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Rollei Magic II

The Rollei Magic II is a medium format twin lens reflex camera, produced by Franke & Heidecke between 1962-1968, as a direct successor to the original Rollei Magic. Like its predecessor, the Magic II is capable of fully automatic exposure, as governed by a built-in selenium cell meter. The meter is capable of regulating shutter speeds between 1/30 to 1/500th of a second, and adjusting apertures between f/3.5-f/22. Unlike the original Magic, the Magic II is capable of manual exposure override; a key feature because, once the meter inevitably dies, the camera will be able to expose beyond the automatic exposure dependent on the meter. This dependence on the meter is a big Achille's Heel to the original Magic TLR cameras.

The Magic II features a couple other innovations, including front cell focusing, as opposed to the entire lens board moving forward or backward with focus changes. The camera has a side-mounted hotshoe. The Magic II also uses Bay II filters and the filter mount allows for setting filter factor compensation for the the light meter.

za/sd

Rollei Magic II

Staff member, Mike I-have-one-of-every-camera-in-my-storage-unit Knight brought in this Rollei Magic II the other day. We had no idea he even had one of these but, of course he does. In fact, he thinks he bought it from our shop back before he worked for us.⁠

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The Rollei Magic TLRs aren't actually magic, though at the time they might have seemed like it. These TLR cameras are capable of fully automatic exposure. Point the camera, focus, and fire. The meter would determine correct shutter and aperture. This is all pretty nifty, except in the case of the original Rollei Magic, all this niftiness is based on a selenium cell meter that will eventually die. Once the meter is gone, the rest of the camera goes with it. The Rollei Magic II fixed this issue by allowing manual setting of the shutter and aperture, or allowing the meter to do it automatically for you. In the event that the Rollei Magic II's meter dies, you can always fall back on those manual settings.

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As far as other quirks, the Rollei Magic cameras use front cell focusing. Adjust focus and nothing seems to be moving! Look closely at the lenses and you will see them shifting forward or back, but the lens board itself stays stationary. Another truly neat innovation that we like on the Rollei Magic II is that you can dial in filter factors. Once you mount a bayonet filter, if you keep turning the filter clockwise it will click into several additional stops. A small window near the lens displays various filter factors. Simply rotate the filter to the appropriate filter factor and the meter will compensate for it. It is a clever solution to a camera that does not meter through the lens.⁠

⁠za/sd

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Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc

sales@bluemooncamera.com
(503) 978-0333
(503) 978-0370
8417 North Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203

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Rollei Magic II

Rollei Magic II

Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc