Rollei Magic

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The Rollei magic is a medium format TLR camera manufactured by Franke & Heidecke, Braunschweig, Germany.

It was Rolleis answer to the desire at that point in time for a TLR with an automated exposure control. Rollei could achieve this when the shutter company Prontor designed a new shutter for just that purpose, the Prontormat-S.

The Rollei magic uses 120 type Rollfilm. 12 6x6cm square images can be captured for each roll of 120 film.
By using a special mask set the camera can be adapted to shoot 16 images 4x4 or 4x5.5cm on a roll. The mask put into the filmgate does automaticly change the frame counter from 12 to 16 exposures.

A big difference with the Rolleiflex is the fact that the Rollei magic uses front-cell focusing instead of moving the whole lens board.

Because many after-sales complaints were received about the lack of a proper manual speed control Rollei came up with a second model, the Rollei magic II to rectify this.


Specifications Rollei magic

  • Production : from 1960 to 1962, about 25.000 units
  • Taking lens: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5 f=75mm.
  • Viewing lens: Heidosmat 1:3.5 f=75mm (also a Xenar).
  • Filter Bayonet : Both lenses, size 2.
  • Shutter: Prontor Prontormat-S model 565 k1.
  • Automatic exposure: speeds 1/30 to 1/300 sec. at diaphragms 3.5 to 22.
  • Manual shutter settings : Flash 1/30 sec. and B, both allowing diaphragms 3.5 to 22.
  • Lighmeter system : Selenium cell
  • Film speed settings : 12 to 1600 ASA.
  • Dimensions WxDxH: 88 x 106 x 147 mm
  • Weight: 1000 grams


Specifications Rollei magic II

Only differences with Rollei magic shown

  • Production : from 1962 to 1968, about 12.600 units
  • Shutter: Prontor Prontormat-S model 602 k.
  • Automatic exposure: speeds 1/30 to 1/500 sec. at diaphragms 3.5 to 22.
  • Manual shutter settings : 1/30 sec. to 1/500 and B, both allowing diaphragms 3.5 to 22.



Bibliography

  • Claus Prochnow, Rollei Report 2, third edition, Braunschweig, Lindemanns Verlag, 2008, ISBN 3-89506-220-0.

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