Rolleicord

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Rolleicord Ia
Rolleicord with Carl Zeiss Triotar 75mm, light intensity 1: 4.5

Rolleicord is the brand name for a series of double - lens medium format single lens reflex cameras from Rollei Fototechnic GmbH and the slightly more simply constructed sister models of the Rolleiflex series for roll film with 6x6 cm negatives.

The Rolleicord was first presented by Franke & Heidecke in 1934. The target group was the area of ​​committed amateurs who could not afford the more expensive Rolleiflex model , but still wanted to use a high-quality camera. True to this motto, the Rolleicord models were designed as a slimmed-down Rolleiflex. The difference is generally in the weaker and somewhat simpler lenses, a somewhat darker screen and a rotary knob with a separate locking lever in contrast to the practical crank, which also tightened the shutter, as with the Rolleiflex.

However, the Rolleicord already had a counter and the film transport stopped automatically, so that one only had to watch the film transport when the film was inserted through the famous red window. Set to picture no. 1, the counter was reset and the window closed. With the Rolleikin accessory , a conversion kit, you can also use 35mm films in the Rolleicord but also in the Rolleiflex.

The Rolleicord does not have a light meter, but it has exposure tables that are located on the back of the camera. Some models have a Compur shutter with light value input, in which you simply enter the light value determined from the table according to light conditions and ASA number into the shutter and a shutter-speed combination is set. If you change the exposure time, the aperture changes automatically.

Like the Rolleiflex, the Rolleicord was copied in varying degrees of quality. With the decline of medium format photography in the amateur field in the 1970s, the Rolleicord lost its importance and production with the Vb model (the Rollei cameras were always designated with Roman numerals) was discontinued in 1976.

Due to their very robust and long-lasting construction and the recent emergence of high-quality, analog black and white photography, well-preserved examples of the Rolleicord are still sought-after pieces today.

The picture on the right shows a Rolleicord Ia, which was a top seller for Franke & Heidecke from 1936 until well into the 1950s .

Rolleicord models

model Production period Viewfinder lens Taking lens description
Rolleicord I 1934 Heidoscope 4.5 / 75 mm Carl Zeiss Triotar 3.8 / 75 mm Exposure times : 1–1 / 300 s, Compur shutter
Rolleicord Ia 1936 Heidoscope 4/75 mm Carl Zeiss Triotar 4/75 mm
Rolleicord II until 1950 Heidoscope 3.2 / 75 mm Carl Zeiss Triotar 3.5 / 75 mm later models with bayonet on the taking or viewfinder lens, from 1949 (IIe) onwards the shortest shutter speed 1/500 s
Rolleicord III 1950-1953 Heidoscope 3.2 / 75 mm Schneider Xenar 3.5 / 75 mm Larger viewfinder
Rolleicord IV 1953 Heidosmat 3.2 / 75 mm Schneider Xenar 3.5 / 75 mm Flash synchronization can be switched between X and M.
Rolleicord V 1954 Schneider Xenar 3.5 / 75 mm Lock against double exposure
Rolleicord Va 1954 Schneider Xenar 3.5 / 75 mm as Rolleicord V , however, adapters for pictures recorded in 4 × 4 cm and 4 x 5.5 cm usable
Rolleicord Vb 1962-1976 Heidosmat 3.5 / 75 mm Schneider Xenar 3.5 / 75 mm Interchangeable viewfinder and focusing screen

literature

  • Udo Afalter: Vom Heidoscop zur Rolleiflex 6008. Lindemanns, Stuttgart 1992. ISBN 3-928126-51-2
    (comprehensive work with chronicle about Rollei products, e.g. Heidoscop, Rolleiflex SL 66, R, flex 6008, R, flex SL 35, R, flex SL 26, R, flex 2000 F / 3003, Rollei A110, viewfinder cameras, Super 8 cameras, projectors, flash units, studio flash systems, films, slide frames, enlargers, special constructions, metric, binoculars, tripods, lenses, Accessories and Voigtländer products from 1972 to 1982)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Original operating instructions for the Rolleicord II

Web links

Commons : Rolleicord  - collection of images, videos and audio files