Twin Lens Reflex Users?
Discussion
Anyone here use a TLR?
I've never done much more than mess about with 35mm film but have an opportunity to acquire a Microflex camera. The owner has offered it to me and suggested I bang a roll of film through it and see if it works ok so will certainly do that, but interested to hear if anyone on here uses them?
I've never done much more than mess about with 35mm film but have an opportunity to acquire a Microflex camera. The owner has offered it to me and suggested I bang a roll of film through it and see if it works ok so will certainly do that, but interested to hear if anyone on here uses them?
I had a 1934 Rolleiflex TLR for a while, not only was it a nice object to look at, handle and admire, it worked beautifully too.
I'd like to say that I regret selling it a couple of years ago but to be honest I still don't have the time, money or inclination to do it any justice and it would be a shame for it to collect dust...
I can't seem to find anything more than the few work related shots I took with it at the mo
_MG_3487 by Ben Magee, on Flickr
_MG_9770 by Ben Magee, on Flickr
_MG_9776 by Ben Magee, on Flickr
I'd like to say that I regret selling it a couple of years ago but to be honest I still don't have the time, money or inclination to do it any justice and it would be a shame for it to collect dust...
I can't seem to find anything more than the few work related shots I took with it at the mo
_MG_3487 by Ben Magee, on Flickr_MG_9770 by Ben Magee, on Flickr_MG_9776 by Ben Magee, on FlickrI have and often use a Yashicamat. Slow, wilful, no metering, deliberation required, the image is upside down etc etc. Also a beuatuiful object in its own right and a delight to handle and use. I love it.
TLRs are the nicest way to take portraits, because you can talk with the subject(s) and the camera isn't a black box between your faces - with a waistlevel finder you can just glance down now and then framing, then silent release when the image is right.
Example - a friend and her daughter at play:
TLRs are the nicest way to take portraits, because you can talk with the subject(s) and the camera isn't a black box between your faces - with a waistlevel finder you can just glance down now and then framing, then silent release when the image is right.
Example - a friend and her daughter at play:
Edited by Huff on Saturday 10th October 23:19
Thanks guys-I like both your offerings.
I'm more intrigued than anything else. I seldom shoot portraiture but thought some moody black and white landscapes up at Loch Lomond might net me something nice enough to blow up and put on the wall.
I've ordered a three pack of Ilford stock so will see a) if it works and b) how I get on. I strongly suspect that three packs of film will be enough to satisfy my curiosity so hopefully it won't become a new fascination I can ill-afford! (Was going to try and shoehorn an Il(af)ford pun in there but ultimately it eluded me!)
As an aside, should I decide I love it and want it, what would be going rate for one of these with a nice leather case etc etc? Cosmetically vgc to my eyes and all seems to work without film in it...there aren't a lot on eBay to judge on.
I'm more intrigued than anything else. I seldom shoot portraiture but thought some moody black and white landscapes up at Loch Lomond might net me something nice enough to blow up and put on the wall.
I've ordered a three pack of Ilford stock so will see a) if it works and b) how I get on. I strongly suspect that three packs of film will be enough to satisfy my curiosity so hopefully it won't become a new fascination I can ill-afford! (Was going to try and shoehorn an Il(af)ford pun in there but ultimately it eluded me!)
As an aside, should I decide I love it and want it, what would be going rate for one of these with a nice leather case etc etc? Cosmetically vgc to my eyes and all seems to work without film in it...there aren't a lot on eBay to judge on.
Disastrous said:
As an aside, should I decide I love it and want it, what would be going rate for one of these with a nice leather case etc etc? Cosmetically vgc to my eyes and all seems to work without film in it...there aren't a lot on eBay to judge on.
Seems to be a British version of the Rollei which was expensive due to import tax.http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Microflex
http://www.tlr-cameras.com/British/index.html
Note the reloading comments. Would be ideal for landscapes where you have time to twiddle.
