RARE - PRE-ORDER - Rolleiflex 2.8F X Flat glass (part 1 of 2)

€

2850.00

ROLLEIFLEX 2.8F type 1 X FLAT GLASS

Beautifully preserved and incredibly rare in this condition, this Rolleiflex 2.8F Type 1 comes fitted with the perfect Carl Zeiss Planar 80/2.8 lens.

All Rolleiflex 2.8 variants offer excellent optical performance. However, Schneider and Zeiss continuously refined coatings and lens characteristics from batch to batch over the years. In my opinion, this particular Planar version sits right between the more modern “White Face” generation and the earlier 2.8C/2.8D/2.8E era: it shows stronger, well-balanced contrast than the earliest versions, a smooth tonal transition from shadows to highlights, impressive resolution even wide open at f2.8, a subtle smooth bokeh, and a striking three-dimensional “pop.”

For collectors: A Rolleiflex 2.8F Type 1is exceptionally hard to find in pristine (or even genuinely good) condition today. Many earlier lenses now suffer from coating deterioration, element separation, or heavy haze.

Please note: the photos show the camera’s current condition (already excellent for its age, each camera is personally preselected by me). During the restoration process, the final condition will be further improved, giving the camera a fresher look and a tighter, smoother operating feel.

Both the viewing and taking lenses are in excellent condition for their age.

However during the rebuild both lenses will be additionally controlled, cleaned and paired.

PRE-ORDER

WHAT IS "FLAT GLASS"?

SET DESCRIPTION

WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE

MY REBUILD WORKFLOW AND PHILOSOPHY

SHIPPING

PRE-ORDER

The amount of 2850 EUR represents only 50% of the payment;

the remaining 2850 EUR is due upon completion.

(total amount — 5700 EUR.)

At the moment, I have accumulated a number of pre-orders, so I estimate that your camera will be ready about 22 weeks from the order date.

This waiting time is organised by priority and structured in a way that allows me to work in parallel on a more affordable range of cameras, such as the Rolleicord Vb and Rolleiflex 3.5B.

WHAT IS "FLAT GLASS"?

The flat glass insert is the best way to keep your film absolutely flat over the entire surface, almost like a digital sensor. You get a constant film position and flatness for every single shot without tolerances in the film channel. The same type of technology existed for 220 film with the Vacuum Film Insert for the Contax 645, but with this 2.8F it is possible for the usual 120 film.

This is an amazing solution if you scan your film, as I do, and if you are able to keep the flat glass dust free by using an air blower with every film change. Some care and a bit of retouching after scanning are required, but you will be rewarded with outstanding and incomparable quality, especially if you use low grain films like Kodak Ektar 100 or Kodak Tmax 100. If you use low grain film and can scan it with a drum scanner or a Flextight you will get incredible detail.

Another important aspect is that you will be able to see where the flat glass ends on the negative. The edge is visible, especially at the top and bottom of the frame, so a slight crop is required, although you might actually like the visible border.

It is relatively easy to remove the flat glass insert to clean underneath if needed. In most cases small particles on the underside of the flat glass do not influence the image because the film sits on the other side of the plate. You can also remove the flat glass insert completely and use the camera in standard mode without it. For that the pressure plate of the back must be switched to the 6x6 mode.

The camera also comes with a mint to near new flat glass back door, which is extremely rare nowadays, especially in this condition. A back like this alone can currently be found on eBay for almost 550 USD.
Please note that the current condition is already truly mint, but the final condition of the camera will be further improved during the rebuild. The photos show the camera in its current state, and every rebuild brings an even better look and operating feel.

SET DESCRIPTION

ROLLEIFLEX 2.8F type 1 X FLAT GLASS

Beautifully preserved and incredibly rare in this condition, this Rolleiflex 2.8F Type 1 comes fitted with the perfect Carl Zeiss Planar 80/2.8 lens.

All Rolleiflex 2.8 variants offer excellent optical performance. However, Schneider and Zeiss continuously refined coatings and lens characteristics from batch to batch over the years. In my opinion, this particular Planar version sits right between the more modern “White Face” generation and the earlier 2.8C/2.8D/2.8E era: it shows stronger, well-balanced contrast than the earliest versions, a smooth tonal transition from shadows to highlights, impressive resolution even wide open at f2.8, a subtle smooth bokeh, and a striking three-dimensional “pop.”

For collectors: A Rolleiflex 2.8F Type 1is exceptionally hard to find in pristine (or even genuinely good) condition today. Many earlier lenses now suffer from coating deterioration, element separation, or heavy haze.

Please note: the photos show the camera’s current condition (already excellent for its age, each camera is personally preselected by me). During the restoration process, the final condition will be further improved, giving the camera a fresher look and a tighter, smoother operating feel.

Both the viewing and taking lenses are in excellent condition for their age.
However during the rebuild both lenses will be additionally controlled, cleaned and paired.

WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE

Rolleiflex 2.8F type 1
new flat glass insert (glass insert)
flat glass back
new updated PRO SUPER BRIGHT screen with split-image
OG leather bag (great condition)
OG metallic lens cap (great condition)
MRC-UV *BAY III* UV filter set of 2 - VIEWING + TAKING lenses
NEW lens hood
new leather strap (comfortable wide version)
soft release button
manual

MY REBUILD WORKFLOW AND PHILOSOPHY

Every camera rebuild is its own project.

I completely rebuild and re-adjust the camera from the ground up.

This work is on a totally different level than a typical CLA.

Having full control over the entire process takes significantly more time and a lot of attention to detail.

I fully strip the camera, inspect every part, and bring all internal components and adjustments back to factory specification or even better.

I clean, renew, re-lubricate, and re-adjust the entire camera, then test every function.

As a result, everything works with high precision and often feels even smoother than it did when new. Focus is calibrated exactly to the film plane, and the camera is film-tested on a dedicated stand to guarantee excellent focus accuracy.

SHIPPING

EXPRESS EXPEDITED SHIPPING (UPS) IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL

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USA CUSTOMERS

Due to new customs regulations effective September 1, 2025, UPS is currently the only carrier we can use to ship from Germany to the United States. The good news is that, based on our October 2025 shipments, total fees and duties have not exceeded about $150 for a used camera—even on items valued above €5,000 so no significant taxes or fees are expected.