s
News, Tech Tips, Updates
Focusing Screen Sizes for all Rolleiflex SLR and TLR cameras

Here is a little bit of information that I think might be useful for those shopping for focusing screens:

 All the Rollei TLRs with non-interchangeable hoods can take the same size screen (56 mm x 62.5 mm, vertical orientation) by the use of the appropriate spacers (that I include with the installation kit for the particular model).  Those are the Rolleiflex models E, D, C, B, A, all Automats, all PreWWII models (except for the very first model which used 616 film, which requires a special size screen); the Rolleicord models I, II, III, IV, V (also called Va).

All the Rollei TLRs with interchangeable hoods (prior to the GX) take the same size screen (64 mm x 68 mm).  These are the Rolleiflex models E2, E3, F, F12/24, T, Wide Angle Rollei, Tele-Rollei, RolleiMagic, and the Rolleicord Vb.  Also, some non-interchangeable hood models may have been changed to interchangeable hood cameras by repair technicians.

The later Rolleiflex TLR models GX, FX, FW, and FT take a third size screen (55.5 mm x 62.25 mm, horizontal orientation). This is the same size as the SLR cameras from SL 66, SLX, 6000 Series and finally Hy6

Rolleiflex SLR models SL66, SL66E, SLX, the 6000 series cameras, and the Hy6 take the same size screen (55.5 mm x 62.25 mm, horizontal orientation). 

Purple files issue with Hasselblad/Imacon digital backs on the 6000 series explained

For a long time I had gotten occasionally a funny magenta or purple image with my iXpress or Imacon / Hasselblad digital backs on my Rollei 6008AF body.  I figured that sometimes a file just gets corrupted or hit a bad spot on the memory card or there was a loose cable, but on one occasion I had a number of these purple files in one shoot.       I sent some files to Hasselblad Support a few years back and Paul Claesson wrote a very informative e-mail with the explanation.   I found this recently looking through old e-mails and figured this might help someone and am posting it here.  To make the story short - the answer is the mirror up button is not 100% supported with their digital backs on the 6000 series Rolleiflex's.    

The long answer with a better explanation is below in Paul's e-mail:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Hiss,

Most apologies for the long delay.

I consulted with corporate support in Denmark regarding your questions.

When you make a capture on the 6008AF, without using the mirror up function. The digital back gets a pre sync signal, to stop the sensor reading out lines and make it ready to receive the image, before the shutter opens.  
If you use the mirror up function, the back doesn't get the pre sync signal, and is not ready for the capture. If you are using a fast shutter speed, the images will get a magenta colorcast and if you zoom in them you will see
a pattern. If you use a slow shutter speed, or capture tethered from the computer, the images will be fine.




Mirror up not used




Paul Claesson
Hasselblad Technical Support

 

 

Differences between Rollei 6000 Series Camera bodies

Several people have asked me what the differences are between the 6008AF and Integral 2 models, and sometimes people ask about the differences between 6008 Integral 2 and other models.    Ferdi Stutterheim has put together a fantastic table on his Rolleigraphy.org website so all I need to do is point to it.  Thanks Ferdi!    Here it is in case anyone is looking for it...

 Rolleiflex System 6000 on Rolleigraphy.org

 

List of available lenses for the Hy6, AFi, Hy6 Mod2 cameras

My friend Geoff just sent me a screen shot of an old Open Photography Forum post by Thierry Hagenaur that lists out all the available lenses for the system.  This was a really useful list and definitely deserves to be repeated here on my blog and I've pasted in the list and added a few (see below).   Here's a link to the original OPF forum post by Thierry however. 

Besides this big 'shopping list' there are a couple more resources for you all to check out.

1) FotoNode has a pretty close match to to this list but with some specs and diagrams.  I haven't checked them for accuracy, but still useful. Click here:

2) I will be uploading several Rollei documents that give a lot more detail on each lens to the Manuals section.  Look for the Rollei lens catalog and the Hy6 brochures. 

I have owned or shot with ( I am almost embarrassed to say ) almost all of the list here except the 500's, and the 250 and 350 zeiss lenses. Oh yes, perhaps because its so rare, I forgot the 1000mm which I've never seen in person and until recently had never even seen a picture of.   Those 1000's are pretty rare!  

Anyone reading this blog have or shot with one?

