The Weird Feeling Of "Freedom" with A TLR?

[lshofstra]

Keith,
I don't get -understand- this aging eyesight bit. Due to age I use 2.0 (+) glasses to read. That means I can see both the waistlevel finder and the controls (also meaning values indicated) with my glasses on. With an 35 mm rangefinder I use the viewer without glasses but won't be able to make out the counter or whatever value indicated on the outside of the camera or lens. So in fact I find the TLR more comfortable to use, no need to put glasses on and off, I simply keep them on to look at the camera and look over the top of them at whatever scene I'm interested in.
By the way, separate issue adressed to the rest of you, reverse image has never been a problem for me. I think it's because I tend to look at the viewer as if it were a photograph, more or less unrelated from the reality in front of me. With a normal viewer that's harder to do. I guess people with digital screens should get the the same slightly disconnected feeling, but not having tried it that's just a guess. Anyone recognize this?

[ChrisN]

After you've learned to cope with a large-format ground glass (with the image reversed and upside-down), the simply reversed image in the Hassy or TLR viewfinder is no problem!

[Uncle Bill]

I started using my brother's Rolleiflex Automat back in August and found I have no interest in any other medium format camera. Aside from the reward of some really killer negatives (especially for printing), I like the fact I only have one lens and I have to make do with what I got loaded in back. I have been using the camera mostly for landscapes and some portraiture, I want to try the Rolleiflex for some street photography.

[usagisakana]

As a result of this thread, and the thead about Vivian Maier (posted by pesphoto I believe), I am looking at acquiring a rolleiflex... damn GAS!

[Uncle Bill]

Originally Posted by usagisakana

As a result of this thread, and the thead about Vivian Maier (posted by pesphoto I believe), I am looking at acquiring a rolleiflex... damn GAS!

There is no cure, only remission. I am getting my Series E Planar for Christmas

[andredossantos]

Never had a problem with the reversed image either. In fact, I didn't even realize my first WLF was reversed until a friend looked down and said "hey, everything is backwards!"

Previously the hasselblad was my go to camera but lately I'm reaching for the TLR more and more often. Great camera for street shooting IMO.

[Doug]

The good side of TLRs is that they're pretty compact for the negative size. The left-right reversal bothers me a lot. I must not have sufficient motivation to either put up with that or learn to like it. When I used a borrowed Rollei I suffered. With a Mamiyaflex C1 I liked the PorroPrism but the rig was clearly not made for comfortable use at eye level. Also I'm not fond of square formats. So from the 70's I've loved the big ergonomic Pentax 6x7. It's sure not stealthy, but folks seem to just ignore it.

[Al Kaplan]

You can stick a prism on many Rolleis and Mamiya even made a Porroflex for the Rollei.

[Sjixxxy]

I still muck up the left/right reversal quite a bit. Attempting any sort of dutch angle really throws me off as well.

Nifty if you need to get a shot over a wall or row of heads.