Comparative Chart
In certain browsers (Safari, Chrome, not Firefox) and depending on the O.S. the column width can be resized. Grab the little triangle in the down-right corner of a cell to adjust width. A mininal width is programmed and may be active. Try ‘wider’ first.
Rolleiflex Twin-Lens Reflex Cameras built after 1957
| Model Features | Rolleicord Va/Vb | Rolleiflex T | Rolleiflex 3.5 F/2.8 F | Rolleiflex 2.8 GX/FX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| years of fabrication | from 1957 to 1977 | from 1958 to 1976 | from 1958 to 1981 | from 1987 to 2002 / from 2001 to ? |
| film format | 120 and 135 (Rolleikin) | 120 and 135 (Rolleikin) | 120, 220 and 135 (Rolleikin) | 120 |
| images on 120/220 rollfilm, 135 film |
12 frames 6x6 (120) or 16 frames 4.5x6 (120) or 24 frames 28mmx40mm (120) 36 frames (135) |
12 frames 6x6 (120) or 16 frames 4.5x6 (120) 36 frames (135) |
12 frames 6x6 (120) or 24 frames 6x6 (220) 36 frames (135) |
12 frames 6x6 (120) |
| adaptor back for 6,5x9 plates and cut-film | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Zeiss Optics (taking lens) | no | Tessar 3.5/75 mm 4 elements 3 groups | 3.5 F: Planar 3.5/75 mm 5 or 6 elements 4 groups 2.8 F: Planar 2.8/80 mm 5 elements 4 groups |
GX/FX: Planar 2.8/80 mm 5 elements in 4 groups, made by Rollei under Zeiss license |
| Rollei Optics (taking lens) | FX: S-Apogon 2.8/80 mm (Planar design) | |||
| Schneider Optics (taking lens) | Xenar 3.5/75 mm 4 elements 3 groups | Xenar (rare) 3.5/75 mm 4 elements 3 groups | 3.5 F: Xenotar 3.5/75 mm 5 or 6 elements 4 groups 2.8 F: Xenotar 2.8/80 mm 5 elements 4 groups |
no |
| viewing lens | Heidoscop 3,2 / 75 mm 3 elements | Heidosmat 2.8 / 75 mm 3 elements | Heidosmat 2.8 / 75 mm 3 elements or Heidosmat 2.8 / 80 mm 3 elements |
Heidosmat 2.8 / 80 mm 3 elements |
| standard focusing hood | folding hood, 2.5X lupe, “sport” viewfinder | folding hood, 2.5X lupe, “sport” viewfinder | folding hood, 2.5X lupe, second 4x lupe and second mirror (“sport” setup) | folding hood, 2.5X lupe, “sport” viewfinder |
| optional viewing accessories | Va : fixed hood, Vb : as T-model |
removable ground glass, rigid 2.5X hood, 1.5X prism |
removable ground glass, rigid 2.5X hood, 1.5X prism |
removable ground glass, rigid 2.5X hood, 1.5X prism |
| bayonet mount for filters or close-up lenses (internal) and lens hood (external) | size I | size I | size II (3.5 F), size III (2.8 F) | size III |
| between-lens mechanical leaf shutter | Synchro-Compur size CR00, B - 1s to 1/500s |
Synchro-Compur size CR00, B - 1s to 1/500s |
Synchro-Compur sizes CR00 or CR0, B - 1s to 1/500s |
Synchro-Compur CR0, then Seiko / Copal no 0, B - 1s to 1/500s |
| mechanical self-timer | yes | yes | yes | no |
| standard flash shoe | no | no | no | yes |
| X-synch, electronic flash | all speeds | all speeds | all speeds | all speeds |
| M-synch, flash bulbs | yes (first models only) | yes (first models only) | yes | no |
| first frame film setup | semi-auto, paper arrow <-> red dot | semi-auto, paper arrow <-> red dot | fully automatic, roller-feeler system | semi-auto, paper arrow <-> red dot |
| film advance | winding knob, not coupled to shutter | folding crank, coupled to shutter | folding crank, coupled to shutter | folding crank, coupled to shutter |
| shutter cocking | separate, manually on taking lens | coupled to film advance | coupled to film advance | coupled to film advance |
| safety lock against double exposure | yes, can be switched off | yes | yes, can be switched off | yes, can be switched off |
| speeds and f/stops controls | lever on taking lens, EV coupling | lever on taking lens, EV coupling | front thumb-wheels next to lenses | front thumb-wheels on side of lenses |
| display of speeds and f/stops |
side windows on taking lens | top windows on viewing lens, with printed belts | top windows on viewing lens, with geared engraved rings | top windows on viewing lens, with geared engraved rings |
| built-in exposure meter | no | external un-coupled selenium cell (optional), diffusor for incident light readings | external inter-coupled selenium cell (optional), diffusor for incident light readings | silicon sensor for available light (viewing lens), and TTL flash SCA 300 (metered by reflection off the film) |
| camera works without battery | yes | yes | yes | yes, except for exposure meter |
| weight (without film) | Va 875g, Vb 940g | 1020g | 1220g | 1235g |
Additional Information
Common features
- Twin-lens reflex, 6x6 format on 120/220 rollfilm, non-removable twin-lens panel.
- Focusing by translation of the twin-lens panel, controlled by aleft-hand focusing knob.
- Automatic compensation for parallax by moving frames under the ground glass.
Other twin-lens Rolleiflex models built in the same period
- Rolleiflex 3.5E / 2.8E, very similar to 3.5 F / 2.8 F, uncoupled optional exposure meter
- Rolleimagic with battery-less automatic exposure system
- Tele-Rolleiflex (based on E-types, fixed telephoto lens, 135 mm)
- Wide-Angle Rolleiflex (based on E-types, fixed wide-angle lens, 55 mm)
- ‘Baby’ Rolleiflex 4×4 cm (1⅝×1⅝ in), 127 film only
Common accessories
- Twin lens cap, leather neck strap and leather ever-ready case,
- Bayonet filters, close-up twin-lenses with built-in parallax compensation,
- Quick-release tripod plate "Rolleifix" (highly recommended).
References
- Rollei Report 2, Rollei-Werke, Rollfilmkameras 1946-1981, Prochnow, Claus, ISBN 3-89506-118-2, Lindemanns (1994)
- Rollei Report 4, Rollei-Werke, Rollei Fototechnic 1958-1998, Prochnow, Claus, ISBN 3-89506-170-0, Lindemanns (1997)