Background and Identification
Founded in 1920, Rollei is a German manufacturer of optical instruments including the Rolleiflex and Rolleicord camera series. Rollei has had a turbulent company history and that is evident through its several name changes.
Rolleiflex cameras were a long-running and diverse line of high-end cameras. They were medium format twin lens reflex (TLR) cameras. In addition to TLRs, this line also included SLRs in medium format, zone focus, SLR 35 mm, and digital formats of cameras. Specifically the 120 roll film Rolleiflex camera series was aimed at professional photographers. Other Rolleiflex cameras have used film formats 117 (seen in the original Rolleiflex), 120 (Standard, Automat, Letter Models, Rollei-Magic, and T Model), and 12 (Baby Rolleiflex). The TLR Rolleiflex cameras were praised for their premium build quality, compact size, modest weight, superior optics, and bright viewfinders. Moreover, these cameras were appreciated for their simple but durable design.
The Rolleicord cameras were intended for amateur photographers compared to the Rolleiflex line of cameras. These cameras were also a medium format twin lens reflex camera, but it was simpler and less expensive than the high-end Rolleiflex. The Rolleicord line had several models and the later models had more advanced features—leading to them being valued at a higher price point in today’s market.