Rolleiflex 4 x 4 - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Rolleiflex 4 x 4

1931

Type 1

Franke & Heidecke

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Rolleiflex 4 x 4 Type 1

Lens:
f3.5, 6 cm Zeiss Tessar, iris diaphragm to f22. Serial no. 1261842 (1931).

Viewing lens: f2.8, 6 cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Serial no. 84017 .

Shutter:
Rim-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/300, B, T. Serial no. 2332816.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
12, 4 x 4 cm exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:
To 1 metre, scale to 1.6 metre.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen with 25 squares without condenser. Frame finder with central mirror. Magnifier in hood.
Automatic stop on film advance after initially setting in red window, not coupled to shutter.
Depth-of-field table. Removable back. Exposure counter advanced by film advance lever.

Serial Number:
133056 .

With:
Lens hood, version without catches, in leather pouch. Box form case.

Rolleiflex 4 x 4

Type 2

1933

Franke & Heidecke

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Rolleiflex 4 x 4 Type 2

Lens:
f2.8, 6 cm Zeiss Tessar, iris diaphragm to f22. Viewing lens: f2.8, 6 cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Serial no. 1337499 (1932).

Viewing lens: f2.8, 6 cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Serial no. 132465 .

Shutter:
Rim-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/300, B, T. Serial no. 2404768.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
12, 4 x 4 cm exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:
To 1 metre, scale to 1.6 metre.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen with 25 squares without condenser. Frame finder with central mirror. Magnifier in hood.
Automatic stop on film advance after initially setting in red window, not coupled to shutter.
Depth-of-field table. Exposure counter. Shutter and aperture settings visible in window above viewing lens. Exposure guide table. Removable back. Exposure counter advanced by film advance lever.

Identification:
Version with leather covered, small focusing knob, window showing shutter and aperture settings, no studs for accessories.

Serial Number:
139188 .

With:

  • Lens caps. Lens hood, version without catches, in leather pouch. Ever-ready case.
  • Proxar 1 set. Brown push-on mount. In box. Serial no. 453955, 453956.
  • Proxar 2 set. Brown push-on mount. In box with lens leaflet, German text. Serial no. 455785, 455786.
  • Iris diaphragm. Version with silver outer ring. In leather pouch. In box. Instructions. Serial no. 291073. Scaled: For daylight: 2 - 1/100. For artificial light: 4 - 1/50.
  • Panoramic tripod head. Early version without holes for camera studs. Pale blue box.
  • 4 x 4 Plate back. Comprises: camera back, 3 plate holders with 1 glass plate, pouch for a single slide. Blue box.

Rolleiflex 4 x 4

Type 3

c. 1933

Franke & Heidecke

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Rolleiflex 4 x 4 Type 3

Lens:
f2.8, 6 cm Zeiss Tessar, iris diaphragm to f22. Serial no. 1372106 (1932).

Viewing lens: f2.8, 6 cm Heidoscop Anastigmat. Serial no. 155346 .

Shutter:
Compur Rapid, speeds 1 - 1/500, B, T. Serial no. 5023200.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
12, 4 x 4 cm exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:
To 1 metre.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen without condenser. Focusing screen with 25 squares. Frame finder with central mirror. Magnifier in hood.
Automatic stop on film advance after initially setting in red window, not coupled to shutter.
Depth-of-field scale. Exposure counter. Shutter and aperture settings visible in window above viewing lens. Exposure counter advanced by film advance lever.

Serial Number:
155838 .

With:

  • Removable cover to red window. Ever-ready case. Blue/silver box for camera.
  • Lens hood, version without catches, push-on mount, in case marked Rolleiflex. Cable release by AGC.
  • Mittel, medium yellow filter, small black push-on mount. In leather pouch. Serial no. 346519.
  • Light yellow filter, small black push-on mount.
  • Green filter, large black push-on mount. Serial no. 381853.
  • Hellrot, red filter, large black push-on mount. In leather case. Serial no. 442630.
  • Proxar 1 set. Brown push-on mount. In case with lens leaflet. Serial no. 506636, 506637.
  • Proxar 2 set. Brown push-on mount. In case with lens leaflet. In silver box. Serial no. 597051, 597052.
  • Rolleipar 2.
  • 4 x 4 Plate back. Comprises: camera back, 3 plate holders with 1 glass plate, Blue box.
  • Panoramic tripod head. Version with holes for camera studs. With instructions. Silver box.

The 4 x 4 cm Rolleiflex appeared in 1931 and remained on sale until the early years of the war. It introduced the crank lever film advance which was to appear on the larger Rolleiflex models the following year.

The plate back in the smaller size for 4 x 4 cameras is rare.

Variations

  • Type 1 - f3.5 or f2.8 lenses. Open shutter pattern, engraved name plate. Small leather covered focusing knob.
  • Type 2 - f3.5 or f2.8 lenses. Window above viewing lens showing shutter and aperture settings. An exposure table on the back of the camera was introduced around this time.
  • Type 3 - f3.5 or f2.8 lenses. Compur Rapid shutter, accessory studs on camera front. Large metal focusing knob.
  • Type 4 - f2.8 lens. Bayonet on taking lens, cast name plate, enclosed shutter.

References & Notes:
BJA 1932, pp. 281, 591.

Academy

Artist's Hand Camera

Kinegraphe Grand Angle

Ross Portable Divided

Special Twin Lens

Folding Twin Lens

Rolleiflex

Rolleiflex Standard

Rolleiflex Automat

Rolleiflex New Standard

Rolleiflex Automat II

Rolleicord

Rolleicord I

Rolleicord II

Rolleicord IA

Rolleicord V

Rolleicord Va

Rolleiflex 4 x 4

Ikoflex

Ikoflex III

Ikoflex Ic

Superb

Brilliant

Foth-flex

Pilot Reflex

Microflex

Mamiyaflex C33