Rolleiflex Hy6...One of the last medium format cameras in production

[Dave Krueger]

Classic film bulge on my old SLX presented itself as a landscape scene where the edges of the frame near the horizon were very sharp, but the center of the scene is out of focus at the horizon. All the areas from the horizon to the nearest point are progressively worse. The film bulge pushes the focus out beyond infinity, so nothing is in focus (except the edges where the film gate is keeping the film flat. )

Ah, my mistake. You did say it was the SLX that was the main problem. It would have to be very frustrating to have such superb optics just to be foiled by mechanical impairments to focusing. Kind of like having a Ferrari with half the spark plugs removed. So far, I haven't seen any problem, but it's possible that the bulk of the pictures I've been taking wouldn't lend themselves to uncovering film flatness issues.

 

[Pieter12]

I just shot a little still-life with the 6008i. It is such a joy to use. Solid, simple, intuitive controls. Love it. I do prefer the compactness and lighter weight and AF of the Hy6 for location shots. And the AF 80 and 50 lenses are superb.

 

[ic-racer]

I had my 6008i out (formerly yours) because it was snowing. Did not want to risk getting the new Hy6 wet or getting snow in the viewfinder. I had a prism on the 6008i. Still not sure if I should pay $$ for a prism for the Hy6. I have seen some of the old blue sticky prisms that say SINAR for about $500.

 

[JensH]

Classic film bulge on my old SLX presented itself as a landscape scene where the edges of the frame near the horizon were very sharp, but the center of the scene is out of focus at the horizon. All the areas from the horizon to the nearest point are progressively worse. The film bulge pushes the focus out beyond infinity, so nothing is in focus (except the edges where the film gate is keeping the film flat. )

Hi,

had the same problem with my SLX (second model), especially with thin film like TP.
Brought the camera to Rollei, Braunschweig in 1996 where they replaced a broken film pressure unit ("Filmbühne gebrochen" says the repair report) and re adjusted it.
No issues since then.

Greetings
Jens

 

[GG12]

I had my 6008i out (formerly yours) because it was snowing. Did not want to risk getting the new Hy6 wet or getting snow in the viewfinder. I had a prism on the 6008i. Still not sure if I should pay $$ for a prism for the Hy6. I have seen some of the old blue sticky prisms that say SINAR for about $500.

They might use the same prism.

 

[Pieter12]

They might use the same prism.

Maybe the same prism, but the base is different. I don't know if there is anyone out there who could modify the 6008 prism to fit the Hy6. The Sinar/Leaf prism for the Hy6 doesn't rotate for what it's worth and I don't know if you can freshen the finish with alcohol like some of the other rubberized coatings. I have been told that talc will take away the stickinesss and you get the added benefit of a camera that smells like a clean baby bottom.

 

[ic-racer]

Using the Spot Meter

I had some frustrations in the field today using the spot meter. This is how I figured it out.

In the field I tried to meter the snow with the spot meter at zone VII. I set compensation to +2EV and lightly pressed the exposure button to get the reading. Then when I composed and pressed again, the reading changed.
Also, it was very difficult to set the +2EV because the LCD screen kept on going blank.

Solutions:

To keep the LCD screen illuminated the LCD BACKLIGHT function has to be set to ON

To hold the spot reading, rotate the exposure lever on the left side to M, and that holds the reading.

 

[ic-racer]

This image was posted on another Rolleiflex thread, but it shows a scratch about 19mm from the film edge. My 6060 Magazin also produces this scratch on at least one frame of every roll. By systematically applying teflon tape to potentially offending areas of the Magazine, I finally got rid of the scratch. In my case it was probably coming from the upper small roller.

I mention 'probably' because tape over the roller eliminated the scratch, however, with an 8x loupe I can't detect any abnormality of the roller in that exact area. So, I cured it but the exact source of the scratch is still a slight mystery. More work needs to be done.

 

[Pieter12]

Where did you source that tape? That's my neg in the example and I only see the scratch on a few frames if at all on a roll. Also, maybe in another thread, you mention the light leak circled in yellow could be a foam seal needing replacing. Looking at my back (at least the interior were the insert goes, not where it meets the body) I only see 2 seals, the one at the bottom looks damaged to me.

 

[ic-racer]

This is the list of teflon tape and foam from McMaster Carr. I don't have good pictures of how to re-do the foam right now but I can take some.

 

[ic-racer]

This shows the Teflon tape covering the upper roller. This was the only configuration of tape that eliminated the scratch. I don't want to leave the tape on there permanently, as you can see the film passing through is lifting the tape up at the upper corner.

Previous tests by removing and processing the film prior to exposing frame #12 showed the scratch was never on that un-exposed frame. So the scratch must be coming from the upper portion of the Magazine.

 

[ic-racer]

Close examination of the rollers shows many machining marks, some are quite large like this one. I suspect these machining marks from the manufacturing process are causing the scratches on the film.

 

[Pieter12]

THANKS

 

[Dave Krueger]

Close examination of the rollers shows many machining marks, some are quite large like this one. I suspect these machining marks from the manufacturing process are causing the scratches on the film.

View attachment 267459

Very interesting and thanks for the update!

I haven't shot any film in this camera since your last post about this issue, but I did get a magnifier that is more maneuverable inside that small space. During a cursory examination, I found a similar machining mark like that on the hinge side roller, but it doesn't look as severe. I have not run any experiments to determine whether the scratch is happening before the film passes through the gate or after. Is this machining mark located at a position where it could cause a scratch 19mm from the film edge? If the machining mark is causing the scratches, then it's possible that the manufacturing process is creating that mark in the same place on other rollers. Furthermore, since the rollers can be installed either way, it could cause the scratch to appear 19mm from either edge of the film, explaining why we don't all have the scratch along the same edge of the film.

