History of Rolleiflex
- 1920 Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke set up a little firm in Braunschweig, Germany. They start developing camera protoypes with Goerz lenses.
- 1921 Their first camera is launched, a stereo camera called the Stereo Heidoscop with Carl Zeiss lenses.
- 1923 The Heidoscop is re-designed into a rollfilm reflex camera for 117 roll film.
- 1926 The new camera is marketed as the Rolleidoscop.
- 1927 The first prototype for the twin lens reflex camera.
- 1928 Ten more prototypes are manufactured, nine of which have a Carl Zeiss Tessar F4.5 taking lens and the tenth a F3.8 Tessar. Decision is made to market both models simultaneously.
- 1929 The twin lens reflex camera, the Original Rolleiflex, is launched and an instant hit. The number of orders from all over the world is far above expectations.
- 1930 The great order stock and problems with sub-contractors force Franke & Heidecke to acquire a larger factory. This enables them to build 20,000 cameras annually. The Baby Rolleiflex prototype is finalized.
- 1931 The Baby Rolleiflex is manufactured. It has improvements that are later incorporated in the “full-grown” 6×6 Rolleiflex, such as a lever wind.
- 1932 The improved Rolleiflex model 620 is launched. It accepts 120 film and has a lever wind.
- 1933 The first Rolleicord – a less costly model, sold at less than half the price of the Rolleiflex.
- 1936 The Rolleicord production line has been improved and the Rolleicord 1a is launched. Work is started on a new Rolleiflex production line.
- 1937 The new Rolleiflex Automat wins a Grand Prix at the Paris World Fair.
- 1938 The Rolleicord II is re-designed with a Triotar finder lens and a double bayonet mount on the taking lens. The Sports Rolleiflex is launched.
- 1939 All Rolleis are now fitted with the bayonet mount on both the finder and the taking lenses.
- 1939-45 During the war no new cameras are designed. The factory is damaged during bombings in 1944.
- 1946 The factory is rebuilt, but with difficulties since material is in short supply.
- 1949 New Rolleiflex and ‘Cord production lines prepared.
- 1950 Rolleicord III is on sale with the Compur-rapid shutter, X synchronization, Schneider Xenar or Zeiss Triotar F3.5 coated lenses. The Rolleiflex Automat II is launched. Paul Franke dies on 18th March and is succeeded by his son, Horst Franke.
- 1951 The Synchro-Compur shutter replaces the Compur-Rapid on Rolleiflex. The Rolleiflex 2.8A is released. It has a Tessar F2.8 80 mm lens.
- 1952 Rolleiflex 2.8B is launched with a F2.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar lens.
- 1953 Rolleiflex 2.8C is launched with a West German Schneider Xenotar lens. A range of accessories for the bayonet III is presented.
- 1954 The Rolleimarine under-water housing for the Rolleiflexes is designed. Rolleicord V and Rolleiflex MX-EVS are launched. For the first time a Zeiss Planar 2.8 is available for the Rolleiflex 2.8C.
- 1955 The Rolleiflex 2.8D with Planar or Xenotar and EVS system is launched.
- 1956 The Rolleiflex 3.5E and the 2.8E are available with built-in exposure meters.
- 1957 The Baby Rolleiflex is re-introduced. Rolleicord Va.
- 1958 Rolleiflex 3.5F with coupled exposure meter. Rolleiflex T.
- 1959 Tele Rolleiflex with Zeiss Sonnar F4 135 mm. Rolleiflex E2 (both 3.5 and 2.8) with removable hood.
- 1960 Reinhold Heidecke dies. Rollei Magic with automatic exposure.
- 1961 The Wide-Angle Rolleiflex with Zess Distagon F4 55mm.
- 1962 Company name changed to Rollei-Werke Franke & Heidecke. Rollei Magic II. Rolleicord Vb.
- 1963 Launch of the Rollei 16 for 12×17 mm.
- 1965 Rolleiscop home slide projector.
- 1966 Rolleiflex SL 66, Rollei’s first single-lens rollfilm reflex camera. The Rollei 35 is presented as the smallest full frame 35mm camera.
- 1967 Production of computer flash units begins with models E60 and E66.
- 1969 Four Super-Eight cameras are launched.
