Rollei Rolleiflex 2.8 FX Medium Format Twin Lens Reflex Camera, Built-in Planar 80mm f/2.8 HFT Lens, with Advanced TTL Exposure Metering

The legendary reputation of the twin-lens Rolleiflex is, of course, due in largepart to its outstanding lenses. Names like Zeiss Tessar, Schneider xenotar and Zeiss Planar,to mention only a few of the f/2,8 lenses, are synonymous with superior optical precision and performance. They have helped cement the worldwide fame of photographic equipment "Made in Germany".

Rollei makes some of the top Zeiss lenses under license at Brunswick, such as the 80mm Planar f/2,8 HFT for the Rolleiflex 2.8 FX. Its design ensures minimum curvature of field and very high correction of chromatic aberrations. With its Rollei HFT coating, this lens therefore guarantees outstanding resolution, excellent contrast rendition and superior color saturation.

The twin-lens Rolleiflex cameras feature the most reliable and advanced exposure-metering technique available today: Their built-in meter measures the light right through the lens (TTL).

Colored LEDs in the viewfinder indicate whether there is over or underexposure (red), whether the setting is off by, say, half an f-stop (yellow) or whether it's right on target (green).

The metering pattern used is center-weighted average and thus fully in tune with practical requirements. Exposure is balanced with aperture or shutter-speed priority. This makes for simple and accurate operation, allowing the photographer to concentrate fully on composition even in difficult situations.

Even advanced TTL flash control with an SCA-356 adapter and an SCA-300 system flash unit is nothing but routine. In this system, a sensor meters the flash light reflected from the film surface while the shutter is open.

The Rollei SCA-356 adapter then controls the light output to suit the subject. The dedicated flash system guarantees optimum working conditions and thus optimum results.

Twin-lens reflex cameras are ideally suited for use in conjunction with powerful handle-mount flash units, such as those made by Metz.

Pressing the unlocked shutter release activates the exposure meter for approx. 30 seconds. The process may be repeated at will, any time. One of the five LEDs in the viewfinder will light up.

Its metering pattern makes the Rolleiflex ideal even for the most demanding shooting situations, such as very contrasty subjects.

Its robust mechanics once laid the foundation for its legendary fame. Meanwhile, the Rolleiflex also offers the precision and ease of an advanced metering system. Rolleiflex 2.8 FX and 4.0 FW cameras have an integral center-weighted averaging follow-pointer TTL meter.

This makes the cameras particularly fast and reliable in both variable and constant lighting conditions. With the exception of its metering system, the camera remains fully operative even when the battery is spent, just like a good mechanical camera should.