Rolleiflex 2.8F
John Wade looks at one of the best twin-lens reflexes to come out of Germany
LAUNCHED 1960 PRICE AT LAUNCH (WITH F/2.8 XENOTAR) £145 GUIDE PRICE NOW £800-£1,000 THE ORIGINAL Rolleiflex was launched in 1928 as the first truly compact, roll film twin-lens reflex (TLR). It marked the start of a great many quality cameras from German manufacturer Franke and Heidecke.
The Rolleiflex 2.8F follows the usual TLR style of two lenses, one above the other, that move in tandem for focusing. The lower one takes the picture, the upper one reflects its image onto a ground- glass screen on top of the body, the same size as the negative image. The camera takes 120 roll film, which is wound with a crank.
Shutter speeds run 1/21/500sec and apertures on the taking lens are f/2.8-f/22. Both are controlled by small knobs between, and either side of, the two lenses. Apertures and shutter speeds are juggled while watching a match-needle meter built into the focusing knob, and fed by a selenium cell above the viewing lens.
The viewfinder is designed to be used at waist level, but a mirror in the back of the focusing hood folds down at an angle so that its mirrored image can be viewed by a lens in the back of the hood. In this way the camera can also be used at eye-level.
Using a roll film TLR is unlike using any other type of camera. If you want to stick your toe in the medium-format TLR market, the Rolleiflex 2.8F is one of the best.
What’s good
Quality German mechanics and optics, large viewfinder screen for easy picture composition, quality mediumformat images.
What’s bad
Roll film isn’t as easy to find as 35mm today, selenium meters can get less sensitive as they get older, the high buying price.