Rolleicord REVIEW and SHOOT - early 1950s Rolleicord III vintage camera review and film test

[@mathieudelarue3086]

I recently bought a Rolleicord III and have had excellent results (mostly B+W). I paid a little over the odds for it but it had good provenance. It was purchased new in 1953 and was used very occasionally. It came with an Eveready case in very good condition. It soon became my favourite camera - simplicity combined with superb prints.

[@the120ist]

They are good cameras, I didn't really give this one a good run. If I had the chance again I would do it differently, first off I would give it proper clean before i took it out shooting! My bad... They are great cameras though, and they have a loyal following. Enjoy yours!

[@WriterAndBanker]

Excellent video thank you. I have just decided to load film into my Rolleicord III and needed the run through on the operation. First time using this camera.

[@the120ist]

Good luck!

[@clivecartey]

I have a 'Rolleicord II' and the very strong advice I was originally given was to use a dedicated 'square' 'Rolleicord' Lens Hood and...yes....it really makes a difference. Not saying that is the solution to your problem but it is most certainly worth a thought and perhaps a second try ?

[@jackthompson8377]

Regarding the shutter, I didn’t like it at first but I cradle the camera in my right hand and release the shutter with my thumb - a very steady way to shoot.

[@lucianofreaza302]

The Rolleicord is a great camera. I just got one yesterday (model III) for $35 (in Brazil). I have to clean the lenses as well and the focus screen is dark. The shutter speed is too fast in slow speeds but, sometimes, using the camera is enough to fix it. I love TRLs and have two Rolleiflexs, two Yashicas and now a Rolleicord III. Also I have 35 mm Rolleis (I have a collection of vintage cameras). A lens hood can improves the image quality in certain angles in relation to the Sun. Small sctratches have very little effect on IQ. The scratch needs to be very visible and deep to degrade the images substantialy. I'm like you. I'll test the camera with film before fixing it.

[@the120ist]

I love a TLR too! I wasn’t so excited about the Rolleicord III, but I’m glad I tried it. I have recently bought a Rollei SLX, and that promises to be a very interesting camera! I’ll be posting a video on that soon. I agree the scratches shouldn’t make all that much difference. But I don’t think I really checked the lens closely before I shot that camera, and I really should have! Lesson learned! 🤦‍♂️

[@handmadephotography1446]

Old lenses tend to flair. So a lenshood helps a lot. I shot a lot of cameras from the30s and 40s. They all have the same problems cause they are not coated es modern lenses. Shooting against the sun always flairs. Suberb video I like it.

[@the120ist]

You're right, there were quite a few reasons I was getting that flare, and on reflection the scratches were probably way down the list! No lens hood would be number one (combined with having a lens with no coating), and a close second would be that the lens was filthy! Two more things to add to the list of mistakes I won't make again!

[@highlander200107]

Lenses of this age absolutely will flare when light hits the lens; and a hood will help prevent that flare up/loss of contrast

[@carlosdommar]

I think you've got a lemon. Rolleicords are not 'Flexes but they usually much better optically and mechanical than Yashicas 124s (I don't know the 635 model though). I have a 'Cord Vb Type 2 and it's amazing with its Xenar lens

[@the120ist]

Yeah not a great experience this one, I sold the Rolleicord soon after this vid and haven't gone back. One day maybe.

[@michelk5]

Hello! I have the same camera and no problem with haze in my photographs, but i always use a lens hood. I don't think small scratches on the lens can be a problem. The schneider Kreuznach 75/3.5 is very good and exactly the same lens as on some Rolleiflexes so you should get the same results! You got a good price, i paid 180 euros but from a retailer to get a short waranty.

[@the120ist]

You're absolutely right, I'm pretty sure the haze was actually a combination of the lens being pretty dirty and having no lens hood. The scratches will likely have had an effect, but not much. Shortly after this video I took the lens out and took it apart, cleaned it piece by piece, and the next roll of film through the camera was totally different. I put it through its paces shooting close to the sun and it performed as well as any other lens would without a hood! 180 euros is a great price this camera with a warranty. It is a great camera!

