Rolleiflex 4x4 prewar series

The Rolleiflex 4x4 is a small format TLR camera manufactured by Franke & Heidecke.

General

Observing the huge succes of the Leica camera Rollei at that time (1930) decided to engineer and produce a small format TLR. It should be a camera which, as the Leica, would be easy and fast to operate.
Another demand was that it should be possible to operate it at eye-height. This involved a new design of the viewer hood.
After much debate about its name (Bobyflex was almost considered) they decided to just call it Rolleiflex like their existing 6x6 TLR line. However, the market soon came with other 'by' names like e.g. Baby Rolleiflex and Klein Rolleiflex. The models 3 and 4 are sometimes called Sports Rolleiflex because their faster Compur-Rapid shutter better suits the photographing of moving subjects.

There were 5 models manufactured :

• Model 1 from 1931 to 1933
• Model 2 from 1933 to 1934
• Model 3 from 1934 to 1938
• Model 4 from 1938 to 1941
• Kriegsmodell (War model) from 1941 to 1944 (in fact a Model 4 but built in a new serial number range)

Specifications Model 1

Rolleiflex 4 x 4, Baumuster 410 image by wagdi.co.uk (Image rights)

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 410 and 411
• Production period : 1931 to 1933, 9500 units
• Format : 12 exposures of 4 x 4 cm on 127 type rollfilm.
  Furthermore a Plate adapter for sheet film can be used.
• Taking lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=6cm (on build 410) or
  Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8 f=6cm (on build 411)
• Viewing lens: Heidoskop-Anastigmat 1:2.8 f=6cm
• Filter Size : Both lenses, 28.5mm.
• Shutter: Compur CR00 leafshutter. Speeds 1 to 1/300 sec.,T and B.
  Combined shutter tensioning and release lever
• Flash synchronisation : None
  
• Color Laqcuer : Black
• Color Leatherette : Black
• Dimensions WxDxH: 60 x 77 x 107 mm
• Weight: Build 410, 490 grams ; Build 411, 520 grams

Specifications Model 2

Rolleiflex 4x4, model 2 image by Tony Kemplen (Image rights)

Only differences with Model 1 shown.

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 420 and 421
• Production period : 1933 to 1934, 1980 units
• Taking lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=6cm (on build 420) or
  Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8 f=6cm (on build 421)
• Viewing lens: Heidoskop-Anastigmat or Heidoscop-Anastigmat 1:2.8 f=6cm
• Viewing lens now has a cover which shows speed and diaphragm scales on top.
• Weight: Build 420, 525 grams ; Build 421, 560 grams

Specifications Model 3

Only differences with Model 2 shown.

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 422 and 423
• Production period : 1934 to 1938, 3240 units
• Format : 13 exposures of 4 x 4 cm on 127 type rollfilm.
  Furthermore a Plate adapter for sheet film can be used.
• Taking lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=6cm (on build 422) or
  Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8 f=6cm (on build 423)
• Viewing lens: Heidoscop-Anastigmat 1:2.8 f=6cm
• Shutter: Compur-Rapid CR00 leafshutter. Speeds 1 to 1/500 sec.,T and B.
  Combined shutter tensioning and release lever
• Weight: Build 422, 525 grams ; Build 423, 567 grams

Specifications Model 4

Rolleiflex 4x4, model 4 images by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights)

Only differences with Model 3 shown.

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 430
• Production period : 1938 to 1941, 2174 units
• Taking lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8 f=6cm
• Both Taking and Viewing lens now have a cover.
• Filter Bayonet Size : Both lenses, 28.5mm., Taking lens also has a bayonet size 1
• Redesigned focusing mechanism with 4 spindles. Only 1 rotation needed to run through the range
• Name shield is now cast
• Weight: 540 grams

Specifications Kriegsmodell

Only differences with Model 4 shown.

• Rollei internal name : K.1A, Baumuster (build) 440
• Production period : 1941 to 1944, produced numbers not exactly known but max.500 units
• Technical specifications the same as Model 4, only build in another serial number range

Bibliography

• Claus Prochnow, Rollei Report 1, Braunschweig, Lindemanns Verlag, 1993, ISBN 3-89506-105-0.