Rolleicord IV vs Yashica Mat 124G

[ic-racer]

I have (and still have) a Yashica 124G that I got in 1975. I also have a mint Rollei 2.8F with prism and I just got a Rolleicord IV. I know these comparisons have come up before, I thought I would just add my thoughts:

I tried to make a table with this browser but it did not come out. Anyway, here are the salient features:

Rolleicord IV has no Fresnel, has focusing on the RIGHT, does not cock shutter when winding but has interlock, does not have crank (has knob), DOES have paralax correction (unlike Yashica), DOES have double exposure override (unlike Yashica), has fixed hood, does NOT take 220, Rollicord is very light and has easily removable back.

The Rolliecord I got came with the original instructions and the original warranty card. Overall works great but has 'snowflake' fungus on the 3.5 Schneider Xenar taking lens (wouldn't you know the viewing lens was spared).

The fungus is not too bad, but I have never willingly purchased a lens this bad. (This Rolleicord was a gift).

I have a roll of film in it now and will see. My guess is that wide open it will be a soft focus lens (nice for portraits) and stopped to f16 it will probably be identical to the Yashinon at f16.

Overall seems like a nice camera. One that I can take everywhere and not be afraid of damage. The whole camera can probably be replaced for less than the price of an leather or metal 'tropical' case for the 2.8 F.

[ic-racer]

I had accidentally ruined a 6x9 Fresnel for my Horseman by allowing isopropyl alcohol to touch it (it turned it white near the edge). Well, it looked like if I cut down that 6x9 Fresnel it might work on the Rolleicord. In fact it works fine, however, it is quite a thick piece of plastic, so it required a significant taper on the top and bottom to fit in the 'fresnel holder' tabs.

This fresnel really transforms the viewfinder. Without it you really can't see the edges of the frame. I knew there was a paralax correction but the bars could not be seen without the fresnel. Now they are visible.

I also realized I had a new old stock Rolleicord strap that I had picked up many years ago (thinking it was a 2.8F strap when I bought it).

[Shmoo]

It's a shame that there's fungus in the shooting lens. I have a Rolleicord IV and that lens is incredible! Have fun with it.

[Vaughn]

Rolleicord IV vs Yashica Mat 124G

Porsche vs Karman Ghia

Both will get you to where you are going, but I prefer to drive the former.

Vaughn

[leeturner]

Also have both plus a 2.8C, Yash D and a couple of Yash EM's. I've had good results from all of them but the Rolleicord (Vb) is the one I use the most. Simple, reliable, light and produces great results.

[ic-racer]

Rolleicord IV vs Yashica Mat 124G

Porsche vs Karman Ghia

Both will get you to where you are going, but I prefer to drive the former.

Vaughn

I actually would have used that analogy for the RolleiFLEX vs the RolleiCORD

I was thinking of some others also:

BMW 508 vs Toyota 2000GT
BMW 2002 vs Datsun 510
Porsche 924 vs Mazda RX7
Porsche Boxter vs Toyota MR2
BMW 3 series vs Lexus

I think I prefer the German car in each case.

[ic-racer]

Just a FYI post, in case any one happens to amble onto this thread via the search function.

Most contemporary medium format cameras have a viewing screen made of plastic that has a molded fresnel lens on the underside, with a 'frosted plastic' on the other side. It is usually a 'one piece' affair.

View cameras and some technical medium format cameras have a real glass ground glass and then have a seperate plastic fresnel lens that goes either in-front of or behind the ground glass.

The Rolleicord IV follows this latter approach. It has a real glass ground glass and it is supposed to have a plastic fresnel lens on top of the ground glass. There are little keeper thingies to hold the fresnel in place. The only problem was that Rollei did not include the fresnel with the camera.

The point I am getting at is that replacing the real glass ground glass with a plastic combined fresnel/frosted plastic screen is actually the 'hard way' to improve this camera. The 'easy way' is to just pop a plastic fresnel in on top of the ground glass (that is what it was designed for). The problem, though, is finding a plastic fresnel without the frosted side. I was lucky in that the Horseman VH series uses a separate ground glass and fresnel that is designed to sit on top of the ground glass, and I had an extra damaged one that was fine on the inner 6x6 portion.

Having a fresnel on this camera transformed it from a 'collectors shelf' camera into a 'user.'

[Vaughn]

Nah...from what I understand, the Cord and Flex both have the same excellent insides, built to the same standards/tolerences. The Flex just has a bigger "engine" (the lens) and a few luxury extras. I have two Rolleicords sitting on my desk -- Vb's (Type 2 and a type 3). They feel much more solid than any Yashica I have ever handled.

Now perhaps comparing my Brother-in-law's 1960 "bathtub" Porsche to my old 71 Super Beetle might be the same as a Rollei - Cord comparison. The engines looked identical and the body work was about the same quality -- and the speeds they could acheive were not that much different!

Vaughn

[ic-racer]

Just processed some FP4 in Rodinal 1:100.

Very impressive, this is going to be a 'keeper.' Although these were low contrast scenes, there is no way to tell from looking at the negatives that there is a little fungus on the lens. This was a good learning experience for me, in that I have a better grasp of how much fungus is required to alter the image. The amount of fungus on this lens probably alters the image only as much as some of the Zeiss Planars that I own that have little bubbles in the glass:o ;not much effect.

When I reach for a TLR, one of the things that will make me bypass the 2.8F is the bulk and weight of that camera compared to the Rolleicord. Especially since I have a prism and the pistol grip on the 2.8F.

BTW: the pistol grip fits on the Rolleicord IV, however, because of the angle of the grip, one needs to hold it in the RIGHT hand. This makes focusing and winding the Rolleicord difficult because both knobs are also on the RIGHT.

[ic-racer]

Nah...from what I understand, the Cord and Flex both have the same excellent insides, built to the same standards/tolerences. The Flex just has a bigger "engine" (the lens) and a few luxury extras. I have two Rolleicords sitting on my desk -- Vb's (Type 2 and a type 3). They feel much more solid than any Yashica I have ever handled.

Yes, those Vbs must be nice! I wish I had one here to compare with this IV. I have only been able to compare the pictures and descriptions in the 'Rollei Collector's Guide.' I agree with you on the 'innards,' from what I have read, the Vb innards were the basis for the GX.