Rolleicord IV please help

Hello good medium format people!

I have just got my first medium format camera - a Rolleicord IV.

While older than me by 10 years it is beatiful.

I have read the manual and addendum and all posts and I am confused.

When I opened up the back to load film I could not figure whether I

should put the film over or under the roller(long thin rolling tube)

just next to the spool. There are both ways pictured in the manual.

Another question - is the 1/500 speed restricted like in older

Rolleiflexes to be set befor tensioning the shutter?

Thank you for patience!

Best regards,

Tom

Over the rollers. I'm not sure if you have to set the 1/500 speed before cocking the shutter. I had a Rolleicord IV, but sold it.

I'm pretty sure you should set 1/500 before cocking the shutter on this model. (I believe any model before the EVS coupled designs and later)

Thank you very much! That solves all my doubts and I will go tomorrow to make some nice winter landscapes:) Tom

Good luck with the photos and consider getting a bay I lens hood if you don't have one. It really will make a big difference with single coated optics.

A Rolleicord IV has a Synchro-Compur shutter, while the III had a Compur Rapid

shutter. Look between the lenses. On a Synchro-Compur there is no need to select 1/

500 before tensioning the shutter. You may prefer to do it anyway. Enjoy the camera!

Ferdi, I have Synchro-Compur. When I cock at 1/500 time it requires much more force and when I shoot it goes really hard and loud compared to 1/250. Time lever is also stuck in position when I cock at 1/500 and doesn't want to go when cocked above 1/250. I am afraid to break it so don't push hard. Besides in winter I use rather 1/10 or 1/5 anyway:D I made a couple of pictures and it is real pleasure - quiet, huge diplay, rather dim but of course I plan to change to Beattie or Maxwell and the feeling. Rolleicord is simple, fast and efficient. Thank you for all the answers! Tom

Hello once again!

 

After a while I asked my Dad (he's a mechanical wizard:) and we sat together to do some serious work on my new 'cord. We cleaned the glass matte and the mirror (carefully) Now the matte glass is some 3 stops brighter and focusing is a breeze. Cool! You could not imagine how much muck was on the mirror. I believe I committed genocide - I had killed some emerging species there for sure:)

 

Now I have another issue: I flashed strong light at 3.5/B and open cover. There are about ten-twelve scratches visible, very thin on both front and rear glass, or rather on the coating, and some very small dots of dust inside, about 20-30. What is your opinion - search for better item or forget about it. I shot some pictures and they blew me off but I was with 35mm all life. If I go and enlarge some picture to 20"x20" will I be able to tell if the lens perform? Any suggestions?

 

Thanks and best regards,

Tom