About Rolleicord II
The Rolleicord Model II is a twin-lens reflex camera, which means it has two lenses of the same focal length—one for viewing and focusing and the other for taking the picture. It uses 120 roll film, producing high-resolution, detailed images. You can capture 12 6x6 images with this camera. Made between 1936 and 1937 by the German company Franke & Heidecke, this camera was popular among both amateurs and professionals for being affordable yet high-quality. Unlike the more famous Rolleiflex, the Rolleicord Model II was easier to use with its side focusing knob. Despite its simpler design, it still delivered sharp, high-contrast images, perfect for portraits and landscapes. Ramesh Shukla, a renowned Indian photographer who moved to Dubai in the 1960s, captured iconic images of the UAE's formation with Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the founding father and the first President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using a Rolleicord twin-lens reflex camera and documented this transformative period with his Rolleicord camera. These images were published in Vogue Arabia. Today, depending on its condition and accessories, a Rolleicord Model II can be worth between $200 and $500.
