Don't go into this system because it's only advantage of other similar systems is the black matte interior finish, best in the world, so to say.
1. Clumsy and bulky;
2. Needs some 13.4V and enough current to work Its linear and normal motors correctly;
3. Lenses are very bulky;
4. Nobody has ever seen any repair manual. Does it even exist?
5. Designed by the most stupid engineers in the world, the 120 film back possesses some sort of 1990 Artificial Intelligence. When it "thinks" the film is jammed, it starts rewinding it, instead of doing nothing. This way, you can easily lose half of the roll and make no notice of it, if you don't count the frames taken yourself.
6. Anybody noticed how bulky filmbacks are?
My 6001 has OTF light measurement, partly stolen from Olympus OM system. Of course, this is an advantage, but why do these folks call it "flashmeter"? I don't know, because it actually measures the sum of all light reaching the film.
7. Lenses are expensive and prone to catch dust and spores.
In fact, the system is unreliable, because all your backs can jam and rewind film and a simple manual alternative to this is ... unexistent.
My 6001 has a 15 pin plug at Its side, of which nobody knows nothing. No information. Something can be plugged in, but what? The guys who designed this camera really meant vengeance and revenge for something we didn't do to them ... Or else, they are carefully hiding the electric scheme of the device in order not to be laughed at...
1. Your opinion. I own several and don't find them to be either.
2. So? As of today, reliable more modern battery packs rebuilds are still available.
3. The lenses don't seem to be any bulkier than other MF SLRs.
4. Before the manufacturer went belly-up a couple of times and the parts supply dried up, there were a number of technicians who repaired 6000 series cameras. I would assume they had access to a manual.
5. As I said, I have several 6008 cameras. Never had one jam or rewind--they don't rewind by the way, they just advance to the end of the roll. Maybe the early cameras had that problem. There is a gear in the back that can wear down with a lot of use, but it should last quite a while before causing problems.
6. Th back may seem bulkier than other MF SLRs, but it has a less-convoluted film path plus an ingenious built-in dark slide--nothing to lose or light seals to regularly replace.
6a. I am unaware of any flash meter that does not include ambient light in the measurement. How could a meter isolate just the flash?
7. More expensive than Hasselblad? Once again, I own several lenses, both Zeiss and Schneider and have not noticed any problems with dust or fungus.
The 15-pin plug is for an electric remote release/mirror lock-up and the Master Control that gives you additional functions such as being able to adjust the metering center-weighting, time exposures, flash control and more.
The Rolleiflex/Sinar/Leaf Hy6 is another matter altogether. Lighter, more sophisticated and compact, a joy to use when everything functions. Unfortunately it is close to unserviceable due to lack of parts and technicians and in my case has proved to be quite problematic.
For what it is worth I have both a SLX (2nd version) and 6006 (1st version) for over 15 years. Both obtained used for silly money and still fully operational.
