Rolleimarin Underwater Housing
for Rolleiflex 3.5F Medium Format Photography

Photos of a rare rolleimarin underwater housing, complete with Rolleiflex 3.5f TLR camera, illustrate the cadillac of underwater housings. Designed and popularized by Hans Hass, these rolleimarin housings produced breath-takingly beautiful photographs of marine life.

Having been lucky enough to own and handle one underwater, I can say that this housing handles so smoothly and naturally that you are just surprised by how well thought out the controls and design are. I regard the rolleimarin as one of the best designed underwater housings ever made.***

The view through the large prism viewfinder is also bright and clear, unlike trying to squint to see through the viewfinders of underwater housings for SLR cameras. The magnified viewfinder image looks like a small 4 or 5 inch TV screen underwater, compared to the stamp sized image in even the sportfinder equipped Nikon F housed cameras. The viewfinder is even optimally angled so a swimming diver can easily look down at a natural 45 degree angle (thanks to the internal prism).

In short, this Rolleiflex housing would convince you that housings have gone downhill in usability and functional design since this classic housing was created.

***based on what experience you ask? - I have owned and used everything from Nikonos I thru IVs, a half dozen 35mm underwater housings, including the Nikon F with sportfinder, pentax screwmount housing, Minolta SRT housing, nikkormat housings, 8mm and 16mm movie cameras (including a housing from a NASA contractor), and medium format housings for the Hasselblad superwide and Bronica S2a.

Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998
From: Todd Belcher toddmb@intergate.bc.ca
Subject: Re: [Rollei] The Rolleimarin

They are not particularily rare. Pacrim cameras has two for sale at $750 each. I own one. There are many more Rollei accessories that are rarer than the Rolleimarin. Rolleimot, Rollei Polaroid back, Rollei 70 mm back, Magnars, Duonars, 45 degree mirror attachment for lenses, etc.

todd

Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998
From: Mario Nagano nagano@canalvip.com.br
Subject: Re: [Rollei] The Rolleimarin

Hi Rich,

Pacific Rim Camera have two for sale:

21263 ROLLEI ROLLEIMARIN 2, WITH FLASH, FLASH CASES, FITS AUTOMAT CAMERAS WITH 33MM FOCUS KNOB, EX-... $750.00

10976 ROLLEI ROLLEIMARIN UNDERWATER HOUSING,TYPE 4,FINDER ,COPY OF B,FOR REMOVABLE HOOD CAMERAS,EX.... $750.00

You can check it personally at:

http://www.teleport.com/~pacrim/catalog/cz31.htm

Regards,

Mario Nagano

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998
From: BPickPhoto@aol.com
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: [Rollei] Rolleimarin

I've found a Rolleimarin. Ser. # 1028. Gray-green finish. Condition is only about "excellent", but of course it is a very uncommon item. Original nylon rope handle with rubber sleeve over the rope. Complete with accessory frame finder, spanner wrench, flash, extension bar/handle for flash, and cases for housing and flash. Please contact me if you would be interested in this item.

I have (up till now) deliberately not listed items for sale on this users forum. However, for this unusual item, I thought that some of you would appreciate learning about its availability.

I do know that there were 3 or 4 types of Rolleimarin, made to fit different models of Rolleiflex. As I don't have the different models of Rollei on hand to see which fits, I'm sorry that I can't tell you which version this is.

Bruce Pick

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998
From: todd todd_belcher@bc.sympatico.ca
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rolleimarin

Bruce,

You have a Rolleimarin 1 or 2 as the coupling mechanism will be bay 1. Measure the diameter of female knurled insets that couple to the f stop or shutter speed dials. 30 mm across and it is a Rolleimarin 2 made for the MX-EVS model (1,428,000-1,739,999). About 15 mm across and it is a Rolleimarin 1 made for ther previous Rollei model, the MX (1,200,000-1,427,999).

I doubt from the serial number that it is a III or a IV.

Regards,

Todd

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999
From: Andre Calciu a.calciu@anent.com
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rolleimarin

i have seen rolleimarins go for as little as 800 bucks and as much as 1200. there are two versions, one being for those rolleis with removable hood and one for the other models. make sure you test and retest the gizmo before you lock the camera inside. underware is the last place where you want to find out you have a leak :-)

andre

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999
From: Mattei mattei@cts.com
To: rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rolleimarin

....

