GAS attack! Help! Rolleiflex

[ivans75]

When I was reading about medium format awhile ago, i happened to read some blogs and forums on Rolleiflex medium format 120 rollfilm. The more i read about it the more I fall in love with the model and most importantly, the photos this thing can produce. SO GORGEOUS!!

As black and white photo lover, I ve been trying to close my brain about getting a 3.5F model (2.8 is bit more expensive) and been telling myself, this is not something I want to do (with the hassle of roll film developing and possibility to purchase a high resolution scanner to digitalize the print. I ve been telling myself aa ah aa ah, no no no but the more I read about it the more I want it,

And just yesteday, I watched a movie in netflix called BOKEH (was interesting title thought it was something about photography in apocalypse world) and guess what? The main character in that movie is USING ONE OF THIS CAMERA!!! Traveling in iceland with his fiancee taking pics with rolleiflex. The model itself makes me drool so much as I love things classical ( I play 1926 made CONN silver plated tenor saxophone) and at the end of the movie, they show B/W prints taken with that camera, the B/W composition is just gorgeous. I couldnt believe myself and went online to get more sample pictures taken by this camera and, I fall deeper in love with it.

So I am writing this hoping you can shut my brain not to get it with whatever reason, so please tell me whats the worst thing i will experience with this camera other than service cost, filmroll cost and the rarity of spare parts (i have factored those in my brain but it refuses to cure the GAS attack)
Help! lol

[ameerat42]

Well, I still have an RB67 Mamiya (obviously, 6 x 7 cm negs). I haven't used it since
2010 (and then only briefly). These things happen. Give it some time and
your symptoms of GAS will subside...

Or, ignore all photographic advice and go get one. The acquisition may act as a purgative:confused013
:p:p

[ivans75]

Well, I still have an RB67 Mamiya (obviously, 6 x 7 cm negs). I haven't used it since
2010 (and then only briefly). These things happen. Give it some time and
your symptoms of GAS will subside...

Or, ignore all photographic advice and go get one. The acquisition may act as a purgative:confused013
:p:p
lol you are not helping, dont know much about mamiya, wait dont tell me, i'd want it too lol
There is one from Netherland (ebay)i am currently drooling about trying to hold my finger clicking on the buy now button at e720 posted worldwide. Oh such temptation

tell me just out of curiousity, other than ebay, where can i buy the 120 film roll locally? Do shops like teds develop 120 film? Or I have to do my own darkroom (in this case, i will give up)

[ricktas]

Now reading your post you seem to be equating great photos with the camera...and likely thinking if I buy one of these, then I too can take great photos. You even mention "the B/W composition is just gorgeous"

This is where I now tell you, you can buy the camera, buy the 120 roll film and pay to get it all processed and you will likely be disappointed. The composition and beautiful photos are a reflection of the skills of the photographer. Buying a Rolleiflex will do not one thing for your photography. Same as if I bought a 1926 made CONN silver plated tenor saxophone, amazing though it may be, I can bet I would not be able to make beautiful music on it, no matter how wonderful it was, because i do not have the skills to make it so.

So my point is, do not buy it, cause you are dreaming that buying one will somehow equate to you taking better photos. It won't. Keep the gear you have, which incidentally can take amazingly composed black and white photos, and learn how to be a better photographer. Cause buying the Rollieflex will not make you a better photographer.

[ivans75]

Now reading your post you seem to be equating great photos with the camera...and likely thinking if I buy one of these, then I too can take great photos. You even mention "the B/W composition is just gorgeous"

This is where I now tell you, you can buy the camera, buy the 120 roll film and pay to get it all processed and you will likely be disappointed. The composition and beautiful photos are a reflection of the skills of the photographer. Buying a Rolleiflex will do not one thing for your photography. Same as if I bought a 1926 made CONN silver plated tenor saxophone, amazing though it may be, I can bet I would not be able to make beautiful music on it, no matter how wonderful it was, because i do not have the skills to make it so.

So my point is, do not buy it, cause you are dreaming that buying one will somehow equate to you taking better photos. It won't. Keep the gear you have, which incidentally can take amazingly composed black and white photos, and learn how to be a better photographer. Cause buying the Rollieflex will not make you a better photographer.
Yeah i know this, i thought about this, the samples I saw was taken by experience people yes, but it becomes a challange now...it wont make me better but it will make me want to learn more. No i dont have intention to replace this with what I have, no way not in million years. But yeah, just another gas attack i think

Thanks for putting something to consideration Rick.

[ricktas]

You wanted us to talk you out of buying it, so that is what I was trying to do. But go ahead and buy it and then be disappointed cause your photos are not as good as those you have seen. Stick it in the cupboard and leave it there for years never to be used again. Great well spent $.

[ivans75]

You wanted us to talk you out of buying it, so that is what I was trying to do. But go ahead and buy it and then be disappointed cause your photos are not as good as those you have seen. Stick it in the cupboard and leave it there for years never to be used again. Great well spent $.
I have shut down the ebay tab :) thank you

[Tannin]

Great equipment doesn't make you a great photographer ... and I'm the living proof of that. :)

One thing it does do - and this really only applies to certain technically demanding specialist genres - is prevent buck passing. If Plays With Light takes a not-quite-right bird photograph, he can say to himself "Oh well, it would have been better if only I'd had a mega-wonderful-super lens like Tannin's. It's not my fault." (Not that he would, 'coz he's a smart cookie. But he could.)

