Difference between revisions of "Rocca 35"

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The '''Rocca 35''' is a [[35mm]] compact camera, built by [[Montanus|Montanus Kamerafabrik]] in Solingen, West Germany. It was released in 1958.
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeymillions/3690682077/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3690682077_790c555852.jpg
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|image_text= Montanus Rocca
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|image_by= monkeymillions
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The '''Rocca 35''' is a [[35mm]] compact camera, built by [[Montanus|Montanus Kamerafabrik]] in Solingen, West Germany. It was released in 1958. The Rocca 35 had two main claims to fame: First was a rose tinted [[viewfinder]]; secondly, an early example of "one upmanship" in that you could buy the camera with an imitation [[light meter|meter]] (see illustration link), complete with honeycomb and dial. This could be changed at a later date for a Bewi "Automat" meter at a cost equivalent to 40% of the original price.
  
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<div class="floatright" style="text-align:center;"><div style="border:black 2px solid;">http://www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/roccameter.jpg</div><br>''False Honeycombe & exposure calculator''</div>
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__TOC__
  
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The Rocca 35 had two main claims to fame - a rose tinted viewfinder and an early example of "one upmanship" in that you could buy the camera with an imitation meter (see illustration), complete with honeycomb and dial. This could be changed at a later date for a Bewi "Automat" meter at a cost equivalent to 40% of the original price.  
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The particularly well built and  specified Roccamatic was on a par with the Baldamatics of the period and very competitively priced. It also had similar luxury features such as a brightline finder that adjusted for [[parallax]].  
  
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<br clear="all">
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Unfortunately, in the UK they did not have a very good agent in Amplion and they never got the advertising exposure of [[Balda]] (J.J. Silber), [[Franka]] ([[R. F. Hunter]]) or [[Paxette]] (Neville Brown).  
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<div class="floatleft" style="text-align:center;"><div style="border:black 2px solid">http://www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/advert.jpg</div><br>''Practical Photography'' advert July 1959''</div>
 
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The particularly well built and  specified Roccamatic was a on a par with the Baldamatics of the period and very competitively priced. It also had similar luxury features such as a brightline finder that adjusted for parallax.
 
−
 
 
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Unfortunately, in the UK they did not have a very good agent in Amplion and they never got the advertising exposure of Balda (J.J. Silber), Franka (R.F. Hunter) or Paxette (Neville Brown).  
 
  
 
There are very few Roccas advertised by camera shops during this period. In September 1960 the Roccamatic was being "remaindered" by Westminster Photographic (SLK List Price £45/17/6 - down to £33/15/0 and the LK down to £29/15/0 from £39/19/6) In an age of RRP (recommended retail prices imposed by the manufacturer) a discount only meant one thing - a run out sale. By 1961, Montanus they had vanished from the ''Amateur Photographer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> annual Camera Guide.
 
There are very few Roccas advertised by camera shops during this period. In September 1960 the Roccamatic was being "remaindered" by Westminster Photographic (SLK List Price £45/17/6 - down to £33/15/0 and the LK down to £29/15/0 from £39/19/6) In an age of RRP (recommended retail prices imposed by the manufacturer) a discount only meant one thing - a run out sale. By 1961, Montanus they had vanished from the ''Amateur Photographer''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> annual Camera Guide.
  
  
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== Specifications ==
 
== Specifications ==
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{|class=floatright
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/65444449@N04/5965703989/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5965703989_8925c94fd3.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Practical Photography'' advert July 1959
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|image_by= paulfromukcamera
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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|-
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|
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/65444449@N04/5966259768/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5966259768_4733cba30f.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Simulated [[selenium meter]] honeycomb & exposure calculator
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|image_by= paulfromukcamera
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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|}
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All nine Rocca 35 models had a fixed 45mm f3.5 (models 2 and 2m only) or f2.8 three-element Ennagon or f2.8 four-element Ennit lens made by [[Enna]] of Munich.
 +
Conventional metal construction (not a hint of plastic!), brightline finder, rose tinted viewfinder, lever wind, double exposure prevention, [[shutter release|body release]] on front of camera and a film type indicator similar to the [[Retina]] models.
  