- 1970 Rolleiflex SL35, the first 35mm SLR camera from Rollei. New factories at Uelzen and in Singapore.
- 1972 Rollei takes over the Voigtländer brand following the collapse of Zeiss Ikon.
- 1973 The Rollei P 66A, the first automatic 6×6 slide projector, is launched.
- 1974 Rolleiflex SLX, the first electronic MF camera system is launched. 2½ million Rollei 35 were sold.
- 1979 Company is renamed Rollei-Werke Franke & Heidecke GmbH & Co KG. Rolleiflex SL35 E is a new popular SLR. Production of TLR stopped; orders are filled by old stock.
- 1980 Rolleiflex SL 2000F, the first 35mm SLR camera with interchangeable magazine, double viewfinder system and integrated motor drive.
- 1982 After a bankruptcy petition and following deal, the company is reorganized as Rollei Fototechnic GmbH.
- 1983 1000 Rolleiflex 2.8F Gold Aurum are made. Rolleiflex 6006 is released as the successor of SLX with interchangeable backs.
- 1984 Rolleiflex 3003 35mm SLR.
- 1985 Rolleiflex 3000 P and 6002.
- 1986 RolleiMetric, a digital 3D industrial measuring system, is launched.
- 1987 New name again: Rollei Fototechnic GmbH & Co KG. The TLR is back with the Rolleiflex 2.8GX with TTL exposure and flash metering.
- 1988 Introduction of the Rolleiflex 6008 with a range of new fine lenses.
- 1991 Rollei enters digital photography with the Rollei Digital Scan Pack for the Rolleiflex 6008. The Prego AF is the first modern Rollei compact 35mm camera.
- 1993 A new generation of dissolve projectors, Rolleivision twin MSC 300, is introduced.
- 1994 The Rolleiflex 6003 without interchangeable magazine is an export hit. The digital imaging system is extended with the high-speed Digital ChipPack back.
- 1995 Launch of the Rolleiflex 6008 integral.
- 1996 A new digital back, the DSP-104.
- 1998 Rollei presents the bellows camera system X-Act at Photokina. Rollei introduces APS cameras into its product range.
- 2000 Rollei celebrates its 80th anniversary.
- 2001 Launch of five new compact cameras, AFM 35, a new series of dissolve projectors, and two new digital cameras.
- 2002 Launch of six new compact cameras, the Rollei d530 flex digital SLR camera, the Rolleiflex 6008 AF (the first 6×6 medium format camera with auto focus) and a new digital 35mm camera (Rollei d330 motion). Rollei also presents at Photokina the Rollei 35 RF (range finder-camera) and the Rolleiflex 4.0 FW (new wide-angle TLR camera).
- 2006 Launch of the Rolleiflex Hy6, a medium-format camera for digital camera backs of Sinar, offered as Sinar Hy6, also produced by Jenoptik and Leaf for Leaf’s digital camera backs as Leaf AFi
- 2007 Launch of the Rolleiflex 4,0 FT, a re-design of the 1959 Tele Rolleiflex. RCP buys the right to use the brand Rollei for its digital cameras.
- 2009 (March) Franke&Heidecke announced that it was going into insolvency, saying it couldn’t pay its bills.
- 2010 DHW Fototechnik managed to relaunch the production of Rolleiflex, Rolleiflex Hy6, Rolleivision slide projectors and Rollei 35.
- 2012 DHW Fototechnik has announced two new Rolleiflex cameras and a new electronic shutter for Photokina.
MAMIYA C330F – The Best Mamiya TLR
Description and function of the C330F camera, and it’s capabilities, flaws and quirks.
