Rolleiflex AFD Lens on 6008i (No Aperture Ring)

[ic-racer]

In anticipation of maybe getting a Hy6, I thought I'd try to get a lens first. Since I use 50mm as my 'normal' I thought I'd have to find that lens first before getting the camera.

I found one, but it did not come with an aperture ring. This will be OK on the Hy6, because that camera has a knob on the camera body to set aperture.

On the 6008i, I was not sure if the lens would work.

This is what I found. The lens fits and will focus manually.
The camera works normally and acts as if the lens is always set to "A"
Flash will be difficult, unless one wants to shoot at f2.8. I did find that if the exposure lock is set, the +2 to -4 exposure compensation knob becomes a makeshift aperture ring, as changing that knob alters the aperture but not the shutter speed.

So the lens is not totally useless on the 6008i. I probably won't be using the lens much on the 6008i if I get the Hy6. I have a 50mm Distagon FL ( with aperture ring) as my main lens for the 6008i.

 

[ic-racer]

In comparing the 50mm 2.8 Angulon to the 50mm 4.0 FL Distagon, the spec sheets show the Angulon to be heavier. However, the both feel the same weight to me in a blind test. I'll try to weight them and see. So, by eliminating the aperture mechanism and with a different helicoid they got the weight of the f2.8 down to the same weight as the f4 with the floating elements.

 

[ic-racer]

Using a fast 50mm lens on 6x6 format, I'm trying to duplicate my favorite 35mm setup which is a 1.4 35mm lens (or f2 28mm). This Rolleiflex is somewhat of a mini version of the 6008i.

 

[ic-racer]

Since I have been using the exposure compensation ring as and "aperture" setting device for the AFD lens, I also came up with this hypothetical sticker that could be put on the dial. The camera had a built-in one-percent spot meter. This zone dial could make the built-in spot meter easier to understand when using the standard lenses with aperture rings and spot metering.

 

[Pieter12]

I, too, have been interested in finding a Hy6 (or Sinar or Leaf) body and back. I currently shoot Rollei 6008i and love it, have a bunch of lenses that I would expect to work on the Hy6. The few I've seen for sale are pretty pricey, most don't have film backs. Any place besides *bay to look? I know there's a couple on ShareGrid in Detroit that have been up for a while, but the price hasn't really come down much--and no film back.

 

[ic-racer]

I missed a 'SPECIAL OFFER' on one I was watching on Ebay a while back. Someone else got the offer too and nabbed it. Somewhere around $4,700 for Hy6 Mod 2, lens and 6x6 back. The ebay listing does not show that low selling price, only my e-mail shaming me for not accepting the offer.

In my 45 year history of film I have only purchased maybe 3 cameras new. My wife was mentioning I deserve to have a new Hy6 camera and not have the headaches of ebay. So, she actually offered to look into getting a new body from Rolleiflex.usa. while they still are available with a warranty and service available. A year ago I had suggested she might get me a brand new F6 but those are so common, once they go out of production, clean ones will still be around for quite some time.

Just to digress. My last new camera was ten years ago. I met Lee Friedlander and he said his Leicas are "in a drawer" and to get a Bessa R4M/21mm lens combo, like he uses, while they are still available new. I ordered one the next day and I'm glad I did as they are hard to come by now.

 

[GG12]

Just to chip in - have been a Rollei user since 1993, started with 6003, then 6008AF, and for the past 8 years with Hy6. I got it with a move to digital, and haven't really used it with the film back much. The digital integration with the Hy6 is really nice (first with Leaf AFI 7, now Credo 60), and its a great setup. The Hy6 seems to have less mirror slap, and you can pick up about 1 stop more for handheld.
A few things to compare with the 6008 - the Hy6 has the better viewfinder, electrical management, batteries are easier, smaller, and just the next step forward. Love the focus confirmation, which is a wonder to use, especially giving life to older manual lenses (I've had the 60 Curtagon for some 25 years... ). Also able to adjust focus offset, needed if using digital, probably less so for more forgiving film.
On the other hand, the handle is awkward for travel packing - the little screen on the handle is nice, but the outer corner is exposed if one is rough with the gear. I've taken mine into jungles and up mountains, so its not delicate, but it doesn't seem quite as robust as the 6000 series. In some way, I miss the 6003, with removable handle (for easy packing) and the slim film back. But wouldn't go back... Hope this is of some help. Just sent the mod 1 back to factory for service, and its all fresh and raring to go. Needed a couple of boards replaced.
Film backs are very rare and expensive, sometimes the factory suggests they are making more, maybe worth contacting them? The interior inserts are nice and small, but not as simple or direct as the 6000 series.

 

[ic-racer]

Thank you for the very helpful post. I had been considering getting the 6008AF but, since I'll not be selling my 6008i, I'd rather get the newer camera, as long as there were not drawbacks. It seems like the Hy6, even though designed with digital in mind, is still a the best medium film camera Rollei has made.

 

[GG12]

There is the saying, “better is not the same as good”. The Hy6 is better, but the 6008 is awfully good.

 

[Pieter12]

Just got a refurb Hy6...it's sitting in Covid quarantine for the next 24 hours (if I can possibly hold out that long).

 

[ic-racer]

Just got a refurb Hy6...it's sitting in Covid quarantine for the next 24 hours (if I can possibly hold out that long).

I'd love to read you comments on the camera. After 'finding' this 50mm AF lens, I see them for sale all over the place, looks like GG12 is right that the 6060 back is hard to find. So, I'm currently looking for a 6060 back or camera with one.

 

[ic-racer]

Also, and update of having the lens with no aperture ring for a couple weeks. Turns out the auto exposure system in the 6008i matches my shooting style very well. I found that even on the lenses with aperture rings, I have the aperture rings set to "A" most of the time anyway. I believe this is because the way the meter reading is weighted.
What I have found is that after taking a hand held reading with my Sekonic spot meter, the reading from the camera's weighted average is usually about the same.

 

[Pieter12]

Initial Hy6 impressions (only one shot taken in studio as yet): The body, because the battery is in the grip (and Lithium) and doesn't house the film transport motor, is very light. Once you attach the film back, lens and, in my case a 45º prism finder, its still lighter than the 6008, but not by that much--maybe 250g. Handling is a bit different, the body is smaller, certainly not as tall. The 6008 feels more solid, a bit more ballast, less plastic. The controls are not as intuitive or obvious like the 6008. Like a modern digital camera, there is a thumbwheel for the shutter speed as opposed to the more intuitive dial on the 6008. Also, like a digital camera, you need to press different buttons and turn the thumbwheel to make some setting changes. The 6008 is more straightforward in that respect. The Hy6 definitely requires a good reading-through of the manual to figure it out. The film insert is quite compact vs the 6008 and loading film is less fussy than a Hasselblad, but a little more involved than the 6008. I need more time with this camera, especially in the field, to really get used to it. And watch out for the Leaf branded version. It has a rubber coating that will get sticky over time, if it hasn't already.

 

[ic-racer]

I really appreciate it Pieter12, thank you!

 

[GG12]

A writeup on Hy6:https://www.gigi-photos.com/hy6.pdf
https://www.gigi-photos.com/hy6.pdf

 

[ic-racer]

Update on this. Irrespective of the aperture ring issue, this lens I have has a PQS shutter and some information indicates it is not good to use that on this older 6008i camera. I also noticed some shutter ERROR codes showing up after exposures. So, maybe best not to use this combination of lens and camera.