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All nine Rocca 35 models had a fixed 45mm f3.5 (models 2 and 2m only) or f2.8 three-element Ennagon or f2.8 four-element Ennit lens made by [[Enna]] of Munich.
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''Dimensions:'' Width:123mm Height: 90mm Depth: 67mm (Rocca 35 Model 2) 70mm (Roccamatic)
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Conventional metal construction (not a hint of plastic!), brightline finder, rose tinted viewfinder, lever wind, double exposure prevention, body release on front of camera and a film type indicator similar to the Retina models.
 
  
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''Dimensions:''
 
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Width:123mm Height: 90mm Depth: 67mm (Rocca 35 Model 2) 70mm (Roccamatic)
 
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<BR>
 
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<BR>
 
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<div class="floatright" style="text-align:center;"><div style="border:black 2px solid">http://www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/rocca2.jpg</div><br>''Rocca 35 Model 2''</div>
 
  
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/65444449@N04/5966259884/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6130/5966259884_5dec69eaaf.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Rocca 35 Model 2
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|image_by= paulfromukcamera
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
  
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<br style="clear:left" />
 
===Rocca 35 Model 2===
 
===Rocca 35 Model 2===
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* f3.5 [[Enna]] Ennagon lens
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* f3.5 [[Enna]] Ennagon 3 element lens
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* Three-speed Vario shutter 1/25 - 1/50 - 1/200
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* Three-speed [[Vario]] shutter 1/25 - 1/50 - 1/200
 
* Exposure calculator
 
* Exposure calculator
 
* Price in Britain £14.19.11
 
* Price in Britain £14.19.11
Line 39: Line 64:
 
* If supplied with meter, sold as the model 2m for £23.2.7
 
* If supplied with meter, sold as the model 2m for £23.2.7
  
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N.B. This camera was also marketed as a Montanus Montana
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N.B. This camera was also marketed as a '''Montanus Montana'''
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/65444449@N04/5966259946/in/pool-camerawiki/
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<div class="floatright" style="text-align:center;"><div style="border:black 2px solid">http://www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/hanimex1.jpg</div><br>''Rocca 35 Model 3 - Hanimex Version''</div>
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|image= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5966259946_f2528a02b4.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Rocca 35 Model 3 - Hanimex Version
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|image_by= paulfromukcamera
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
  
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<br style="clear:left" />
 
===Rocca 35 Model 3===
 
===Rocca 35 Model 3===
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* The Rocca 35 * f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennagon or Ennit lens  
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* The Rocca 35 * f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennagon 3 element lens  
 
* Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
 
* Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
 
* Exposure calculator
 
* Exposure calculator
 
* Price in Britain £21.5.7
 
* Price in Britain £21.5.7
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* Optional Bewi Meter £8.8.0
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* Optional Bewi uncoupled Meter £8.8.0
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* If supplied with meter, sold as the model 3m for £29.19.11 (Photo right is the Hanimex Duomatic Version)
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* If supplied with meter, sold as the model 3m for £29.19.11 (Photo above is the Hanimex Duomatic Version)
  
  
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/65444449@N04/5965704183/in/pool-camerawiki/
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<div class="floatright" style="text-align:center;"><div style="border:black 2px solid">http://www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/rocca5m.jpg</div><br>''Rocca 35 Model 5m''</div>
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|image= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5965704183_d28cf91333.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Rocca 35 Model 5m
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|image_by= paulfromukcamera
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
  
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<br style="clear:left" />
 
===Rocca 35 Model 4m===  
 
===Rocca 35 Model 4m===  
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* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennit lens  
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* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennit 4 element lens  
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* Prontor SLK Light Value nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
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* [[Prontor]] SLK Light Value nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
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* Coupled Bewi Automat exposure meter
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* Uncoupled Bewi [[light meter|exposure meter]]
 
* Price in Britain £36.12.3
 
* Price in Britain £36.12.3
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===Rocca 35 Model 5m===
 
===Rocca 35 Model 5m===
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* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennagon lens  
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* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennagon 3 element lens  
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* Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
+
* [[Prontor]] LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
 
* Coupled Bewi Automat exposure meter
 
* Coupled Bewi Automat exposure meter
 
* Price in Britain £30.12.10
 
* Price in Britain £30.12.10
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<br clear="all">
 
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<br>
 
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<div class="floatright" style="text-align:center;"><div style="border:black 2px solid">http://www.ukcamera.com/collect/images/roccamatic.jpg</div><br>''Roccamatic''</div>
 
