Some help and opinion please

Simonzphotoz · Some help and opinion please

Just been offered a camera, but not a normal one. This is all I know so far.

Medium format, Rollieflex camera with a Tessar 3.6 lens. I have found a picture but not sure if its the right one as I don't know the exact spec.

Will update as soon as I know.

Right well my question is.

does anyone know anything about them, what they are like, quirks, good bad points, ease of use. Also how much is medium format film?? is it film or slide thingy. how much to develop?

Any help will be appreciated and any ideas.

thanks peeps see you soon, have some great shots already and I haven't even been to the wedding yet.

S.

Simonzphotoz

Well thanks for all your help, Mike can you move this to the film section please.

Well, I have recieved the camera so thought I'd see if anyone out there can help.

Its a Rolleiflex 3.6 F medium format camera.

one of these

can anyone help?

Where to buy film?
Where to develope film?
How much?
and how to use it would be great.

Thanks

hil26

Flippin heck, that brings back memories.

Its the camera I used when I was trying out photography at my local youth club.

If I remember rightly, you look down from the top - LOL

Sorry so long ago now, cannot remember anything about using it.

flyingkites

Yeh had one of them a long time ago can't remember a thing about it though. Think it takes 120 film but not sure. Guess the best thing is to take it to a good old personal service type camera shop they will sort you out.

Brian

Simonzphotoz

You lot are bloody useless. It does take 120 film, you are right, I have hopefully found a local shot that sells and develope's the film, otherwise i may have to set up my own dark room!! found a wicked site though that tells me all i need to know.

http://www.matthes.com/Rollei/Manuals/TLR_F/Coll-c.htm#Top

Simonzphotoz

thanks for moving me mike.

Update since noone feels like helping. Popped into my local film developing shop and had a chat with the fella in there, they develop medium format and can put any I take onto cd which is

. Whilst I was in there another gent who was picking some stuff up asked why I wanted film, so i explained and he said, i've got three camera's in the roof and a fridge full of film, here's my card, pop round and you can have some.

RESULT...so this weekend is sorted then...will let you all know how i get on.

creators

hil26

glad you have it sussed - good job you don't fish - rolls of films and maggots in the fridge - uggh

Venom

digitalkiwi

Sorry just seen this post, i use medium format occasionally i have a pentax 645II it will use 120 film, give you between 12-15 shots per roll, is normally slide film so when i get developed i used to use Metro in london, create slides without mounts and get proofs, think it cost me around 25 pounds it was pretty expensive athough it was a pro lab with a 1 hour tunraround so i guess you can get it cheaper. Loading the film is a bit strange to start with as you have to unroll some of the film until you get to a line marked on the back of the film. Although the film i am finding is getting harder and harder to source.

Simonzphotoz

I know keith, i was being facetious. Thanks Kiwi, I have found a local place that developes and will ring the nice man around the weekend and then have a go.

Simonzphotoz

Just thought I'd update folks, I know its not that exciting but it kind is for me. Got two rolls of film of the nice man in the shop, and have one in the camera at the moment. Had to do a bit of research cos I think the shutter was sticking at first, not sure why, but it seems to be working now. Not really sure what to expect to be honest, having not used film before and now actually having to do everything manually its really exciting.

Its amazing how slow it makes you, having to sort all the bits out about the shot, DOF, shutter speed, then focusing then remembering that you haven't wound the film on and having to start again. Have found out that it fits on my tripod which makes life a little easier cos it isn't the easiest thing to hold, not by todays ergonomic standards anyhow. Anyhow, off to play now and see what I can learn. So frustrating not being able to see the finished result straight away.

Venom

Nice one Simon, sounds like your like a kid with a new toy Very Happy

. Any chance you might be able to post some of the shots for us to see.
Think we're all that used to digital it'll make a change to see one from a proper film camera.

creators

hil26

This is now here you find out how hard it was with film.

Daft question - but did you take digital images of same shots taken with the film for comparison?

Simonzphotoz

No dave i didn't, that would have been a good idea. I have already asked the camera shop and I'm gonna put the shots straight onto cd then edit them myself, slightly more expensive, but not in the long run, so as soon as I have some I'll share them round.

hil26

Simon

how's it going with this camera then?

Simonzphotoz

hmm, slowly, i've had one roll of film in it for a while now, but still haven't finished it yet. I have a feeling it could do with a service, i'm sure the shutter has been sticking open for at least the first five or six shots so there'll be nothing there, now its working I think, but just need to get out an play, its a bit more long winded so need to motivate myself.

My overall photography has been a bit on a backburner lately, but hopefully after christmas, that should change. we'll see hey, thanks for asking though.