£50?
Simpo Two said:
Disastrous said:
As an aside, should I decide I love it and want it, what would be going rate for one of these with a nice leather case etc etc? Cosmetically vgc to my eyes and all seems to work without film in it...there aren't a lot on eBay to judge on.
Seems to be a British version of the Rollei which was expensive due to import tax.http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Microflex
http://www.tlr-cameras.com/British/index.html
Note the reloading comments. Would be ideal for landscapes where you have time to twiddle.
£50?
I suspect I'd happily offer him £50 for the novelty of it though.
I had a Yashicamat 24G for years and helped a chap on wedding photography with a Mamiyaflex C.
The difference for me was that on a roll of 220, I would reject about a quarter of the images due to the time I took to set things up, with focus, exposure and especially composition. With my digital cameras, I'll take a couple of dozen shots in the expectation of just using one.
I liked the feel of the TLR. It slowed me down a bit and allowed me to think although, for candid shots at a wedding, focusing by moving backwards and forwards, having one around your neck with a remote lead gave rise to some excellent images.
No way I'd go back but I'd enjoy running a film through one.
The difference for me was that on a roll of 220, I would reject about a quarter of the images due to the time I took to set things up, with focus, exposure and especially composition. With my digital cameras, I'll take a couple of dozen shots in the expectation of just using one.
I liked the feel of the TLR. It slowed me down a bit and allowed me to think although, for candid shots at a wedding, focusing by moving backwards and forwards, having one around your neck with a remote lead gave rise to some excellent images.
No way I'd go back but I'd enjoy running a film through one.
Another Yashica owner here, I don't use it that often but I love the experience. My main use for it is as a tool to slow down my digital photography, having only 12 shots to work with at a time means you have to stop and think about every shot so much more - would the shot be better if I stepped left or right / forward or backwards etc. - and I usually find that just one roll will stop me employing machine gun tactics with my DSLR.
Pleasantly surprised to hear so many of you are still using them, albeit occasionally.
I just got a note to say my Ilford HP5+ is on it's way so now quite excited by the prospect of it.
I expect this is the sort of thing where you 'go out to take pictures' rather than happen to have a camera with you when a nice scene presents itself.
That gives me an idea for a new thread, actually.
I just got a note to say my Ilford HP5+ is on it's way so now quite excited by the prospect of it.
I expect this is the sort of thing where you 'go out to take pictures' rather than happen to have a camera with you when a nice scene presents itself.
That gives me an idea for a new thread, actually.
No one has even mentioned image quality yet. Film has a certain look to it, which can appeal, and so do the lens designs used in this era of camera. Used to their strengths the image quality avialable off such a 6x6 negative via a 50year+ old camera can still be jaw-dropping 
PS Another Yashicamat image, taken a couple of years ago one trip north - Uist from Skye one evening.
Dogsey said:
Another Yashica owner here, I don't use it that often but I love the experience. My main use for it is as a tool to slow down my digital photography, having only 12 shots to work with at a time means you have to stop and think about every shot so much more - would the shot be better if I stepped left or right / forward or backwards etc. - and I usually find that just one roll will stop me employing machine gun tactics with my DSLR.
I completely agree - one of the delights of using the Yashi. Shooting in colour by the time you've bought the film, had it developed and scanned it's well over a pound a shot. That makes for some very considered captures - and my 'hit rate' on film is far higher as a result. But mostly its about process. What do I see/ what do I want to capture? I definitely take better pictures with the digital as a result (Fuji X100, which I also love)PS Another Yashicamat image, taken a couple of years ago one trip north - Uist from Skye one evening.
I am very impressed that some many old TLRs are owned and being used!
Personally, I have not used a TLR, yet. Just waiting for a Rolleiflex (2.8F) to be delivered. So I expect to be able join the club within a week.