  
  
 
===Rocca 35 Model 6===  
 
===Rocca 35 Model 6===  
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* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennit lens
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* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennit 4 element lens
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* Prontor SVS nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
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* [[Prontor]] SVS nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
 
* Non-Coupled Bewi meter
 
* Non-Coupled Bewi meter
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* Coupled Rangefinder
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* Coupled [[Rangefinder (device)|Rangefinder]]
 
* Price in Britain £29.19.6
 
* Price in Britain £29.19.6
  
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/65444449@N04/5965704231/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5965704231_99f415735d.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Roccamatic
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|image_by= paulfromukcamera
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
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<br style="clear:left" />
 
===Rocca Roccamatic LK===
 
===Rocca Roccamatic LK===
−
* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennagon lens
+
* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennagon 3 element lens
 
* Bright Line Finder with parallax adjustment
 
* Bright Line Finder with parallax adjustment
 
* Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
 
* Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
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* Coupled Metrawatt exposure meter with needle visible in viewfinder
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* Coupled Metrawatt [[light meter|exposure meter]] with needle visible in [[viewfinder]]
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* Rangefinder
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* [[Rangefinder (device)|Rangefinder]]
 
* Price in Britain £39.19.6
 
* Price in Britain £39.19.6
  
 
===Rocca Roccamatic SLK===
 
===Rocca Roccamatic SLK===
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* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennit lens
+
* f2.8 [[Enna]] Ennit 4 element lens
 
* Bright-line finder with parallax adjustment
 
* Bright-line finder with parallax adjustment
 
* Prontor SLK nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
 
* Prontor SLK nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
Line 101: Line 144:
  
 
===Rocca Familia===
 
===Rocca Familia===
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Similar features to the Roccamatic, but with a Prontormat shutter to give Automatic exposure  
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Similar features to the Roccamatic, but with a Prontormat shutter to give Automatic exposure.
  
  
−
N.B. THe Rocca LK & Rocca SLK, are Regulas re-badged by the US importer on the demise of Rocca
+
N.B. The '''Rocca LK''' & '''Rocca SLK''', are [[Regula]]s re-badged by the US importer following the demise of Rocca.
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
  
−
All prices taken from advertisements by the British Agents, Amplion Limited of London, in the March 1959 and July 1959 editions of ''Practical Photography.''
+
All prices taken from advertisements by the British Agents, Amplion Limited of London, in March 1959 and July 1959 editions of ''Practical Photography.''
  
 
Information on Roccamatics from ''Amateur Photographer Camera Guide'' 19th August 1959 and 8th June 1960.
 
Information on Roccamatics from ''Amateur Photographer Camera Guide'' 19th August 1959 and 8th June 1960.
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<br clear="all">
 
  
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== Links ==
 
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.com/appareils/html/rocca.php Rocca 35] in [http://www.collection-appareils.com/general/html/francais.php Sylvain Halgand's collection]
 
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<!--* [http://www.photohistorica.ch/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=92&osCsid=94f1c2793c5db23f25f89f40642888e9 Manual for the Rocca 35]-->
 
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[[Category: 35mm viewfinder]]
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[[Category: Germany]]
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[[Category: German 35mm viewfinder]]
 
[[Category: Montanus]]
 
[[Category: Montanus]]
 
[[Category: R]]
 
[[Category: R]]

Latest revision as of 06:30, 6 September 2021

3690682077_790c555852.jpg
Montanus Rocca
image by monkeymillions (Image rights)

The Rocca 35 is a 35mm compact camera, built by Montanus Kamerafabrik in Solingen, West Germany. It was released in 1958. The Rocca 35 had two main claims to fame: First was a rose tinted viewfinder; secondly, an early example of "one upmanship" in that you could buy the camera with an imitation meter (see illustration link), complete with honeycomb and dial. This could be changed at a later date for a Bewi "Automat" meter at a cost equivalent to 40% of the original price.

The particularly well built and specified Roccamatic was on a par with the Baldamatics of the period and very competitively priced. It also had similar luxury features such as a brightline finder that adjusted for parallax.

Unfortunately, in the UK they did not have a very good agent in Amplion and they never got the advertising exposure of Balda (J.J. Silber), Franka (R. F. Hunter) or Paxette (Neville Brown).