When I take a NQR bird photograph, I don't have that excuse. I have the best gear there is: if the picture ain't perfect, there is no way to pass the buck. It is my fault.

That notwithstanding, a real photographer can produce good work with whatever tools he or she has at the time.




PS: No I'm not rich. Not remotely. I have some lovely lenses, but I pay for them by living in a cheap little house, driving a ten-year-old car, cutting my own hair, never buying coffees or eating out, getting my clothes at op shops and wearing them till they fall apart, cooking my own meals, and growing my own vegetables. I save thousands a year doing this ... and spend most of those thousands on things I really like, such as lenses.

Not that I'm weird or anything. I do have standards. For example, I have a shower at least once a month whether I need it or not.

[feathers]

Great equipment doesn't make you a great photographer ... and I'm the living proof of that. :)

One thing it does do - and this really only applies to certain technically demanding specialist genres - is prevent buck passing. If Plays With Light takes a not-quite-right bird photograph, he can say to himself "Oh well, it would have been better if only I'd had a mega-wonderful-super lens like Tannin's. It's not my fault." (Not that he would, 'coz he's a smart cookie. But he could.)

When I take a NQR bird photograph, I don't have that excuse. I have the best gear there is: if the picture ain't perfect, there is no way to pass the buck. It is my fault.

That notwithstanding, a real photographer can produce good work with whatever tools he or she has at the time.




PS: No I'm not rich. Not remotely. I have some lovely lenses, but I pay for them by living in a cheap little house, driving a ten-year-old car, cutting my own hair, never buying coffees or eating out, getting my clothes at op shops and wearing them till they fall apart, cooking my own meals, and growing my own vegetables. I save thousands a year doing this ... and spend most of those thousands on things I really like, such as lenses.

Not that I'm weird or anything. I do have standards. For example, I have a shower at least once a month whether I need it or not.

I finally retired the other week, and l can see l have a lot to look forward too:D

[arthurking83]

What feels like a million moons ago, an uncle let me play with his rolleiflex.
I loved it. Hooked, mainly on the view through the finder. You had to look down into it like you would a phone. It had this flip out shroud and then (what I think was) just the ground glass .. so you didn't have a (single eye) viewfinder.
The image had this amazing 3D look about it.
Have no idea what model/lens etc, I was 10 at the time.
Anyhow, he noticed my affliction for this particular camera(I remember he had a 'collection' but being 10, no idea what that involved).
Before we left(this was in Greece) he ended up giving me a dinky little Rollei 35.
Still have it .. great lil camera, but over the years the lens has been abused so images are a bit hazy.
Back in about 2008 or so I ran a roll of film through it and then digitized them with a macro rail setup(ie. not scanned). They came out OK-ish, but just a touch hazy.

I still have GAS .. or more accurately RAS.
Rolleiflex has been on one my saved searches for years on Ebay .. if this digital photography affliction wasn't so expensive itself .. I'd probably have one myself.

So while Ricks advice is well founded, sensible and mature and totally makes sense .. I'm going the other way!

I'm telling 'ya to live a little. Search within for the natural tendency to be an irresponsible kid again, and bugger the cost and wastefulness ..
It probably means that you may have to wait a little longer to get that uber red ringed L lens you've been lusting over for a while too tho.
At least when you open the door to that cupboard, it'll bring a smile to your face seeing it there again ;)

[ricktas]

What feels like a million moons ago, an uncle let me play with his rolleiflex.
I loved it. Hooked, mainly on the view through the finder. You had to look down into it like you would a phone. It had this flip out shroud and then (what I think was) just the ground glass .. so you didn't have a (single eye) viewfinder.
The image had this amazing 3D look about it.
Have no idea what model/lens etc, I was 10 at the time.
Anyhow, he noticed my affliction for this particular camera(I remember he had a 'collection' but being 10, no idea what that involved).
Before we left(this was in Greece) he ended up giving me a dinky little Rollei 35.
Still have it .. great lil camera, but over the years the lens has been abused so images are a bit hazy.
Back in about 2008 or so I ran a roll of film through it and then digitized them with a macro rail setup(ie. not scanned). They came out OK-ish, but just a touch hazy.

I still have GAS .. or more accurately RAS.
Rolleiflex has been on one my saved searches for years on Ebay .. if this digital photography affliction wasn't so expensive itself .. I'd probably have one myself.

So while Ricks advice is well founded, sensible and mature and totally makes sense .. I'm going the other way!

I'm telling 'ya to live a little. Search within for the natural tendency to be an irresponsible kid again, and bugger the cost and wastefulness ..
It probably means that you may have to wait a little longer to get that uber red ringed L lens you've been lusting over for a while too tho.
At least when you open the door to that cupboard, it'll bring a smile to your face seeing it there again ;)

You naughty naughty man. Lead me not into temptation (quote : some fictional creature from around the B.C. era)

[arthurking83]

You naughty naughty man. Lead me not into temptation (quote : some fictional creature from around the B.C. era)

:p