A twin-lens Rollei carries one pair of lenses for its whole life, so identifying the taking lens — Tessar, Xenar, Planar or Xenotar — is central to the valuation. We work out the model and lens from the nameplate and rings, then assess the optics, leaf shutter and film transport.
Rolleiflex or Rolleicord, working or not. Written valuation. Free insured postage. Paid in 72 hours.
The twin-lens reflex made by Franke & Heidecke of Braunschweig is a distinctive design: a viewing lens on top for composing on the ground-glass screen, and a taking lens below that exposes the film. On a Rollei, that pair is fixed — you cannot swap lenses as you would on an interchangeable system — which is exactly why identifying the taking lens matters so much when we value the camera. The lens is not an accessory; it is part of the camera's identity, and it stays with the body for life.
You do not need to identify yours precisely before contacting us — that is our job — but a little orientation helps you understand what we look at and why.
Rollei made two parallel twin-lens lines for many years. The Rolleiflex was the more advanced professional model; the Rolleicord was the simpler, more affordable alternative. Both are well worth selling, and the quickest way to tell them apart is the film winder.
Neither line is inherently "the valuable one" — a clean, working Rolleicord with good glass can be a more useful camera than a tired Rolleiflex with a hazy lens. We assess the specific example in front of us rather than pricing by name.
Depending on the model and era, your Rollei may carry a Carl Zeiss or a Schneider-Kreuznach lens. The name and maximum aperture are engraved on the front ring around the taking lens, so a clear photograph of that ring tells us most of what we need.
| Lens | Maker | Typical maximum aperture |
|---|---|---|
| Tessar | Carl Zeiss | Commonly f/3.5 (four-element design) |
| Xenar | Schneider-Kreuznach | Commonly f/3.5 (four-element design) |
| Planar | Carl Zeiss | Found on f/3.5 and f/2.8 models |
| Xenotar | Schneider-Kreuznach | Found on f/2.8 models |
The lens type and its optical condition both feed into the valuation. We do not claim that any single lens name guarantees a particular figure — a much-admired Planar with fungus is still a lens with fungus, and we assess the actual glass rather than the reputation attached to the name.
Twin-lens Rolleis are simple, durable cameras, but decades of storage leave their mark. We record each of the following in writing for every camera received:
Haze, fungus, cleaning marks and internal separation in the taking lens all affect the result. The taking lens is the one that matters most for image quality, so we describe its glass precisely — clean, light haze, fungus present, and so on.
Rollei leaf shutters can grow sluggish or sticky as old lubricants age, and slow speeds are often the first to suffer. We test what we can and record what the shutter actually does; if a camera is untested we say so explicitly.
The crank or knob, frame spacing, and the focusing helical should all move smoothly. Stiff focus or an uneven wind is noted rather than glossed over, as is the state of the viewing screen and mirror.
Leatherette, finish, the ground-glass and finder hood, plus any caps, lens hood, case, straps, box and papers. Honest wear is not a barrier — it is simply described accurately alongside what is present.
Please note that photographs can help identify the model and condition, but a physical inspection may be needed before a final valuation or offer — haze, shutter accuracy and focus smoothness are hard to judge from images alone. And please do not attempt invasive cleaning or repair before valuation; original condition can be useful to assess.
If you would like an early view before sending anything, clear photographs let us give you a considered indication. The most useful shots are:
If your Rollei is one part of a larger holding, the broader sell vintage cameras & lenses guide explains how we handle mixed outfits. For other medium-format systems, see sell Hasselblad cameras and sell Mamiya cameras.
Fair Vintage is an independent vintage and collectables buyer and is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by any current holder of the Rollei or Rolleiflex trademarks, Carl Zeiss or Schneider-Kreuznach. Names are used here only to describe the cameras and lenses we buy.
Tell us roughly what you have — "a Rolleiflex with a Planar" is plenty. We email a free prepaid, tracked and insured label the same working day.
Wrap the camera with the finder hood closed, include any hood, caps, case and papers, and use a sturdy box. Your parcel is insured to £5,000 from the first courier scan.
We email a unique parcel code and your opening time. Your parcel is opened on camera and photographed before a specialist identifies the model and lens.
Model, lens, condition and figure, in pounds. Accept what you want to sell; the rest comes back free. Payment within 72 hours, or we add 3%.
If your question isn't here, call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk. We respond within one working day.
Get your free label →The name is engraved on the front of the camera, and the winding mechanism is the quickest tell: Rolleiflex models use a crank or lever to advance the film, while Rolleicord models use a knob. The Rolleiflex was the more advanced professional line and the Rolleicord the simpler, more affordable one, but both are twin-lens reflex cameras we are happy to buy. You do not need to work out which you have — a photo of the front nameplate and the winder settles it.
Yes. We buy both the Rolleiflex and the Rolleicord, along with accessories such as the Rolleikin, prism finders, hoods, cases and papers. A clean Rolleicord in good order is a genuinely useful camera and we assess it on its own merits rather than treating it as an afterthought. As with any camera, the model, the fitted lens and the condition together decide the figure.
It can. Rollei twin-lens cameras were fitted with lenses that are not interchangeable, so the lens is part of the camera's identity. Depending on the model you may have a Zeiss Tessar or Planar, or a Schneider Xenar or Xenotar, at a maximum aperture such as f/3.5 or f/2.8. The lens type and its optical condition both feed into the valuation, but we do not claim any single combination guarantees a particular figure — we assess the actual glass in front of us.
Yes. Haze or fungus in the taking lens, a sticky or slow leaf shutter and a stiff film transport are common on cameras that have been stored for decades, and they do not rule a camera out. We describe each fault in writing and reflect it in the figure rather than turning the camera away. Photographs help identify the model and condition, but a physical inspection may be needed before a final valuation or offer.
No. Please do not have the camera serviced or try to clean the lenses or open the shutter yourself in the hope of adding value — you risk marking the coatings or disturbing the mechanism, and an unrecorded recent service is not something we can verify. Do not attempt invasive cleaning or repair before valuation; original condition can be useful to assess. Send it as found, with any caps, hood, case or paperwork you have.
Request your free label today. Model and lens identified from the nameplate and rings, assessed on the taking lens, shutter and transport. Written valuation. Paid within 72 hours — or we add 3%.
Also see: Vintage cameras & lenses · Sell Hasselblad cameras · Sell Mamiya cameras