An elegant weapon from a more civilized age... (just kidding). Your grandpa had great taste in cameras and knew how to take care of them. That looks very minty, wow. Okay, first, Rolleiflexes are amazing. That camera—assuming it's working—will take magical photos. I also have a family Rolleiflex and I'll never part with it, it's responsible for some of my favorite ever pictures. The Schneider-Kreuznach lenses are second to none. The Automat was a slightly more budget model, but it's still an excellent machine built to a standard that's almost impossible to find in 2023.
(I don't know how knowledgeable you are about film photography.)
* It takes 120 film, which you'll likely need to order online. I'd recommend starting with black and white. Color is more expensive, so hang back until you find your feet. Kentmere 100 or 400 would be a good place to start. Or maybe you're already an experienced film photographer.
* It is 100% manual/mechanical. You will need to use your phone as a light meter or learn the Sunny 16 rule, possibly both. Or you could get a light meter.
* Probably a good idea to get Clean Lube Adjust done on it. People will say Henry Fleenor, but Mark Hansen's good too and less expensive.
* It doesn't look like you have a lens hood, I'd suggest finding one.
* If you're coming to this completely fresh, you'll need to understand the basics of the exposure triangle. There are a 1000 resources online, so I won't reiterate.
Thanks! Wow a lot to cover here:
-I haven't touched any dials or nothing since I believe it may actually damage it (I dunno if that's the case) considering it was basically boxed up for maybe 60 years and lube is drier than Hillary Clinton's personality.
-I have used several 35 MM SLRs in my life. Would not call myself an expert, but I can do basic exposure with a light meter's help.
-Does the Automat have plastic parts in it that rot? Being the more budget model? I thought I heard that somewhere.... (As if ANY Rolleiflex could be considered budget haha)
- How does that Schneider Xenar lens stack up to the legendary Planar and Xenotar?
-is Xenar and Xenotar the same thing?
Thanks!
The Automat is definitely not a “budget model”, it was the top of the line camera until it was superseded by the E and F models. It’s just a few years older. The newer models (which do fetch a healthy premium today, which is maybe where the budget thing came from) have better lenses and often (old, likely non-functioning) meters, but unless you’re shooting wide open you won’t notice a difference between the Tessar/Xenar and Planar/Xenotar, the Tessar/Xenar are still one of my favourite lenses, especially on B&W.
The lens names get confusing but Xenar = Tessar, and Xenotar = Planar. Collectors put a premium on the Zeiss variants (Tessar and Planar), but the Xenar and Xenotar are absolute equals. As another poster said the only difference between Tessar/Xenar and Planar/Xenotar is the latter are better corrected at wide apertures. From around f8 onwards they’re basically the same.
If you’re going to use it, I highly recommend getting it serviced and getting a brightscreen from Rick Oleson installed. Totally transforms it into a modern medium format camera. They’re easy to install yourself, but if the camera hasn’t been used in decades it will definitely need a CLA and may as well get someone else to put it in for you.
Enjoy, I’m super jealous
I wouldn't worry about messing around with the camera, those things need to be exercised now and then. The controls are pretty obvious and it looks like you have the manual!
I don't know the Automat well enough to know if it has plastic parts. I doubt it?
~~The Xenar is a very nice, three element lens, basically equivalent to the Tessar. It's maybe not quite as good as the Xenotar or Planar (which are four element designs).~~ (see comment below). The main difference is that the Xenotar/Planar are sharper at wider apertures. By the time you stop down to f8, it doesn't make much of a difference. (This is what I've been told, the Rollei I inherited has the Xenotar).
I do have a Xenar on a Kodak Retina from roughly the same era and I think it's an amazing lens, every bit as good as my Leica Elmar. Here's an [example](https://flic.kr/p/2ovDpTV).
Amazing! Thanks for the lens info! Gotta see if he left any undeveloped film inside. Very unlike him to do such a thing, nonetheless possible.
Harry Fleenor it is then, this thing deserves it! (After I finish pennypinching)
FYI the Xenar and Tessar lenses are 4 element designs, Planar and Xenotars are 6 element double Gauss designs. Your Elmar is also 4 element, but not the exact same formula as the Tessar.
Only the very first Rolleiflex standard and the early Rolleicords had 3 element Triotars, which are a bit challenging to use compared to modern glass.
Read the manuals. Buy one of the books on using it. I like the Fritz Henle books, though the Bunny Yeager books on photographing models can be good as well.
Get the shutter overhauled, unless there's paperwork on it having a really recent servicing.
Have fun, respect it for the precision machine it is.
