This is my second Automat (the first being a 1956 MX-EVS) and, apart from a few minor knocks and scrapes, it’s in very nice condition. I bought it from a retiring photographer who purchased it new in 1954. He had quite a successful career as a photographer, and used the Rolleiflex extensively for portraits, some of which were of quite famous people. He showed me some negatives of Eleanor Roosevelt, among others, that he shot with this camera.
The nice thing about buying a camera from someone who made their living from using them is that they are generally in excellent mechanical and optical shape (even they may be a little cosmetically challenged), and this machine is no exceptions; it’s probably one of the smoothest operating Rolleis I’ve ever used!
This MX is fitted with the Zeiss Oberkochen Opton 75mm F/3.5 taking lens, which I did not know much about (my other Rollei has a Carl Zeiss Tessar), but I have been amazed at the quality from this little optic.
This little Tessar lens is super sharp!
One of my favourite medium format shooters!
Tags: frenchie, rolleiflex