Rolleiflex 6000 series

Rolleiflex 600x series

Rolleiflex 6008 SRC 1000 professional, with Zeiss 4/120 Planar HFT lens
Overview
Type	Medium format single-lens reflex camera
Focusing
Focus	manual, automatic
Exposure/metering
Exposure	TTL exposure
Flash
Flash	hot shoe

The Rolleiflex 6000 series is a line of medium format single lens reflex cameras made by Rollei, in regular production starting from 1983 with the 6006. The 6006 was derived from the earlier SLX (1976) and retains compatibility with its lenses and accessories, adding an interchangeable film back with an integral dark slide. Like the SLX, the 6000 series cameras incorporate electronic autoexposure and motorized film transport, competing directly with the line of similar integrated-motor Hasselblad V-system cameras which started with the 500EL.

The 6006 was followed by the 6002 (1986), 6008 (1988), 6003 (1996), 6001 (1998), and 6008 AF (2002). The 6002 may be regarded as a simplified version of the 6006, or alternatively as a replacement for the SLX, with a non-interchangeable back; the 6008/6003 are positioned similarly. Rollei released numerous sub-variants of each model.

Broadly, the 6000 System can be divided into two distinct generations: the 6006/6002, which bear some similarities to the preceding SLX, and the 6008/6003/6001, which introduced upgraded metering and shutters.

Like the preceding SLX, the 6006 was designed to marry features from modern small format SLRs, including motorized film transport and autoexposure, with the larger film size of medium format cameras. The first camera released was the 6006 (1984), which had features similar to the SLX, adding through-the-lens (TTL) off-the-film (OTF) flash metering and a fully-interchangeable film back.^[1] The film back introduced with the 6006 had an integrated, flexible dark slide; it adds approximately 3⁄4 in (19 mm) to the depth of the 6006, compared to the SLX.^[2] A second version of the 6006 was released in 1989 with minor updates. Externally, the mechanical cable release socket was removed;^[3] on the original 6006, this was centered on the bottom front of the body between the two microswitch shutter releases.^[2]

The 6006 was supplemented by the 6002 (1986), which was a simplified 6006, reverting back to the interchangeable film magazines of the SLX, but retaining the updated TTL/OTF light meter.^[4] In addition, the 6002 added multiple exposure capability, which subsequently was added with the updated 6006 in 1989.^[3]

In 1988, Rollei released the 6008 professional, which eventually replaced the 6006. Externally, the 6008 moves the on/motor mode switch to a location coaxial with the shutter speed knob. An updated 6008 (branded 6008 professional SRC1000) was released in 1993, which added compatibility with PQS lenses; these feature an increased shutter speed of 1⁄1000 sec.^[5] Similar to the 6002, Rollei released the 6003 SRC1000 as a simplified companion to the 6008 in 1994. The 6003 removes the mechanical cable release socket and self timer;^[5] in addition, the default camera back takes interchangeable film inserts, but the standard back can be removed and used with 6008 film backs.^[6] The original 6008/6003 models were replaced with the 6008 integral (1995), 6003 professional (1996), and 6008 E (1997); improvements included the addition of a multi-spot metering mode and a faster motor drive.^[5]

In 1998, Rollei released the 6001 professional, which was a studio-only version of the 6003 professional, dropping the ambient light meter entirely, as it was intended to be used with flash lighting.^[5]

The final 6000 series cameras were released in 2002; the 6008 integral2 included improvements to the flash metering system, and the 6008 AF built on that by adding an autofocus system along with a new line of AF lenses.^[5]

In 2007, Rollei began selling the Rolleiflex Hy6, a hybrid medium format SLR camera which accepted both analog film backs or backs with digital sensors, using the Rolleiflex SLX/6000 lens mount. The Hy6 was developed by Jenoptik and sold simultaneously by Rollei and other brands, including Leaf (as the AFi) and Sinar (as the Hy6).^[7][8] The 6000 System was discontinued in 2015.

Like the Rolleiflex TLR, SL66, and SLX, the 6000 series uses 120 or 220 rollfilm to produce frames of up to 6×6 cm (nominal); the actual image size is based on imperial units, measuring 2+1⁄4×2+1⁄4 in (57×57 mm). The camera has a modular design; the central camera body incorporates the single-lens reflex mirror and exposure controls, with interfaces accommodating interchangeable lenses, viewfinders, and focusing screens.

The 6000 series uses lenses that are physically compatible with earlier SLX lenses. These lenses use conventional helicoids for focusing instead of the extending focusing bellows on the camera body of the SL66. In addition, SLX/6000 lenses all are equipped with in-lens leaf shutters. Because of this, SLX/6000 and SL66 lenses are not compatible.

A 10-pin interface is provided to transmit signals between the lens and camera body. The leaf shutter and aperture leaves are driven by voice coil motors, which Rollei called "linear motors".^[10] The aperture control ring on each lens has a separate setting at "A", which puts the camera into shutter-priority autoexposure.^[11]

Extension tubes and a bellows unit were available for close-up work.^[11]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rolleiflex 6000 (series).

• DW Photo (Manufacturer of the modern medium format Rolleiflex cameras and repair) English and German
• Paepke Fototechnik (Repair and maintenance of Rolleiflex cameras and other Rollei equipment) English and German
• International Rollei Club (Largest Rollei website with details of all Rolleiflex equipment ever made)
• Club Rollei User (Club for all Users, Collectors and Enthusiasts of Rollei photography)

• "Rolleiflex 6006 / Rolleiflex 6002" (PDF). Rollei fototechnic. October 1985 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
• "Rolleiflex 6008 professional SRC 1000" (PDF). Rollei fototechnic. January 1993 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
• "Rolleiflex 6003 SRC 1000" (PDF). Rollei fototechnic. March 1994 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
• "Rolleiflex 6008 AF / Rolleiflex 6008 integral2" (in German). Franke & Heidecke. September 2006.