The effect Rolleiflex has on people

[Huss]

Today I participated in Ciclavia:

https://www.ciclavia.org/ciclavia_meet_the_hollywoods19

Which means I took some cameras and rode along..

People's reaction to my Rolleiflex was really amusing. So many came up to me to ask about it, and take pictures of it! And were very happy for me to take their photos.
TLRs are really good icebreakers if you want to take pics of strangers!

[Greyscale]

I have had strangers approach me and ask to have their photo taken when using a Rolleiflex.

[raid]

Similar effect to using a Polaroid Land Camera.

[Fjäll]

"Is that a Rolex? My grandfather used to have one just like it!"

"Can you still buy film for that?"

"I miss the anticipation waiting weeks for the film to be developed!"

"Do you develop yourself?"

"Are there still places that develop fillm?"

[Keith]

I took my Crown Graphic out street shooting some years ago. It certainly drew a lot of interest and like the Rolleiflex people were happy to have their pic taken with it.

[Mackinaw]

Originally Posted by Keith

I took my Crown Graphic out street shooting some years ago. It certainly drew a lot of interest and like the Rolleiflex people were happy to have their pic taken with it.

Likewise. Whenever I take my Crown Graphic out in public, it draws a crowd. It seems the more unconventional the camera, the more people are interested.

Jim B.

[DwF]

There's just nuthin' like a Rollei.

[bayernfan]

Yep, sometimes I'm in the mood to chat and it's fine. Other times I have to hide it on my side because people WILL stop you and ask you many questions.

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Same here, it can be a wonderful thing to chat about, lots with older punters. But it does sidetrack, although on a long day at say a classic motorsports event, it's quite nice to stop every now and again as the people are often fascinating.

[robert blu]

A couple of year ago I was taking photo with my (father's) Rolleiflex at a beer fest and as Huss says people were very interested and open to be photographed.

The most surprising to me was a young boy, 12 more or less who wanted to look through the camera. He was very fascinated by the right/left inversion and by the focus mechanism.

And his final question was: " How many Megapixel ?" LOL

[Ted Striker]

Originally Posted by Fjäll

"Can you still buy film for that?"

Heard this many times, for much more normal cameras than a Rollei. It's a true sign of how poorly the film industry markets their products when the average consumer has no idea that film even exists anymore.

[chipgreenberg]

I was out with my Minolta Autocord and got, "Hey, is that a Hasselblad?" I was taken a bit by surprise. I've used Hasselblads in the past. I guess this is common. There's a thread on Photrio
ITAH> Is that a Hasselblad?

[jsrockit]

I’ve had people ask me if I can still get film for a digital m and the x100 series! But let’s face it, the Rolleiflex is certainly one of the sexier cameras.

[DKimg]

Originally Posted by Fjäll

"Is that a Rolex? My grandfather used to have one just like it!"

"Can you still buy film for that?"

"I miss the anticipation waiting weeks for the film to be developed!"

"Do you develop yourself?"

"Are there still places that develop fillm?"

Exactly haha!

[Huss]

I think what this tells you is if you want to go out there and take street pics, people are far more receptive to you if it looks like you are using a relic. It draws them to you and makes it look like you actually care (I do..) because you have a real investment in the process.
It's not like you are just slinging around an AF digicam spraying away, deleting the majority of the images. And they do appreciate that whether unwittingly or not.

I've even had some of the security detail at the Marlborough House in London come talk to me about my Leica M3 (with blue leather!), complimented it and then gave me advice about where to go, what to see and to be careful not to get it nicked!

[WoodallP]

Originally Posted by chipgreenberg

I was out with my Minolta Autocord and got, "Hey, is that a Hasselblad?" I was taken a bit by surprise. I've used Hasselblads in the past. I guess this is common. There's a thread on Photrio
ITAH> Is that a Hasselblad?

Someone once asked me if my Agfa Super Isolette was a Leica.



I guess Kiev 88 users are pleased when someone says "Is that a Hasselblad?"; less so if it happens the other way round.

[css9450]

I've probably skewed the curve by using my 2.8C mostly for long exposure night photos, most often where (and when) no one is around. I usually have the vacant storefronts and busted neon signs all to myself at midnight.

[oftheherd]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

I’ve had people ask me if I can still get film for a digital m and the x100 series! But let’s face it, the Rolleiflex is certainly one of the sexier cameras.

I never thought of it that way. But then I just never could bond with mine like I did with my Yashica MAT 124 G. I finally gave it away after several years of non-use.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by oftheherd

I never thought of it that way. But then I just never could bond with mine like I did with my Yashica MAT 124 G. I finally gave it away after several years of non-use.

Well, I meant sexy to look at... for use, it was always not my style.

[chipgreenberg]

Originally Posted by Ted Striker

Heard this many times, for much more normal cameras than a Rollei. It's a true sign of how poorly the film industry markets their products when the average consumer has no idea that film even exists anymore.

That's really true Ted. I'm not sure how the "Average" person would do it if they wanted to try film. Maybe the'd be a Lomo customer?

[Richard G]

James Bond, no less, used one in From Russia With Love. It was modified to serve as a tape recorder.

[Huss]

Originally Posted by Richard G

James Bond, no less, used one in From Russia With Love. It was modified to serve as a tape recorder.

I’m sure if they modified a Yashicamat to serve as a tape recorder no-one would notice any difference when they listen to the tapes...

