How good is Rolleiflex 2.8C – A review in 1952
Modern Photography, May 1952, pg. 57-98
The New Rollei
How Good is the New $385 Model 2.8C Which Incorporates Suggestions Made by
Photographers?…By Arthur Kramer
“The New Lens”
“The camera’s most important feature is its new 80mm, air-spaced
five-element f/2.8 Schneider Xenotar lens. The f/2.8 lens on a previous
model was a four-element objective which often gave trouble when used wide
open. The makers of the Rolleiflex claim this trouble has been eliminated
in the Xenotar lens. Optical and practical tests (which we will get to
later) indicated that this was true – at least on the cameras tested.”
“The Lens – How Good?”
“Finally we get to the most important of all the improvements – the lens.
This is not the first f/2.8 lens ever put on a 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 Rollei. Many
photographers who have used or tested the previous f/2.8 model, which this
new camera supersedes, felt that the definition was not up to their
acceptable standards. Wide aperture lenses which must cover comparatively
large film areas are often notoriously poor in edge definition at full
aperture. Practically all Automatic Rolleiflexes have up to this time been
supplied with four element Tessar or Xenar f/3.5 or Tessar f/2.8 lenses.
The new Xenotar is a five-element lens of the air-spaced type. It was not
until the advent of modern optical coatings that the full advantage of such
a design could be exploited.”
“Bench Testing”
“The camera was taken to a well-equipped optical laboratory and placed on
an optical bench. The lens appeared to be free of astigmatism. It showed no
shift of focus when stopped down. There seemed to be the faintest trace of
flare at f/2.8 but this disappeared when the diaphragm was stopped down to
about f/3, a definite improvement in this respect to what we had previously
seen in other lenses of similar focal length and aperture.”
“The definition at the edges was far above that of the old four-element
f/2.8. This individual Xenotar lens looked excellent in bench tests, but
that did not guarantee excellent pictures. Only extensive tests on actual
film could tell about that.”
“Practical Testing”
” The camera was also checked for lens, film, and ground glass alignment.
Then it was ready for the film tests. An f/3.5 Rollei of known image
quality was used as a control unit The first test was made on a cross-lit
brick wall A series of shots was taken at various distances and apertures
with both cameras. Negatives were carefully enlarged to about 30×30 inches
and examined over the entire field. Results showed that the Xenotar f/2.8
lens wide open was equal in most respects to the f/3.5 lens wide open. It
did not noticeably lose definition when stopped down to f/22. A second
Xenotar tested actually had better definition at f/2.8 than the older type
lens had at f/3.5! The tests were repeated on various objects and at varied
distances with the same result. The next test was of a more practical
nature. Portraits of actor Jack Palance (!) were shot at full aperture with
the camera at its closest distance, about three and one half feet (page
59). The inset on the enlargement shows the entire negative area. The 11×14
glossy prints were quite sharp, and had excellent image quality. Twenty
rolls or film were used on a variety of subjects. Results were consistently
good.”
Did You Know: The 500 Peso Note in the Philippines Features a Rolleiflex TLR
via Did You Know: The 500 Peso Note in the Philippines Features a Rolleiflex TLR.
Here’s an interesting photo trivia question: can you name any major world currencies that feature an image of a camera?
Answer: the old five hundred peso bill over in the Philippines. On the back of the original series is an image of a Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera!
The bill was first issued back in 1987 after the assassination of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. in 1983. Aquino is a national hero, and his son Benigno Aquino III is the current President of the Philippines.
The front of the bill features a portrait of Aquino:
On the back of the bill is a collage showing Aquino at various points in his life. One of the portraits is of Aquino’s time as a journalist for The Manila Times. At age 17, Aquino was the youngest war correspondent to cover the Korean War for that newspaper (he would receive an award from the country’s president the next year for his work):
The portrait illustration shows Aquino writing on some paper with his right hand. At his left hand is a Rolleiflex camera. Look closely, and the brand name can be clearly seen across the front of the camera body:
This particular bill design was replaced a few years ago with one that features Aquino and his wife on the front. Sadly, there’s no camera to be seen on the reverse side of the newly issued bills.
If you’re dying to spend cash that has a camera on it, head on over to the Philippines soon — the “Rolleiflex” 500 peso note is still legal tender, but only until 2014.
Thanks for sending in the tip, Tim!
Who is shooting with the Rolleiflex Gold Edition?
To commemorate the brand’s pioneering achievements in camera manufacturing, Franke & Heidecke is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the legendary twin-lens reflex with a limited edition Rolleiflex pack in gold. The company was started by Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke, whose names have become synonymous with the golden age of twin-lens reflex cameras. The limited, special edition set comprises three cameras – Rolleiflex 4.0 FW, 2.8 FX and 4.0 FT. Only 80 sets of this special edition with 14-carat gold-plated trimmings will be made. Each set will be supplied in a precious walnut-wood presentation case that also accommodates the accessories supplied, such as the CNC-milled lens hoods and filter adapters. A booklet will inform the reader about 80 years of camera history and also includes a short description of the most important twin-lens camera models from 1929 up to the present. The unique camera set for Rolleiflex friends, numbered from 1 to 80, will be available from late 2008 under Cat. No. 80888, for a price of EUR 29,000 ($37,765) each.
TLRgraphy 