Rolleiflex 2.8a with the Jena

[clintock]

I have a 2.8A with the Jena tessar 2.8 in it instead of the replaced-by-recall West German variant.
The camera works, and the glass is good, but naturally, it could use paint and leather..
I wanted a 2.8 but i think there may be some collector value in this thing since it still has the Jena (it must be one of the 2/3 that were just fine, since this camera appears to have had several miles of film through) .

Is this old thing the sort that would be better served in a collection or should it get the 'body off frame' restoration?

meanwhile I shoot with a seagull as I ponder..

[Stephanie Brim]

Use it. Who CARES if it should be in a collection? It's a great camera and those don't deserve to sit on a shelf if they can still do their jobs well.

[erikhaugsby]

Originally Posted by clintock

meanwhile I shoot with a seagull as I ponder..

Your 2.8A will perform much better than any Seagull you can ever find. Please, don't sit it on a shelf for the next lifetime.

[clintock]

Right now it's too ratty for even me to use, the leather is getting in the way, and there is slop in the focus, so it needs some going through to be a user.
I see no shame in something retiring to a display case- human history should be preserved.. I know it makes some krindge the thought of any machine that could work being put in a cage on display.. but it did it fair share since 1948...
Should the original US constitution be taken from it's display and handled by senators just because it can still be read? Should a guy drive an XK-120 on salty winter roads just because it still runs?

But if I had the Jag, i'd sure run the thing some on days like today..
arg.

[rolleistef]

Well, the XK120's got a wonderful stability, (but for salty winter road you'd better take the XK150 for its disc brakes=) but it's not the point...
Yes, do offer a CLA to your Rolleiflex. It's a joy to use and the tessar is absolutely amazing. Moreover , you'll be able to use it for many decades afterwhile and give it to your daughter or son in many years...
And overall, a camera is really unlike a car. You can use a 1930s camera without too much trouble and get wonderful results (see all the Leica enthusiastics who shoot with a IIIa or a Standard), though you wouldn't be very happy with a 1936 Chrisler Airflow on todays road...
People often use the car comparaison (oh it's sooo old) but it's irrelevant for camera. Cameras do not engender global warming.

[dreilly]

You might try Mark Hansen (look him up on Photo.net)...he's a crack Rolleiflex repairman, very straight shooter and is reasonably priced. I hear Paul Ebel does nice work too (also on photo.net). I agree with the above sentiments...putting something on a shelf is fine, unless it has some unused potential in it.

[KoNickon]

Another to try is Krikor Marelian in NJ (krimarphoto.com). I agree -- get it in condition to use it (and anyway, it sounds like it's not handsome enough to be on display!).

[clintock]

Good points all-
Airplanes are more like it for comparison, rather than cars.. Lots of 1948 model Pipers and Bellanca flying every day. That's not really that old..

I'll do some work to my Rolleicord V that looks like it was used as street hockey puck for a few seasons to see how that goes, before I deal with the 2.8..
So far dealing with the innards of the Rolleicord V has been a joy. It's like they built them to be repaired no matter what.

[tedwhite]

Ross Yerkes in L.A. did a great job on my Rollei (CLA & Maxwell matte screen installation).