Rolleiflex Automat Model 3, c.1947. image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)
Rolleiflex Automat Model 3 is a medium formatTLR film camera manufactured by Franke & Heidecke, Braunschweig, Germany, and produced between 1945-1949. Model 3 is also known as type K4B2.[1]
All Rolleiflex Automat series was produced between 1937-1956. [2] Automat name stands to introduced automatic film counter in 1937; this counter senses the thickness of the film backing to accurately begin counting frames, obviating the need for the ruby window that forced the photographer to read the frame number off the back of the film itself.
Rolleiflex Automat won the Grand Prix award at the Paris World's Fair in 1937.
Rolleiflex TLR film cameras were most famous and the standard of news and studio photographers for decads.
Many photographers still shoot with Rolleiflex TLR film cameras and black-and-white film.
Specifications[]
Serials: 1.050.000 - 1.099.999
Format : film 120 roll (B2), picture size 6x6cm [3]
Franke & Heidecke Braunschweig engravings under taking lens
Aperture: f/3.5 - f/16 setting: via a thumb wheel between the lenses, scale in the small indicator window, on top of the lens plate
Finder lens: Heidoscop Anastigmat f/2,8 75mm
Focus range: 0.85-20m +inf
Focusing: matte glass screen, via a big knob on the left side of the camera, w/ distance and DOF scales
Viewfinder: waist level finder, w/ magnifying loop and sports eye level magnifier. For using the latter, there is a reflector in the hood and opesn by asmall knob on the left side of the finder opens by a latch on the back
Shutter: Compur-Rapid, speeds: 1-1/500 & B; Setting: via a thumb wheel between the lenses, scale in the small indicator window, on top of the lens plate
Cocking lever: also winds the film, on the right side, with auto double exposure prevention, you must return the lever to its resting position after the cocking for making the next cocking
Shutter release: on the left lower front corner of the camera, w/ a locking cap
Cable release socket: on the right lower front corner of the camera
Frame counter: auto reset, above the winding lever, not works without the film in the camera
Self-timer: on the left upper corner of the camera
Back cover: hinged, also removable with bottom plate by latches on the sides, w/ exposure guide table, opens by a latch on the bottom of the camera
Film loading: insert the take-up spool into the upper side by pulling-out the knob right upper side of the camera, then insert the film into the lower side, move the film leader under the chrome cylinder and pull and insert to the take-up spool; close the cover and turn the cocking lever untill number 1 seen in the frame counter window
Tripod socket: 3/8; Strap lugs
Body: metal; Weight: 928g
Engravings beneath the Rolleiflex logo: D.R.P. and serial no.1079399
The camera could be used with Rolleikin I to use 35mm film or with the special glass plate film adapter.
Rolleiflex Automat Model 3 c.1947 Images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)
↑Engravings beneath the Rolleiflex logo: D.R.P. and serial no.; D.R.P. means Deutsches Reichs Patent stating that this design or part of it was patented sometime between 1890-1945.
↑The camera could be used with Rolleikin I to use 35mm film or with the special glass plate film adapter
↑Rolleiflex Automat's more common lens was Carl Zeiss Tessar 75mm f/3.5; Automat was also offered with Zeiss Oberkochen Opton 75mm f/3.5 also