There are very few Roccas advertised by camera shops during this period. In September 1960 the Roccamatic was being "remaindered" by Westminster Photographic (SLK List Price £45/17/6 - down to £33/15/0 and the LK down to £29/15/0 from £39/19/6) In an age of RRP (recommended retail prices imposed by the manufacturer) a discount only meant one thing - a run out sale. By 1961, Montanus they had vanished from the Amateur Photographer's annual Camera Guide.


Specifications

5965703989_8925c94fd3.jpg
Practical Photography advert July 1959
image by paulfromukcamera (Image rights)
5966259768_4733cba30f.jpg
Simulated selenium meter honeycomb & exposure calculator
image by paulfromukcamera (Image rights)

All nine Rocca 35 models had a fixed 45mm f3.5 (models 2 and 2m only) or f2.8 three-element Ennagon or f2.8 four-element Ennit lens made by Enna of Munich. Conventional metal construction (not a hint of plastic!), brightline finder, rose tinted viewfinder, lever wind, double exposure prevention, body release on front of camera and a film type indicator similar to the Retina models.

Dimensions: Width:123mm Height: 90mm Depth: 67mm (Rocca 35 Model 2) 70mm (Roccamatic)


5966259884_5dec69eaaf.jpg
Rocca 35 Model 2
image by paulfromukcamera (Image rights)


Rocca 35 Model 2

  • f3.5 Enna Ennagon 3 element lens
  • Three-speed Vario shutter 1/25 - 1/50 - 1/200
  • Exposure calculator
  • Price in Britain £14.19.11
  • Optional Bewi Meter £8.8.0
  • If supplied with meter, sold as the model 2m for £23.2.7

N.B. This camera was also marketed as a Montanus Montana


5966259946_f2528a02b4.jpg
Rocca 35 Model 3 - Hanimex Version
image by paulfromukcamera (Image rights)


Rocca 35 Model 3

  • The Rocca 35 * f2.8 Enna Ennagon 3 element lens
  • Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
  • Exposure calculator
  • Price in Britain £21.5.7
  • Optional Bewi uncoupled Meter £8.8.0
  • If supplied with meter, sold as the model 3m for £29.19.11 (Photo above is the Hanimex Duomatic Version)


5965704183_d28cf91333.jpg
Rocca 35 Model 5m
image by paulfromukcamera (Image rights)


Rocca 35 Model 4m

  • f2.8 Enna Ennit 4 element lens
  • Prontor SLK Light Value nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
  • Uncoupled Bewi exposure meter
  • Price in Britain £36.12.3

Rocca 35 Model 5m

  • f2.8 Enna Ennagon 3 element lens
  • Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
  • Coupled Bewi Automat exposure meter
  • Price in Britain £30.12.10


Rocca 35 Model 6

  • f2.8 Enna Ennit 4 element lens
  • Prontor SVS nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
  • Non-Coupled Bewi meter
  • Coupled Rangefinder
  • Price in Britain £29.19.6


5965704231_99f415735d.jpg
Roccamatic
image by paulfromukcamera (Image rights)


Rocca Roccamatic LK

  • f2.8 Enna Ennagon 3 element lens
  • Bright Line Finder with parallax adjustment
  • Prontor LK Light Value five-speed shutter - 1/15 - 1/30 - 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250
  • Coupled Metrawatt exposure meter with needle visible in viewfinder
  • Rangefinder
  • Price in Britain £39.19.6

Rocca Roccamatic SLK

  • f2.8 Enna Ennit 4 element lens
  • Bright-line finder with parallax adjustment
  • Prontor SLK nine-speed shutter (1/300 - 1sec)
  • Coupled Metrawatt exposure meter with needle visible in viewfinder
  • Rangefinder
  • Price in Britain £45.17.6

Rocca Familia

Similar features to the Roccamatic, but with a Prontormat shutter to give Automatic exposure.


N.B. The Rocca LK & Rocca SLK, are Regulas re-badged by the US importer following the demise of Rocca.

Bibliography

All prices taken from advertisements by the British Agents, Amplion Limited of London, in March 1959 and July 1959 editions of Practical Photography.

Information on Roccamatics from Amateur Photographer Camera Guide 19th August 1959 and 8th June 1960.

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