What is your favourite Rolleiflex SL66 landscape lens?

etn · Jan 4, 2021

Sirius, let's quit hijacking poor Leader's thread I do hope we have the opportunity to meet in person some day and sacrifice a few beers to the gods of Swedish engineering together

Leader Jones · Jan 4, 2021

etn said:
My usual quote to Hasselblad owners was "You'll end up owning all lenses eventually." Prices have skyrocketed so much in the recent years that it has become an unrealistic proposition. But it might still be accessible to SL66 owners??

H

Sirius Glass said:
30mm Fisheye, 38mm SWC, 50mm, 80mm, 100mm, 150mm, 250mm, 500mm + 2XE tele-extender.

Might need to save up

Leader Jones · Jan 4, 2021

Pieter12 said:
You might want to see if you can find Barry Thornton's books, "The Edge of Darkness" or "Elements." He shot mostly with a SL66, used tilt a lot and gives technical details on all the shots, including film, developing and printing.

Pieter12,
Thanks for the tip. Actually, I had heard about the two books by Barry Thornton!!! The Edge of Darkness and Elements. I asked my local book shop and they said that unfortunately both books are now out of print. I put my name down in case they get second hand versions. Also, I tried to find downloadable versions I could purchase online and there is nothing.

I will keep searching...

Leader.

Pieter12 · Jan 4, 2021

Leader Jones said:
Pieter12,
Thanks for the tip. Actually, I had heard about the two books by Barry Thornton!!! The Edge of Darkness and Elements. I asked my local book shop and they said that unfortunately both books are now out of print. I put my name down in case they get second hand versions. Also, I tried to find downloadable versions I could purchase online and there is nothing.

I will keep searching...

Leader.

Have you tried the local library? Also, I have had luck with Abe books.

Sirius Glass · Jan 4, 2021

Leader Jones said:
Pieter12,
Thanks for the tip. Actually, I had heard about the two books by Barry Thornton!!! The Edge of Darkness and Elements. I asked my local book shop and they said that unfortunately both books are now out of print. I put my name down in case they get second hand versions. Also, I tried to find downloadable versions I could purchase online and there is nothing.

I will keep searching...

Leader.

Abe books, Amazon [check daily], eBay [check daily], Alibris https://www.alibris.com/books/

k.hendrik · Jan 4, 2021

Books, books, books! Go out, young Leader and shoot. Any piece of 'glass' is suitable for a sl66 to hit any landscape.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77846450@N00/23011604043/in/dateposted-public/

The other two are convenient too
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77846450@N00/23957867440/in/dateposted-public/

ic-racer · Jan 5, 2021

I'll admit to being the first to post about "Equivalent Lens" to the SL-66. But those of you posting lenses, are you in the SL-66 system? I think those SL-66 lenses are going to be less expensive than Hasselblad or Rollei 6000 because there is no focus mechanism or shutter. One should be able to "collect them all" I'd think.
For example I'd love to have the fisheye for Rollei 6000 but they are so rare and expensive, one can get the SL-66 fisheye WITH A SL-66 BODY thrown in, for less.

Slixtiesix · Jan 6, 2021

The 50mm is my favourite. Compact and lightweight for its angle of view.

Arthurwg · Jan 6, 2021

Pieter12 said:
You might want to see if you can find Barry Thornton's books, "The Edge of Darkness" or "Elements." He shot mostly with a SL66, used tilt a lot and gives technical details on all the shots, including film, developing and printing.

Yes, it's a great book.. Lots of useful info on using tripods as well.

john_s · Jan 7, 2021

Leader Jones said:
From what I understand, they never made an FLE version for the SL66...

Zeiss did make a 40mm Distagon for the SL66 with a second focus zone ring. There were three positions: infinity to 2m, 2m to 0.9m, and closer. They did refer to it as having a floating element. I'm not familiar with the Hasselblad system, but i think I recall an even later version with a fully floating element (not just 3 positions).

Even the first huge lens is marvelous. A pair of filters and lens hood need significant space in one's bag (bigger than my lunch box).

john_s · Jan 8, 2021

It was the Barry Thornton book Elements that got me started with the SL66. He was no gear head. Most of his images were taken with at most a couple of lenses, maybe nearly all the 80mm.

Leader Jones · Jan 9, 2021

john_s said:
It was the Barry Thornton book Elements that got me started with the SL66. He was no gear head. Most of his images were taken with at most a couple of lenses, maybe nearly all the 80mm.

Thanks John,
I just bought his Edge of Darkness on eBay. I am looking forward to receiving it! How does Elements compare?

Leader.

Pieter12 · Jan 9, 2021

I found "Edge of Darkness" a more interesting book from a technical point of view, it goes beyond just the photo examples. It is probably the better book to read first. "Elements" gives a bit of a story and technical details about each photo.

What is your favourite Rolleiflex SL66 landscape lens?

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