Rolleiflex Glass Plate and Sheet Film Adaptor
For single photographic images a glass plate and sheet film adaptor was available for Rolleiflex 6×6 cm, Rolleicord and Rolleiflex 4×4 cm since 1932. On this page only adaptors for post-war 6×6 cm Rolleiflex and Rolleicords are described.
The 6×6 cm exposures are made on 6.5×9 cm glass plates or sheet film. Focusing is done in the usual way by using the finder screen. An optional screen for focusing on the image plane was offered too. This screen was intended for precise framing or precise focusing with stacked Rolleinar close-focusing lenses. All parts were separately available although sets were sold. Originally the adaptor set was intended for glass plates only although the use of sheet film was possible when the excess room behind the film in the plate holders was filled so that the sheet was in the focal plane. From 1950 film sheaths for this purpose were available. A pre-condition for using the Plate Adaptor a detachable camera back. Most Rolleiflex and Rolleicord cameras have one. Exceptions are all modern cameras: 2.8 GX, FX, FX-N, 4.0 FT and FW.
Photo © 2020 F.W. Stutterheim
The Glass Plate and Sheet Film Adaptor parts are:
- Leather case for 2 plate/film holders
- Adaptor camera back
- Nickel silver Plate/film holders
- Sheet film sheaths
- Focusing screen in Nickel silver holder
Glass Plate and Sheet Film Adaptor Sets
| Plate Film Size |
Frame Size | Produced | Camera Models |
Particulars | Content of Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6½×9 cm1 | 6×6 cm | 1947 - 1954 | Rolleiflex Rolleicord |
Adaptor back without groove for Rolleifix. |
1 Leather case for 2 holders (from 1950). Adaptor back 3 Nickel silver Plate/film holders. Focusing screen in Nickel silver holder. |
| 6½×9 cm | 6×6 cm | 1954 - 1981 | Rolleiflex Rolleicord |
Adaptor back with groove for Rolleifix. |
Adaptor back 3 Nickel silver Plate/film holders 3 sheet film sheaths |
Glass Plate and Sheet Film Adaptor Parts
| Plate Film Size |
Frame Size | Produced | Camera Models |
Particulars | Part |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6½×9 cm | 6×6 cm | 1947 - 1981 | Rolleiflex Rolleicord |
Nickel silver Plate/film holder |
|
| 6½×9 cm | 6×6 cm | 1950 - 1965 | Rolleiflex Rolleicord |
Leather case for 2 holders. |
|
| 6½×9 cm | 6×6 cm | 1947 - 1981 | Rolleiflex Rolleicord |
Focusing screen in Nickel silver holder. |
|
| 6½×9 cm | 6×6 cm | 1950 - 1981 | Rolleiflex Rolleicord |
Compensates for the difference in height between glass plate (1.5 mm) and film. |
Sheet film sheath |
Photographic Glass Plates
Glass plates for the Rolleiflex Plate Adapter are available from Macodirect, Germany. A box with 10 plates AGFA APX 100, size 65 × 90 × 1.5 mm, for ‘only’ € 116.
Users of the Glass Plate and Sheet Film Adaptor
Using a Rolleiflex to Make Tintypes and Daguerreotypes
Anton Orlov: “A little while back though I did get a nifty accessory called ‘sheet film adapter’, which was originally designed for single sheets of 6×9 film or glass. I used it to make a couple of tintypes a month or so ago. Seeing how I’m concentrating my efforts on perfecting the daguerrean craft, I wanted to wait to write about this project until I had proper sized plates.”