Smith Week #2: Rolleiflex Camera

The Rolleiflex camera debuted in 1929 and featured a twin-lens reflex system which has two lenses of the same focal length. Each lens is situated on top of the other. One is for the viewfinder system and the other is the lens that actually takes the photograph. Rather than holding the camera to one's eye, the camera is meant to be held at the waist level and the photography must look down into the viewfinder to frame the photograph. Rolleiflex cameras use 117 or 120 type film rolls which develop square photographs, unlike the rectangular photos of 35mm cameras of this course use. Rolleiflex is a high-end camera, but since it's introduction, Rolleicord and similar models have been released which are meant to be an everyman's version of the Rolleiflex. The Rolleiflex camera has been in production since it's introduction and recently made the jump to the digital market in a revised format.

A Rolleiflex camera

Cross-section of a Rolleiflex

Looking down through the viewfinder of the Rolleiflex