Dilemas, Dilemas.

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

I’m considering a Rollei SL66 which needs repair/CLA and is priced accordingly. But for medium format I have a collection of Rollei TLRs although none with a Planar lens. (Mostly Xenar and a couple of Triotar because I just like the visual effect of that lens.)

Or, for about the same, pre-CLA, money I could get an 85mm 1.4 Zeiss in C/Y mount. I’ve read it’s a phenomenal piece of glass and excellent for portrait work especially wide open. Always possible to use it, with adapter, on some digital cameras if the mood should strike. Or the RTS II stops working.

Or I could just not spend anything and work with what I already have - some RFs, SLRs and the TLRs.

I’m just drawn to medium format and the idea of interchangeable lenses is very appealing but I also realize that I could get a H’blad for not a lot more and would likely have more choices in lenses. Which are still Zeiss. Just not that SL66 bellows and the ability to reverse the lens for macro shots.

My head is telling me to work with what I have but that SL66 is a very appealing piece of equipment.

Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Colin

 

[FrankS]

Try actually holding an SL66 before committing to buy. I never have, but I get the impression that the camera is huge.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I put a couple of rolls through an immaculate, lightly used SL66 a few years ago. I absolutely loved it. Yes, it's a large camera. And has a lot of presence. I was impressed by the things you mentioned: bellows, reverse lens mounting, front tilt. The mirror was so much smoother than my 500C/M but there's still a mirror pre-fire if you really need it. It has a lot of things going for it. It was for sale and I did think seriously about buying it. I love Rolleis and have a few TLRs, so why wouldn't I want one?

Ultimately I talked myself out of it, mostly because I already had a 500C/M. A 500C/M won't do some of the things an SL66 can do of course. Maximum shutter speed is only 1/500 not 1/1000 for starters. But you can still use extension tubes for closer focus, it's just not as convenient, and there will be some exposure compensation that isn't needed when you simply reverse the SL66 lens. On the other hand the Hasselblad can sync flash at all speeds, not just to 1/30 (from memory for the SL66?). And I do like a lens shutter, the C lenses use super reliable Synchro Compurs, ultra smooth (assuming you pre-fire the body, of course). There are a few shutter lenses available for the Rolleis but they're usually a bit pricey compared to the Hasselblad equivalents. And that was the final point. Presumably, due to comparitive rarity, the Rollei lenses in general, even without shutters, tend to be more expensive than Hasselblad lenses with them. So after admiring the SL for a couple of months in my cabinet, I reluctantly returned it to the store from which it had been borrowed. But if I'd not already been the owner of a Hasselblad, I quite likely would have purchased it, as it was amateur owned, had only seen a few rolls of film in its life, so was therefore essentially new condition and as good a prospect as one could ever want to find.

As to your dilemma. You like medium format. Fine. I get that. You do have some pretty decent TLRs. What do you want from medium format that TLRs can't give you, that an SLR can? I ask that as I can't work out from your post whether you are buying out of want or need. Either is fine and I suspect we've all done both, I certainly have and let's be blunt, a lot more of the former than the latter. But what are you trying to ascertain?

An SL could be fabulous for you. But think about SLR mirror black out versus no TLR black out. SLR vibration v no TLR vibration. Ability to change SLR lenses v no ability to do this (Mamiya C excepted of course). Ability to change SLR magazines versus inability to do mid-roll changes with TLR. Finders, metering. Flash sync. Etc.

What matters to you most? Do you actually do a lot of macrophotography? Or do you just like the idea of it? To me, the one thing that really makes the SL stand out is that front tilt, it is unique in its class of camera body. But it is also limited, depending on how much bellows extension you are using. Being a square format system it did occur to me that when tripod mounted, by simply flipping the rig on its side you'd then effectively have front swing, but I never got around to trying that during the couple of rolls of FP4 Plus I ran through "mine". I wish I had though.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[FrankS]

A poor man's Rollei SL66 is the Bronica S2a.

