Seeking Rollei 6008 Service Expert Recs to Build Siamese Rig

[J C]

I'm looking for recommendations for an expert on the Rollei 6000 series; I wish to commission a siamesed set of 6008 AFs for stereo use. The system I have in mind involves electronically linking two 6008 AFs which have electronically controlled shutters, auto aperture settings, and auto focus. I find the 6008s to be ideal candidates for siamesing, as using fully electronically controlled cameras circumvents the need for any mechanical link between the camera controls. I'd probably also commission a set of zoom-linked Variogons. Looking for recommendations for someone who can help make this build a reality.

 

[Hassasin]

I can't help with the project but I sure want to see this done. It'd be quite a thing to watch it working and capturing images.

 

[Pieter12]

There are barely any Rolleiflex 6008 techs any more, and they seem to have a backlog maybe because parts are scarce. I would suggest Paepke in Germany as a starting pint.

 

[ic-racer]

I’m not sure why you need to have them linked. I mean each one is going to auto focus and expose the way. It seems fit which ought to be fine. Just press both buttons on the electronic release at the same time again I’m not sure why you would need to electronically link them

 

[ic-racer]

The electronic release is a pretty simple device and if you really just wanted to press a single button, it would be easy to y two of the electronic releases together to a single button

 

[J C]

I will look into Paepke; thanks for the recommendation.

 

[J C]

The reason both apertures and focus settings must be linked is because a stereo set comprised of two images with slightly different exposures and focus would be difficult to view. The eyes and brain are very particular when it comes to forming a stereo image. Thus, the focus of both lenses must be mechanically or electronically linked to ensure as little deviation as possible. And having to set the apertures individually would add inconvenience. So, they should be linked as well.

The shutters must also be synchronized, as any unnatural differences, no matter how small, between the images caused by the shutters not firing at the same time could mess up a stereo set.

I don't plan for the changes that I make to be irreversible. I'm hoping a 6008 specialist can somehow bridge these two cameras together electronically, and I will mount them on a single rail side-by-side. I would prefer an electronic link between the cameras for all controls, as this would circumvent the need to weld connecting bars onto the lenses and allow for quick lens changes.

 

[Pieter12]

Perhaps hack of the Rollei Master Control would be part of what you want: https://rolleiflex.us/products/roll...21094758&pr_ref_pid=8214673665&pr_seq=uniform

 

[Pieter12]

I spoke with Dave Feeley at Key Camera who just finished doing some repair work on my Rollei Hy6. He might be able to help you with your project. He works on the Rollei 6008 and is familiar with stereo cameras. (303) 772-7690.

 

[J C]

Thanks for the recommendation. I spoke to Dave, but, unfortunately, he does not have the time for a project like this. I will reach out to Paepke and RBT, who are still around supplying mounts.

As for the master controller, I wonder if it would be possible to send the output from one controller to two cameras. My biggest concern is shutter synchronization, as the apertures and focus could be easily linked mechanically via connectors on the lenses. Making sure that both shutters fire at precisely the same time and for precisely the same amount of time is more difficult.

 

[Dan Fromm]

OP, not to be a complete idiot, but are your concerns about poor synchronization based on trying to use them with a shared shutter release? I ask because there have been tandem stereo rigs composed of two 35 mm SLRs with a common shutter release that seem to have worked well enough. If you have two 6008s, each with a Variogon, trying the shared shutter release while waiting for a mechanic to agree to make exactly what you want seems worth doing.

About the Variogons. Pardon my ignorance, but if they don't have push-pull zooming wouldn't using a belt (suitable rubber band) to keep their focal lengths in sync do the job? The bodies offer, if I understand correctly, AF and autoexposure. Again, worth trying. If the results don't satisfy, then you'll need a mechanic.

 

[Pieter12]

OP, not to be a complete idiot, but are your concerns about poor synchronization based on trying to use them with a shared shutter release? I ask because there have been tandem stereo rigs composed of two 35 mm SLRs with a common shutter release that seem to have worked well enough. If you have two 6008s, each with a Variogon, trying the shared shutter release while waiting for a mechanic to agree to make exactly what you want seems worth doing.

About the Variogons. Pardon my ignorance, but if they don't have push-pull zooming wouldn't using a belt (suitable rubber band) to keep their focal lengths in sync do the job? The bodies offer, if I understand correctly, AF and autoexposure. Again, worth trying. If the results don't satisfy, then you'll need a mechanic.

Since the 6008 cable release is an electric switch, it seems like it would be a simple affair to rig one with two jacks.

 

[J C]

While a two headed shutter release cable could be used to fire both shutters, I worry that there would be a noticeable discrepancy between the time at which both shutters actually fire. Like "lock-time" from firearms terminology. I am not sure if this would actually be an issue, but I tend to take images of living subjects with my stereo cameras. And, the larger the format the more one notices small errors. Perhaps I am worrying too much.

As for lens linking, a rubber belt would not be sufficient. Consistently good results would require a rigid connection.

The main reasons for the electronic link were the synchronization of the shutters and enabling the use of AE and AF. Both cameras would have to use the AE and AF readings from only one side. As our eyes do not focus on two different objects at the same time, a stereo set comprised of images that were focused at different distances would look unnatural.

 

[Pieter12]

Many (probably most) stereo cameras have fairly rudimentary mechanical shutters that probably don’t fire simultaneously at the level of exactitude you seem to want for your 6008 rig. I doubt it would make much of a difference.