Rolleifix ‘Quick’ Release
Well, not really quick, I am coming to that. The main reason for using the Rolleifix is stability and security. Besides, using the screw-in mount of the camera takes even longer. When discussing the camera back I already advised against screwing a Rolleiflex onto a tripod. The back can easily be damaged. The Rolleifix uses 4 fixing points: 2 on the front being part of the camera main body and two on the bottom. The bottom of the Rolleifix has the standard ⅜ in European thread for mounting on a tripod. You may need a ⅜ in to ¼ in mount adaptor for some tripods.
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Rolleicord Va with a Rolleifix and a small square RRS B6 plate next to
the RRS clamp mounted on a ball head and a tripod both made in Wetzlar. (This is an early
Leitz ball head with ¼ and ⅜ in mounts. Later
ones have only the ¼ in mounts.) Photo ©2020 F.W. Stutterheim |
When the Rolleifix is already mounted on the tripod it is a bit of a hassle to mount a Rolleiflex on to the Rolleifix. It has to be done precisely and one is not always in a favourable position to do it. Mounting the camera on to the separate Rolleifix first is much easier but screwing the combo on to the tripod is even worse. I use the Rolleifix together with an Arca-Swiss style 38 × 38 mm quick release plate. I turn the camera upside down first, then mount the Rolleifix/plate combination and finally mount the whole thing on to the Arca Swiss style clamp. This works fine and secure. I use a Really Right Stuff1 lever clamp and their little square B6 plate that is permanently fixed under the Rolleifix.
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Rolleiflex Rolleigrip pistol grip. This is the later model from the Rolleiflex 2.8 GX era.
The grip part is exactly vertical with respect to the Rolleifix part. At the earlier model
the grip is at a slight angle to the right from the photographers point of view.
Photo ©2021 F.W. Stutterheim |
Rolleigrip Pistol Grip
The Rolleigrip is a Rolleifix with an attached pistol grip. A cable release is operated by the trigger. It is often used together with the Rolleiflex prism finder. All this makes it a heavy set. A good friend once said news photographers found it useful. “You can beat yourself out of a crowd and it still takes great pictures”. (I think this is a good time to refer site visitors to my ‘small print’. If you try this, you are on your own as far as I am concerned. Anyway changing film still leaves you in a quite vulnerable position.)
Operating the whole contraption looks difficult. For both left and right handed photographers the only way seems holding the camera with the right hand. Then the left hand is free for focusing. The transport crank is at the wrong side now but turning the camera over to the left till upside down solves this problem.