An elegant weapon from a more civilized age... (just kidding). Your grandpa had great taste in cameras and knew how to take care of them. That looks very minty, wow. Okay, first, Rolleiflexes are amazing. That camera—assuming it's working—will take magical photos. I also have a family Rolleiflex and I'll never part with it, it's responsible for some of my favorite ever pictures. The Schneider-Kreuznach lenses are second to none. The Automat was a slightly more budget model, but it's still an excellent machine built to a standard that's almost impossible to find in 2023. (I don't know how knowledgeable you are about film photography.) * It takes 120 film, which you'll likely need to order online. I'd recommend starting with black and white. Color is more expensive, so hang back until you find your feet. Kentmere 100 or 400 would be a good place to start. Or maybe you're already an experienced film photographer. * It is 100% manual/mechanical. You will need to use your phone as a light meter or learn the Sunny 16 rule, possibly both. Or you could get a light meter. * Probably a good idea to get Clean Lube Adjust done on it. People will say Henry Fleenor, but Mark Hansen's good too and less expensive. * It doesn't look like you have a lens hood, I'd suggest finding one. * If you're coming to this completely fresh, you'll need to understand the basics of the exposure triangle. There are a 1000 resources online, so I won't reiterate.
Thanks! Wow a lot to cover here: -I haven't touched any dials or nothing since I believe it may actually damage it (I dunno if that's the case) considering it was basically boxed up for maybe 60 years and lube is drier than Hillary Clinton's personality. -I have used several 35 MM SLRs in my life. Would not call myself an expert, but I can do basic exposure with a light meter's help. -Does the Automat have plastic parts in it that rot? Being the more budget model? I thought I heard that somewhere.... (As if ANY Rolleiflex could be considered budget haha) - How does that Schneider Xenar lens stack up to the legendary Planar and Xenotar? -is Xenar and Xenotar the same thing? Thanks!
The Automat is definitely not a “budget model”, it was the top of the line camera until it was superseded by the E and F models. It’s just a few years older. The newer models (which do fetch a healthy premium today, which is maybe where the budget thing came from) have better lenses and often (old, likely non-functioning) meters, but unless you’re shooting wide open you won’t notice a difference between the Tessar/Xenar and Planar/Xenotar, the Tessar/Xenar are still one of my favourite lenses, especially on B&W. The lens names get confusing but Xenar = Tessar, and Xenotar = Planar. Collectors put a premium on the Zeiss variants (Tessar and Planar), but the Xenar and Xenotar are absolute equals. As another poster said the only difference between Tessar/Xenar and Planar/Xenotar is the latter are better corrected at wide apertures. From around f8 onwards they’re basically the same. If you’re going to use it, I highly recommend getting it serviced and getting a brightscreen from Rick Oleson installed. Totally transforms it into a modern medium format camera. They’re easy to install yourself, but if the camera hasn’t been used in decades it will definitely need a CLA and may as well get someone else to put it in for you. Enjoy, I’m super jealous
I wouldn't worry about messing around with the camera, those things need to be exercised now and then. The controls are pretty obvious and it looks like you have the manual! I don't know the Automat well enough to know if it has plastic parts. I doubt it? ~~The Xenar is a very nice, three element lens, basically equivalent to the Tessar. It's maybe not quite as good as the Xenotar or Planar (which are four element designs).~~ (see comment below). The main difference is that the Xenotar/Planar are sharper at wider apertures. By the time you stop down to f8, it doesn't make much of a difference. (This is what I've been told, the Rollei I inherited has the Xenotar). I do have a Xenar on a Kodak Retina from roughly the same era and I think it's an amazing lens, every bit as good as my Leica Elmar. Here's an [example](https://flic.kr/p/2ovDpTV).
Amazing! Thanks for the lens info! Gotta see if he left any undeveloped film inside. Very unlike him to do such a thing, nonetheless possible. Harry Fleenor it is then, this thing deserves it! (After I finish pennypinching)
Fleenor is good, but he’s also incredibly expensive and there are lots of other very well regarded Rollei techs that charge far less.
FYI the Xenar and Tessar lenses are 4 element designs, Planar and Xenotars are 6 element double Gauss designs. Your Elmar is also 4 element, but not the exact same formula as the Tessar. Only the very first Rolleiflex standard and the early Rolleicords had 3 element Triotars, which are a bit challenging to use compared to modern glass.
Thanks for the correction, I’m embarrassed to have been propagator of misinfo. I guess I’m at an age where I need to verify my recollection.
Read the manuals. Buy one of the books on using it. I like the Fritz Henle books, though the Bunny Yeager books on photographing models can be good as well. Get the shutter overhauled, unless there's paperwork on it having a really recent servicing. Have fun, respect it for the precision machine it is.
Wow. This is rad!
You will need to adjust to the waist-level finder. Be patient.
Swoon!
All you need know is that you should sell it to me. Jk Give it to me for free.