Rolleiflex Original (621/622 Series)
Name/Title
Rolleiflex Original (621/622 Series)Entry/Object ID
503Tags
Relic, IconicDescription
This is a true holy grail of camera history. The Rolleiflex "Original" was the first production Twin Lens Reflex camera, a design that would go on to dominate professional photography for the next 40 years. This specific unit is a very early model, identifiable by the "rim-set" Compur shutter where you rotate the outer ring to change speeds. It features the famous Zeiss Tessar lens, known as the "Eagle Eye" for its sharpness. The photographer looks down into the waist-level viewfinder at the top, seeing a large, bright image projected onto a ground-glass screen. Historical Impact: Before this camera, professional photographers mostly used massive view cameras. The Rolleiflex made high-quality medium format photography "handheld" and portable. Condition and "Skin": This unit has a lot of character. The original leatherette is peeling and shows the reddish-brown adhesive underneath. In the collecting world, this is often called "genuine patina." It looks like it has survived a century of history. Film Format Quirks: The very first Rolleiflexes used 117 film (which gave 6 square shots). Many were later modified to take 620 or 120 film. Looking at the back, the placement of that single red window suggests this might still be in its early configuration.Category
Camera, Twin-Lens Reflex, 620 Fim
Media Type