C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →tlr-medium-format
The Rolleicord V (1954) is the budget twin-lens reflex cousin of the Rolleiflex 3.5F. Same Synchro-Compur leaf shutter, same body footprint, same 6×6 format on 120 film. Differences: **knob film advance** instead of crank (slower), **Schneider Xenar 75/3.5** four-element taking lens (vs the 3.5F's five-element Planar/Xenotar), and a less luxurious focusing screen. The result is a TLR that produces the same negatives as a Rolleiflex but with simpler operation, lower price, and modest finder brightness.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the — format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profile →BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
Develop — film
We're growing the lab directory near you. Browse all labs.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The amateur Rollei. Schneider Xenar 75/3.5, knob-wind instead of crank-wind, half the price of a Rolleiflex 3.5F.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 (12×6×6 cm) |
| Taking lens | Schneider Xenar 75mm f/3.5 (4 elements / 3 groups) |
| Viewing lens | Heidoscop or Triotar 75/3.5 |
| Years | 1954–1962 (across V / Va / Vb) |
| Shutter | 1s – 1/500s + B, Synchro-Compur leaf |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | None (Va variant has uncoupled selenium) |
| Weight | 950 g |
The Rolleicord line was Rollei's amateur-priced TLR alongside the professional Rolleiflex. The Rolleicord V (1954) succeeded the IV and was followed by the Va (1957, refined) and Vb (1962, the final and most refined Rolleicord — included a clip-on light meter and a removable focusing hood). Production of the Vb continued until 1976 in low volumes, making the Rolleicord line one of the longest-running TLR designs.
For amateurs who wanted Rollei build quality without Rolleiflex pricing, the Rolleicord was the answer. The Schneider Xenar lens is genuinely sharp from f/5.6 onward — not as smooth wide-open as a Planar but optically excellent stopped down. Many Rolleicord V images that appeared in 50s/60s European photo magazines are indistinguishable from Rolleiflex output to modern eyes.
For 2026 buyers, a Rolleicord V (or Va) at $250–400 is one of the cheapest "real Rollei" experiences. The knob-wind operation is slow but doesn't affect image quality. Used prices are still significantly below Rolleiflex 3.5F.
Lens fixed. Bay I filters and accessories: yellow/orange/red filters, Rolleinar close-up lens sets, Rollei prism finder (for the Vb). The Vb's removable focusing hood was a special feature that allowed prism-finder mounting.
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
View profile →Rollei Rolleicord V
Image coming soon