Talk me out of a Rollei 6000 series camera

beemermark · Mar 2, 2023

So I'm a long time (and I mean decades) Rollei TLR fan. I've owned dozens and currently have a 3.5E(?), 2.8F, and a Rollei Tele. I've been drooling over the Rollei Wide for sale in the want ads but I just can't justify the price. The Rollei 6000 sereis seem pretty cheap right now. and the 50mm Distagon is reasonable.

mshchem · Mar 2, 2023

Get rid of your money before it inflates away! Ben Franklin always said "a penny saved is for suckers!"

Steven Lee · Mar 2, 2023

Talk you out?

Easy. Motorized medium format cameras make zero sense outside a wedding/studio setting. You're carrying a lot dead weight that has no value. What's worse, these cameras are powered by obsolete / backwards battery tech that doesn't hold much and leak charge and perpetually need charging. A fucking nightmare if you ask me. I can only tolerate 2 devices in my house that need charging, and that's my laptop and a phone. If someone tries to sell me a Rollei 6008 I will charge them $1K as a compensation for my troubles of having it around.

Sharktooth · Mar 2, 2023

Unlike your mechanical twin lens Rolleis, the electrical 6000 models are prone to failures, and it's almost impossible to find people to repair them. Pretty expensive doorstops, so it's too much of a risk.

Before you buy, check to see if you can find someone who can repair them. If you can't find anyone, then you'll know why they're being sold cheap.

etn · Mar 3, 2023

Steven Lee said:
Talk you out?

Easy. Motorized medium format cameras make zero sense outside a wedding/studio setting. You're carrying a lot dead weight that has no value. What's worse, these cameras are powered by obsolete / backwards battery tech that doesn't hold much and leak charge and perpetually need charging. A fucking nightmare if you ask me. I can only tolerate 2 devices in my house that need charging, and that's my laptop and a phone. If someone tries to sell me a Rollei 6008 I will charge them $1K as a compensation for my troubles of having it around.

The conclusion should be pretty straightforward: buy a Hasselblad instead

etn · Mar 3, 2023

As a side note, you came to the wrong place to be talked out of camera purchases. You should have gone to your partner/spouse/banker/boss/etc. instead

etn · Mar 3, 2023

beemermark said:
So I'm a long time (and I mean decades) Rollei TLR fan. I've owned dozens and currently have a 3.5E(?), 2.8F, and a Rollei Tele. I've been drooling over the Rollei Wide for sale in the want ads but I just can't justify the price. The Rollei 6000 sereis seem pretty cheap right now. and the 50mm Distagon is reasonable.

I hear you. "Been there, done that" as they say - I have a Rolleiflex 2.8 FX which was my only camera for over a decade. Then, like you, I wanted more focal lengths and ended up with a Hasselblad.

Now 9 years into Hasselblad ownership (in the meantime completed by a Leica M6, another Rolleiflex, a Nikon F3 and a Makina 67, plus obviously a full set of Hassy lenses collected over the years) I cannot imagine I only had one camera, one lens, and was perfectly happy with it.

Tel · Mar 3, 2023

etn said:
As a side note, you came to the wrong place to be talked out of camera purchases. You should have gone to your partner/spouse/banker/boss/etc. instead

+1 (guessing the title of the post was meant ironically.)

Arthurwg · Mar 3, 2023

Superb cameras when working correctly. and with great lenses. But are you comfortable with an extremely complex and rather delicate kit made mostly of plastic? Well yes, it's some of the best plastic ever made, but still. I loved mine but it constantly made me nervous, afraid it would break or otherwise fail. Too many things that could go wrong. That's when I switched to Hasselblad.

Slixtiesix · Mar 3, 2023

The only reason you could justify not buying a 6000 series Rollei ist getting a Hy6 or SL66SE instead. Just joking, I never used one. If you find a working camera for a decent price, why not give it a try?

Sirius Glass · Mar 3, 2023

Sharktooth said:
Unlike your mechanical twin lens Rolleis, the electrical 6000 models are prone to failures, and it's almost impossible to find people to repair them. Pretty expensive doorstops, so it's too much of a risk.

