Rolleiflex 6008 - What in the world is this?

[hankchinaski]

Has somebody seen this before?

 

[Pieter12]

Cool. Looks like it can switch between a 90º and chimney viewfinder. Looks big.

 

[MattKing]

It looks like an accessory for a Star Wars stormtrooper!
Unless, of course, the Star Wars stormtroopers were designed based on inspiration from a Rollie chimney finder

 

[Sirius Glass]

It looks like fun. Can I get one for my Hasselblad.

 

[ic-racer]

Probably from the 1980s or 1990s because the eyepiece and the lever on the side look to be from the 3003.

 

[John Will]

It looks like fun. Can I get one for my Hasselblad.

Apparently yes !! I could not find another image but at some time B&H had a used one for sale https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802557592-USE/rollei_v_finder_for_6000_series.html

additionally this entry from a Rollei catalog seems to describe the finder:-

Rollei V-finder

1993 - 1997

To be used with video cameras. Two versions were offered, #63 984 (Rolleiflex 6000 System) and #65 531 (Hasselblad).

 

[gone]

Sometimes the simplest idea is the most brilliant one as well.

But the cost! Almost swallowed my gum, whoa. Hopefully it would be lighter than the factory prism finder I had on a Rolleiflex TLR. While it worked fine, it made the camera so top heavy that I finally took it off and used a WLF that had a sports finder peep hole thing.

 

[hankchinaski]

Apparently yes !! I could not find another image but at some time B&H had a used one for sale https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802557592-USE/rollei_v_finder_for_6000_series.html

additionally this entry from a Rollei catalog seems to describe the finder:-

Rollei V-finder

1993 - 1997

To be used with video cameras. Two versions were offered, #63 984 (Rolleiflex 6000 System) and #65 531 (Hasselblad).

Do you mind sharing the catalog?

 

[bdial]

A finder for a Hasselblad that says Rolleiflex would be a fun thing in itself.
It could be handy for working with the camera on a tripod.
Not sure about the video camera thing, I guess they mean you have a video camera attached to the top port?
Here’s a link to the catalog page; https://rolleiflex6000.eu/system6000finders.php#finders

 

[ic-racer]

I suspect so the production manager and the rest of the team on a shoot can see the composition. Similar to similar setups for cine film production.

 

[mshchem]

I suspect so the production manager and the rest of the team on a shoot can see the composition. Similar to similar setups for cine film production.

Yeah, that's cool!!

 

[Pieter12]

I suspect so the production manager and the rest of the team on a shoot can see the composition. Similar to similar setups for cine film production.

That seems like a very bulky and clumsy way to do that, since Polaroid backs and Polaroid film were still available and ADs/clients/et al were quite used to seeing them to judge and approve a shot. Also, by the mid-90s digital was becoming more commonplace in professional practice and images could be approved that way. But Rolleiflex had a history around then of producing some pretty esoteric gear.

 

[Anaxagore]

The V-finder is a very practical way to combine a louoe finder and a 90° mirror finder. It is a bit bulky and heavy though, and I never understood why it was made in a whitish color that does not go well with the black of the 6000 series… also, I never found a leather box for it (similar to that of the 45° prism) so putting it in the camera bag requires one to warp it in something to make sure the bottom glas won’t be scratched..