one tip, for the rollies you have a lot of accessories, think like its a fuji XH1 or their rangefinder style cameras, you have closeup lenses, filters, and something called a rolleikin kit (this adds spacers and masks to allow 135 film to go into it) cool?, also shades, and a flash which clips onto the lenses, so you are still able to experiment, and find something that works for you. also remember its got parallax issues, esp. when up close, the lens atop has an angle to it, 5-10 degrees?, so can get somewhat close, but NOT macro close, but like Mamiya's C3/C33/C330 you can add a "para-mender" a tripod mast which racks the camera up, the exact distance between focus and taking lenses, to remove parallax altogether.
I have the Rolleiflex MX too! It was my first medium format film camera. I replaced my screen but honestly it’s still dim. Not as bad but I wonder if it has to do with the mirrors inside. But yea, I love my MX
I’ve been loving square format too! I don’t know what it is, but it almost feels more painterly? Less like it’s constricted by all the typical photography composition techniques? Whatever it is, square format is a blast!
@@Eclectachrome I found a Rollei P11 Universal Slide Projector here. You can't imagine what a 6x6 slide projection is!! Another dimension, REALLY! If you have plans on shooting chrome with your Rolleiflex, look for one of these. They're usually cheap because they're big and people don't even remember slide projectors nowadays. i picekd mine here in brazil for something around 30 or 40 USD at the time, and it was in very good shape, with case and manual!. Worth every cent! See ya!
At some point in your photography life you need a Rolleiflex in order to experience what cameras were like before they became just one more disposable consumer "product". Like Leica, Rolleis were intended to last longer than the photographer. Happy owner of a Rolleiflex New Standard, dating from March, 1939. A "forever" camera.
I have a Rolleiflex 2.8c with a Xenotar lens. I love the lens for sure. It cost around $400 as I recall with a sticky shutter that took me 5 minutes to fix. I also have other TLR’s, Yashica , ikoflex, mamiya c22 ; they’re all great cameras but there’s just something about the Rollei.
Congratulations! with your Rolleiflex MX. The Rolleiflex is perhaps the most significant camera ever. It was the go-to camera for professional photographers from the time it came out in 1929 until the 1970s. You should not be disappointed that it is not an aperture 2.8 lens. In the old days, the aperture 3.5 models were known to be the best lenses, whether it was Zeiss Tessar, Planer, or like your Schneider Xenotar (or Xenar?). The camera, and especially the lens, is way better than the Seagull and is worth all the money, to me it sounds like a really good buy.
Agree : the 3.5 I have is an MX-EXS . Miss ; check the Aperture Count ... you might have the high -count aperture , and this is a lovely plus ...my 1956 Rollei has that and it makes gorgeous images.
@@Eclectachrome Well, here's a case to be made for a justifiable use of the term "influencer"! 🤗 Incidentally, in terms of affordable good TLRs, the Flexaret might be an interesting option! I got mine for about 70 - 80 €. Ted Forbes introduced in *two videos. He is also very knowledgeable about TLRs! I could imagine a good chance, he'd be able to identify the model of your Rollei! ua-cam.com/video/GRemcTtwqpg/v-deo.htmlsi=l3HxPVnzAjorBrm6 ua-cam.com/video/eE-Uvm1g3KU/v-deo.htmlsi=p0QuiryzIbfMyJcx
Hey, for the screen, get in touch with Rick Oleson, he will check the S/N whether he can support you. I got a screen from him for Mamiya C330S and for waist level finder it works well.
i 'll second that recommendation. i have one of rick's brightscreens in my rolleiflex 2.8f and it is worth every penny. he's also fantastic to work with. super friendly and helpful.
Great video as always! I also love the square format - I had a Yashica D that I loved but every time I used it the act of composing the image through the viewfinder set off my motion sickness (because of how it's reversed) so after one too many migraines I had to part with it. Still in 6x6 just sadly not a TLR.
great pickup, but a hint, only the 80mm lens Rollies' are expensive, try for a less common 135mm or a wide angle75 mm, those are cheaper, as not many want them, as like say a Phase One XC they are stuck with the wide perspective.[and it's only on a 6x6, Hasselblad SWC's can go to a 38mm], or for the 500c/m [Leaf shutter]or the 200 series (focal plane)- they go up to 2000th of a second, so is more useful in landscape, but everyone has a preference.