[Deardorff38]

"The effect a Rolleiflex has on people"..... The effect it has on me every time I print a 16"x16" or 20"x20" print from that 6x6cm negative from a '58 Rolleiflex T.....makes me shake my head. Such a great camera, & such a great lens. Lighter than a Plaubel Makina, smaller than a Fuji "Texas Leica"," a fraction of the mass of a Pentax 67 or Mamiya RB67.

[p.giannakis]

I had a stranger once approaching me and telling me how much he liked my rollei...


Unfortunately it was a Zeiss Ikoflex Ib....


I didn't tell him...

[jmpgino]

“ CAN YOU STILL GET FILM FOR THAT “ yep, the film manufacturers certainly do not push their products very well.
I am having one of my Hasselblad body’s serviced, the tec says he is busier now than he ever was, when they were still making the cameras !!!!!!

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by jmpgino

“ CAN YOU STILL GET FILM FOR THAT “ yep, the film manufacturers certainly do not push their products very well.

Because it simply is not mainstream... I'm not sure why that surprises people.

[Godfrey]

Originally Posted by raid

Similar effect to using a Polaroid Land Camera.

Or a Polaroid SX-70.
Or a Minox B.
Or a Speed Graphic.
Or ... insert interesting looking camera here ...

G

[Huss]

Thing is when I use my other old kameras no-one has asked
if they could look through the view finder. The twins lenses on a Rolleiflex or
other TLR seem to catch peep’s attention and they want to take a look to see what I see.

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Originally Posted by Richard G

James Bond, no less, used one in From Russia With Love. It was modified to serve as a tape recorder.

It was a T model and featured for a couple of minutes during a scene on a ferry across Bosphorus, from memory.

[jmpgino]

When I was a young teenager I remember looking at the girl Bond was with on the ferry. However when I saw the film again a few years ago I saw the Rolleiflex for the first time, I never gave the girl a glance but I was still rather hot and sweaty !!!!!

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Huss

It draws them to you and makes it look like you actually care (I do..) because you have a real investment in the process.
It's not like you are just slinging around an AF digicam spraying away, deleting the majority of the images. And they do appreciate that whether unwittingly or not.

Why is it always one or the other? and people didn`t use most of their images when using roll film either...

[Takkun]

Originally Posted by WoodallP

Someone once asked me if my Agfa Super Isolette was a Leica.



I guess Kiev 88 users are pleased when someone says "Is that a Hasselblad?"; less so if it happens the other way round.

When I'd carry around an X100, got a lot of people asking if it was a Leica, and a couple older guys thinking it was a Yashica/Canon/etc compact RF.

Carrying the Leica? Everyone thinks its a Fuji.


Oddly enough, nobody has said a word when I've shot with a TLR. I get more questions about my Bronica, including from someone who had a Rolleiflex tattoo who didn't know what medium format film was.

The Fuji GX? always, always, 'how many megapixels?'

[trix4ever]

I get the same reaction with my Rollei, but my best reaction from the public as when I was shooting the City of London at night and these three drunk bond dealers insisted on looking under the dark cloth, they ran off screaming about how everything was upside down and back to front, it really freaked them out....

[Huss]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Why is it always one or the other? and people didn`t use most of their images when using roll film either...

Look around and see how the majority of people treat film and digital now.

Of course not digi shooters on RFF!

[Huss]

Originally Posted by Takkun

... including from someone who had a Rolleiflex tattoo who didn't know what medium format film was. ..

lol that is so bizarre!

[Ko.Fe.]

I have photo where people look at me as at the villager. I was taking it with Rolleicord.
With my street practice I can't add more about using of TLRs.
But on same streets I getting asked, if I'm with Leicas. M-E gets even more comments than M4-2.

[chasfreeland]

Using a Rollei, I was once asked, "how old is that camera?" I answered, "not that old. It was produced in the 1960s." Being 72, that seems to me like yesterday. But my interlocutor gulped, " Wow, that's old. I wasn't even born in the 1960s." Suddenly that put everything into perspective, how old I am and how old my Rollei is getting to be.

[Huss]

Originally Posted by Ko.Fe.

But on same streets I getting asked, if I'm with Leicas. M-E gets even more comments than M4-2.

Do they ask about sensor corrosion?

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Originally Posted by chasfreeland

Using a Rollei, I was once asked, "how old is that camera?" I answered, "not that old. It was produced in the 1960s." Being 72, that seems to me like yesterday. But my interlocutor gulped, " Wow, that's old. I wasn't even born in the 1960s." Suddenly that put everything into perspective, how old I am and how old my Rollei is getting to be.

I have two of the beasties, a 3.5F from 1959 (same age as my M3) and a 2.8F from 1960. The latter, if not in design, looks as though it was made a year ago. I typically take it to things like classic motorsport events where the cars are even older, as are most of the punters. Rather like the cars, I get a lot of comments along the lines of they don't make them like that any more.

Needless to say, at a mere 53, I suspect if looked after both will outlive me!

[dourbalistar]

Originally Posted by Huss

Today I participated in Ciclavia:

https://www.ciclavia.org/ciclavia_meet_the_hollywoods19

Which means I took some cameras and rode along..

People's reaction to my Rolleiflex was really amusing. So many came up to me to ask about it, and take pictures of it! And were very happy for me to take their photos.
TLRs are really good icebreakers if you want to take pics of strangers!

So you were rolling with the 'Flex, but inquiring minds want to know what bike were you rolling on at Ciclavia? Beach cruiser, hipster fixie, aero-disc carbon fiber time trialer... unicycle?