The Rolleicord is a medium-format twin lens reflex camera made by Franke & Heidecke (Rollei) between 1933 and 1976. It was a simpler, less expensive version of the high-end Rolleiflex TLR, aimed at amateur photographers who wanted a high-quality camera but could not afford the expensive Rolleiflex. Several models of Rolleicord were made; the later models generally had more advanced features and tend to be valued higher in today's market.
The first Rolleicord, introduced in November 1933, was the Rolleicord I. This camera was a simplified version of the Standard Rolleiflex, with a cheaper 75mm Zeiss Triotar lens and a simplified film advance mechanism using a knob instead of the crank found on the Rolleiflex. The Rolleicord I was available either with a plain leatherette covering or elaborately patterned metal faceplates. The latter variant is referred to as the "Art Deco" Rolleicord.
The models that have the letters DRP on the left and to the right DRGM on the front of the camera means that they were made before World War II, because DRP means 'Deutsches Reichspatent' (German Reich patent) and DRGM means 'Deutsches Reichs-Gebrauchsmuster' (roughly equivalent to a design copyright). In post WW2 models you will find DBP and DBGM. They switched from "Reichs" to "Bundes" (German Federal Patent). [1] [ dubious – discuss ]
Later models incorporated improved designs for the taking lens, a 4-element Schneider Kreuznach Xenar, which also appeared on the Rolleiflex cameras. However, while the Rolleiflex was also available with an f/2.8 lens, the Rolleicord was never offered with a larger aperture than f/3.5, thus ensuring its pedigree as an "amateur" camera.
In the early 1960s, Rollei introduced the magic line, which added a light meter and autoexposure capability to the Rolleicord line.
An accessory, known as a Rolleikin kit, was available for the Rolleicord and the Rolleiflex, which allowed those cameras to accept 135 film (35 mm).
| Model | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| I | — | I | Ia | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| II | — | II | IIb | — | IId | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | IIa | IIc | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | IIe | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| III/IV/V | — | III | V | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| — | IV | — | Va | Vb | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| magic | — | magic | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Viewfinder lenses were of Heidoskop, Heidoscop or Heidosmat type, whereas various Carl Zeiss Jena Triotar or Schneider Xenar lenses were used as taking lenses. Post-war Rolleicord cameras generally are equipped with faster shutter speeds and electronic flash synchronization (X-sync).
| Camera | Dates | Taking lens (FL=75 mm) | Viewing lens (FL=75 mm) | Shutter | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Model | Intro. | Disc. | Name | Ap. | Name | Ap. | Name | Speeds | |
| I ("Art Deco") | Model 1 | Nov 1933 | Mar 1936 | Zeiss Triotar | f/4.5 | Heidosmat Anastigmat | f/4 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| I ("leatherette") | K3-511 | Dec 1934 | Aug 1936 | Zeiss Triotar | f/3.8 | Heidosmat Anastigmat | f/4 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| Ia (Model 1) | K3-520 | Mar 1936 | May 1937 | Zeiss Triotar | f/4.5 | Heidosmat Anastigmat | f/4 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| II (Model 1) | K3 | Mar 1936 | Aug 1937 | Zeiss Triotar | f/3.5 | Anastigmat | f/3.2 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| Ia (Model 2) | K3-530 | May 1937 | Jan 1938 | Zeiss Triotar | f/4.5 | Heidosmat Anastigmat | f/4 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| IIa (Model 2) | K3 | Jun 1937 | Jan 1938 | Zeiss Triotar | f/3.5 | Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| Ia (Model 3) | K3-531 | Feb 1938 | Oct 1947 | Zeiss Triotar | f/4.5 | Heidosmat Anastigmat | f/4 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| IIb (Model 3) | K3-541 | Feb 1938 | Jan 1939 | Zeiss Triotar | f/3.5 | Anastigmat | f/3.2 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| IIc (Model 4) | K3-542 | Feb 1939 | Oct 1949 | Zeiss Triotar | f/3.5 | Anastigmat | f/3.2 | Compur C00 | 1-1⁄300 + B,T | |
| IId (Model 5) | K3-542 | Jan 1947 | Dec 1947 | Zeiss Triotar | f/3.5 | Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Compur Rapid C00 | 1-1⁄500 + B,T | |
| Dec 1947 | Jun 1949 | Schneider Xenar | f/4.5 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | |||||
| Jul 1949 | Oct 1950 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.2 | |||||
| IIe (Model 6) | K3-542 | Nov 1949 | Sep 1950 | Zeiss Triotar | f/3.5 | Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Compur Rapid C00 | 1-1⁄500 + B,T; X-sync | |
| Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.2 | |||||||
| III | K3B | Nov 1950 | Jul 1953 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Schneider or Zeiss Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Compur Rapid X | 1-1⁄500 + B,T; X-sync | |
| IV | K3D | Aug 1953 | Sep 1954 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Schneider or Zeiss Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Synchro Compur MX | 1-1⁄500 + B; X-sync | |
| V | K3C | Oct 1954 | Mar 1957 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Schneider or Zeiss Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Synchro Compur MX | 1-1⁄500 + B; X-sync | |
| Va | K3E Type 1 | Apr 1957 | Jan 1961 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Schneider Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Synchro Compur MXV | 1-1⁄500 + B; X-sync | |
| Vb | K3Vb Type 1 | Apr 1962 | 1966 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Schneider Heidosmat | f/3.2 | Synchro Compur MXV | 1-1⁄500 + B; X-sync | |
| K3Vb Type 2 | 1966 | Jan 1977 | Synchro Compur MX | |||||||
| Camera | Dates | Taking lens (FL=75 mm) | Viewing lens (FL=75 mm) | Shutter | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Model | Intro. | Disc. | Name | Ap. | Name | Ap. | Name | Speeds | |
| I | K9 | Oct 1960 | Mar 1962 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Heidosmat | f/3.5 | Prontomat S | 1⁄30-1⁄300 + B; X-sync | Autoexposure only |
| II | K9 | Mar 1962 | Sep 1968 | Schneider Xenar | f/3.5 | Heidosmat | f/3.5 | Prontomat S | 1⁄30-1⁄500 + B; X-sync | Adds manual exposure controls |
A Vb model with a serial number beginning with 2 or 3 is slightly more valuable in most cases depending on condition first and foremost.
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