International Camera Museum : Blue Moon Camera and Machine

Shop
Equipment
Film and Supplies
Sale Items
Typewriters
- Portable
- Desktop
- Other
Sundries
eBay
- eBay Outlet
Photo Lab
Culture
Sell Your Gear

- Log In / Sign Up

Shop

Back

Equipment

Back 35mm Cameras Point & Shoot 35mm Cameras Medium Format Cameras Large Format Cameras Lenses Lens Filters Tripods Light Meters Bags & Cases Darkroom Enlargers All Darkroom Equipment

Film & Supplies

Back Film Paper Chemistry Batteries Storage & Archiving Cleaning Accessories

Typewriters

Back Portable Desktop Other

Sundries

Back Apparel & Swag Books & Magazines Gift Certificates

Sale Items eBay Store

Photo Lab

Back Send Us Your Film Photo Lab Services Pricing Services FAQ Mailing Your Film FAQ Printable Order Form Printable Services Pricelist Digital Printing Image Analyzer

Sell Your Gear

Back Sell Your Gear Consignments: How it Works Consignment FAQ

Culture

Back Museum Codex Meet the Staff Customer Shows Social Landing Page Press Links Manifesto E-Mail Newsletter Signup

Support

Back Consignment FAQ Shipping FAQ Privacy Policy Return Policy

Account

Back Log In/Register

Get Social

Back Instagram Facebook X / Twitter Discord

Return to Museum Home

Baby Rolleiflex 4x4

Select an Object to View

Lindsay and her new Baby Rolleiflex

It is truly impossible to resist one of these cameras, and working here definitely does not inoculate you. Our scanner, Lindsay, succumbed to the temptation of the Baby Rolleiflex and recently made this one her own.

A quick side note about the Baby Rolleiflex that we were reminded of with Lindsay's new acquisition: these cameras really benefit from using original metal spools as take-up spools. The newer plastic spools can cause issues if used to take up film!

Baby Rolleiflex 4x4 with Tropical Case

What is your favorite camera accessory?⁠

⁠BMC staff member Gabriel collects Rollei cameras and recently brought in this tropical case fitted for the 4x4 "baby" Rolleiflex TLR cameras. It is airtight and waterproof, and includes a desiccant cartridge to protect the Rollei from humidity. The camera swings up and locks onto the top of the case for easy use while mounted. The camera in the case is about the same size as a "standard" Rolleiflex.⁠

⁠In Gabriel's words: "I have only ever been made aware of three of these 4x4 tropical cases for sale. I own all three." ⁠

⁠Is there a rare item of camera equipment that you are searching for?

Film For Classics Ilford HP5 127 Film in Rollei 4x4

Did you know that you can buy brand new 127 film for your "baby" 4x4 Rolleiflex, Kodak Brownie, and other classic cameras? Film For Classics cuts down 120 film stock and makes their own paper backing to give new life to this uncommon format. Blue Moon Camera is pleased to carry Ilford HP5, Ilford FP4, Kodak Portra 160, and Kodak Portra 400 films cut down and respooled by FFC.

Rolleiflex Automat and the Baby Rolleiflex

The apple does not fall far from the tree, or in this case, the Baby Rolleiflex does not fall far from the... bigger Rolleiflex?⁠

⁠It is easy to admire the Rolleiflex. The cameras are beautifully designed, historically significant, and a true pleasure to use. Now take that perfect camera formula and shrink it down, throw "Baby" in front of its name, and voilà ✨ the Baby Rolleiflex is born.⁠

⁠This camera might not be technically pocket-able, but it is certainly travel-friendly. It also features the same magnificent lens quality we have come to love and expect in a camera with Rollei in its name. It uses 127 roll film - the tiny counterpart to 120 film.⁠

⁠If you don't already have a Rolleiflex in your collection, then this is a great place to start. If you do... then it probably needs a little sibling.⁠

⁠And yes! We carry a number of 127 film options including: color negative, slide film, and black and white.⁠ Snag this Baby Rolleiflex and a couple rolls of 127 film and you'll be ready to start your new adventure as a 127 photographer.⁠

dm/sd

Baby Gray Rolleiflex 4x4

It sounds more than a little weird to refer to a camera as the "Gray Baby;" and yet, that is the popular designation for this miniature Rolleiflex TLR camera. Given that its technical specification is the much less fun, "model K5," we can see why it is often referred to as the Gray Baby, or just even Baby Rolleiflex.

Franke & Heidecke had actually been producing a smaller, 127 format Rolleiflex since 1931. The camera makes use of the smaller 127 film to produce a 4x4cm image in a more compact twin lens camera. After WWII, the Baby Rollei got an update to become the Automatic Rolleiflex 4x4. It's automatic nature came from the more automated nature of the film loading. As opposed to lining up each shot via a red window in the back of the camera, you use a start mark to position the film and then turned the advance lever til it stops at the first frame

These little 127 Rolleiflex cameras helped give rise to the "Super Slide" format that briefly became popular in the 1950s. Super slides had a 38x38mm frame inside a standard 2" x 2" slide mount. If you are a Hasselblad user, perhaps you have come across their Super Slide 16 backs, that gives you sixteen 4x4 exposures on a roll of 120. This is the same idea, just with the larger 120 format and, therefore, more film waste.

Back to these Baby Rolleiflex cameras. They are lovely little things and we do recommend them, especially since we carry 127 film (in three different flavors no less). Do beware: almost every one of these cameras we see come through the shop has a frozen shutter - likely due to most of them having not been used in decades.

za/sd