Please keep in mind that the Rolleimarine transport and exposure controls will only accomodate a standard configuration Rollei and that it's really great to have a wider focal length down under. OTOH, for closeup work, at least the IV holds closeup lenses that can be swung up in front of the objective. At least on the IV also one must remove the meter dial assembly of the 3.5F's along with the hood.

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999
From: Mattei mattei@cts.com
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rolleimarin

Coincidentally, a Hasselblad SWC housing just hit eBay last night. Just 12 hours into the bidding it's @ 1675.00. Of course, you have the option of 12/24 and perhaps 70mm backs. I've played with 2 Rollei housings - both IV's - and find them absolutely flawless in their construction...as is the Hasselblad housing.

Date: Tue, 11 May 1999
From: todd todd_belcher@bc.sympatico.ca
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rolleimarin

there are two versions, one being for those rolleis with removable hood and
one for the other models.

andre

Nope

Ther are four versions of the Rolleimarine, each following the chronological developement of the Rolleiflex.

Rolleimarine 1 fits Rolleiflex cameras from serial number up to 1,427,999
Rolleimarine 2 fits Rolleiflex cameras from serial number from 1,428,000 up to 1,739,999
Rolleimarine 3 fits Rolleiflex cameras from serial number from 1,740,000 up to 1,870,000
Rolleimarine 4 fits Rolleiflex cameras from serial number from 2,250,000 onwards

The 2.8 cameras, the Rolleiflex T and the Rolleicords will not fit in the Rolleimarine.

For your purposes Doug, you will nedd the Rolleimarine 2 for your MX-EVS. The main differences between the Rolleimarine models lies in two areas. The manner by which they couple to the cameras finder and in the aperture/shutter speed coupling. It was the change in the cameras that prompted these changes in the Rolleimarine. For example, the change in bayonet size, the change in interlens distance, the change in the size of the aperture/shutter speed wheels, etc.

I am not an expert in pressure underwater or such things, but the seal on a Rolleimarine looks to be a piece of rubber that is compressed by the clamping action of the closure device. I would imagine that some marine stores might be able to supply a modern equivalent if the one that you may purchase does leak.

If you do purchase a Rolleimarine, make certain that the pieces that are inclused with it are in fact for that particular model. The best way to do this is to, of course, fit your camera into the Rolleimarine. If one of the parts is not correct, your camera will not function properly in the Rolleimarine. I have seen a few mixed sets of parts on a Rolleimarine For example, the focus knob coupling clamp must be the right one to fit to your camera. If it is not right, you will not be able to focus your camera in the Rolleimarine.

Here is a Rolleimarine for sale:

www.pacificrimcamera.com/catalog/cz31.htm

21263 ROLLEI ROLLEIMARIN 2, WITH FLASH, FLASH CASES, FITS AUTOMAT CAMERAS WITH 33MM FOCUS KNOB, EX-... $750.00
 

Todd

Date: Wed, 12 May 1999
From: jchow jchow@isl.melco.co.jp
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Rollei marine

> i have seen rolleimarins go for as little as 800 bucks and as much as 1200.
> there are two versions, one being for those rolleis with removable hood and
> one for the other models. make sure you test and retest the gizmo  before you
> lock the camera inside. underware is the last place where you want to find out
> you have a leak :-)
>
> andre

The Rollei marine for the 6008i lists for about $20,000. :-)

--Jim

From Rollei Mailing List;
Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2001
From: Michael Levy yvel@adelphia.net
Subject: [Rollei] Re: YThe Rollei TLR Lives!!!

Gang,

The current issue of CamerArts magazine has a profile/ review of a new angling book called "Upstream" by Charles Lindsay, with text by Thomas McGuane, which captures the lure and excitement of fishing alone on solitary trout streams.

Several things about this book stand out:

All B&W; -- not since R. Valentine Atkinson published B&W; trout stream portraits in "Trout" magazine 15 years ago have I seen the outdoor life limned in B&W.;

Square photos -- captured with a Rollei TLR!

Underwater pictures taken with a Rolleimarine housing that it took the photographer years to find.

Makes me want to do three things:
Fish, asap

Take my Rollei TLR along, instead of the 35-- obviously one can get very good water-level shots

Head to Barnes an noble to buy this book. Until I actually read it I can't review it, but I thought Rollei users might like this heads-up

Mike (still sorting glass plates in Buffalo) Levy

....