Rollei SL66

naaldvoerder · Apr 11, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
So with a Hasselblad one just waits a little longer between buying lenses, that is all.

Come off it, will you? It sounds like you are selling Hasselblads. The OP was asking about the Rollei SL66. Seems like he knows his cameras. The SL66 is a different beast altogether. Apart from its unique features, it produces a bigger negative. The Hasselblad is really a 5.4 x 5.5.4 camera, where the SL66 is 5.8 x 5.8. Measure it up if you don't believe me. Hasselblads are nothing special. They are just like Kievs, but with a slightly better reputation.

Sirius Glass · Apr 11, 2021

naaldvoerder said:
Come off it, will you? It sounds like you are selling Hasselblads. The OP was asking about the Rollei SL66. Seems like he knows his cameras. The SL66 is a different beast altogether. Apart from its unique features, it produces a bigger negative. The Hasselblad is really a 5.4 x 5.5.4 camera, where the SL66 is 5.8 x 5.8. Measure it up if you don't believe me. Hasselblads are nothing special. They are just like Kievs, but with a slightly better reputation.

My Hasselblads are 56 mm x 56mm. As far as "Hasselblads are nothing special." just shows how much you do not know.

campy51 · Apr 11, 2021

I just bought a Bronica EC body with stuck mirror for $55. I'll tinker with that for a while since I have an EC-TL and may need the practice in the future.

Auer · Apr 11, 2021

campy51 said:
I just bought a Bronica EC with stuck mirror for $55. I'll tinker with that for a while since I have an EC-TL and may need the practice in the future.

Good deal

naaldvoerder · Apr 11, 2021

Old Gregg said:
I feel TRIGGERED.

Sorry about that. So did I.

Alan Gales · Apr 12, 2021

SL66's are great cameras but I hear that it's hard to find parts for them. Do your research!

4season · Apr 12, 2021

I once got ahold of a cheap SL66 which had been dropped, only to find that the body and back were sufficiently out of alignment that they wouldn't interchange with my working SL66. The macro capability was fun, but if lens movements are a factor, a small field camera + roll film back might be a better choice, as SL66 is limited to downward lens tilt, and the feature can only be used at close range.

Sirius Glass · Apr 12, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
The Hasselblad repairman I use also is authorized to repair Rollei SL66 and he recommended the Hasselblad over the SL66 et al.

naaldvoerder said:
I guess he would, being a Hasselblad repairman. I also guess a Hasselblad is easier to repair. As a user tool I think the SL66 surpasses a Hasselblad quite handily.

Alan Gales said:
SL66's are great cameras but I hear that it's hard to find parts for them. Do your research!

When I said it, I got flack. Alan agrees with me and someone else said that if my repairman had not said that, that I should change repair man. The SL66 has some great features but it is not the camera for the post digital apocalypse.

itsdoable · Apr 12, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
... The SL66 has some great features but it is not the camera for the post digital apocalypse.

I would argue that it is - it's mechanical and serviceable (abet much more work). I think we should encourage more people to get the old ones serviced and working, so there are some around for the post digital apocalypse (and people who know how to service them!)

Ofcourse Sirius is right though, unless you are a Scheimpflugger, the Hasselblad produces the same quality of images, plus it's cheaper, simpler, easier to fix, and more available.

Sirius Glass · Apr 12, 2021

itsdoable said:
I would argue that it is - it's mechanical and serviceable (abet much more work). I think we should encourage more people to get the old ones serviced and working, so there are some around for the post digital apocalypse (and people who know how to service them!)

Ofcourse Sirius is right though, unless you are a Scheimpflugger, the Hasselblad produces the same quality of images, plus it's cheaper, simpler, easier to fix, and more available.

If one has the skill to fix cameras, welcome to it. I will only work on my Graflex Model D because a retired Graflex-Graphic repairman taught me how to repair the shutter, but even on that camera I will send it out for anything else.

Alan Gales · Apr 13, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
When I said it, I got flack. Alan agrees with me and someone else said that if my repairman had not said that, that I should change repair man. The SL66 has some great features but it is not the camera for the post digital apocalypse.

Harold, a good friend and former neighbor of mine owned an SL66 and loved it. He also owned a bunch of lenses for it in both Zeiss and Rollei glass.

About fifteen years ago his repairman told him that parts were starting to become hard to find for the Rollei SL66. I know it's been that long because Harold used to live across the street from me. He moved out by Six Flags in Eureka, Missouri about fifteen years ago.

A CLA is not a problem but if something breaks you may have a really hard time finding the part.

Harold kept his camera but bought a Hasselblad and several lenses as back-up for the SL66. I don't know if he still has the Rollei or not.

serouscam · Jul 16, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
If one has the skill to fix cameras, welcome to it. I will only work on my Graflex Model D because a retired Graflex-Graphic repairman taught me how to repair the shutter, but even on that camera I will send it out for anything else.

There is no Model D, it is called Series D

Pieter12 · Jul 16, 2022

I kind of doubt there are anywhere as many lenses on the market for the Rolleiflex as the Hasselblad, either.

Rollei SL66

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