Rolleigon Lenses for SLX/6000

[abruzzi]

I'm looking for a wide for my SLX. The build on the camera and the Planar 80mm I currently have is very very solid. In the wide category, the most likely for me to be able to afford is the Rolleigon 50mm. It looks a lot more plastic than the 80 I already have. How does it (and other Rolleigon lenses) feel in hand, and does that feel translate to real longevity? As far as everything I can find online the optics are every bit as good as the Zeiss lenses, but I haven't found anything on build.

 

[xkaes]

I've never used either, but what I've read about the comparison (Rollei vs Zeiss lenses) is very similar to the Contax (Zeiss) vs Yashica (Tomioka) lenses debate in the 35mm arena. The Contax and Yashica lenses both had the same lens mount, but the Contax lenses were typically faster, with T* coating, and had extra features -- usually at four times the price. Many claim the "build" was also better (materials, manufacturing & quality control) -- along with the actual results. But there are a ton of Yashica users that are completely happy with their Tomioka optics.

Whatever WIDE lens you get, make sure you use a lens shade.

 

[ic-racer]

A Distagon in "SLX" style should be pretty inexpensive. An "SLX" style Sonnar just sold for $90 in the For Sale section.

 

[OrientPoint]

A Distagon in "SLX" style should be pretty inexpensive. An "SLX" style Sonnar just sold for $90 in the For Sale section.

I'm the one who sold that 150mm Sonnar, and I didn't give it away. I could've sold it on Ebay for... $90. SLX lenses just don't command high prices. I'd look around and don't overpay. Something will come up for a reasonable price. The PQ/PQS lenses for the 6000 series (the successors to the SLX) are a different story. They're still expensive and relatively hard to find.

 

[abruzzi]

And I'm the one that bought the Sonnar! So I need a wide for the kit. Right now on eBay (my primary source, since there is nothing local) the cheapest Distagon is an EL for $408 plus $32 shipping from Belgium. I don't really want one of those since the SLX doesn't have a aperture readout, and relies on the moving needle on the lens body, which the EL doesn't have. The cheapest SLX/6006 Distagon is $473 with $49 shipping from Japan. Its not a PQ or PQS lens, so AFAIK that makes it the older not entirely compatible with a 6008 model lens. There is a Rolleigon 50 for $293 with free shipping. All of these are just a quick survey of the cheapest lens on eBay of a particular model.

I know these costs are not crazy high, but I am a little cost sensitive at the moment, and even if I wait for a distagon, the question still interests me. A number of years ago I bought a Pentax branded 100mm AF Macro lens (not the excellent 100/2.8, but the FA 100mm ƒ3.5.) It wasn't made by Pentax, but badged by them, and I'm not sure the manufacturer. Optically pretty good, but it feels so light and flimsy that I was paranoid using it. So, while I don't expect that from Rollei, I am curious on the build quality of the Rolleigons.

 

[OrientPoint]

I'd keep on eye out on KEH and UsedPhotoPro (aka Roberts). They have these lenses periodically and they are usually priced to sell (like mine was!)

In terms of quality, I can't speak to Rolleinars for the Rollei medium format SLRs. I have a 6008 with only Zeiss and Schneider lenses. In 35mm I have both Zeiss and Rolleinar lenses. The Rolleinars are all good quality. I believe some are produced by Rollei using Zeiss designs. Others are definitely just relabeled and remounted Mamiya lenses. The Zeiss ones are generally faster, but the Rolleinars are perfectly good. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if the need was there and the price was right. I don't think Rollei ever sold garbage for their medium format line.

 

[Pieter12]

You might want to try contacting Eric at Rolleiflex USA.

 

[abruzzi]

Yeah, I'm in no rush. I'll check eBay plus the various used camera shops periodically. (I've bought a fair number of LF things from Blue Moon as well.)

 

[xkaes]

Others are definitely just relabeled and remounted Mamiya lenses.

I wasn't aware of that, but I'm not surprised. Mamiya (Setagaya) made lots of lenses for lots of different cameras, and lots of them are great.

