Rollei

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sherm

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Maybe a bit off topic.... but, has anybody here worked with the SL66 from Rollei?

I have the opportunity to acquire one and just wanted to get any feedback I can before I take the leap into MF

Thanks in advance!!

Scott
 
I haven't had the chance to use it yet, but a good friend of mine has one and he loves it. The lenses are top notch and the shots that I have seen from my friend's sl66 are extremely sharp. I've used the Rolleiflex 2.8f tlr and the Rollei 35 compact and I have been very impressed with both of them. There is still a very strong Rollei following, so if you can get it at a decent price it is probably worth giving it a shot. I use a couple of different MF cameras and I really prefer it to 35mm, especially when I'm in the darkroom. The big negatives are a blast.

Peter
 
Check the camera over thoroughly, and ask if its possible to run a test film (at your expense - if you have some way of developing it like a paterson tank). You'll see Rollei products are just stunning. I can't afford an SL66 but if it says Rollei on it, you wont be too disappointed :)

Do your research on prices though, or you might be getting ripped off.
 
Hi,

I've also been looking at the SL66 too. A friend's got one but it's very heavy compared to a Hasselblad. The main prob.s putting me off it is the overlapping frames. The gearing of the body to film back often needs adjustment. The tilting Scheimpflug mechanism is fragile - easily knocked out of infinity focus.

If you have small paws like mine, it's very very heavy! The SL66 was definitely made for men with huge GAS shaped hands! Highly recommended.

xoxoxoxo

Miffy


http://carrotblog.livejournal.com
 
sherm said:
Maybe a bit off topic.... but, has anybody here worked with the SL66 from Rollei?

I have the opportunity to acquire one and just wanted to get any feedback I can before I take the leap into MF

Thanks in advance!!

Scott
Click to expand...

Hi Scott... I have one I bought from a Rollei friend who knows a lot about Rolleis and who thinks they're great; the most undervalued and underappreciated Rollei. The thing to watch out for is that they have a thousand moving parts and if you don't do things right, you can jam the camera. The rule is ALWAYS COCK THE SHUTTER....

Here are the instructions she sent before shipping the camera to me:


"...you have to promise that you read the instructions relating to cocking the shutter before you do anything with the camera. It is a firm rule of thumb: cock the shutter (by winding the film advance crank) before you take off the magazine, before you push the shutter release, before you get your morning cup of coffee ;-) To avoid jamming, it is best to keep it cocked all the time. That way you can't go wrong."

I also have the name of a technician who specializes in this camera should you need one.

Ed
 
sherm said:
Maybe a bit off topic.... but, has anybody here worked with the SL66 from Rollei?

I have the opportunity to acquire one and just wanted to get any feedback I can before I take the leap into MF

Thanks in advance!!

Scott
Click to expand...


Scott,

Try APUG.com, Forums, Equipment:Medium Format Cameras & Assessories
Rollieflex SL66 Users Group

Bob
 
I owned and shot three SL66's in my commercial work for over twenty five years. I had 3 bodies, 7 backs, 2 polaroid backs, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 80mm, 80mm leaf Distagon, 120mm, 150mm and 250mm plus the rotating prism. I shot tens of thousands of rolls of E-6 and B&W film and absolutely loved them. I purchased two bodies used and one from a friend that had only run two rolls through it. Only my 120 was new and the others were used. Over the period I had to have the 30 f Distagon fixed but it's was a minor fix. I had each back rebuilt two or more times each and had each body worked on a time or two. Considering I would shoot three hundred to six hundred rolls a month at times I would say they were little to no trouble at all. It was rare to have any issues at all untill the last couple of years I was shooting a great deal of film. I had a major jam that took Koh Camera (great on Rollei repairs) a year to figure out. It could have been related to exposing the camera to an MRI magnet???. One shutter curtain came loose which was no problem to get fixed and a couple of minor adjustments. In the latter years they started to fail and I deceided to sell them. The SL66 had an oversize instant return mirror that did not cut the image off even with a 250mm lens. You saw the full image in the extra big and bright VF. Vibration is nill and there is a mirror lock if you need it. The focusing bellows extends very nicely and the 50, 60, 80, 120 and 150 reverse in the bellows mount without any adapters to use for close focus. (great feature) The bellows tilts and rises for focus correction which I found quite good. (used it all the time) I now have Hasselblads and miss my Rolleis. Rollei was far ahead of everyone with this camera. If I were rating the operation and mechanics of Hasselblad vs Rollei SL66 I would give the Rollei a 10 and the Hasselblad a 6. It's a very complex machine but built better than anything in the MF market.

Check it carefully and see if it seems reasonably tight and the bellows has no holes. If the shutter is accurate and the back doesn't bind or overlap then you have a fine camera. TAKE CARE NOT TO TURN THE GEAR ON THE BACK WITH IT REMOVED FROM THE BODY AND THE SLIDE OUT. If this happens the back will go on the body but the timing of the gears will be wrong. You will have a back that is locked to the body and you will not be able to get it off without destroying a dark slide. A notch about an inch long by a half inch wide can be cut in the leading edge/corner of a slide. When inserted in the back (don't remember whether left or right) it will unlock the back. My brother did this to a body I loaned him and I had to do this to an extra darkslide. It works great!

Also another couple of teatures are the backs take both 120 and 220 film. The dark slide stores in the back slot of the back and the prism (if you have one) rotates 360 degrees.

The only down side was the 1/30th second flash sync with the focal plane shutter. It was never an issue because I shot under very controlled conditions.


Hope you get one and enjoy it!
 
I agree with Ray, including the issue with the back/gearing. I never ruined a back, but they can be tempramental.

Yes, the camera is heavier than a Hasselblad, and it is larger/bulkier. But for that size and weight, you get a very durable machine and the advantage of the reversing bayonet mount along with built in bellows results in a remarkably versatile kit that, if you wanted to duplicate in another manufacturer, would require additional lenses and/or bellows.

When I sold my SL66 gear along with an M3 and 3 lenses (21 SA, 50 DR, 90 Summicron), I regretted the loss of the Rollei more than the Leica.

Over on APUG, Mike Kovacs is a great resource on the SL66.

Earl
 
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