Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Jan 14, 2008 2:40 PM, David Rodgers <drodgers@casefarms.com> wrote: > That's certainly a nice camera. I'd like to find another Rolleiflex. The > shutter in my 2.8C Xenotar is questionable and I'm not sure it's worth > repairing. Of course it is! 134 USD + shipping with work done by the very best: http://www.rolleirepairs.com/cla.htm > I had my 3.5E Planar CLA'd a few years ago. My only regret is > that I didn't have a (Maxwell?) bright screen installed at the time. Don't give it another thought. The Maxwell screens are bright, but they are more difficult to focus. You see more, but it does not snap in and out of focus like the ground glass screens do. I have a Maxwell screen on a Rolleicord. I have another Rolleicord with an original screen and then something called a Rolleigrid. The Rolleigrid is a fresnel lens that you put on top of your original screen. It redirects those dark corners into a nice evenly light view. It costs about 30 USD on auction. It is made by Rollei. It isn't as bright as the Maxwell, but the difference is not great and certainly not worth 100 USD and the headache of getting your focus correct. Maxwell screens are not quite the same thickness as the originals. You can install them yourself, but it takes some tedious trial and error. Don't get me wrong. I really like both, the Maxwell screen and the Rolleigrid. But the Rolleicords have a 3.2 viewing lens. The 2.8 view lenses of the Rolleiflexes are much better. Looking down a Rolleicord is like looking down a dark chimney. A Rolleigrid on a Rolleiflex ground glass is all you need. Though, truth be said, I am satisfied with the original ground glass of my 3.5E (Xenotar, of course). > Just after I got the E back I came across a used 2.8F Planar priced at > approx what you paid. It had a bright screen. I already had two Rolleis > so I passed. Now I wish that I'd bought it. The bright screen makes a > big difference. The only bad thing about buying an older TLR -- or any > older camera for that matter -- is the potential for repair. The CLA on > my E wasn't inexpensive. It probably cost about what the camera is > worth. Check out the link to Harry Fleenor. He has a fixed price for the shutter overhaul. Daniel