 

[OrientPoint]

I probably should not have written that they're "just" Mamiya lenses. Mamiya lenses are in general really really good.

 

[Pieter12]

I am under the impression that the Rolleigon MF lenses for the 6008 cameras were Zeiss lenses assembled by Franke & Heidecke.

 

[ic-racer]

 

[ic-racer]

I think it is still a 'buyer's market' for these SLX lenses. About ten years ago I inquired to KEH about selling my 40mm Distagon SLX lens pictured below. They offered $350 USD. I decided to just keep the lens as a collector's item. It is pretty unique.

 

[abruzzi]

I went ahead and bought the Rolleigon. I don't have any particular obsession about "Zeiss" lenses. They're great, but lots of others are too. Depending where I read, the Rolleigon's are either made by Tokina or Mamiya. I don't know which is correct, but reviews of the Rolleigon say its either the equal or even a tiny bit better than the Distagon. So, ok Rolleigon is a kind of silly name, but I'll live with it.

Now what worries me is that beast of a 40mm above! That thing is huge. The PQ 40 is much smaller, but a whole lot more expensive. Pacific Rim camera has two of the 40's but I'll wait a while.

 

[OrientPoint]

The Schneider PQ 40mm is the one you want, if you can find one at an attainable price. It's even smaller than the Zeiss 40mm, and a bit faster.

 

[abruzzi]

Yeah, I saw that. There is one on eBay for 1200 euros.

 

[OrientPoint]

It's a scratched up one too.

 

[abruzzi]

So, answering my own question--since I bought the 50mm Roleigon and it just arrived today--the build is very solid. Easily the equivalent of the Zeiss lenses. The images of the lens online looks like a plastic outer body, but most of it is not. The bumps on the focus ring and the aperture ring are a hard rubber feel, but everything else is solid metal. It has 67mm screw thread and not the bayonet mount (Bay VI, I think) which may mean doubling up on things, but not too much of an issue.

 

[xkaes]

Depending where I read, the Rolleigon's are either made by Tokina or Mamiya.

It's entirely possible that both were involved. The Vivitar Series 1 lenses, for example, were made by several different lens makers.

 

[ic-racer]

Congratulations on you Rolleigon!

Here is a comparison of the two 40mm lenses ( 40mm Distagon/4 and 40mm Super Angulon/3.5)

 

[ic-racer]

Looking at those two cameras fires up a rant about Rollei. In the 1980s I was a Rolleiflex Snob and looked down on Nikon. Now I'm the other way.

I got my F6 and the Hy6 at the same time. Nikon made the F6 backward compatible with ALL the old Nikon manual focus lenses with full auto metering. Rollei, programmed the Hy6 to NOT WORK with the old Rolleflex SLX lenses.

In the picture above both lenses work with the 6008i (left side) and only the Super Angulon works on the Hy6 (right side).

 

[abruzzi]

Well, I haven't shot the Rolleigon yet--will be running a test roll this weekend with the Rolleigon and the 150 Sonnar I received from @OrientPoint. Both seem to have pretty clean optics.

The Hy6 is beautiful. Nikon is kind of famous for emphasizing lens compatibility, but really the other way around. For a little bit they made AI camera that would work with older lenses, with the fold down AI tab, but tht stopped and most newer cameras couldn't mount non-AI lenses without "converting" them. The important thing for them was to make sure someone on an old Nikkormat could still buy AI, AIS, even AF lenses. The didn't care what camera you owned, but they wanted you to be able to buy Nikkor lenses (kind of tells you where the money is.)

Sacrelige, I know, but I'd love a Hy6 with a Credo 60 or 80 digital back. (and a few film backs as well.)

 

[Pieter12]

Sacrelige, I know, but I'd love a Hy6 with a Credo 60 or 80 digital back. (and a few film backs as well.)

I have a Hy6 with a Leaf AFi II 7. An amazing camera, but a bit heavy for the field. Great in the studio, especially since the CCD digital backs work best at native (50) ISO. I am so disappointed the factory has been pretty flakey about support, I wouldn't be surprised if they were to go belly up once again in the near future. The Hy6 with a film back is my go-to MF camera for the great majority of my work.