Rollei Rolleicord Va
The Rolleicord Va was the penultimate Rolleicord. Produced between 1957 and 1961, it was succeeded only by the Rolleicord Vb. The entire series of Rolleicord TLR cameras has a long history beginning in 1933, produced alongside the more professional Rolleiflex cameras. The Rolleicords were aimed at the amateur market and, as such, they tend to have slightly more basic controls and typically lower quality lenses. It should be noted, however, that even a "lower quality" lens on a Rollei TLR is still an excellent lens in its own right.
The Rolleicord Va is an excellent twin lens reflex camera. It has a Schneider 75mm f/3.5 Xenar lens - the same lens used on some Rolleiflex 3.5 cameras. Film advance is done via knob, instead of the lever crank found on the Rolleiflex. The Rolleicord also requires setting the shutter separately from advancing the film, causing operation of the camera to be a tad slower, as it requires that extra manual step - this also makes for easy multiple exposures. The Rolleicord Va made a change over previous Rolleicord cameras by moving the focusing knob from the right side to the left side of the camera. This may not seem a big deal, as this is how Rolleiflex cameras are arranged, but for those with previous experience on earlier Rolleicord cameras, they might find their muscle memory a bit confused til they get used to the new layout. The camera has a Synchro-Compur leaf shutter capable of speeds from 1-1/500th, plus Bulb. The lenses use the typical Rollei bayonet system for mounting hoods and filters, the Rolleicord Va specifically uses a Bay 1 mount.
There are two versions of the Rolleicord Va. Type 1 was produced from 1957-58 and has a shutter speed scale on the right side of the lenses, with aperture control and EV scale on the left. Type 2 was produced from 1958-1961 and it reversed sides for shutter speed and aperture control, with the EV scale moving over with the aperture.
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