Before you buy, check to see if you can find someone who can repair them. If you can't find anyone, then you'll know why they're being sold cheap.

Both Samy's Camera and my repairman at Samy's advise against buying the Rollei 6000, Hasselblad 200 and Hasselblad 2000 due to lack of parts and service.

Rayt · Mar 3, 2023

Just curious. Are the batteries still available or users need to have old ones re-celled?

Steven Lee · Mar 3, 2023

Rayt said:
Just curious. Are the batteries still available or users need to have old ones re-celled?

Both:

ic-racer · Mar 3, 2023

beemermark said:
So I'm a long time (and I mean decades) Rollei TLR fan. I've owned dozens and currently have a 3.5E(?), 2.8F, and a Rollei Tele. I've been drooling over the Rollei Wide for sale in the want ads but I just can't justify the price. The Rollei 6000 sereis seem pretty cheap right now. and the 50mm Distagon is reasonable.

That is exactly what I thought in 1986 when I got my SLX and 50mm. Rolleiwide was rare and expensive back then too!

abruzzi · Mar 3, 2023

the battery requirements on those scare me a bit. KEH had a 6002 (the one without changeable back, more like an updated SLX) for super cheap, but I passed. I think the real answer is the SL66SE or SL66E. To me they are one of the nicesest looking cameras, though I've never actually handled one. One thing I like is that, unlike most of the other similar design cameras (Hasselblad, Bronca S2 and later, Rollei 6000, Mamiya 645, etc...) but like the Bronica S and Mamiya RB/RZ--focusing isn't a helicoid on the lens, but a knob on the side. I find that way more ergonomic.

Slixtiesix · Mar 4, 2023

As someone who used the SL66 for years I may disagree slightly. I prefer the helicoid focus of the Hasselblad when using the camera hand held, because it allows for a better grip. The bellow focus of the SL66 is quite convenient however when used on a tripod (please mind this was designed as a studio and macro camera in the first place).
I am not sure whether the SL66E and SE are really preferable. They are quite rare and they need the cammed lenses to fully benefit from the built-in exposure meter. These cameras can be tricky as well, but they are still serviced. My general advise when getting into the SL66 system is to either buy a camera that works absolutely flawlessly or have it serviced thoroughly. They can develop problems in quite a few areas (focus rail broken, shutter banding, magazines get stuck, film transport problems, to name the most prominent). If they work, they are a true charm.
Coming back to Beemer´s original question, as he seems a passionate TLR shooter, I don´t know if an electrical Rollei SLR is the alternative. Maybe the Rollei-Wide would indeed be the better solution or even a Hasselblad SWC? All mechanical, no mirror slap. Also, long-term value stability may probably be higher. If you should shop for the Rollei 6000, then I see two ways. Either buy an old but working one for really cheap and do not worry it could break. Or buy a recent one that still has some chance of seeing service. You may contact Rollei (DHW Fototechnik) to inquire about that, but I assume the latest models (like 6008 AF) can still be repaired.

ic-racer · Mar 4, 2023

If in the USA check out Rollei USA. That is where I got my Hy6. They have links to service and sell used 6000 series gear.

My current lineup. I use them all. The non-functional 6008i actually works, but just won't stop down the lens. I will probably give it to my daughter to take to high school photography class to show off. It works fine used wide open.

Rolleicord
Rolleiflex 2.8.F
6008i
6008i (non-functional)
6008AF
Hy6

In spite of all the SLRs using the same physical lens mount, I wound up with three sets of lenses. My old SLX lenses only work well on the 6008i, my AFD lenses only work on the Hy6, and I had to buy a non-AFD autofocus lenses for the 6008AF.

BTW, my SLX I got in 1986 was still working fine when I sold it in 2015. It was my main camera for many years.

BCM · Mar 4, 2023

I have an 3 lens Rollei 6006/2 system that I put up for sale and the "it is going to fail" argument gets pretty old as I've had no issues with it for years. I get some low-ball offers with that as the justification. Can you imagine if people did that with cars or other items?

