which TLR

[mark d]

My son fancies buying a twin lens reflex but we are not sure which model would be best for his first film camera, he shoots digital at the moment but he is going to Paris on a trip and I think it is the idea of walking round paris shooting b+w with a tlr round his neck. He will be wearing a beret and a stripped jumper next, very retro.

[Richard Gould]

Originally Posted by mark d

My son fancies buying a twin lens reflex but we are not sure which model would be best for his first film camera, he shoots digital at the moment but he is going to Paris on a trip and I think it is the idea of walking round paris shooting b+w with a tlr round his neck. He will be wearing a beret and a stripped jumper next, very retro.

Mark, The best,without a doubt, would be a Rolleiflex or a Rolleicord, if you shop around you can get something like a Rolleiflex Automat 3 or 4 for under a £100, with a Tessar lens, and in good condition and looked after it will last a lifetime, same goes for a Rolleicord, get a Va1 or 2 for around the same mark, I have both and they are great cameras,and take sublime photos, on the other hand, a good entry level TLR would be perhaps a Weltaflex, another camera I have, in good condition £30 or £40, they lens is not the greatest in the world, it is a triplet, but stoped down the negatives are very sharp, or perhaps a Mamiya Tlr, with interchanable lenses, but you are looking at over the £100 for a good one, There are others, but for the retro look and great results the Rolleis or weltaflex I have used and can highly reccomend, from my own experiance, and maybe a good one will help to convert him,Richard

[StanW]

The Yashica is spoken of vry highly also.

[Richard Gould]

Originally Posted by StanW

The Yashica is spoken of vry highly also.

I would have mentioned the Yaschica but the old mind went blank, age related,Richard

[Phil]

Originally Posted by Richard Gould

Mark, The best,without a doubt, would be a Rolleiflex or a Rolleicord, if you shop around you can get something like a Rolleiflex Automat 3 or 4 for under a £100, with a Tessar lens, and in good condition and looked after it will last a lifetime, same goes for a Rolleicord, get a Va1 or 2 for around the same mark, I have both and they are great cameras,and take sublime photos, on the other hand, a good entry level TLR would be perhaps a Weltaflex, another camera I have, in good condition £30 or £40, they lens is not the greatest in the world, it is a triplet, but stoped down the negatives are very sharp, or perhaps a Mamiya Tlr, with interchanable lenses, but you are looking at over the £100 for a good one, There are others, but for the retro look and great results the Rolleis or weltaflex I have used and can highly reccomend, from my own experiance, and maybe a good one will help to convert him,Richard

I'll second Richard on the Rolleis - superb wee machines, built to a standard you won't find on anything modern. Rolleicords are great cameras, or if you can find a Rolleiflex T I would give that a pop. They're all great, and I guarantee he will attract attention
I wouldn't go for a Mamiya, though they too are fantastic machines, just on the grounds that they weigh a hell of a lot, and will surely wear him out for a full day's carrying!
If he fancies somethiing a bit cheaper a Yashica 124, or a Minolta Autocord are very light and portable and whilst they don't have the same degree of smoothness of a Rollei they're both very good cameras. The lens on the Autocord can actually give any Rollei a run for its money.
As with all old TLRs I'd check and see how smooth the film transport is by running a backing paper from an old roll of 120 through, and would also do that as a matter of course every month or so anyway, just to keep everything sweet. You'd also be advised to buy from a reputable dealer where you have some sort of comeback.
Oh and Rollei accessories are abundant at the moment - hope you find something good!
Phil

[PMarkey]

Have to agree on the weight issue , Svelte my Mamiya is not and compared to a friends Rollieflex 3.5F the Mamiya is positively elephantine


Paul

[DavidH]

I have A rolleiflex with 3.5 Tessar lens, a Minolta Autocord and a Mamiya C220. They all give VERY good results. I wouldn't reccommend the Mamiya as a first film camera as, apart from the extra weight I feel the others are, to use the vernacular, more user-friendly. The important thing would be to try getting a camera in good condition, so a dealer who gives a guarantee would be the best bet.
The Chinese made TLR cameras until fairly recently but I have had no experience of them. Maybe others who subscribe to this site can tell you if they are worth considering.

[Richard Gould]

I didn't mention the Chinese made seagull as, to be honest, they are, in my experiance, utter rubbish, In the past I have had 2 of them, and while they took a reasonable photo the build quality, I ended up having to make one out of the two I had,and that didn't work for long, it was a case of trying to put something right almost every time you used one,T weltaflex that I have, The cheapest of the 3 TLRs I use, is miles better,also, if you can find one,There is a british made TLR, the microcord, which is very good indeed, but make sure, if you get one, you get the Microcord 2, with the Prontor shutter and improved film winding Etc,I also have one of these, they are a copy of the Rolleiflex/cord and with a great Ross express lens,Richard

[Michael]

Mark - If you don't get what you want, your son would be welcome to the loan of my Baby Rollei.

Advantages - pretty full kit (filters and closeups etc.) and unusual camera, easily portable.

Disadvantages - limited emulsion range in 127 (though Rollei 80S is available) and you may not be set up for printing that format. No built in meter. Getting the camera from here to Britain and back may put you off, too.

However, it's an offer.

[Peter S]

Mark, would you please look at my thread in the Sale or Wanted section
for a free, post cost only Prinz Auto TLR camera, and let me know if suitable for your son.
Peter