[@lucianofreaza302]

@@the120ist The Rolleicord is a great camera. I just got one yesterday (model III) for $35 (in Brazil). I have to clean the lenses as well and the focus screen is very dark. The shutter speed is too fast in slow speeds but, sometimes, using the camera is enough to fix it. I love TRLs and have two Rolleiflexs, two Yashicas and now a Rolleicord III. Also I have 35 mm Rolleis (I have a collection of vintage cameras). A lens hood can improves the image quality in certain angles in relation to the Sun. Small sctratches have very little effect on IQ. The scratch needs to be very visible and deep to degrade the images substantialy.

[@patrickstack5185]

Sorry you have the issues with your 'Cord lll, sometimes an Ebay purchase isn't what you hope for. Two choices, either have it serviced professionally to restore it to the state that will please you and be the camera it's capable of being, or abandon it and look for one that is in excellent condition, mechanically and optically. I have a modest Rollei collection, 'Flexes and 'Cords, in the right application I find the 'Cord to be surprisingly close to the 'Flex in image quality. They are surely not second rate slouches and can easily hold their own. That church and cemetery are a lovely setting, I can see why you're fond of it. Thanks for the post and photos. Patrick

[@the120ist]

Thank you for your message. I actually blame myself for this one, I didn't check the lens carefully when it first arrived. There were light scratches to it, but it was also quite dirty. The quality of the images would have been helped quite a bit by just giving it a careful, thorough clean. But alas, scratches to these old lenses are a death sentence I think. Not a lot you can do to recover, as far as I'm aware. I had some good results with an enlarging lens a few years ago, where I used a super fine powder to essentially grind down the top layer. Only any good with very old lenses, 80+ years old,. otherwise you're going to grind off any coating that the lens has. Not recommended!

[@patrickstack5185]

@@the120ist My old "Cord II had some fine abrasions and a large mark that had a light colored smear effect, maybe paint. As you said, there is no coating on these old lenses. I used a lens cleaning cloth and just a touch of a low abrasion polish, several swipes and the smear was gone, then I just gave it a good cleaning. The fine marks were left as is, the images were bright and clear, there was no affect from anything. With high magnification I could see the remaining surface blemishes, but literally no defects in the images. So I'm thinking your camera will be a very useful and capable Rollei. Patrick

[@theoldfilmbloke]

The Body Work of your looks in better condition than MY 'Gift' one BUT my LENS has NO Scratches and I used a bayonet 1 lens hood off my Rolleicord Vb and Rolleiflex T.

[@the120ist]

Hi Peter! I'd prefer a more beat up body and a cleaner lens, given the choice! A lens hood would definitely be a good idea though... oops!

[@mattsisley3700]

Hi 120ist interesting you had The Rolleicord iii and Yashica 635. Which one would you recommend? Regarding photos is the quality the same for both cameras? Interested in your thoughts. Thanks Matt

[@the120ist]

Hi, that's a tough one! They are very similar cameras in function, build quality, size, weight... almost everything. I'd say the Rolleicord has an edge in image quality, sharper and slightly better contrast. But the Yashica tips it for me with character. Put it this way, I've sold the Rollei, and I still have the Yashica and still shoot with it at least once a week. A lot of far more expensive cameras have come and gone, but the Yashica is still there on my shelf!

[@mattsisley3700]

@@the120ist Hi again, Thank you for your reply. Further to that i was looking at The Rolleicord III and The V series such as the VA and VB there does not seem to be too much to distinguish between them. Have you had any experience with these? I would also include the ikoflex 1c as well. Thanks again. Matt

[@lucianofreaza302]

@@the120ist I love the colours and character of Yashinon lenses. They can produce superb images with a charming vintage look.

[@the120ist]

@@lucianofreaza302 I love the yashica for the character of the images it produces. They have a distinctive feel to them, for sure! 👍

[@liwill3143]

Hello! thank you for this great video, can this model iii do double exposure?

[@the120ist]

Yes it will allow double exposures. There's no physical in between the shutter and the wind on gear, so as long as you don't wind on, you can keep exposing the same piece of film over and over.

[@liwill3143]

@@the120ist thanks～

[@ArthurJS123]

I have yet to see any Kentmere results that I like. They all look like gray, flat, miserable days. No contrast, just depressing grays. Film is insanely expensive now, but I think I’d have to be destitute to give Kentmere a go.

[@the120ist]

Yeah I haven't been all that impressed. Whatever I shoot with, I always find myself coming back to FP4. I think we all end up with a favourite film stock that we know through and through, and get predictable results from right?

