Film Cameras For Lovers - Rolleiflex SL 35 (Photo Gear 13)

.

Carl Zeiss Planar 1.4 / 50mm HFT (Germany)

Rollei Planar 1.4 / 50mm HFT (Singapore)

Rollei Sonnar 2.8 / 135mm HFT

Rollei Tele-Tessar 4 / 200mm HFT

Rollei Quick Bayonet Mount

Attachable Accessory Shoe (sold separately)

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 2.8 / 85mm

Rolleiflex SL 35

Introduced in 1970, the Rolleiflex SL 35 was the first 35mm single lens reflex manufactured by Rollei.

The camera was supplied with lenses made by Carl Zeiss - or made by Rollei under license from Zeiss - and Schneider Kreuznach.

A economical range of lenses was also delivered by Japanese makers - notably by Mamiya - and sold by Rollei under the brand name Rolleinar.

Camera type: 24x36mm single lens reflex camera with exposure measurement through the lens and mechanical focal plane shutter with rubber blinds.

Shutter speeds: 1/1000 to 1 sec and B, electronic flash synchronisation up to 1/60 sec. Continuous rotable shutter speed dial.

Lens bayonet mount: Rollei QBM (Quick Bayonet Mount) – also used on most Voigtländer VSL models.

Exposure measurement: through the lens system with CdS cells, centre-weighted, at working aperture. Meter needle centred with index in finder. Meter switched on by stop-down key on camera top. Film speed range: 12 to 6400 ASA / ISO.

Finder system: Pentaprism, instant return mirror. Focusing screen with central microprism grid, matted screen ring and matted screen with Fresnel lens. Rectangular finder eyepiece with fitting for eyepiece cup and correction lenses.

Weight and dimensions: 585 grams / 141x93x50mm without lens.


Please note:

HFT (High Fidelity Transfer) is a multi-layer anti-reflection coating co-developed by Zeiss and Rollei, similar to the Zeiss T* coating.

.

Sketches of Spain - Badajoz, Extremadura (August 20, 2010)

..

All photographs made with Rolleiflex SL35
Distagon HFT 35mm f/2.8
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm f/2.8

Technical Data:
Camera - Rolleiflex SL35
Lenses - Distagon HFT 35mm f/2.8 + Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm f/2.8
Filme - Agfa APX 100
Developer - Rodinal, diluted 1+50
Location - Badajoz, Spain
Date - August 20, 2010
Scanner - Epson Photo 4990




..

The Family of Zé Preto and the Horse - Montemor-o-Novo, March 2010

..

All photographs were made using a Rolleiflex SL 35 (Rollei Singapore) equiped with german made Carl Zeiss lenses, namely the Planar 1.4 / 50mm HFT and the Sonnar 2.8 / 85 mm. A Rollei yellow filter was also used with both lenses.

Fomapan 200 developed in Kodak D-76 1+1.

I would like to dedicate these modest photographs to someone that I very much respect and admire for many years: JOSEF KOUDELKA.

His book "Gitans - La Fin du Voyage" (copyright 1975 by Josef Koudelka, Delpire éditeur Paris and Aperture, Inc. New York) has been a true companion of mine since many years now, and a true source of inspiration.
I wish I could have the genius and the integrity of Mr. Koudelka's vision...

A special thank you goes also, of course, to the portrayed family!

..

Working Class Hero - 1st of May, 2010

..

Rolleiflex SL 35 + Carl Zeiss Planar 1.4/50mm HFT

Fomapan 200, Kodak D-76 1+1

Lisbon, Portugal, April 2010

Leica M2 + Super Angulon 3.4/21mm

Fomapan 200, Rodinal 1+100 (stand development)

Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, September 2009

Leica M4-2 + collapsible Summicron 2/50mm

Fomapan 200, Rodinal 1+50

Évora, Portugal, December 2009

Rolleiflex SL 35 + Carl Zeiss Planar 1.4/50mm HFT

Fomapan 200, Kodak D-76 1+1

Lisbon, Portugal, April 2010

Zorki 3-C + Jupiter 8 2/5cm

Fomapan 200, Rodinal 1+50

Praia da Amorosa, Portugal, August 2009

Zorki 3-C + Jupiter 8 2/5cm

Fomapan 200, Rodinal 1+100 (stand development)

Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, September 2009

"Working Class Hero" - JOHN LENNON

As soon as you're born they make you feel small

By giving you no time instead of it all

Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all

A working class hero is something to be.

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school

They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool

Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules

A working class hero is something to be.

When they have tortured and scared you for twenty odd years

Then they expect you to pick a career

When you can't really function you're so full of fear

A working class hero is something to be.

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV

And you think you're so clever and classless and free

But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see

A working class hero is something to be.

There's room at the top they are telling you still

But first you must learn how to smile as you kill

If you want to be like the folks on the hill

A working class hero is something to be.

If you want to be a hero well just follow me.

(Words and music by John Lennon, 1970, from the album "Plastic Ono Band")

"Politician" - CREAM

Hey now baby, get in my big black car

I wanna just show you what my politics are.

I'm a political man and I practice what I preach

So don't deny me baby, not while you're in my reach.

I support the left, tho' I'm leanin', leanin' to the right

But I'm just not there when it's coming to a fight.

Hey now baby, get into my big black car

I wanna just show you what my politics are.

(Written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown, 1969. From the record "Goodbye Cream")

It's so long ago and still so fucking true!

..

The castle of Montemor-o-Novo in 35mm

..

October,2008

These photographs were shot with Agfa APX 100, developed in Adolux ATM 49, diluted 1+2. I find it somewhat grainy for such a low ISO film. Maybe comes from scanning? I should try to enlarge these negatives, so that I can compare...


In 1970, Rollei brought out a 35mm SLR camera, the SL35. The camera had a match needle metering system and measured exposure in the stopped down mode. The line of lenses were made by the famous optical company Carl Zeiss, what means "soulfull" excellence! Later on, they were also made by Rollei under license from Zeiss. Most of them used HFT coating technology (HFT = High Fidelity Transfer, is a multi-layer anti-reflection coating system co-developed by Zeiss and Rollei).

Mamiya (and maybe others) also produced a cheaper line of lenses for the 35mm Rollei: the Rolleinar's.


I used such a camera to make these photographs. Although a little "dated" and old-fashioned, I really enjoy using it. The finder is very good, much better than in a lot of modern cameras, and I really aprecciate the high-quality of the Planar's, Distagon's and Sonnar's lenses. Even the Rolleinar 28mm is a very respectable performer, as we can see in the last back lit image. These lenses don't need to be corrected in a post-processing program! Nice and simple "classic" equipment. I like it!