Traduction de MM

Isn't it cute this miniature Rolleiflex?

This small camera of 1931 is remarkable on several points. It is first Rolleiflex with being equipped with the transport of film by winding lever as well as an associated exposure counter). This will equip Rollei 6x6 (http://www.collection-appareils.fr/rollei/html/Rolleiflex_old_standard_620.php) the following year, in 1932. It is also first Rolleiflex to use the format 4x4.

Features of the specimen presented:

- Compur shutter 1/300 second (cocking and release on the same lever)

- Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lens 60mm F: 2.8

- finding lens Heidoscop Anastigmat 60mm F: 2.8 (like all Rolleiflex 4x4 of this time)

- winding lever for film transportation

- focusing by side button

- transformable chest viewfinder out of sporting viewfinder, with mirror allowing the centering of the eye in the frame

- foldable magnifying glass in the viewfinder

- depth of field table

- the exposures advance is visible with the back by inactinic window, but a counter is also located at the top of the winding lever and can be put back to zero by pressure on a button.

- cocking not coupled with the film advance, multiple exposures are thus possible.

Mine is equipped with a rigid case of origin rather different from those out of leather flexible of Rolleiflex usual which open by the front.

The family of Rolleiflex pre-war 4x4 consists itself of 3 main models of which this one is the very first one.

• Original Rolleiflex 4x4, called Baby Rolleiflex, of 1931

March 1931 to December 1932, serial numbers 135,000 to 145,100.

Compur shutter 1/300 second

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lens 60 mm, aperture 3.5 or 2.8 (the model presented has the serial number 140271)

• Rolleiflex 4x4 of 1933 called Baby Black Rolleiflex (it seems..)

January 1933 to November 1934, serial numbers 150,000 to 154,999.

Evolutions: indications of speed and diaphragm by the top of the finding lens on the right and on the left.

December 1934 to May 1938, serial numbers 155,000 to 523,100.

Evolutions: Compur Rapid shutter 1/500 second and exposure guide fixed to the back.

From 1935, large focusing button.

• Rolleiflex 4x4 Sport

June 1938 to February 1941, serial numbers 622,000 to 733,000

Evolutions: careened shutter and brand engraving of the on the casing, fixing of the filters by bayonet.

As of its release the Rolleiflex 4x4 was success, inter alia, because of its innovating winding lever, but this passion was put back on the 6x6 of 1932 from now on equipped with the famous lever.

So that first Rolleiflex 4x4 is the least rare, and that of 1938 rarest, the more so as it was produced at the dawn of the second world war.

In September 1957, Rollei will start again the concept of Rolleiflex 4x4 in particular under form of “Grey Baby”