Rolleiflex 3.5F plate

[DaveO]

I have the 3.5 F serial # 2800xxx and noticed that the back plate inside the camera looks like it has two positions. I guess it can be slid down to a lower position. Does this mean it can use 220 film or is it for the glass plate that my instruction manual mentions? What year did this specific camera come out. I looked at a post by Harry Fleenor that said it was 1961, but a huge range of serial numbers were listed for that year.

DaveO

[dpurdy]

Generally it is considered that the2800 series is the latest series of 3.5Fs. The sliding two position pressure plate is for 120 or 35mm. There is a 35mm adapter made. If you move the plate to the top position it should say 6x6cm underneath. I don't think the 2800 series accepts the optical glass back though I might be wrong. If you open your camera and look in the back, look on the right side just outside the film gate. If there is a small stainless steel pin there the camera can take the optical glass back. If there is no pin there it can't. The optical glass back is different in that it has 3 positions for the pressure plate instead of two and the outside of the back is not flat, it has a hump on the bottom.... called a hump back. There is no pressure plate adjustment for 220. If you have 220 capability there will be a 12/24 switch by the crank. 24 means 24 frames, or 220 film.
Dennis