I Have One Confusing Rolleiflex...

[katie_pype]

<p>First post after looking over so many posts on here! I have gained a particular interest in TLRs and within a month, I have three now! (Ikoflex 1C, Yashica-D, and now this Rolleiflex). I won this Rollei on eBay for $99, bidding on it for the relatively good condition under a layer of dust. However, looking over the pictures and now looking at it in my hands, I'm beginning to have more and more questions. <br /><br />The serial number is 1,048,305; which, according to the Rolleiclub site, would mark it as an Automat K4B Model 2. But this is where I get confused. The aperture and shutter dials are void of leatherette, in which they should have it. It also has a 3.5 Xenar lens; which wasn't available for this model of 'Flex until Model 3. There is also a...flash sync, maybe? In the top left corner (in picture). I know the shutter cable is on the bottom right, did someone 'modernize' this camera? The other thing about this camera is that it appears to be missing the original focusing mirror and replaced with a tiny, flimsy one that always catches on the hood when folding. The front of the hood does not flip open for the sports view.<br /><br />I am really hoping that this camera did not have a switched lens....is it possible that since it's a later serial number, it could have been switched in the factory? Did the leatherette rot off or maybe the front plate was switched? I know how to check the focus on the taking lens but can't do it until tomorrow. Any advice would be helpful in understanding this funky little Rolleiflex! Thanks!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2014/323/d/6/untitled_by_nyra_spear-d870gnq.jpg" alt="" width="730" height="1095" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2014/323/2/f/untitled_by_nyra_spear-d870go5.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></p>

[baisao]

<p>I also have a passion for TLRs. Some people hate them-- I even thought I would until one was forced upon me-- and some people LOVE them. I'm the latter kind of person. With a TLR I can have a fat negative, in a small body, with a reasonably fast lens, and with good close-up focusing capabilities. I carry one everywhere in my old Leica bag.</p>

<p>So, here's what I see with the serials per the <a href="http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/serial_numbers.shtml">Rolleiclub</a> site: three different experts claim that three different variants are in that serial number range.<br /><br /></p>

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<td bgcolor="#dddddd">1.000.000</td>

<td bgcolor="#dddddd">||</td>

<td bgcolor="#dddddd">1.049.999</td>

<td bgcolor="#dddddd">||</td>

<td bgcolor="#dddddd">Rolleiflex Automat model 3 (K4B2) ||</td>

<td bgcolor="#dddddd">Automat Rolleiflex Model 2 (<strong>K4B</strong> or K4B2) ||</td>

<td bgcolor="#dddddd">

<p>Automatic Rolleiflex (type 4)</p>

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<p>The aperture and shutter dials do not have leatherette but black paint or none ("gray"). Also, the site lists the 3.5/75mm Xenar was available for the K4B and K4B2 cameras.<br>

<br />So here are the <a href="http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/automat.shtml">differences</a> in sub-models from the site, <br /><br /></p>

<table id="AutoNumber2" width="95%" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="3" bgcolor="#c1c1c1">

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<td bgcolor="#f0e8c8" width="50%"><strong>K4B </strong></td>

<td bgcolor="#f0e8c8" width="50%"><strong>K4B2 </strong></td>

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<td bgcolor="white" width="50%">Gray aperture & shutter control dial inlay</td>

<td bgcolor="white" width="50%">Black aperture & shutter control dial inlay</td>

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<td bgcolor="#dddddd" width="50%">Franke & Heidecke name under viewing lens</td>

<td bgcolor="#dddddd" width="50%">Franke & Heidecke name under taking lens</td>

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<td bgcolor="white" width="50%">Shutter release without cable release thread</td>

<td bgcolor="white" width="50%">Shutter release with cable release thread</td>

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<p><br />It appears to me that your camera is a Rolleiflex Automat <strong>K4B</strong> not a K4B2.</p>

<p>--HTH</p>

[katie_pype]

<p>So the Xenar lens <em>was</em> made for the earlier K4B model as well, and not just the later K4B2. On the same site on their lists of all the Rolleis, it was said that only the K4B2 model included the Xenar lens, but I could be misreading it. Thank you for your quick response! <br /><br /><br />As for the add-on flash sync, would that be for just flash bulbs or an electronic flash? I'm guessing flash bulbs, but is there any way to know without testing it? I do have a couple flash bulbs and an old Walz flash gun if I needed to test it.</p>

[Jochen_S]

<p>I'd test the sync with an electronic flash between rolls; if it fires and isn't visible through the open shutter, the socket must be for bulbs.</p>

[Colin O]

Serial numbers are not an infallible way of identifying Rollei cameras. I also don't fully trust the Rollei Club website after having found mistakes there.

 

I have an excellent Rollei reference, which I never hesitate to recommend - 'The Classic Rollei' by John Phillips. According to it, your camera is a 3.5 Automat, factory designation K.4 Model 632, called Automat Model 3 by Claus Prochnow. The camera is identified based on its features - 75mm lens, crank film advance, Compur-Rapid shutter, two-component hood, wheels for aperture and shutter speed, and bayonets on both lenses. This model was produced from 1939-49. Originally only available with a Zeiss Tessar lens, from 1946-49 it was also available with a Schneider Xenar lens.

 

The locations on the faceplate of "Franke & Heidecke, Braunschweig" and "Compur-Rapid" were switched in 1946 or 1947. Your faceplate has the original layout, which would date your particular camera to either 1946 or 1947. When the faceplate layout changed, so also did the colour of the speed and aperture-setting wheels, from grey to black.

 

As for the feature on the upper left of your camera's faceplate - it is not visible in any other picture I've seen of this model, so must be an add-on installed by a previous owner.

[Brad Cloven]

<p>I have one in my bag in the truck that is either exactly the same, or within one model either before or after. I've had great success with it so long as I keep bright white skies out of the picture. It handles color transparencies beautifully. It travels well. See below for an example.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/11449232-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="636" /></p>

[Brad Cloven]

<p>Whoops! Mine is a Zeiss Jena Tessar, not a Xenar. </p>

[katie_pype]

<p>Thank you for all of your responses. I might not use the flash but it'll be helpful to know what kind of flash it is.<br /><br />Thanks for the clarification on the model and the book recommendation, I'll look into it!<br /><br />That picture is beautiful and colorful, Brad. It amazes me how a camera going on 70 is still capable of taking sharp and clear pictures. I'm excited to get some film and run it through! <br /><br />Are there any good developing labs around the Northwest for 120 film? There's still a couple places around here that develops film, but none for 120. Perhaps somewhere where I can mail in?<br /><br /><br /></p>

[Aoresteen]

<p>http://www.northcoastphoto.com/</p>

<p>5451 Avenida Encinas<br /> Suite D <br /> Carlsbad, CA 92008<br /> (760) 931-6809</p>

<p>They do 120.<strong><br /></strong></p>

[katie_pype]

<p>Thanks Anthony, they look really reasonable. <br /><br />Thanks all for the help; hopefully I can get the ball rolling and shoot on a nice day! (Which here in WA doesn't happen very often!)</p>