[@kodithebear]

My yashica 635 has started to not wind on correctly at the start and end of roll. I now manually wind on and line up numbers if it happens. Frustrating but I guess on a 40 year old machine this is bound to happen. At least there is an easy fix.

[@the120ist]

Noooo!! Not the 635! What's happening to it? What is it doing?

[@the120ist]

I checked out your website by the way, there's some amazing work there! So good! What other cameras are you using?

[@kodithebear]

the120ist Thanks! Mostly the yashica 635 and Canon 5d Mark 3.

[@kodithebear]

the120ist it’s not winding on correctly. I find on occasion I need to manually wind to see the frame numbers in the wee window.

[@Andregg2]

here in my country you can just bring to the ''old man'' and he let it brand new for you, working everything as it should be

[@jasperkrebs4097]

whats the difference between fp4 plus and hp5 plus

[@the120ist]

It's a good question! People can get really technical when talking about the different characteristics of film stock... but to super simplify things - FP4 is more contrasty, HP5 less contrasty. So if you have a low-contrast scene in front of you, for example a standard British day with cloud cover and soft, if any, shadows, then FP4 might be a good choice, because it will accentuate what contrast there is. HP5 on an overcast day would give you a pretty flat negative. But if it was a day with powerful sunlight and the scene in front of you had lots of bright sunlit spots and deep shadows, then HP5 will do a better job of rendering both highlights and shadows. FP4 is a lower ISO/ASA film as well, at 125, as opposed to the box speed of HP5 which is 400. So FP4 will give you a finer grain.

[@kodithebear]

As for your camera and this issue. It’s all about character ? Even with the haze the images have character!?

[@the120ist]

Yeah.... maybe... I know you're right! But some part of my brain always tells me I should be pushing for the cleanest image. But like you say, it has character, and that's really what I love about these cameras. Every single one is unique, and you just don't know what you're going to get when you try a 70 year old camera for the first time! I'll try fixing it, but I'm not going to risk wrecking it in order to fix it. I was actually pretty happy with some of the images I got. If I can't improve it at all then I'll carry on running roll through it until I work out what the camera's strengths are - what situation makes this camera, with its quirks, create images that I love. The roll i shot with it in the video is just the start of a journey!

[@neilpiper9889]

Clean the back of the lens and use a lens hood.

[@the120ist]

I know I know!

[@أمةالله-ر1س]

لدي واحدة كم ثمنها؟

[@Andregg2]

Finally a video talking and showing pics taken with the rolleicord 3. I Have mine and im shooting for the last 2 years. I got it mine from my grandpa, who was the first owner of the camera. My one its restored and in really good shape. But sometimes i wonder if the lenses are sharp as it used to be. Well idk, can u make another shooting video with it when you fix the problems of yours? I would like to make a comparation between your first pics and next ones. And one more thing, if you could check some B&W pics i did recently with my rolleicord 3 i would reeeeally appreciate your feedback about not only the pictures but of the lenses and what you think in General. Btw you got one subscriter :) flic.kr/s/aHsmNAVyp9

[@the120ist]

Hey, thanks for the sub! I actually took the lens apart just a few days ago and cleaned each element individually, I’ll be uploading that video soon, I’ll let you judge the results. But I definitely thought I wasn’t getting the sort of sharpness I was expecting. I’ll take a look at your Flickr, I love seeing other people’s photos, especially with the same camera.

[@Andregg2]

@@the120ist that's so cool. You did that by yourself? Idk of I'm brave enough for that hahaha. Thanks, I appreciate it, and I'm waiting your feedback :)

[@the120ist]

Taking the lens apart was no problem, really easy actually, you just unscrew one group from the front and the other from the back with a lens spanner. You could easily do it! I dread the day I have to take apart a shutter mechanism... anything super tiny and involving springs is a big issue for me!

[@Jelisawesome]

@@the120ist did you upload that video?

[@the120ist]

You know, I filmed the post-clean shoot, and I have the shots, but I lost the vid of actually doing the clean, so I hesitated, meaning to shoot it again. The coronavirus wave 2 hit, I lost a ton of bookings and I had to sell off some gear. And sadly the Rolleicord was worth some cash. Maybe I'll finish it off and upload it anyway, and show the before and after, just to show that all it really needed was a clean! This virus is totally messing everything up!

[@mmmelamine7326]

i have 3 camera of Rolleicord any one interested to buy this ? contact me