Rolleiflex 4×4 cm TLR with Rolleinars

Introduction

Rolleinars

Rolleinars are close-up lenses to be mounted in front of both TLR lenses for close focusing. Production of the sets started between 1953 and 1957. In Europe Rolleinars are easily found at camera fairs. They were made in three different strengths and the most common sets come in pairs as Rolleinar 1, Rolleinar 2 and Rolleinar 3; each pair in Rollei bayonet sizes I, II, and III. You will find them in neat leather pouches. Arab numbers refer to the strength of the close-up lens and Roman numbers refer to the bayonet size. The larger Rolleinar for the viewing lens includes a prism to correct for parallax error and shows a red dot for mounting. When correctly mounted the red dot points up.

Earlier Proxars

From 1935 up to 1955 close-up sets were made as three piece sets. The two identical close-up lenses were named Proxar. The prism was a separate part named Rolleipar für Proxar later Rolleiparkeil (Rollei Wedge). When buying, carefully watch what is on offer. Later bayonet type Proxars look like Rolleinars, earlier push-on Proxars look quite different. Anyway both versions are clearly labeled but an image may not show the full name. So a complete Rolleinar set consists of two pieces: a thick one and a thin one, both in the same bayonet size. A complete Proxar set has two identical Proxars and either a Rolleipar or a Rolleiparkeil. The images on this site show only the Rolleinars.

Rolleinar manuals

It is not uncommon for the data sheets of the Rolleinars to be lost. Please find the information in the next paragraph.

Baby Rolleiflex 0027, Photo F.W. Stutterheim — Ferdi’s Rolleiflex 4×4, with a standard Rolleinar 3 in Bayonet I. The ASA and DIN scales are reminders only, the 4×4 has no built-in light-meter. This side of the shutter shows some aperture/shutter speed combinations like 22/30 and 16/60. Apertures can be set between values, shutter speeds not. When the aperture ring is pushed it can be turned independently of shutter speed ring to change the Exposure Value (EV) and thus the combinations. After letting go of the ring the EV setting is locked. By turning the locked rings a different combination of aperture/shutter speed, with the same EV, can be selected against the triangular mark. The EV is read from a separate light-meter.
Photo © 2022 F.W. Stutterheim [Rolleiflex 6008i, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 4/120 mm PQS HFT]

Baby Rolleiflex 0028, Photo F.W. Stutterheim — Ferdi’s Rolleiflex 4×4, with a standard Rolleinar 3 in Bayonet I. The Arabic number 3 indicates the strength of the Rolleinar lens; the Roman I preceded by a styled R stands for the bayonet size. This side of the shutter shows a number of Exposure Values (EV). The red dot indicates the chosen EV. The EV is read from a separate light-meter.
Photo © 2022 F.W. Stutterheim [Rolleiflex 6008i, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 4/120 mm PQS HFT]

Object distances and DOF with Rolleinar close-up lenses

The next tables give the object distances when a Rolleinar close-up lens is mounted. The Depth Of Field will be different too.

Table of Object Distances

Rolleiflex Model	Lens f= (mm)	Object Distances (cm)
Rolleiflex Model	Lens f= (mm)	Rolleinar 1	Rolleinar 2	Rolleinar 3
Rolleifex 4x4	60	100 - 47	50 - 32	32 - 24

Depth of field for Xenar 60 mm
Circle of confusion = f/1000

Rolleinar		1	1	1 or 2	2	2 or 3	3
Object Distance¹ (cm)		80	60	50	40	32	24
Size Object Field (cm²)		53×53	39×39	33×33	27×27	20×20	15×15
Magnification		1:13	1:9.5	1:8	1:6.5	1:5	1:3.7
D.O.F. (cm) with f/	5.6	74 - 87	57 - 64	48 - 52
	8	72 - 89	56 - 65	47 - 53.5	38 - 42.5	30.5 - 33.5
	11	70 - 93	54 - 67	46 - 55	37 - 43.5	30 - 34	23 - 25
	16	66 - 101	52 - 70	44.5 - 57	36 - 45	29.5 - 35	22.5 - 26
	22	62 - 112	50 - 76	43 - 60.5	35 - 47	28.5 - 36.5	22 - 26.5

¹Distance measured in cm from object to front plate of camera.

Rolleiflex 4×4 with Rolleinar close-up lenses