The MAMIYA C-330F was the final version of the “C” series cameras built by the MAMIYA camera corporation of JAPAN. The “F” model was the final model produced into 1980 by the MAMIYA corporation, it was a moderatly priced unit that came with an 80mm (normal) lens, that allow professionals, and advanced amateurs to create with a great deal of flexibility and capability in the medium format 6cmX6cm (2.25″x2.25″) square realm. The twin lens system on an extension bellows allowed for extreme closeups without the use of closeup lenses or extensions, and there are a number of accesories available for this camera as well. Here are it’s following abilities;
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- uses 120 and 200 film
- Self cocking with film advance on most of the lenses (not on the 180 or 250mm though)
- Double exposure capable
- Interchangeable focus screens
- right angle viewers (porrofinders) available
- parallax correction devices
There are a number of safety interlocks to prevent ruining film, or accidental exposures from occuring, until the user get’s used to them, they can be detrimental to action photography, as it’s easy to mis a shot from not setting things just right on the camera. The porro finders also suffered from low light when used, mostly with the mirror type, but some complaints with the prism were heard as well. The lenses are all excellent quality and design, the give supperior photos, usually only seen with German or Russian optics, comparable to the Japanese lenses used in the KONI OMEGA Rapid 100,200 and M series. The lenses available are as follows;
- 55mm (wide angle) F4.5
- 65mm (wide angle) F3.5
- 80mm (normal) F2.8
- 105mm (normal ,good portrait lens) F3.5
- 135mm (telephoto) F4.5
- 180mm (telephoto) F4.5
- 250mm (telephoto) F6.5
Some users including myself have found that the 180mm and 250mm old style lenses don’t quite fit the MAMIYA C330F camera, the lens connection is the same, but he aluminum and steel cases of the lenses are just a little too big, and jam the self cocking lever. I have a perfect old style 180mm that I carefully marked with a map pencil as to the area of the case that the cocking lever rubs across when operating, and then ground down the case in that area with a DREMEL rotary tool, and the used sanding cuffs the the dremel to smoooth it out, now the camera works with the lens, and allow the film to advance, with the 180 and 250mm you have to cock the lens manually anyway, so this isn’t a big issue.
Manual for C330F
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mamiya/mamiya_c330f_prof/mamiya_c330f_prof.htm
Photos by Mamiya C330F:
A beautiful set about portrait:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donlam/tags/c330f/page4/
Another set about landscape and stills:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46665374@N06/sets/72157623230753752/with/4376981854/
Sawyers Mark IV
Sawyers are best known for their viewmaster 3D viewing system, where stereo images are arranged on a wheel. To complement this range, they commisioned or rebadged a number of cameras (including the Ace Ajoy renamed the Nomad). Most of these cameras were of course 35mm stereo, and are highly collectable. However their most noteworthy 127 offering was a regular (though rather nice) TLR – the Sawyers Mark IV.
The designation Mark 4 is a bit strange, as there was never a 1, 2 or 3. I can only imagine that the 4 refers to the 4×4 format, and the Mark bit was put in to give a Japanese camera that Mark Twain/Tom Sawyers link to America culture.
The image and manual were submitted by Dave Schneller who inherited his Mark IV (S#274930) from his father. The following is quoted from http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/sawyer_mark_IV.html by Karl Bryan
The Sawyer’s Mark IV twin lens reflex cameras are a rebadged Primo Jr. Type 1. Manufactured by Tokyo Optical Co. and imported by the Beaverton, OR GAF Co. (makers of the Viewmaster). The Sawyer’s Mark IV Type I was in production from 1958-1959. This camera is a 4×4 format utilizing 127 film. Note that the proper lens cap acts as a shutter release lock.
Shutter is a Seikosha MXL, B, and 1-500 speed with M, F, X flash synch. The camera shutter has markings for EVS (Exposure Value System, also known as the Light Value System). The EVS is a cross coupled system between shutter speed and aperture with EVS values from 3-18. The aperture and shutter settings are viewable from the small window above the viewing lens.
The lens is a Topcor 60, f2.8 multicoated, four element, 3 group, tessar design. F stops are from 3.5f to 22f, film wind is by crank with automatic setting of the shutter. Filters are the typical Bay 1 type.
Film setting is by the red window to frame 1, and then it is automatically indexed. When first installing film, wind the crank until the number 1 appears in the red window in the back of the camera, depress the button above the wind crank and slide the button next to is towards the back of the camera. This set the frame counter to 1, then film indexing automatically occurs every time the film crank is wound.
Focus is by knob with an ASA reminder dial in its end. Above the focus knob is a Depth of Field scale. The film chamber is baffled for flare control.
The ground glass has a fresnel lens with center focus spot and cross hair etched lines for aid in composition.
Finally for your 127 using enjoyment: The Sawyers Mk IV manual.
via 127:Sawyers.
TLRgraphy 