Franke & Heidecke Rolleiflex Bioptic Twin Lens Reflex Camera, c. 1956
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Ca. 1956
This vintage Franke & Heidecke Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera, dating to approximately 1956, is a mid-century German-made photographic instrument designed for 120 film.
The camera features a distinctive dual-lens configuration: a Heidosmat f/2.8 75mm viewing lens and a Zeiss Opton taking lens (serial number 89726). It includes a top-opening waist-level viewfinder and an exposure list located on the camera's backside. The body is finished in textured black covering with chrome accents and features a Synchro-Compur shutter mechanism. The unit bears the serial number 1250929 and is marked with "DBP DBGM" inscriptions.
It comes with an attached neck strap. Physically, the camera measures approximately 5.75 inches in height, 3.75 inches in depth, and 4 inches in width. Renowned for its fluidity and ease of use, the Rolleiflex 2.25-inch square format became a standard tool for photographers across genres, including documentary, portrait, and fashion photography during the era. The item remains an iconic example of mid-century precision engineering.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Depth
- 3.75 in
- Width
- 4 in
- Height
- 5.75 in
- Strap length
- 34 in
Technical characteristics
- Shutter
- Synchro-Compur
- Film format
- 120 film
- Taking lens
- Zeiss Opton nr 89726
- Viewing lens
- Heidosmat f/2.8 75mm
- Serial number
- 1250929
Design
- Back
- Exposure list
- Markings
- DBP DBGM
- Viewfinder
- Top open
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Franke & Heidecke
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.