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Current TV report about DW Photo (Rolleiflex) production

Henning Serger

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Hello friends,

just absolutely fresh (this evening ) regional TV (Northern Germany) report about both the history and the current production of Rolleiflex cameras in Brunswick (Braunschweig), Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany.
I hope the link works:

https://www.ardmediathek.de/ndr/pla...QUWgzoJJySrShbyUy_PqprblhjOamFSUL3LI2MViDwihM

DW Photo is a successor company of former DHW Fototechnik, which is a succesor company of Franke&Heidecke (Rollei).
https://www.dw-photo.eu/about.html
They are
- producing the Rolleiflex Hy6 Mod.2 medium format film camera and lenses for it (increasing demand, last year about 100 units, most customers are professional photographers)
- servicing and repairing the 6000 series cameras and all Rolleiflex TLRs.

I visited the original Franke&Heidecke / Rollei factory two times, in 2007 and 2008. At that time the factory was expanding, and had invested in new machines and products. In 2008 about 125 employees were working there, and I've seen the first Hy6 models on the production line in 2008.
At that time they produced about 500 TLRs p.a.. 400 with 80mm normal lens about each 100 units of the wide and tele model.
They were a victim of the 2009 financial crisis: One of their most important customers was Jenoptik, who sold the Hy6 with their own digital back. As during the financial crises the demand for digital backs collapsed, Jenoptik left the market, which was one of the major factors of the insolvency. After that, a core team continued as DHW Fototechnik until 2015.

Best regards,
Henning
 
Fantastic. Thanks for sharing, I love my Rolleis...

 

Hi Henning,

oh, these are our lokal news here...
The link works well, nice report. I guess those guys repaired my SLX.
Just one minor mistake: The Rolleiflex was introduced 1929, not 1930.

Thank you and best wishes
Jens from Schaumburg
 
The link works in Canada too. Nice to see that these people keep Rollei alive. Hope that they can find younger people to continue the firm. Maybe one day I'll pull the trigger on a 6008 or a (used) Hy6.
 
I love my Rolleis. Although my grip of German if very weak, it is great to see the company is still around producing cameras after a number of changes of hands. I'd love to see them stay around for the foreseeable future. One thing that struck me was the age of the workers in the historical footage compared to today. Let's hope they can bring in a new generation of technicians.
 
ic-racer said:
Fantastic. Thanks for sharing, I love my Rolleis...

View attachment 241262
Click to expand...

I can completely understand . I love my Rollei Rolleivision 66 medium format slide projector .

Wow, you have two Rolleiflex 3003. Congrats!
As a very young guy this at that time very expensive camera for someone being in school and having no income was a real dream. A good friend of mine - former professional photographer and Rollei lover / collector - has both the SL 2000F and 3003. So at least meanwhile I've had the chance to hold that dream of my earliest photography-fan times in my hands.....And the camera really feels very good .

Best regards,
Henning
 
Jens Hallfeldt said:
Hi Henning,

oh, these are our lokal news here...
The link works well, nice report. I guess those guys repaired my SLX.
Just one minor mistake: The Rolleiflex was introduced 1929, not 1930.

Thank you and best wishes
Jens from Schaumburg
Click to expand...

Hello Jens, greetings from the neighbourhood ,

if you like, you are very welcome to join our Film Photographer Northern Germay meetings (3 - 4x p.a.) in our Expo-Dorf Hanover.
Let's talk about the details via the conversation function.

Best regards,
Henning
 
The link works in UK as well. I speak a little German but I get the general idea of what they are talking about. I keep forgetting that Rollie also made 35mm and Medium format slr's as well as their trade mark Twin Lens Reflexes. Beautiful items of precise engineering,
 
spijker said:
The link works in Canada too.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback! Good to know.

spijker said:
Nice to see that these people keep Rollei alive. Hope that they can find younger people to continue the firm.
Click to expand...

Well yes, that was the last comment of owner Hans Hartje: He is currently working on a concept for that.

Best regards,
Henning
 
Henning Serger said:
Well yes, that was the last comment of owner Hans Hartje: He is currently working on a concept for that.
Click to expand...
I know, I could follow the German easily. I had a quick look at the website and the current team seem to be all a near/post retirement age although dedicated to keep the cameras alive. However 8000 euro for a Hy6 body is out of my price range. So unfortunately I won't be able to support them.
 
Last edited:
The link works in the UK, and my schoolboy German was sufficient to get the gist. A nice little article. Thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks for sharing. Very interesting both the vintage videos and the current operation. So nice to see.
 
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