Given that TLR technology is essentially pre-war, I am expecting something quite different from anything I have used to date. Yes, I know that the cameras were made well into the 60s, and right through to the 1980s, but the fundamental concept dates from around 1929. Incidentally TLRs peaked was in the late fifties, it was around this time that relatively modern cameras such as the Nikon F and Asahi Pentax were launched.
Personally, I have not used a TLR, yet. Just waiting for a Rolleiflex (2.8F) to be delivered. So I expect to be able join the club within a week.
Given that TLR technology is essentially pre-war, I am expecting something quite different from anything I have used to date. Yes, I know that the cameras were made well into the 60s, and right through to the 1980s, but the fundamental concept dates from around 1929. Incidentally TLRs peaked was in the late fifties, it was around this time that relatively modern cameras such as the Nikon F and Asahi Pentax were launched.
My brother had a Lubitel bought for around £9 if I remember. Now over £100 in some ads! I then added a Rolleiflex with a 3.5 lens ( I want the 2.8 but couldn't afford it) as my 1st move from 35mm, with a Zorki 4, to roll film. I loved it and wish I'd never sold it now and as with later view cameras it slowed me down, made me think and gave me a higher rate of keepers than 35mm or digital now does.
Just a pity about film and developing costs (I never had a darkroom), but there is something about film for me and the handling of highlights. Have a look at Matt Osborne's stream on Flickr - he's been using all sorts of film cameras as well as his digital stuff - https://www.flickr.com/photos/32681588@N03/
Just a pity about film and developing costs (I never had a darkroom), but there is something about film for me and the handling of highlights. Have a look at Matt Osborne's stream on Flickr - he's been using all sorts of film cameras as well as his digital stuff - https://www.flickr.com/photos/32681588@N03/
There is something very tactile about a TLR. Winding the film on after each shot, using the remote, setting up the shot in the viewfinder. And in my time, a certain deference given to you by those with other, lesser cameras where the film came in a cassette.
And what else could you have in the glove locker of your car? (One there for nostalgic Motor Sport fans.)
And what else could you have in the glove locker of your car? (One there for nostalgic Motor Sport fans.)
Derek Smith said:
There is something very tactile about a TLR. Winding the film on after each shot, using the remote, setting up the shot in the viewfinder. And in my time, a certain deference given to you by those with other, lesser cameras where the film came in a cassette.
That is all true of a reflex medium format camera, such as a Hasselblad or Bronica. What is it about the TLR that makes it stand out as being different?
Is it the gentle and quiet shutter release?
gck303 said:
Derek Smith said:
There is something very tactile about a TLR. Winding the film on after each shot, using the remote, setting up the shot in the viewfinder. And in my time, a certain deference given to you by those with other, lesser cameras where the film came in a cassette.
That is all true of a reflex medium format camera, such as a Hasselblad or Bronica. What is it about the TLR that makes it stand out as being different?
Is it the gentle and quiet shutter release?
Well my film arrived yesterday so hoping to get some time this weekend to shoot some pretty pictures.
I'm actually quite nervous of loading it. These cameras have a tricky quirk/fault with the loading process (as mentioned in the link Simpo posted earlier) which means you have to hand wind the film before some dots somewhere align with some arrows somewhere else. I don't really know where the dots and arrows are but hoping all will become clear once I open the film up.
As an aside, 120 film ends up on a take up spool and isn't would back like a 35mm, yes? Does the paper backing serve as a sufficient light proofing for removal from the body? Or should I take extra precautions??
I'm actually quite nervous of loading it. These cameras have a tricky quirk/fault with the loading process (as mentioned in the link Simpo posted earlier) which means you have to hand wind the film before some dots somewhere align with some arrows somewhere else. I don't really know where the dots and arrows are but hoping all will become clear once I open the film up.
As an aside, 120 film ends up on a take up spool and isn't would back like a 35mm, yes? Does the paper backing serve as a sufficient light proofing for removal from the body? Or should I take extra precautions??
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