Photography

Rollei's boxy TLR camera rises again as an "Instant Kamera"

Rollei's boxy TLR camera rises again as an "Instant Kamera"
Rollei is raising production funds for the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera on Kickstarter
Rollei is raising production funds for the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera on Kickstarter
View 10 Images
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is reported smaller and easier to use than its long gone predecessors
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The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is reported smaller and easier to use than its long gone predecessors
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera has been optimized for use with Fujifilm Instax Mini modules
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The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera has been optimized for use with Fujifilm Instax Mini modules
Like its long gone predecessors, the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is a twin lens reflex camera
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Like its long gone predecessors, the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is a twin lens reflex camera
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera sports a lift up Fresnel anti-glare viewfinder for camera operation at waste level
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The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera sports a lift up Fresnel anti-glare viewfinder for camera operation at waste level
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera has been optimized for use with Fujifilm Instax Mini modules
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The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera has been optimized for use with Fujifilm Instax Mini modules
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera sports a lift up Fresnel anti-glare viewfinder for camera operation at waste level
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The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera sports a lift up Fresnel anti-glare viewfinder for camera operation at waste level
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is reported smaller and easier to use than its long gone predecessors
7/10
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is reported smaller and easier to use than its long gone predecessors
Like its long gone predecessors, the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is a twin lens reflex camera
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Like its long gone predecessors, the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is a twin lens reflex camera
Rollei is raising production funds for the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera on Kickstarter
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Rollei is raising production funds for the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera on Kickstarter
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera's shutter release button is located under the twin lenses
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The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera's shutter release button is located under the twin lenses
View gallery - 10 images

German camera and optics maker Rollei first released its high-end Rolleiflex medium format twin lens reflex (TLR) cameras in 1927. Numerous models followed until the last one gave way to single lens reflex cameras in 1960. The brand has now relaunched the boxy camera on Kickstarter, sacrificing roll film for Fuji Instax to become the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera.

The new Rolleiflex retains the look-down, twin lens box camera look of earlier cameras, but updates the feature set – including support for the Fujifilm Instax Mini film format – and is reported smaller and simpler to use.

The 141 x 102 x 80 mm (5.5 x 4 x 3.15 in), 525 g (18.5 oz) Kamera sports a 3-element aspheric lens system, a lift up Fresnel anti-glare viewfinder for camera operation at waist level, F5.2 to F22 aperture for wide depth of field control, manual focus from 48 cm (18.8 in) to infinity and an integrated electric flash situated on the nameplate.

The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is reported smaller and easier to use than its long gone predecessors
The Rolleiflex Instant Kamera is reported smaller and easier to use than its long gone predecessors

The instant TLR also features an ambient light meter to indicate correct exposure levels, though long exposure and multiple exposure modes are on offer, too, the latter allowing a frame to be exposed over and over again for image layering effects. An magnifier is included for getting closer to created memories.

Like a growing number of established companies, Rollei has launched a Kickstarter to bring the Rolleiflex Instant Kamera into production. Pledges start at HKD 3,299 (US$420) and, if all goes to plan, shipping is expected to start in October. The pitch video below has more on the project.

Sources: Rollei, Kickstarter

Rolleiflex™ Instant Kamera

View gallery - 10 images
4 comments
4 comments
JimFox
And the point IS?????
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is retro cool. I look forward to checking it out.
JimFox
I see little point in this device, apart from nostalgia. Maybe the waist/ waste level viewing is more relaxing than eye-level, or the shaded screen is more viewable? Quite possibly I am missing something desirable...
Gregg Eshelman
It's so time travelers can have a reasonably modern camera to take with them on jaunts back to the early~mid 20th Century.