Nice! TLR's are so cool. I don't own one yet, but this would be a great option. I'm with you on warming up to the square format. I used to not care for it at all, but I now rather like it (I think Instagram may have played a part). I've got an Olympus Six which shoots 645 and 6x6, and the trusty Holga of course. You could say the 645 masks have collected a fair bit of dust this year, lol. Cheers! 😁📸💙
You are selling me on this camera, lol and I am not good with TLRs! But that camera also looks sooo nice. I love the lens cover. Ya not a good reason to want a camera but it is visually appealing. And your images turned out wonderful! I have a yashica 124 tlr i need to shoot. I prefer square but I have a hard time focusing a tlr 🤓
Hehe it’s lush! The yashica 124 is an amazing camera but I do agree with you that it is hard to focus TLRs!! Would be amazing to have a split prism screen, or something like that, or if a rangefinder patch could be put in the TLR even though I know that’s not a thing lol
Love my Rolleiflex MX! Yours is super clean, worth every penny of that $300! Mine has the 3.5 Xenotar, supposedly even sharper than the Tessar but shhh thats our little secret.🤐
I am using the same Rolleiflex MX! 😊 My camera is the Tessar lens version. This camera offers shutter speeds of up to 1/500 second. However, if you want to use a speed of 1/500, you must first set the shutter speed before loading film. If you load film first, you will not be able to move to that shutter speed later.
It's pretty easy to rewind the film in the darkroom. I made the same mistake just once, and respooled the film. It only takes a few minutes. Simple. The MX-EVS is a similar but later camera. With the EVS cameras the relationship between the shutter speed is locked together. Change from f 5.6 to f 8 and the shutter speed increases from 1/125 to 1/60. Of course, there is a way to unlock that relationship but it is an additional annoying step. When my MX-EVS type 1 was CLA'd, the technician surgically removed the locking feature. The later MX-EVS has a way to leave the two unlocked but the early version provides no such choice short of having it modified. They did something similar in the 1950s era Rolleicords, but it was even more annoying. Depending on the model, Rollei had two different size focus knobs. I think the focus knob on the MX is smaller than the one on the MX-EVS, but I may be wrong about that. It's a bit easier to work with the larger knob. The whole idea of Exposure Values was a great 1950s concept in theory that turned out to be a royal annoyance in practice when built into the camera. On the other hand, the feel of the Rolleiflex is just amazing. My Tessar lens takes great pictures. All in all a wonderful camera.
Do you tape it to another spool and wind back from there? Hopefully I won't be forgetting again but never know haha and oh yes I was wondering about the shutter lock, mine doesn't have it so its definitely not an EVS then, thanks! i can see how it can get annoying lol and yes the way it feels and operations is a dream!
I am really jealous. It's 90f at noon down here. Trying to make Art with a work of art is a joy isn't it? -a random mike BTW From f4 there is no real difference between a f2.8 and an f3.5. The lenses are that good.
I enjoy my medium format box, plastic, pseudo-TLR and folding cameras -- but they really can't compete with the focus and control of the TLR 'big boys' -- maybe it's time to upgrade??? Wait -- I have a decent UNIFLEX I TLR that I have not tested out (120 and 620, 6x6, 75mm f5.6-f22 taking lens, B-1/200) -- at least it's a solid, metal TLR, with a little lower features than a Rolleiflex, but I can see if I like shooting that style (look down, what? No, look down!!!)....
@@Eclectachromewell done. I received only a few hours ago the same camera. If you want to know the date, look at the serial number. Online you'll find a chart which gives a good idea. I think this Rolleiflex 1953/4 is no different from the expensive 2.8mm. You have to compensate for that. So what? I think the choice of film is key. 100 iso for very fine grain, low contrast high key or 400 for more blacks and drama. I'm nervous. Used to have a Yashica 124 mat a Rolleiflex imitation, but then got sucked into digital with Nikons, Canon, then Sony. But the concentrated image in the dark square? Incomparable. I just know it after years of too many too thoughtless shots.
