1933 Old Standard Rolleiflex
This is an original “Old Standard” Rolleiflex produced by Frank & Heidecke in Germany between 1932 to 1938. It was the very first Rolleiflex specifically designed to use 120 roll film. (The previous model in addition to being rather fragile, had used 117 roll film, which only produced six exposures per roll.) The Old Standard was a very successful design and put Rolleiflex on the map. It defined what a great medium format TLR was capable of and the features it needed to do this expeditiously. Many of these cameras were used by war photographers during WWII and subsequently worn out or lost in action… This camera was very significant historically. Over eighty years later, it can be difficult to find exceptionally clean, fully functional examples.
The photos below were taken with an “Old Standard” Rolleiflex which was we had the pleasure of having in our shop. It’s fitted with a 3.5/7,5cm (75mm) Carl Zeiss Tessar lens. In the third photo of the statue, notice how the focus rolls off the main plane of focus into a soft creamy background bokeh.
The owner hails from the USA and he was kind enough to share his photos with us. Thanks Mike.
Copyright 2023 Mike Williams, All rights reserved.
1933 Frank & Heidecke Rolleiflex “Old Standard”
1955 Frank & Heidecke Rolleiflex 6x6 TLR
This is a 1955 Rolleiflex which is a direct descendant of 1939 Rolleiflex Automat which first introduced bayonet mounts in front of the two lenses that accessory filters & close up lenses could be used. Although similar in layout to the “Old Standard” Rolleiflex which had preceded it, the automat was a radically improved camera. Overall it was stronger, more reliable and easier to use. Rolleiflex continued to further refine the design over the following decades, adding various details but one thing remained constant, all of these cameras are a joy to use.
The photos below were taken with this 1955 Rolleiflex which we had the pleasure of having in our shop. It’s fitted with a 3.5/75mm coated Carl Zeiss Tessar lens fitted in a Synchro-Compur shutter. The owner hails from Wisconsin and he was kind enough to share his photos with us. Copyright 2023 Mike Williams. All rights reserved.
The photos were shot on taken with Tri - X 400 pushed to iso 800. Developed in HC110. Dilution B. The rendering is a treat to the eye with focus rolling gently off the main plane of focus into a delicious background.