Franke and Heidecke (Rollei MF cameras and projectors) close to an end

Q.G. · Nov 13, 2009

One thing to not about the mention of the Hy6 in this article in the press: Jenoptik has withdrawn from this project entirely and sold Sinar, the vehicle through which they were going to bring this thing to market. Which makes it impossible that the thing will be revived.

Not exactly on-topic in APUG, it may appear at first glance. But it was what could have kept F&H's analog products alive.
Now a 'revived F&H' will have to rely on insanely priced products, so that even very low sales volume will keep the (very much reduced) operation alive.
So don't expect to be able to buy a new analog Rollei TLR any time soon, unless you are as rich as Croesus.

AgX · Nov 14, 2009

Q.G. said:
But [a H6] was what could have kept F&H's analog products alive.

That a project of a modular MF-body based on the Hy6 body is going on at that new enterprise has been hinted at already three weeks ago by someone seemingly from that company. But this has not been referred to in those new information.

Anyway, the legal situation of a Hy6 is even more complicated than that of the classic cameras.

Q.G. · Nov 14, 2009

Without Jenoptik behind it, with Leaf no longer existing... best forget about that.

Besides, it's not likely that the 20 people that will take on the job of gold and platinum plating TLRs and packing them inside velvet lined tropical hard wood boxes will also be building electronic products.
Not even 20, of course, since 5 - 10 of them will be employed keeping track of the cash flow, count what's in stock every day, and figure out where to ship those hard wood boxes (if they will not deliver them in person).

DanielStone · Nov 14, 2009

leaf as a stand-alone company is gone. phase 1 swallowed them up.

there are still rumors about continuing with the hy6/afi system. especially since there are enough of them out there. and many digi-back people prefer them to the Mamiya afd platform that P1 decided to continue with for their product line.

a guy I assisted used the HY6. it was a killer camera. super smooth in the hands, butter smooth. mirror slap was almost a null issue. lenses stupendous, overall construction built like a tank.

if I had the cash and was looking for the ultimate 6x6 slr, it would be a hy6 with a couple film backs. I'm a RZ user, and very happy with that system. never let me down. and with Hasselblad removing the V-series from their current line-up was the beginning of the end IMO. I've got a H2, and its fantastic! But in the end, a 500 series body just feels better in my hand IMO.

besides, there are sooooooo many v-bodies and lenses out there on the used market, why not buy into the Hassy v-series? Lenses are great, construction of everything is top-notch, and I've never had a problem with one when using one. Actually, had one jam on me, but it was my dumb fault.

TLR's are great for walk-around though. A friend of mine has a rolleiflex 2.8, later model. It only gets used for b/w, but I'm sure that any color film would be quite happy going through that camera none the less.

-Dan

HerrBremerhaven · Nov 14, 2009

http://www.sinar.ch/en/press/217-sinar-photography-uebernimmt-teile-der-sinar-ag

Q.G. · Nov 14, 2009

HerrBremerhaven said:
http://www.sinar.ch/en/press/217-sinar-photography-uebernimmt-teile-der-sinar-ag

What does it say there?

AgX · Nov 14, 2009

I guess the most important information of that Sinar press release from two months ago is that after restructuring Sinar negotiates the continuation of the Hy6 and anyway will keep their systems open for for the attachment of third-party backs.

Q.G. · Nov 15, 2009

Don't count on it.

But more importantly: don't count on seeing affordable analog Rolleiflex TLRs from DHW.

HerrBremerhaven · Nov 15, 2009

I would think some used Rollei gear prices would drop in the near future. The 6003 and 6008 might benefit the most. Unfortunately the newer TLRs might become more "collectible", putting them out of touch of the average enthusiast. However, there are a ton of older used Rollei TLRs in good condition, so that those who might want to shoot with one may be able to find one on a budget. On a similar thought, I don't know that I would purchase a Hy6, either new, lease plan, or used, though it is a nice system camera.

AgX · Mar 8, 2010

The director of the successor of the late and Franke & Heidecke manufacturing company is reported by a german photo magazine of the new company (DHW Fototechnik) to meanwhile manufacture:

-) Custom versions of
Rollei 35
Rolleiflex

-) electronic shutters

-) 35mm and MF projectors of the Rolleivision range (maybe old stocks)

-) the Rolleiflex Hy6

Tom Kershaw · Mar 8, 2010

AgX,

Do you have any comments about the sustainability of a stills film projector market?

Tom

AgX · Mar 8, 2010

I assume projectors having quite a long life-time. People spending money on still film projectors now really seek image quality, in contrast to the common beamers. The demand on high-end new projectors depends on the market availability of those in the used market. As I indicated, from the wording of that report I assume those projectors from DHW still being stock on their shelves.

AgX · May 27, 2010

For the Hy6 two new tele lenses as well as a 6x6 film back have just been announced by DHW to be available this september.

Henning Serger · May 27, 2010

Tom Kershaw said:
AgX,

Do you have any comments about the sustainability of a stills film projector market?

Tom

Dear Tom,

in Germany the following manufacturers are producing slide projectors:

Braun
Reflecta
Kindermann
Götschmann / GECKO-CAM
RBT (stereo projectors)

And DHW, the successor company of Franke&Heidecke, made a statement that they intend to continue the production of the Rollei 35mm and 6x6 projectors.
Due to official data in 2009 more than 5000 new slide projectors were sold in Germany (and about 1000 new 35mm SLRs).

