanks for posting.</p>

<p>Gene and Mike picked out my favorites for the same reasons as well.</p>

<p>Great results Tony. You got me itching to put some more film through my Automat. </p>

<p>Beautiful, <strong>Tony</strong>. There's just <em>something</em> about the way that Tessar renders an image...Great tones and excellent compositions. "Along the Beach" would be my pick. We're coping with aftershocks from a fairly large earthquake, down here; it adds a whole new dimension to "camera shake"!</p>

<p>Very special. Nice.<br>

I like #2 especially. ;)</p>

<p>Thanks for posting. I bought my Rolleiflex Automat X (1949 model with Zeiss-Opton Tessar) at a swap meet in 1990. Wonderful camera. Shot a roll a few weeks ago with it while on holiday (color film, must send it out for development). I got my start with Rollei TLR cameras when my aunt gave me a Rolleicord III that my late uncle had purchased new in Germany in 1950. I've been in love with these cameras ever since.</p>

<p>Thanks all, love the Rolleis, and Rick, I hope it all calms down soon...it almost seems that En Zed was built on a bowl of jelly :)</p>

<p>Some great shots there, Tony. I really like #3 and your first example with the lens wide open. Very 3D looking.</p>

<p>I've owned two Rollei Automats -- MX-EVS models from the early 50s. One had a Xenar lens and the other had the Tessar. Honestly I preferred the Xenar, but they were both superb picture takers. I sold the one with the Xenar lens to buy the one with the Tessar lens (because it was in better condition) and like a fool, I sold that one several years later. These days, I'm making do with a Yashica Mat 124, which is no slouch but which was much cheaper to obtain than the Automats when I decided to re-acquire a TLR a couple years ago.</p>

<p>Here's a scan of a slide I took with the Automat with Tessar. Colors were well saturated with that lens. The film was Fujichrome 100, taken circa 1990. Scanned with an Epson Perfection 4990.<br /> <img src="http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/texasfallcolors1.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>And a natural light still life taken with the Automat with Xenar. Tri-X, developed in D-76. Scanned on the same Epson.<br /> <img src="http://michaelmcbroom.com/images/indianpots1.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="994" /></p>

<p>Very nice pictures, Tony. I am torn by the Rolleiflex, really want one. On the one hand, the Automat would be a great fit since it would take my Bay I accessories from the Rolleicord. But I wonder that, between the Tessar on the flex and the Xenar on the cord, if the images would be distinctive and if I should go for the Xenotar/Planar. Choices, choices...</p>

<p>Nice work Michael, love that still life. Shash, the Tessar and Xenar lenses are so similar as not to matter, some prefer the Tessar, some the Xenar etc.<br>

I have Automats with both lenses and it's hard to pick a difference, and of course this is the same lens as the Rolleicord. You can live without the Auto load on the Rolleicord, although the 'Flex has a brighter screen.<br>

The Planar/Xenotar lenses are really only better at wide apertures and if you shoot a lot wide open a 2.8 Rollei can be a good thing...high price to pay though.</p>

<p>I love Rollei TLR cameras. I recently shot a Rolleicord III with Xenar lens against a Rolleiflex 3.5F with a six element Planar lens. I haven't seen the results yet (still have to send the film out for development). I wonder, if there is no discernible difference, should I then sell the 3.5F and just keep shooting with the Rolleicord?</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Joe, as you probably know, the 3.5F is much more collectible than the 'cord, so it'll bring a premium if money is important to you. I'd hold off until I got my photos back, though.</p>

<p>Shash, I've also owned a couple of 2.8 Rolleis, a C and a D model. One had the Planar and the other had the Xenotar. Honestly I couldn't really tell much of a difference between them, but to me there's a noticeable difference between the 2.8s and the 3.5s, even when not shooting wide open. The 2.8s seem to have a sort of rich warmth to them that the 3.5s don't have. It's a subtle difference, though.</p>

<p>Gorgeous set of images Tony. I don't have an Automat yet, although I do own a few Rolleis. I would love one with a Tessar though, I love Tessars in all their incarnations but maybe the ones fitted to Rolleis are the most exciting of all because the whole package is first rate.</p>

<p>Tony and Michael, yes, the more I think about it, for me Tessar versus Xenar, and Planar versus Xenotar, Zeiss versus Schneider is a non issue. For purists, I am sure there are plenty of discernible differences, but this is not something that makes a difference to me. The Rolleiflex is really a "want", I am sure I don't "need" it :-). I have a brighter screen for the Rolleicord to negate most of that difference as well, and I am used to the Rolleicord film/winding and shutter cocking sequence. So, Michael, as you say if (and still pondering :-)) I get the Rolleiflex, I likely should just opt for the 2.8 version. I know the Xenotars and Planars are sharper than the Xenar, but for my amateur purposes, the Rolleicord essentially provides close to what I will likely see with the 3.5 versions, and I do like to shoot wide open if I can. My wallet thanks you for helping me reach this decision, it is certainly going to feel a lot lighter!</p>

<p>Michael, great images, by the way.</p>