 

[nasmformyzombie]

Years ago on a trip I once carried a Contax ST (2 bodies), Contax 159MM with motor, 28mm f2.8 Distagon, 35mm f2.8 PC Distagon, 50mm f1.7 Planar, 60mm f2.8 Makro S-Planar, 85mm f2.8 Sonnar, 135mm f2.8 Sonnar, 100-300 Vario-Sonnar. With mostly f2.8 lenses, except for the zoom I considered this to be my light weight kit. Those days are long gone as is most of the equipment.

With all of the mirrorless digital options available as well as 35mm film gear, you must really love medium format to want to deal with all of the added weight of medium format equipment. If you can manage hauling around medium format gear you're a better man than I am. Best of luck with your decision.

 

[ThreeToedSlothLuke]

Thanks all. Really confirms how I felt this morning once the effects of that little extra wine had worn off. That camera is a 'want', not a 'need' and I probably wouldn't care to be lugging it around all day.
So no, I'll pass.

The pity of it is there are now so many older cameras I'd like to try that were just too expensive when they first came out. But there really are other priorities.

 

[ellisson]

I have the SL66E, and while a heavy camera (4.4 lbs), it has been fun to use. The macro capability is a neat feature, with 2:1 mag when the lens is mounted in reversed position.

I had a problem with the built in focusing rack, a rectangular, geared piece that converts the circular motion of the focusing knob to linear motion of the bellows for focus. This plastic part cracked, probably during shipping after I purchased the camera. If this part breaks, there is no focusing. I sent the camera to a skilled technician in Frankfort Germany who specializes in SL66 repair for replacement of the focusing rack. No problems after that.

Otherwise, I've enjoyed the macro capability and tilt function of this camera for landscapes.
It took some time to learn the film back loading procedure, but not much time.

 

[farlymac]

Thanks all. Really confirms how I felt this morning once the effects of that little extra wine had worn off. That camera is a 'want', not a 'need' and I probably wouldn't care to be lugging it around all day.
So no, I'll pass.

The pity of it is there are now so many older cameras I'd like to try that were just too expensive when they first came out. But there really are other priorities.

Good idea, as the SL66 outfit sounds like it would mostly work for macro, and unless you plan on doing a lot of that, it would just sit around too much. On top of all that, you still need to get it worked on before being able to use it.

I too went through the "trying out all the cool stuff" phase, and have a table full of gear to show for it. I found out I like the lenses more than the cameras, but since Nikon looks like they will never come out with a full frame mirror-less that I can adapt them to, it doesn't make sense to hold on to them anymore.

At least it sounds like you are tamping down the GAS before it gets out of hand.

PF

 

[FrankS]

I have just a few cameras left on my bucket list, but it would have to be a super deal falling into my lap because I simply don't have lots of money: Hasselblad super wide, Rolleiflex TLR wide, Rolleiflex SL66, Nikon F6.

 

[ellisson]

Thanks all. Really confirms how I felt this morning once the effects of that little extra wine had worn off. That camera is a 'want', not a 'need' and I probably wouldn't care to be lugging it around all day.
So no, I'll pass.

The pity of it is there are now so many older cameras I'd like to try that were just too expensive when they first came out. But there really are other priorities.

Yes, even though the price of GAS is dropping, it may not be good for the environment 🙂.

 

[splitimageview]

Contax ST (2 bodies), Contax 159MM with motor, 28mm f2.8 Distagon, 35mm f2.8 PC Distagon, 50mm f1.7 Planar, 60mm f2.8 Makro S-Planar, 85mm f2.8 Sonnar, 135mm f2.8 Sonnar, 100-300 Vario-Sonnar. With mostly f2.8 lenses, except for the zoom I considered this to be my light weight kit.

!

Not much weight to lose there, except the Makro S could have been swapped for the C, and the 100-300 for the 80-200.

I can't carry that kind of gear anymore. It seems everytime I bring 2-3 bodies and a bunch of lenses, I end up only using one body and a couple lenses.