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.
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The Rolleiflex 3.5E (1956–1959) is the mid-50s iteration of Rollei's f/3.5 TLR series, sandwiched between the 3.5C and the celebrated 3.5F. It uses the same **Carl Zeiss Planar 75/3.5** or **Schneider Xenotar 75/3.5** taking lens that would define the subsequent 3.5F, housed in the familiar Synchro-Compur leaf shutter. The key evolution during the 3.5E's run was the phased introduction of a built-in selenium exposure meter — sub-models E2 and E3 carry it; early E bodies do not. Body layout and controls are closely related to the F, making E-series cameras attractive to photographers who want 3.5F optics at a slight discount.
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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.
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Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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About this camera
The direct predecessor to the iconic 3.5F — same Planar/Xenotar glass, revised body with the meter option added mid-run.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 120 (6×6 cm) |
| Taking lens | Zeiss Planar 75/3.5 or Schneider Xenotar 75/3.5 |
| Viewing lens | Heidosmat 75/2.8 |
| Years | 1956–1959 |
| Shutter | 1s – 1/500s + B, Synchro-Compur leaf |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | None (early E) or uncoupled selenium (E2 / E3) |
| Weight | ~ |
The Rolleiflex TLR family evolved methodically: 3.5A (1949), 3.5B (1951), 3.5C (1953), 3.5E (1956). Each generation refined body ergonomics and added features rather than replacing optics. The 3.5E introduced the possibility of a built-in meter — a feature refined further on the E2 and E3 sub-models — and adopted the bayonet II front ring that would carry forward to the 3.5F. When the 3.5F launched in 1958–1959, it was essentially a cosmetic and meter-circuit revision of the 3.5E, not a fundamental redesign. Production of the E series wound down as F bodies took over by 1959.
The 3.5E occupies a narrow but appealing niche: it delivers the same Planar 75/3.5 or Xenotar 75/3.5 optical quality as the more famous 3.5F, and many of the same body ergonomics, but is slightly less sought-after on the used market — which can translate to modest savings. For a photographer who wants Rollei TLR optics and can overlook the dead selenium meter, the 3.5E is a rational alternative. The E2 and E3 sub-models are mechanically nearly identical to the earliest 3.5F bodies.
Lens fixed. Bay II filter and accessory ring:
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
View profile →Rollei 3.5E
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