Rolleiflex 3.5 aperture - 10 vs 5 blades (2024)

I searched around and found very limited information on 3.5 models (tessar or xenar) with 10 vs 5 blades.
Seems like Rolleiflex changed to 5 blades on the 3.5 models sometimes around 1955/MX-EVS.

Do you notice differences in the image quality between 10 and 5 blades? especially in the out of focus areas with lens stopped down.

JPD said:

Only the shape of the out of focus spots of light. It's just a matter of taste or if you care. The general image quality is just as good.

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Thanks JPD.

randyB said:

Are you asking about shutter blades or aperture (f/stop) blades?

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Thanks for catching that - aperture (f/stop) blades. Sure enough, searching "aperture blades" yielded more results.

No Rollei TLR has 10 shutter blades.

The last Rollei TLRs with 10 aperture blades are the 3,5 A (also sometimes called "MX"), the 2,8 C, and Rolleicord IV. I think the Synchro-Compur shutters got the five blade iris at the same time when they vere made compatible with the EVS system.

JPD said:

The last Rollei TLRs with 10 aperture blades are the 3,5 A (also sometimes called "MX"), the 2,8 C, and Rolleicord IV. I think the Synchro-Compur shutters got the five blade iris at the same time when they vere made compatible with the EVS system.

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Actually there are 10-bladed versions of the later Synchro-Compur shutter that were used on early MX-EVS cameras.

Dan Daniel said:

Actually there are 10-bladed versions of the later Synchro-Compur shutter that were used on early MX-EVS cameras.

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That must have been very early examples of the 3,5 B ("MX-EVS"), then. My type 1 has five, and the others I have seen have also had five.

JPD said:

That must have been very early examples of the 3,5 B ("MX-EVS"), then. My type 1 has five, and the others I have seen have also had five.

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Yeah, I was surprised to see it the first time becasue I thought they were all 5 blades. And I haven't seen a hard rule in my limited exposure- it's not every one without the cut-out on the EVS system, for example, will be 10-bladed.

The minor interesting note is that 5 blades is not required for the later Synchro-Compurs. That they could have continued building the new design with 10 blades because, well, they did at first. There's a guy who does high-end rebuilds of Rolleiflexes, Magicflex, using lots of NOS parts, etc., who recently had a late 3.5F with 10 bladed aperture for sale, and I think he dropped the early aperture build into a late shutter body.

Dan Daniel said:

Yeah, I was surprised to see it the first time becasue I thought they were all 5 blades. And I haven't seen a hard rule in my limited exposure- it's not every one without the cut-out on the EVS system, for example, will be 10-bladed.

The minor interesting note is that 5 blades is not required for the later Synchro-Compurs. That they could have continued building the new design with 10 blades because, well, they did at first. There's a guy who does high-end rebuilds of Rolleiflexes, Magicflex, using lots of NOS parts, etc., who recently had a late 3.5F with 10 bladed aperture for sale, and I think he dropped the early aperture build into a late shutter body.

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I went and looked at it, and wondered how it would work with the light meter, and if the aperture is linear and works correctly with the scale. I don't want to email to ask, since they use a russian yandex email address. I know the stops for the 10-bladed irises used to be unevenly spaced on the older shutters. This particular 3,5 F didn't have a light meter, though and no EVS.

JPD said:

I went and looked at it, and wondered how it would work with the light meter, and if the aperture is linear and works correctly with the scale. I don't want to email to ask, since they use a russian yandex email address. I know the stops for the 10-bladed irises used to be unevenly spaced on the older shutters. This particular 3,5 F didn't have a light meter, though and no EVS.

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The guy hangs out and posts a lot on the Rolleiflex Facebook group if you want to ask him a question there. I believe his name is Alex.

Jeremy

JPD said:

I went and looked at it, and wondered how it would work with the light meter, and if the aperture is linear and works correctly with the scale. I don't want to email to ask, since they use a russian yandex email address. I know the stops for the 10-bladed irises used to be unevenly spaced on the older shutters. This particular 3,5 F didn't have a light meter, though and no EVS.

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Good point about the scaling of the stops. Next time I see a 10-bladed I'll give a look to see.

What is the concern with the yandex address, by the way?

This getting off-topic badly… two adds

1) I have one 3.5F Xenotar with light meter that Magicflex serviced (I’m second owner since he did it). Camera is marvelous, everything is smooth, it feels great when using it, probably he uses NOS pieces for the ones worn out and he really knows how to adjust, of course in my opinion.

2) Having a yandex.com email doesn’t mean he is (from) Russian, I have one gmx.com email and I’m not (from) Germany.

Alex Varas said:

This getting off-topic badly… two adds

1) I have one 3.5F Xenotar with light meter that Magicflex serviced (I’m second owner since he did it). Camera is marvelous, everything is smooth, it feels great when using it, probably he uses NOS pieces for the ones worn out and he really knows how to adjust, of course in my opinion.

2) Having a yandex.com email doesn’t mean he is (from) Russian, I have one gmx.com email and I’m not (from) Germany.

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Yeah I have to agree - the work I've seen from him seems to be top-notch. And I haven't seen any complaints about his products or him personally.

Jeremy

Dan Daniel said:

Good point about the scaling of the stops. Next time I see a 10-bladed I'll give a look to see.

What is the concern with the yandex address, by the way?

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I just don't want to email to an address that most likely would send data through Russia in these times. Not that it has to be problematic. It could be fine.

I'm not on Facebook, but if you are you could ask Magicflex about the aperture.

Slixtiesix said:

With the 5 blade version, out of focus highlights (most often experienced when shooting backlight against the branches of a tree) will take the form of pentagons. With the 10 blade version, they will appear round. Anyway, even with the 5 blade versions (although I am not sure if this is true for all of them especially the later models) the blades are slightly rounded, so the highlights will rather take the form of pentagons with rounded edges. It is just a matter of taste which one you prefer. Some people tend to dislike these pentagons, others like them because they became some kind of a trade mark for Zeiss lenses (although other manufacturers used 5 blades as well).
Many years ago there was also the point that the 5 blade models were newer and therefore more reliable. With all Rollei TLR models of the classic era now approaching a lifespan of more than 60 years, I do not think this may be a point anymore. Proper condition and maintenance is key.

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The oof pentagons will for some "scream camera from the Golden Age of film photography" while the circle shapes "scream old classic camera" or "scream modern 'bokeh lens'", but most people don't care and just like the pics.