Under a magnifier, the roller looks a bit rough in places. I'm guessing that the black color comes from an oxide layer. Just looking at the roller with the naked eye, it looks pretty smooth, so I would not have suspected it on my own.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

G.A.S

My wife is going to be pissed at you, Ice_Racer

 

[Light Capture]

This shows the Teflon tape covering the upper roller. This was the only configuration of tape that eliminated the scratch. I don't want to leave the tape on there permanently, as you can see the film passing through is lifting the tape up at the upper corner.

Previous tests by removing and processing the film prior to exposing frame #12 showed the scratch was never on that un-exposed frame. So the scratch must be coming from the upper portion of the Magazine.
View attachment 267458

Scratch that only appears in some frames combined with roller of small diameter like that means that roller is not actually turning when film is passing over it.

That would indicate either too much or too little pressure on the roller. Hole that roller is rotating in (effectively plain bearing) might be rough and not completely round.
Smoothing that roller might reduce grip. Tiny amount of lube and/or lapping of that plain bearing surface at the ends of the roller should resolve the issue.
Not sure how is that rolling inserted in that space. That might introduce another point of failure. Could be spring loaded.

 

[AgX]

Smoothing that roller might reduce grip. Tiny amount of lube and/or lapping of that plain bearing surface at the ends of the roller should resolve the issue.

Yes, but smoothing the roller also reduces chances of scratches or rather eliminates them at all. Thus one still could do both.
A problem then though may be, in case the roller was galvanized that it from then on may corrode. Regular polishing then is the remedy, but might be a hassle due to location...

Taking that roller out and sending it to DW for exchange is the way I would go.

 

[ic-racer]

I have polished the roller. Will report back with the findings after a roll of film is exposed.

Of note, many 120 cameras have chrome polished rollers here, but the 6000 series and the Hy6 have blackened rollers.

 

[Greg Kriss]

I don't think there is a 110/2 for the Rollei. There's a 120 Makro and a 180/2.8. The 80/2 is hard to find and expensive. The 2.8 is more available and an excellent lens.

I believe that the 110/2 was a super rare lens made for the Rollei SL-66. Brain remembers it as a 120/2, but I think 110/2 is the actual lens. When I was using a SL-66, I came across one FS from a serious SL-66 user, but its asking price was too deep for my pockets. I believe the owner had 2 of them!!!

 

[Pieter12]

I did some research and yes, there's a rare and expensive 110/2 (like over $5.5 to 6.5G used). I'm guessing it is like the Hasselblad Planar, maybe heavier because it has a shutter.

 

[k.hendrik]

I believe that the 110/2 was a super rare lens made for the Rollei SL-66. Brain remembers it as a 120/2, but I think 110/2 is the actual lens. When I was using a SL-66, I came across one FS from a serious SL-66 user, but its asking price was too deep for my pockets. I believe the owner had 2 of them!!!

Could you provide me with some more details about this "110/2 was a super rare lens made for the Rollei SL-66" . As an owner of a SL66SE I never heard of it !

 

[ic-racer]

For reference this is a picture of the 110/2 for 6000 series cameras. I also don't know about the one for the SL66, however.

 

[Greg Kriss]

Could you provide me with some more details about this "110/2 was a super rare lens made for the Rollei SL-66" . As an owner of a SL66SE I never heard of it !

Unfortunately it has been probably 30 years plus since I owned and used my SL-66 system. When I sold the Rollei equipment, I also passed on my Rollei literature to another user. Only once saw the lens described in any literature. My guess was that it was in the back section TECHNICAL INFORMATION NEWS section of international photo technik magazine. My guess is that a few prototypes were made by Rollei and the existence of the optic was mentioned before it was put into production. The owner of the one that was offered to me lived in Washington DC. From our correspondence, he mentioned that he owned every piece of Rollei SL-66 equipment that Rollei offered and then some.
Another rare lens for the SL-66 was a f/5.6 500mm Novoflex. I was told that few were made. Acquired the optic and after shooting several rolls of Chromes with it, was very unimpressed with the images. Remember one problem was that the lens was mounted on the tripod with the camera hanging off the back. Using medium to slow shutter speeds was not possible unless the camera body was also mounted on a second tripod.

 

[ic-racer]

Thank you for the information.

 

[k.hendrik]

Unfortunately it has been probably 30 years plus since I owned and used my SL-66 system. When I sold the Rollei equipment, I also passed on my Rollei literature to another user. Only once saw the lens described in any literature. My guess was that it was in the back section TECHNICAL INFORMATION NEWS section of international photo technik magazine. My guess is that a few prototypes were made by Rollei and the existence of the optic was mentioned before it was put into production. The owner of the one that was offered to me lived in Washington DC. From our correspondence, he mentioned that he owned every piece of Rollei SL-66 equipment that Rollei offered and then some.
Another rare lens for the SL-66 was a f/5.6 500mm Novoflex. I was told that few were made. Acquired the optic and after shooting several rolls of Chromes with it, was very unimpressed with the images. Remember one problem was that the lens was mounted on the tripod with the camera hanging off the back. Using medium to slow shutter speeds was not possible unless the camera body was also mounted on a second tripod.

Thanks!