Rollei owners help please

[T-grain]

Hi, I purchased a rollei 6003 a couple of months ago with a 80 lens and it was working superbly until now....BUT, just got a "new" lens (makro planar 120, old series) today AND the camera wasn't displaying shutter and aperture settings anymore (on the display). So far, for a few "dry" shots the shutter seemed to work correctly as well as the aperture-strange enough, the memo button (gray one) also activated the working aperture (as the usual button did, too).
so, I was just playing around and maybe accidentally change the shutter settings during the ongoing exposure (several secs) and then.....the camera became to behave like crazy-only the 30 sec exposure is now working......even with the planar 80 (which was working fine before)...
so, my question is: did i do something "stupid" to make the camera "crazy" or is there any problem with the lens (electric part), confusing the camera?
is there any way to restore (reset) the camera settings and so to check if the electronics did or didn't break?
any info is highly appreciated, since i don't even own the camera manual....
thank you very very much

 

[TimVermont]

Which 6003 & Some Suggestions

Hi T,

6003, 6003 SRC 1000 or 6003 Professional? It'll help to know which one.

But let's start with the basics. The memo button has to activate the diaphragm on a non-PQ lens in order to get an accurate meter reading. So that part is OK. Clean the lens contacts on the body. Clean the film magazine contacts on the body and the magazine. Clean the contacts on both lenses. (Q-tip & alcohol). Remove the battery for a while, and recharge it if needed. Put the battery back in with the master switch OFF. If it is the 6003 Professional, mount the 80mm PQ lens, turn it on after making sure the grey memo button is forwards, in the unlocked position and try the mirror pre-release button, then fire the shutter at 1/500th. Does it work? If 6003 or 6003 SRC 1000, try the above, but those models don't have a mirror pre-release. You can find a 6008 manual PDF online that will at least give you the basics. Remember that the older non-PQ lenses do _not_ have the metering range of new lenses and you may get anomalous readings in dim light.

 

[T-grain]

Tim, I have the 6003 pro model
I also downloaded the 6008 manual, but can't find any instructions about resetting the camera (if needed in such a case)
Ok, so I need to retry with this settings (already cleaned the contacts on the camera and the 80), since the camera was keeping to be fuzzy (indicating only 30'' exp or just "strange" numbers in the display)

will try when I come back home today ASAP

but anyway, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I think you just saved my day today

do you think I would need the master control unit, maybe, to set some default settings, in the case everything else fails?

cheers

 

[T-grain]

no progress with 6003

Tim, I tried everything you adviced, but there is no improvement (even wih the PQ lens)-the only shutter times (remaining are 15'' and 30 '') and the camera then restores back to one of those values (the aperture is still working normally)
I even tried to fire the shutter at 1/1000 (where the 1/500 value is obviously blinking) and seems as it does fire at 1/500, but even this desn't seem to help-the camera is still crazy (to say the least)
I am desperated, dunno what else to do.......

 

[T-grain]

this camera is really crazy-BUT IT WORKS AGAIN


yes, I tried every imaginable combination of commands to reset the camera and in the end, I just held the <> button and simultaneously pressed the memo button
then the the shutter times looked "more normal" but not quite
then I followed Tim's advice again-mirror lock up and 1/500 shutter firing and voila, the 1/500 is 1/500, 1/60 is 1/60 again and so on, up to 30 secs exp times
i don't know what the hell i did to upset the camera, but in the end everything is fine again-at least now i know how to tame machine's craziness
Tim, thanks again!

 

[TimVermont]

Glad to read it is working. Well, the take-away is don't change the time setting mid-exposure. However if you'd said you had an older model, I'd have suggested googling "Rollei dirty contact ring" and you'll find directions for cleaning the contacts in the control knob - keep that in mind if it happens again for no reason.

 

[T-grain]

yes, Tim, that was a very good lesson for me
and, yes, when the non-PQ lens is attached, in a low light situation the camera doesn't show the exp settings, but it works properly (at least looks like)-it does show, however, at a higher light level (shutter only, I can live with this)

I have another question, though-would it be the hasselblad B60 adapter (for 67mm screw filters) "somehow compatible" with the rollei bay VI?
with somehow i mean if there is only a slight difference in the external diameter which could be machined on a lathe or so
the Marumi Bay-60 to 67mm Filter Adapter looks like the most likely candidate for this job-and it is cheap, easy to find and so on (not like a rollei one, expensive and hard to find)

 

[TimVermont]

Rollei Bay VI to 67mm adapters are the way to go. As far as I'm aware, the Hasselblad B60 rings have thicker lugs, thus they jam up part way on if the go on at all. The filter mounts on the front of the Rollei lenses uses springs & tiny ball bearings so that the filter "clicks" in place. A very satisfying sound & sensation, but as you've pointed out, ridiculously expensive for the working photographer. Check the lugs on the adapter for smoothness and remove any roughness or burrs. Apply a tiny amount of silicone lubricant evenly to both the lugs and the threaded faces and buff with a soft cloth to keep them from binding in use.