Best regards,
Henning

Mainecoonmaniac · May 27, 2010

I bought a Rolleiflex for myself last Christmas. I printed my first roll of film and the prints were scary sharp. The camera is over 50 years old. It occurred to me that optics were pretty good 50 years ago and I don't think it's improved much ever since.

R gould · May 27, 2010

I have a Rolleiflex automat 4, with tessar lens, from around 1954, The negatives are so sharp you could cut yourself with them, and they have something I can only describe as Rolleiflex glow,I love it and use it all the time,Richard

andrewkirkby · May 30, 2010

According to photoscala.de (http://www.photoscala.de/Artikel/DHW-Fototechnik-will-Rollei-Klassiker-produzieren)

Essentially this says that DHW will continue the production of medium format camera models and projectors from spares purchased from the insolvency although the production of the Hy6 platform will depend on negotiations with relevant concerned parties.

My German is Nicht erweiterte... So please correct me if i have made some errors.

For now, i am waiting to buy a Rolleiflex 2.8F

AgX · May 31, 2010

Andrew you read it right.

BUT, meanwhile another statement was released which said that that tuned-up HY6's, based on cameras out of F&H stock, are available meanwhile.

I tried to indicate this in post #134, but did not employ the most precise wording.

About DHW:

They still have no "proper" website.
(They still use the old M&F site for their e-mail account, but that site, belonging to F&H, is frozen in a state just prior to the insolvency.)

However, they have a store on e-bay.

andrewkirkby · Jun 4, 2010

I will try and find more information. I would definitely be interested in developments regarding the HY6 system. That was a camera system which showed a lot of promise and felt "right" to use. Precision German engineering...

Q.G. · Jun 4, 2010

I think the HY6 is well and truly gone.

Jenoptik owned the thingy, and they have pulled out completely.
They even sold Sinar, the vehicle they would use to peddle the Hy6.

Leaf has gone.
(And Phase One has put its eggs in the Mamiya basket.)

And "Rollei's" continued existence?
As longs as stock, perhaps even parts, last, the new owner will be selling something.
The chance that they will ever produce anything again is close to zero.

The name "Rollei" will live on. As part of the assets of an investment company. And apparantly as the name of a real estate company, owned by that investment company.

But also as the name of one of the epoch-making cameras. No matter what the future will be: Franke and Heidecke wrote history, in indelible ink, with their Rolleiflex cameras.

Stefan Findel · Jun 4, 2010

While visiting my home town a few weeks ago, I stopped by DHW Fototechnik, since they are only 10 miles down the road. I purchased a brand new Rolleiflex FX (since my Automat, built around 1944, was acting up (they fixed it free of charge, what do you expect? It's a Rollei!)). I looked at the HY6 and half a dozen lenses. I really liked the 180mm F2.8!!! They are working on everything simultaneously. New website, expanding facility, moving machines and offices (still in the same building), increasing staff, introducing new things at Photokina... I told them, that it was strange, that they are in a stealth like mode right now. But they assured me, things are happening and the world will hear from them soon...

andrewkirkby · Jun 7, 2010

Stefan Findel said:
While visiting my home town a few weeks ago, I stopped by DHW Fototechnik, since they are only 10 miles down the road. I purchased a brand new Rolleiflex FX (since my Automat, built around 1944, was acting up (they fixed it free of charge, what do you expect? It's a Rollei!)). I looked at the HY6 and half a dozen lenses. I really liked the 180mm F2.8!!! They are working on everything simultaneously. New website, expanding facility, moving machines and offices (still in the same building), increasing staff, introducing new things at Photokina... I told them, that it was strange, that they are in a stealth like mode right now. But they assured me, things are happening and the world will hear from them soon...

This is good news.

Whereabouts in Germany are they based? I see no website.

Stefan Findel · Jun 7, 2010

Andrew, DHW Fototechnik is in the same building as Franke und Heidecke was, in Braunschweig.
Since your interest is the HY6, you might like to know, that they will introduce a back for 6x6 (so far they have one 'only' for 645).
Stefan

Ektagraphic · Jul 8, 2010

Stefan Findel said:
While visiting my home town a few weeks ago, I stopped by DHW Fototechnik, since they are only 10 miles down the road. I purchased a brand new Rolleiflex FX (since my Automat, built around 1944, was acting up (they fixed it free of charge, what do you expect? It's a Rollei!)). I looked at the HY6 and half a dozen lenses. I really liked the 180mm F2.8!!! They are working on everything simultaneously. New website, expanding facility, moving machines and offices (still in the same building), increasing staff, introducing new things at Photokina... I told them, that it was strange, that they are in a stealth like mode right now. But they assured me, things are happening and the world will hear from them soon...

This is really, really good news. I know this is an old thread but I have been bitten by the Rollei fever...just in this past week really

pgomena · Jul 9, 2010

It is very good news. I've pulled my Rollei out of the closet in the past couple of weeks to use with a Rollei panorama adapter I recently bought. It's such a wonderfully engineered camera. Maybe that's the problem - no one ever needed to buy more than one. Today's d___tal cameras are obsolete once the packaging is opened.

Peter Gomena

Franke and Heidecke (Rollei MF cameras and projectors) close to an end

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