Rolleiflex Automat MX-EVS TLR - Test Roll

Several weeks ago, I decided to satisfy the photography gear itch and started looking for a TLR camera.  I have always been curious about these cameras because they look really cool, really old, and are medium format. Because of the age of this style of camera, finding one in good condition, both mechanically and cosmetically, is quite challenging. 

First, a little background info on TLRs.  TLR stands for Twin Lens Reflex.  Most camera these days are SLR - Single Lens Reflex.  With SLRs, light enters the lens, gets bounced around a pentaprism, and turned right-side up through an eye-piece for the user to see.  With a Twin Lens Reflex, there are two lenses - one for viewing and one for taking.  The viewing lens has a single mirror behind it and reflects the image up to a piece of ground glass for viewing.  The bottom taking lens, which also contains the leaf shutter, projects the image onto the film.  Because the twin lenses are in close proximity, the taking lens produces an image similar to what is shown in the viewfinder.  But because the lenses are slightly offset, TLR's suffers from a parallax error at close distances. These cameras were popular before the pentaprism was refined enough for practical photography use.  TLR's still have some advantages, such as their mechanic simplicity, quiet shutters and no shutter lag.  Personally, I love looking at images on a ground glass, and the fact that the taking and viewing lens is different.  There's not a definitive way to see what your photos will look like, and the mystery is fun!  

After scouring Ebay for a couple weeks, I eventually found a Rolleiflex  Automat MX-EVS with a Carl Zeiss Tessar 75mm f/3.5 lens.  It was in pretty amazing condition.  This particular model was made between 1952 and 1956, and was the first model to couple the shutter speed and aperture dial according to Exposure Value (hence EVS). Rolleiflex's in particular are built like tanks, and are a thing of mechanical beauty.  The way everything perfectly fits together and the smooth, solid movements of the knobs and switches are just spectacular.  It came from an estate sale, which is always a crap shoot (the sellers usually don't know much about cameras....) But luckily, everything worked perfectly - the shutter fires accurately at all speeds, the film transport works correctly, focus is accurate.  The only issue was that the rear elements of the taking lens had some fungus growing on it (gross), which manifests itself as a white web looking thing.

I took the Rolleiflex to Mark Hansen, who specializes in TLR repairs and is based right here in Portland, Oregon.  Check him out at http://www.zeissikonrolleirepair.com/.  He did a great job cleaning the fungus, and even cleaned the mirror/ground glass.  His rates are very reasonable and got the work done super quick.  I did have to open up the lens again to clean out some dust and hair that got in there.  I fashioned a makeshift friction tool using an empty film canister with a rubber washer glued to the bottom.  Now that all that is taken care of, I have an absolutely beautiful Rolleiflex.  

After cleaning the lens and body, I finally shot a roll with the Rolleiflex.   It's always exciting, yet nerve-racking, to shoot the first roll on a new camera, but I love how the pictures turned out.  I took it on a hike at Mt. Hood with my buddy Tom, as well as wondered around town to take some street shots.  I just love shooting medium format.  If you have a chance to get a Rolleiflex, DO IT.  Be warned though - these cameras stand out like crazy.  Every time I take it out of my bag, someone comments on it.  I don't mind though - I love geeking out about photography stuff.  Check out the photos of my test roll in the gallery below! 

Tom

Tom on Mt. Hood. We drove up to do a short hike in the mountains, then drove up to Timberline lodge to walk around. It was a lovely clear day, but surprising about the lack of snow on the mountain. Lots of brown patches.

VW

An old bug in my neighborhood. I was trying to finish out the roll so i could develop it. I like feeling transported to another time when shooting black and white.

Graffiti

On my daily commute home, I pass by this fence off building near the Hawthorne Bridge. I have been dying to check it out. When I finally got out there to check it out, it was pretty easy to get into - the fence had several gaping holes. And I also saw some homeless people set up camp there. I did get this shot looking in through one of the windows. I like how it worked out.

Self-Portrait

A lot going on in this one. This was taken from the window of a building off of the Burnside Bridge. There was some sort of deconstruction/rehabilitation going on inside this building, hence all the old doors and other stuff on the floor. And there was also these little sticky pads that were stuck on the window in the shape of a smiley. And then there's my handsome mug in the reflection. I like all the different elements, and how it turned out.

Shadow

Shadow cast made from the windows of the stairwell in Timberline lodge. The window had funky lines, which the sun cast on the carved walls. Thoguht the lighting and contrast was pretty cool

Creeps

I went out for coffee with Kelsey, and was showing her my Rollei. She took a picture of the people down the table from us - both to try it out and to be a total creeper. For her first shot, it was pretty in focus and clear. I think these guys were being even louder than we were.