 

Zeiss F-Distagon (Fisheye) PQ 3.5/30 mm (X)
Schneider Super-Angulon PQ 3.5/40 mm (X)
Zeiss Distagon PQ 4.0/40 mm (O)
Zeiss Distagon FLE PQ 4.0/40 mm (O)
Schneider Super-Angulon PQS 2.8/50 mm (O)
Schneider AF-Super-Angulon PQS 2.8/50 mm (X)
Schneider AFD-Super-Angulon PQS 2.8/50 mm (P)
Zeiss Distagon PQ 4.0/50 mm (O)
Zeiss Distagon EL PQ 4.0/50 mm (O)
Zeiss Distagon FLE PQ 4.0/50 mm (O)
Schneider PCS-Super-Angulon (Shift) PQ 4.5/55 mm (O)
Schneider Curtagon 3.5/60mm (O)
Zeiss Distagon PQ 3.5/60 mm (O)
Schneider Xenotar PQ 2.0/80 mm (O)
Zeiss Planar PQ 2.8/80 mm (O)
Zeiss Planar EL PQ 2.8/80 mm (O)
Zeiss Planar PQS 2.8/80 mm (O)
Schneider Xenotar PQS 2.8/80 mm (X)
Schneider AF-Xenotar PQS 2.8/80 mm (X)
Schneider AFD-Xenotar PQS 2.8/80 mm (X)
Schneider Apo Symmar Macro PQS 4.0/90 mm (X)
Zeiss Planar PQ 2.0/110 mm (X)
Zeiss Makro-Planar PQ 4.0/120 mm (O)
Zeiss Makro-Planar PQS 4.0/120 mm (X)
Zeiss Sonnar PQ 4.0/150 mm (O)
Zeiss Sonnar EL PQ 4.0/150 mm (O)
Zeiss Sonar PQS 4.0/150 mm (X)
Schneider AF-Tele Xenar PQS 4.0/150 mm (X)
Schneider Tele Xenar PQS 4.0/150 mm (P)
Schneider AFD-Tele Xenar PQ 4.0/150 mm (O)
Schneider AFD-Tele Xenar PQS 4.0/150 mm (P)
Schneider Apo-Symmar Macro PQ 4.6/150 mm (O)
Schneider Tele-Xenar PQ 2.8/180 mm (O)
Schneider AF-Tele-Xenar PQ 2.8/180 mm (X)
Schneider AFD-Tele-Xenar PQ 2.8/180 mm (X)
Zeiss Sonnar PQ 5.6/250 mm (O)
Zeiss Sonnar EL PQ 5.6/250 mm (O)
Zeiss Sonnar PQS 5.6/250 mm (X)
Schneider Apo-Tele-Xenar PQ 4.0/300 mm (X) incl. lens hood
Zeiss Tele-Tessar PQ 5.6/350 mm (O) incl. lens hood
Zeiss Tele-Tessar PQS 5.6/350 mm (O) incl. lens hood
Zeiss Tele-Tessar EL PQ 8.0/500 mm (O) incl. lens hood
Zeiss Tele-Tessar PQ 8.0/500 mm (O) incl. lens hood
Zeiss Tele-Apo-Tessar PQS 8.0/500 mm (O) incl. lens hood
Zeiss Tele-Tessar PQ 8.0/1000 mm (O) incl. lens hood
Schneider AF-Variogon PQS 4.6/60-140 mm (X) incl. lens hood
Schneider AFD-Variogon PQS 4.6/60-140 mm (P) incl. lens hood
Schneider Variogon PQ 4.5/75-150 mm (O) incl. lens hood
Schneider Variogon PQ 5.6/140-280 mm (X) incl. lens hood
Company Time Line - History of Rolleiflex, Franke und Heidecke, DHW-Fototechnik

I pulled this time line from one of DHW-Fototechnik's brochures and thought it was interesting.

 

1920 Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke establish the “Werkstatt für Feinmechanik und Optik – Franke und Heidecke“ in Brunswick, Germany. 

1926 First use of Rollei name in conjunction with Rolleidoscop stereoscopic roll-film camera. 

1928 Presentation of first twin-lens Rolleiflex, a roll-film mirror-reflex camera (10 prototypes). 

1929 Introduction of twin-lens 6 x 6cm Rolleiflex, which for years to come was to have a profound effect not only on camera design in general, but on photography as well. 

1930 Commissioning of new factory in Brunswick, Germany. 

1933 Introduction of Rolleicord camera, a budget-priced version of the Rolleiflex. 

1937 At the Paris World Exhibition, Reinhold Heidecke receives the Grand Prix for outstanding services in camera building (Rolleiflex Automat). 

1956 The one millionth Rolleiflex leaves the factory. 

1959 Presentation of Tele-Rolleiflex with 135mm Zeiss Sonnar f/4. 

1960 Launching of Rollei P11, the world‘s first dual-format projector. 

1961 Introduction of Wide-Angle Rolleiflex with 55mm Zeiss Distagon f/4. 

1963 Launching of Rollei 16, the first camera not designed for the use of roll film. 

1966 Presentation of Rolleiflex SL66 (first single-lens 6 x 6cm camera by Rollei). Presentation of Rollei 35 at photokina. In the following three decades, about three million cameras of this type would be sold. 

1967 Start of production of automatic computer flash units. 

1968 The P35 marks the entry into the slide-projector market. 

1970 Launch of first 35mm reflex camera, the Rolleiflex SL35. 

1973 Introduction of Rollei P66A as first automatic 6 x 6cm projector. 

1974 World première of Rolleiflex SLX. The first electronic medium-format camera system was the precursor of today‘s Rolleiflex 6000 System. 