Eclectechrome, you ain't seen nothing yet! wait till you try a Hasselblad, 200/500 series, then you will be hooked, in fact a vampire 'blad' will bite you!!, nothing like it, the subject separation, and Unlike SONY, this is still the cheapest way of OWNING Carl Zeiss glass (yes, every one is CZ glass); and such an icon, hold one!! you won't regret it, but your wallet will 🙂
haha that series does look phenomenal (the photos I mean) but I've tried shooting cameras formed like that (Mamiya 645 & Kiev 88) and the style of shooting and holding the camera isn't for me, but the glass and images I see from other photographers is awesome!
one tip, for the rollies you have a lot of accessories, think like its a fuji XH1 or their rangefinder style cameras, you have closeup lenses, filters, and something called a rolleikin kit (this adds spacers and masks to allow 135 film to go into it) cool?, also shades, and a flash which clips onto the lenses, so you are still able to experiment, and find something that works for you. also remember its got parallax issues, esp. when up close, the lens atop has an angle to it, 5-10 degrees?, so can get somewhat close, but NOT macro close, but like Mamiya's C3/C33/C330 you can add a "para-mender" a tripod mast which racks the camera up, the exact distance between focus and taking lenses, to remove parallax altogether.
thanks!
10 bladed aperture: check ...this is a huge plus ... I love the 10 blade in my humble 1956 MX-EVS 75 TESSAR
I have the Rolleiflex MX too! It was my first medium format film camera. I replaced my screen but honestly it’s still dim. Not as bad but I wonder if it has to do with the mirrors inside. But yea, I love my MX
cool!!! ohh interesting that it didn't brighten it up so much, hmmm, could be yeah, but still lovable haha
I’ve been loving square format too! I don’t know what it is, but it almost feels more painterly? Less like it’s constricted by all the typical photography composition techniques? Whatever it is, square format is a blast!
YES!!! Well said ❤️ it’s like a new world unburdened by a lot of the dos and donts around the photosphere 📷
Sinve I bought a Rolleiflex 3.5F Ishot so few 35mm :)
Thanks for the video!
it's hard to go back after getting those negatives!
@@Eclectachrome I found a Rollei P11 Universal Slide Projector here. You can't imagine what a 6x6 slide projection is!! Another dimension, REALLY! If you have plans on shooting chrome with your Rolleiflex, look for one of these. They're usually cheap because they're big and people don't even remember slide projectors nowadays. i picekd mine here in brazil for something around 30 or 40 USD at the time, and it was in very good shape, with case and manual!. Worth every cent! See ya!
At some point in your photography life you need a Rolleiflex in order to experience what cameras were like before they became just one more disposable consumer "product". Like Leica, Rolleis were intended to last longer than the photographer.
Happy owner of a Rolleiflex New Standard, dating from March, 1939. A "forever" camera.
The quality is so nice 😊 feel like it could last another 60 years
I have a Rolleiflex 2.8c with a Xenotar lens. I love the lens for sure. It cost around $400 as I recall with a sticky shutter that took me 5 minutes to fix. I also have other TLR’s, Yashica , ikoflex, mamiya c22 ; they’re all great cameras but there’s just something about the Rollei.
It’s so classy haha or maybe it feels more refined than others the way they designed it! Great you were able to fix the shutter 👌✨
Congratulations! with your Rolleiflex MX. The Rolleiflex is perhaps the most significant camera ever. It was the go-to camera for professional photographers from the time it came out in 1929 until the 1970s. You should not be disappointed that it is not an aperture 2.8 lens. In the old days, the aperture 3.5 models were known to be the best lenses, whether it was Zeiss Tessar, Planer, or like your Schneider Xenotar (or Xenar?). The camera, and especially the lens, is way better than the Seagull and is worth all the money, to me it sounds like a really good buy.
thank you!!
Agree : the 3.5 I have is an MX-EXS . Miss ; check the Aperture Count ... you might have the high -count aperture , and this is a lovely plus ...my 1956 Rollei has that and it makes gorgeous images.
@@chrisloomis1489 i have the f22 one!
I bought my Rollieflex 2.8 C (1952) in 1995 for $300. I use it often, one of my favorite cameras.
Lovely!!!
Well done on a great review! As a owner of a 2.8F the MX would definitely be my daily use camera 😍
Thanks! 👍
Got a Yashica TLR, love it, it's compact and with good light amazing results. Getting used to 6×6 is another challenge 😊 Good video!
awesome!! and yes 6x6 can take a bit, but its so nice once it clicks...thank you!
You had me at headshake "I'm still not over it."
