Have Rollei, need advice

Hello Melanie,

Recently, Melanie L Chang posted:

Hello all,

I am a lousy photographer who has never taken anything but snapshots
with point and shoot cameras. My father died when I was 12. Unlike
me, he appreciated cameras and had an eye for equipment, and left
behind a Rolleiflex 2.8 F model K7F (according to the Rolleiclub
website) dating to 1966. As far as I can tell, it is in excellent
condition. And before anyone asks, hell no, this camera is not for
sale.

[...]
I don't remember my father ever using this camera, although the old,
square photos in my baby photo albums tell me he took at least some
of my baby photos with it. It probably has not been used for 30
years. What are the odds it is still working, and how do I find out?
Do I just roll some film into it and try to use it? What should I
look out for? Does it need to be tuned up first?

I want to be very careful and don't want to hurt the camera. It is
solid, heavy, and impressive but I am afraid I will break it by
handling it, not least of all because I have no idea what any of the
knobs do.

What I'd suggest is to get a roll of film, a manual from one of the
sources that the others have listed, and go take some photos. Rolleis are
*very* durable, *very* reliable cameras, and if it's been kept in a
"reasonable environment", there is a chance that you don't need to do
anything but use it. My early '50s Rolleiflex TLR has not been serviced
since I bought it in the mid '70s, and it still works proplerly. It is
quite unlikely that you'll hurt the camera, even if you do something odd,
like load the film incorrectly.

Whether the shutter mechanism or meter will need servicing can be
determined by the results of your test roll. Try exposures over a broad
range of shutter speeds and apertures. If anything feels "sticky", or
less-than-smooth, that may indicate a need for a CLA.

Good luck, and enjoy this beauty!

Neil