Rolleiflex Original image by Eugene Ilchenko (Image rights)

See also the article Rolleiflex.

Franke & Heidecke launched the original Rolleiflex TLR in January 1929 after eleven prototype units had been built 1927-28 and 12 production samples in late 1928.

It was made for 117 (B1) film and gave six 6x6cm frames on a roll. It could be converted to accept 620 or 120 film and give 12 exposures. The back was not hinged as on later models. Film was advanced by a knob. It had no frame counter. There was a choice of two different lenses, both Zeiss Tessars, with the apertures F4.5 or F3.8, respectively. The F4.5 was considerably cheaper and the most popular model.

ModelsEdit

• 610 (prototype) 1928
• 611 and 613 with Tessar f/4.5 75mm, 1929
• 612 and 614 with Tessar f/3.8 75mm, 1929-32

Some specificationsEdit

• Manufactured between 1928-32
• Finder lens: Heidoscop 1:3.1/75 mm
• Filter size: taking lens 28.5mm, finder lens 24mm push-on
• Shutter: F.Deckel-Compur 1-1/300 +B & T
• Film Transportation: winding knob, red window for exposure number on back, film pressure plate without color coating.
• Manual shutter tensioning
• Serial numbers: 1–199 999

LinksEdit

• on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand
  • Rollei Rolleiflex Original
  • Rollei Rolleiflex Original 611
  • Rollei Rolleiflex Original 612
  • Rollei Rolleiflex Original 613
  • Rollei Rolleiflex Original 614

• 'Rolleiflex original' auction prices at CollectiBlend.com
• Original Rolleiflex listed at number 11 in Jason Schneider's Top 20 Cameras Of All-Time on Shutterbug.