😂😂😂
🤔...Snow in June? Have you guys outsourced the summer...?🧐
Wait you didn’t hear?? Yeah we got tired of the hot humid days so swapped them around this year…
@@Eclectachrome Well, here's a case to be made for a justifiable use of the term "influencer"! 🤗 Incidentally, in terms of affordable good TLRs, the Flexaret might be an interesting option! I got mine for about 70 - 80 €. Ted Forbes introduced in *two videos. He is also very knowledgeable about TLRs! I could imagine a good chance, he'd be able to identify the model of your Rollei!
ua-cam.com/video/GRemcTtwqpg/v-deo.htmlsi=l3HxPVnzAjorBrm6
ua-cam.com/video/eE-Uvm1g3KU/v-deo.htmlsi=p0QuiryzIbfMyJcx
Hey, for the screen, get in touch with Rick Oleson, he will check the S/N whether he can support you. I got a screen from him for Mamiya C330S and for waist level finder it works well.
i 'll second that recommendation. i have one of rick's brightscreens in my rolleiflex 2.8f and it is worth every penny. he's also fantastic to work with. super friendly and helpful.
Fab thank you!! Does he have a website or instagram?
Thanks!
@@Eclectachrome Sure he has website, easily google him.
Yes, the screen can be replaced. A great camera and a special classic.
That’s good news, do you know someone who can do it or where I can get it from?
Great video as always! I also love the square format - I had a Yashica D that I loved but every time I used it the act of composing the image through the viewfinder set off my motion sickness (because of how it's reversed) so after one too many migraines I had to part with it. Still in 6x6 just sadly not a TLR.
Thanks!! But oh no that’s rough…sorry that happened, 6x6 is lush tho, what do you use now?
@@Eclectachrome I got super super lucky and found a 500C/M with a prism VF for not a lot of coin
@@ericradej6781 very cool!
$300 is beyond bank breaking for me; I am eyeing a Lubitel-1 for a possible first TLR purchase though
ohh exciting! lubitel's are very fun, i found the viewfinder to be more a circle than a square, but they still take lovely images!
great pickup, but a hint, only the 80mm lens Rollies' are expensive, try for a less common 135mm or a wide angle75 mm, those are cheaper, as not many want them, as like say a Phase One XC they are stuck with the wide perspective.[and it's only on a 6x6, Hasselblad SWC's can go to a 38mm], or for the 500c/m [Leaf shutter]or the 200 series (focal plane)- they go up to 2000th of a second, so is more useful in landscape, but everyone has a preference.
Lovely photos. As always. I’m tinkering with the idea of getting a TLR. But haven’t made a decision. 😊
thankya!! ooooooooo yes do it haha well, they are a very cool experience, and fun to shoot with :) what models are you in between thinking of?
@@Eclectachrome honestly I have no idea. I am looking at the Rollei Rolleicord. We’ll see.
Nice! TLR's are so cool. I don't own one yet, but this would be a great option. I'm with you on warming up to the square format. I used to not care for it at all, but I now rather like it (I think Instagram may have played a part). I've got an Olympus Six which shoots 645 and 6x6, and the trusty Holga of course. You could say the 645 masks have collected a fair bit of dust this year, lol. Cheers! 😁📸💙
The Olympus Six sounds cool! Hahah yeah 645 is nice but definitely collecting dust for me ✨
The MX EVS is the model that came after this one.
OMG, Steven Seagull. I thought I was done grieving but this video just ripped the scab right off 😂
Rest in peace Steven!! Sitting in my dresser actually haha I miss using ‘im 😭😭😭😭😭😭
You are selling me on this camera, lol and I am not good with TLRs! But that camera also looks sooo nice. I love the lens cover. Ya not a good reason to want a camera but it is visually appealing. And your images turned out wonderful! I have a yashica 124 tlr i need to shoot. I prefer square but I have a hard time focusing a tlr 🤓
Hehe it’s lush! The yashica 124 is an amazing camera but I do agree with you that it is hard to focus TLRs!! Would be amazing to have a split prism screen, or something like that, or if a rangefinder patch could be put in the TLR even though I know that’s not a thing lol
Love my Rolleiflex MX! Yours is super clean, worth every penny of that $300! Mine has the 3.5 Xenotar, supposedly even sharper than the Tessar but shhh thats our little secret.🤐
heheh i won't mention it, it did come in lovely condition! thanks!
A Rolleiflex is a Rolleiflex! And the SK Xenars are definitely post-war TLRs. Great results, and enjoy the camera!
haha this is true :) and oh cool thanks!! (for the confirmation of time made :) ) it was hard to find a resource for it lol
What is the maximum shutter speed? Is the shutter still fairly accurate? Especially the lower speeds under 1/10?
Max is 250 and yes ☺️
@@Eclectachrome you found a gem...