OAPOli · Mar 4, 2023

I had a bad experience with the 1st gen SLX. Two of them failed on me before I could get a roll through. I'm sure the 6000-series are better in that regard but:

original batteries won't hold a charge
quite heavy (at least 2kg with 50mm)
poor balance on a strap (holds horizontally)
some models require electronic remote for cable release or mirror lock-up

locutus · Mar 4, 2023

Let me pitch in as another Rollei 6000 system owner.

There's some untruths in this thread.

Dead batteries?

This is pretty much solved nowadays, you can buy re-built NiMh packs and a charger and they hold for many many of rolls, it's a non issue.

Heavy?

Yes, but the vertically oriented form factor is ergonomically easy to crade and the side grip on the 6008 again makes it easy.

(Bonus, the newer rebuilt battery packs are lighter!)

Plastic?

Yes on the exterior, it's solid metal underneath.

Nobody services them?

There are several places here in Europe who service them, my bodies and lenses where serviced and are fine.

Electronics longevity?

Sure, but there's significant survivor ratio here, all the old first gen SLX' and 6006's with failing electronics are long since dead, checked models are most likely just fine for years to come.
A Hasselblad can just as well lock up on the job at any moment.

....Are there advantages? Yes!

Price: At current Hasselblad prices, the Rollei system is *extremely* competitive,

I paid for my Rollei 6006, Rollei/Zeiss 50/80/150mm, extension tube, 2 backs and 4 inserts less than the current going price for a single lens and back Hasselblad kit.

Speed of use:

Builtin accurate meter *without* needing to use a prism with shutter priority, killer feature.
Instant mirror return and motor drive, this means i do not need to look away from the finder between shots.

All this combined allows me to work fast at people photography.

Accuracy:

Inaccuracy of shutter speeds is already enough of a pain with Copal shutters, electronic shutters that are always accurate is definitely appreciated.

And accurate shutters again help when shooting series, with perfectly consistent exposures darkroom printing all images from a session becomes faster.

Fool proof:

No lockout scenarios (Didn't cock a lens? What order do extension tube and lens go again? yada).
Built in dark slides, nothing to stash away, just push a slider, it's always obvious which state you are in.

....I suppose i shouldn't write these down and just persist that the system is terrible and will die any moment, it'll keep the prices down on any other lenses i might still want :-D

4season · Mar 4, 2023

Rolleiflex 6008i was my dream camera in the 1990s! But today, I dunno that I'd get much benefit from some of it's signature features, including TTL-metered auto-exposure, auto bracketing, winder, etc.

Availability of batteries wouldn't concern me, because they can be rebuilt readily enough. But I'd need to plan ahead to ensure they were fully charged. Not a big deal if camera is seeing daily use, but in 2023, no MF film camera is a daily user for me, and a nicad or nimh battery pack which has been sitting idle for a month is going to be weak.

At least in the USA, one Hasselblad 500 / Bronica ETR (probably SQ too) advantage is that they sold lots of them, compatibility is older components is generally very good, and in the case of Hasselblad, there's still enough of a market for 3rd party caps and other accessories that you can get good quality at reasonable cost. The one time I bought OEM Rollei SL66 body caps, man was I unimpressed by what I got for the hefty price they were charging.

Eric Rose · Mar 4, 2023

One thing to be aware of is the age of the lenses. I have run into this personally with a 150mm I bought. It worked for a couple of months then the shutter quit working. I talked to the Rollei repair people and he told me the aperture etc is controlled by magnets. They are seeing a lot of lenses stop working because the magnets are so old they no longer have enough umph in them to work. There is no parts to repair them. So I have a beautiful, expensive paperweight.

xkaes · Mar 4, 2023

Get an RB67 -- for pennies nowadays -- and get more usable film, unless of course, you love square images (in which case you waste a lot of paper).

ic-racer · Mar 4, 2023

One advantage of the Rollei system over many other medium format systems is they still make the lenses, so you are not forced to use second-hand equipment.

beemermark · Mar 4, 2023

I’m liking all the replies but there doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus

Talk me out of a Rollei 6000 series camera

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