Using my 1950’s Rolleiflex 2.8F for Portrait Photography

Not many cameras earn the title ‘iconic’, but the Rolleiflex in my opinion, certainly does.

A camera that has been used across a huge range of genres and that remains sought after to this day.

From documenting the front lines of the Second World War (check out Lee Miller’s work) to early street photography from the 1950’s onwards.

For the latter do explore the work of Vivian Maier, a nanny from New York whose work lay undiscovered until recent years and was found by sheer chance at a house clearance auction.

The Rollei is also known for being a great camera for portrait photography, with the Rolleiflex 2.8F being very much on my radar for some while, so when one cropped up on ebay I seized my chance.

The Rolleiflex 2.8F

Being a medium format film camera and only having 12 shots per roll of film, the way this camera is used compared to modern digital is a very much slower, more considered process.

Without going into too much tech talk, the camera is simply operated using the hand crank on one side to advance the film, whilst on the other you’ll find the focus dial and a meter which comprises of two needles you align using the shutter speed and aperture controls to achieve the correct exposure.

You view images by looking down into the camera which is great for maintaining eye contact during a portrait session, although the image you see is reversed, ie when you pan left the image you see moves right so it takes a bit of getting used to!

Whilst all my headshot photography sessions in Tunbridge Wells are photographed using a modern digital camera, it can be fun to break out the Rolleiflex if time allows to get some shots of a subject on film.

If you’d like to find out more about my headshot photography sessions, have any questions about how a shoot works or would like to check availability, please do get in touch via my contact page and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.