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Rolleiflex is the name of a long-running and diverse line of high-end cameras made by the Rollei company. The "Rolleiflex" name is most commonly used to refer to Rollei's premier line of medium format twin lens reflex (TLR) cameras. (A companion line intended for amateur photographers, Rolleicord, existed for several decades.) However, a variety of TLRs and SLRs in medium, 35 mm, and digital formats have also been produced under the Rolleiflex label. The Rolleiflex series is marketed primarily to professional photographers. The Rolleiflex TLR film cameras were notable for their compact size, reduced weight, superior optics and bright viewfinders. An ingenious tapered mirror allowed the size of the viewing lens (the top lens) 'internal compartment' to be reduced, and this smaller compartment was dovetailed with the bottom taking lens 'compartment', which decreased the overall size and weight of the camera. The Zeiss lenses, particularly the later coated versions, had superior sharpness and bokeh to comparable cameras from other manufacturers. The mechanical wind mechanism was robust and clever, making film loading semi-automatic and quick. A wide range of accessories made this camera a more complete system, allowing close-ups, added filters and quick tripod attachment. Some art photographers still shoot with Rolleiflex TLR film cameras and black-and-white film, the later 2.8F and 3.5F models being very popular. A modernised version of these models, the 2.8GX with multi-coated Zeiss optics, is still being manufactured. The late-model cameras are collectible, particularly in Japan.
Original Rolleiflex This first Rolleiflex was produced in 1928, and was the first medium format roll-film camera. It was a twin-lens reflex camera. Rolleiflex Automat Rolleiflex 2.8A Incorporated the first f2.8 taking lens (either an 80 mm Carl Zeiss Tessar or Opton Tessar) into the Rolleiflex line. It also added an X flash synch contact. Tele Rolleiflex This camera used a 135 mm/f4.0 Carl Zeiss Sonnar taking lens. Wide Rolleiflex This camera had a 55 mm/f4.0 Carl Zeiss Distagon taking lens. Rolleiflex SL66 Rollei's first medium-format SLR, introduced in 1966. Rolleiflex SL 35 A 35 mm SLR introduced in 1970. TLRs Medium format SLRs 35 mm SLRs | ||||||||
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