This week I bought a Rolleiflex F3.5 Planar camera (circa 1969). I have been looking at getting a nice TLR, and have struggled to find one I want. Originally I wanted a Olympus Flex, but they are hard to get hold of, and the ones on the bay state they have fungus and/ or haze. High Street Radio down in Croydon happened to have a couple of TLR cameras, so I popped by to check them out.
There was a really bashed up looking Roleiflex F3.5 Planar in there. After tinkering with it for a while, I decided to purchase it. Finally I had my first TLR camera, and I would get to enjoy using this unique device.
After figuring out how to load it correctly, and wasting a roll of Fujifilm Pro 400H, I took it to Camden with me, ready to shoot some film (and a video for YouTube). After shooting my Olympus 35 RD for a vid coming out in the near future, I pulled out the Rolleiflex and got down to business.
In terms of use, it is fairly easy to use. This one has a light meter, and after getting the photos back I have noticed the light meter is about a stop under ideal exposure (not to self!). The dials and controls are very easy to use, and having used film cameras and the Mamiya 645 1000S, I found using the TLR a breeze. The photographs came out pretty much how I envisioned, and the camera balanced well in my hands.
I a getting more and more unsure of where I get my photos developed, as the film comes back increasingly more scratched and grotty each week. I even saw them cutting up film without gloves, and on a guillotine! Poor film!
With that aside, I have really enjoyed shooting the Rolleiflex, and will use it again in the near future. Have a good one - Sly!