1976 Presentation of the P3800 dissolve projector – the precursor of Rolleivision Twin MSC-300 Projectors. 

1980 Presentation of SL2000F as the first 35mm reflex camera with interchangeable magazines, double viewfinder system and integral motor drive. 

1982 Rollei Fototechnic GmbH is established. 

1986 Introduction of Rolleivision 66 AV as a professional 6 x 6cm slide projector. The same year saw the launching of the RolleiMetric System opening up new perspectives in close-range surveying. 

1987 Revival of world-renowned twin-lens reflexes with Rolleiflex 2.8 GX with TTL exposure and flash metering. 

1988 Presentation of Rolleiflex 6008 as a leading medium-format camera. 

1991 The Digital ScanPack marks Rollei‘s entry into digital photography. The Prego AF is the first modern compact Rollei camera with AF. 

1993 The new generation of Rolleivision Twin MSC-300 dissolve projectors gets ready for marketing. 

1994 Expansion of Digital Imaging System with high-speed ChipPack Back. 

1995 Presentation of Rolleiflex 6008 Integral, the most advanced 6 x 6cm medium-format professional camera. 

1996 Another important addition to digital photography, the DSP-104 Digital Back. 

1998 At photokina, presentation of compact X-Act2 monorail-camera system. With the nano models, ASP are included in the line of cameras. 

2000 The company has been in existence for 80 years. 

2001 Introduction of five new compact cameras as well as of AFM 35, a new series of dissolve projectors and new digital cameras. 

2002 Extension of product line by six new compact cameras, the digital Rollei d530 flex reflex camera, the Rolleiflex 6008 AF (as the first 6 x 6cm medium-format camera with autofocus) and a new 35mm camera. In addition, presentation of Rollei 35 RF (rangefinder camera) and Rolleiflex 4.0 FW (Wide-Angle Rolleiflex) at photokina. 

2003 Expansion of line of digital cameras. 

2004 New positioning of company under „The New Rollei“ slogan. In addition to several new digital cameras, MP3 players are part of the product line up. Rollei-Produktion GmbH founded as a separate company for professional medium-format cameras and projectors. 

2005 Re-establishment of Franke und Heidecke GmbH, from Rollei Produktion GmbH at Brunswick production site. 

2006 Rollei GmbH concentrates exclusively on digital cameras and multimedia products and moves its seat to Berlin. Franke & Heidecke develops new problem solutions for professional users, organizes sales and for the first time exhibits at 2006 photokina. Product-Highlight: Rolleiflex Hy6. 

2007 Like its sister models Sinar, Hy6 and Leaf AFi, the Rolleiflex Hy6 is manufactured in series. 

New focal lengths are available as interchangeable lenses. 

2008 Franke & Heidecke supplies the new cameras to its distribution and cooperation partners. Presentation of new lenses and accessories for Rolleiflex Hy6 at photokina. 

2009 DHW Fototechnik is established.

My film negative 'scanner' set-up

Even though I have two digital backs for my Rollei's, I still shoot a lot of film.  Film is great fun, and still has some qualities in look, color and feel that can be hard to get with digital.  IMHO - The biggest downside to film is getting it scanned.   I use my Rollei 6008AF and CF 528 digital back (multishot) to 'scan' my negatives.   In the picture from my cell phone, you can see a quick snap shot of my set-up.   I have the 6008AF on a copy stand with a light table under it.  Mine is a Kaiser eVision that has the light table built in. Obviously you could use any camera and light source, but its important to use a flicker free light or one that has a high frequency ballast so you don't get dull spots in part of the frame.  Typically I set my lens aperture to about f/11.  This gives me sufficient DOF (mostly for focusing errors but also in case the film bends under the heat of the light) but avoids diffraction losses of smaller apertures.   I used to use a bowen's illumitran slide copier for this purpose.  It has a built in flash under neath and a focusing light.  The flash makes for much shorter exposures and probably has higher CRI too.  I guess I'm just too lazy to set it up every time.   I use an enlarger negative holder to hold the film strips in place under the camera so I don't have to waste time getting them into place.  I just slide the film through frame by frame.  I have a Schneider enlarging lens fitted to the Rollei M39/M40 shutter adapter but sometimes just use the Rollei 90mm apo makro lens with extension tubes.  In the picture, I am have set this up to scan color film (Portra 400) which has a orange carrier.  The orange makes it hard to adjust color wise so I have made myself a blue filter to neutralize the carrier.  I did this by shooting the orange carrier, sampling the color and making a solid layer of that color and inverting it in photoshop.  I printed this blue onto a clear transparency film.  Sounds hard but was very simple.    I use a filter called color perfect to handle the color 'scans' after that.  I can 'scan' several rolls of film in about 30 minutes this way. I think traditional scanning would be many times longer at least at the resolution I get.