I am using the same Rolleiflex MX! 😊 My camera is the Tessar lens version. This camera offers shutter speeds of up to 1/500 second. However, if you want to use a speed of 1/500, you must first set the shutter speed before loading film. If you load film first, you will not be able to move to that shutter speed later.
Just so ya know... It's hip to be square! I've owned my MX-EVS for years and it's one of those cameras that will be with me to the end.
Nice!!!
It's pretty easy to rewind the film in the darkroom. I made the same mistake just once, and respooled the film. It only takes a few minutes. Simple.
The MX-EVS is a similar but later camera. With the EVS cameras the relationship between the shutter speed is locked together. Change from f 5.6 to f 8 and the shutter speed increases from 1/125 to 1/60. Of course, there is a way to unlock that relationship but it is an additional annoying step. When my MX-EVS type 1 was CLA'd, the technician surgically removed the locking feature. The later MX-EVS has a way to leave the two unlocked but the early version provides no such choice short of having it modified. They did something similar in the 1950s era Rolleicords, but it was even more annoying. Depending on the model, Rollei had two different size focus knobs. I think the focus knob on the MX is smaller than the one on the MX-EVS, but I may be wrong about that. It's a bit easier to work with the larger knob.
The whole idea of Exposure Values was a great 1950s concept in theory that turned out to be a royal annoyance in practice when built into the camera. On the other hand, the feel of the Rolleiflex is just amazing. My Tessar lens takes great pictures. All in all a wonderful camera.
Do you tape it to another spool and wind back from there? Hopefully I won't be forgetting again but never know haha and oh yes I was wondering about the shutter lock, mine doesn't have it so its definitely not an EVS then, thanks! i can see how it can get annoying lol and yes the way it feels and operations is a dream!
I am really jealous. It's 90f at noon down here. Trying to make Art with a work of art is a joy isn't it? -a random mike
BTW From f4 there is no real difference between a f2.8 and an f3.5. The lenses are that good.
Well now it’s around 85 here!! Yes such a joy!!
I enjoy my medium format box, plastic, pseudo-TLR and folding cameras -- but they really can't compete with the focus and control of the TLR 'big boys' -- maybe it's time to upgrade??? Wait -- I have a decent UNIFLEX I TLR that I have not tested out (120 and 620, 6x6, 75mm f5.6-f22 taking lens, B-1/200) -- at least it's a solid, metal TLR, with a little lower features than a Rolleiflex, but I can see if I like shooting that style (look down, what? No, look down!!!)....
its a hard competition!! but always good to start with whatcha have unless you are looking for an excuse to go shopping haha
Woooo-hoooo -- camping on the ice! Sign me up!!!! 😂 I know -- ice fishing!!!
Very happy that I came across this video because it’s hard to find other female photographers 😅 looking forward to seeing the rest of your videos 🎉
Right?!
I know how you feel! I have a whole video dedicated to female film photographers (published in March) and more from prior years 😊 and thank you!
@@Eclectachromewell done. I received only a few hours ago the same camera. If you want to know the date, look at the serial number. Online you'll find a chart which gives a good idea.
I think this Rolleiflex 1953/4 is no different from the expensive 2.8mm. You have to compensate for that. So what?
I think the choice of film is key.
100 iso for very fine grain, low contrast high key or 400 for more blacks and drama.
I'm nervous. Used to have a Yashica 124 mat a Rolleiflex imitation, but then got sucked into digital with Nikons, Canon, then Sony.
But the concentrated image in the dark square? Incomparable. I just know it after years of too many too thoughtless shots.
Like it. Cheers
You give me this Kamera and give a 5dmark2
And, best power to price ratio TLR is Yashica 124G. Robbie Maynard loves it, so do I.
I had one of those and didn’t love it, though it is an awesome camera! Something about it not for me tho!
BARNETT screen ; HARRY FLEENOR will guide you to him.
Eclectechrome, you ain't seen nothing yet! wait till you try a Hasselblad, 200/500 series, then you will be hooked, in fact a vampire 'blad' will bite you!!, nothing like it, the subject separation, and Unlike SONY, this is still the cheapest way of OWNING Carl Zeiss glass (yes, every one is CZ glass); and such an icon, hold one!! you won't regret it, but your wallet will 🙂
haha that series does look phenomenal (the photos I mean) but I've tried shooting cameras formed like that (Mamiya 645 & Kiev 88) and the style of shooting and holding the camera isn't for me, but the glass and images I see from other photographers is awesome!