Rolleiflex SLX and 6000 Series

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I wonder in the collective knowledge and experience of the ‘denizens of the dark side’ who inhabit the world of film (I struggle with the term conventional as I feel that is far more apposite for all things digital, purely on weight of numbers alone!) have any of you experience of owning and using any of the Rolleiflex SLX or 6000 series 120 SLR's

I believe there were some reliability issues with some models but that is the sum of what I know.

I would really like to buy and Rolleiflex GX, but they are quite steep and earlier TLRs seem to go for silly money. After recently purchasing a supposed Mint- Rolleiflex T, which I had to send straight back to the dealer complete with more fungus in the taking lens than a mad scientists petri dish, I thought I might explore another Rolleiflex avenue.

I should also say that I have shot 120 for many years with a late 1950’s Rolleicord V, which for a number of reasons is now coming to the end of it’s shooting life after a very busy existence. It has earned its rest in my camera cabinet.

Thoughts, observations, and any experience of these MF SLR Rollei’s would be gratefully appreciated.

I need to have acquired a replacement Rollei in advance of my pilgrimage to Braunschweig in July.

End of my idiosyncratic Rollei ravings:cuckoo:
 
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Can't you solve your Rollei addiction and choose something else? I had a Tele-Rolei and SL66 in the past and don't miss them erm well I was dumb not to keep them as they would be worth something now.
 
No, the Rollei addiction on my part is incurable!
 
Jao said:
No, the Rollei addiction on my part is incurable!
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That's unfortunate, I'd hate to have an MF Rollei addiction, the cure is to buy the gear but its so expensive and hard to come by.......mebbe a trip to Lourdes..

:)
 
joxby said:
That's unfortunate, I'd hate to have an MF Rollei addiction, the cure is to buy the gear but its so expensive and hard to come by.......mebbe a trip to Lourdes..

:)
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:):):)

It is an affliction!

As evidenced by the pilgrimage to Braunschweig as opposed to Lourdes;)
 
The SLX/6000 are very different systems compared to the line of TLRs. July is plenty of time to find a decent condition 2.8/3.5 E/F, send it to Brian Mickleboro for a tune-up if necessary, and have it ready for your trip.
 
Mr CAD seems to have a few SLXs at around £600, but I've no idea how good/reliable they are!
 
I paid a lot less than £600 for my 2.8F (came with the original lens cap, hood and a spare focusing screen). Just be patient!
 
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I also have a Rollecord V. Out of my sixty film cameras it would be the one I would choose if I could only have one.

Is yours not worth servicing to give it a new lease of life?


Steve.
 
Even with 50+ years of use, there is no reason why a competent service person wouldn't be able to keep it going. Or even just buy another Rolleicord V, if you really do want to retire it?

Personally I'd avoid Mr. Cad for such an expensive purchase, especially of an electronic medium format SLR system IMO.
 
ChrisR said:
Mr CAD seems to have a few SLXs at around £600, but I've no idea how good/reliable they are!
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Chris, thanks for that, Mr. Cad are very steep £wise though. Particularly for the SLX which is the oldest model I have looked at. I have recently looked at a Mk1 and a Mk11, both in good condition and both under £300. I have also looked at an immaculate 6008 for under £500. Just not sure though?

FruitFlakes said:
I paid a lot less than £600 for my 2.8F (came with the original lens cap, hood and a spare focusing screen). Just be patient!
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Fruitflakes, the 2.8F is a great and iconic Rollei, perhaps I do just need to be patient. I really regret not buying one when film cameras took a price crash some years ago when digital was really hitting the market.

I am intrigued by these Rollei SLRs however. I am concerned though that I am struggling to find anyone that uses one, this might mean that there are serious reliability issues. That might also explain why there are quite a lot less than

Steve Smith said:
I also have a Rollecord V. Out of my sixty film cameras it would be the one I would choose if I could only have one.

Is yours not worth servicing to give it a new lease of life?


Steve.
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Steve, I know how you feel, my Rolleicord V has been an excellent camera, many of the images I have framed on the walls at home were shot with the veteran TLR. However it has a number of issues. I bought it in 1982 for £78, which was a fortune as a student back then. It developed some shutter problems after a bout 3 years and a quick inspection at Lehman's revealed that the shutter had been very badly repaired at some point in the previous 20 years. I have since had it repaired an CLA'd every few years but after the last adjustment it really gave up the ghost in its accuracy which has become very hit and miss. Also there is a problem with the mirror, which has slowly been losing its coating, all of the above mean I think it is time for a new Rollei. I might look for a knackered V though as a donor/ parts department perhaps?

freecom2 said:
Even with 50+ years of use, there is no reason why a competent service person wouldn't be able to keep it going. Or even just buy another Rolleicord V, if you really do want to retire it?

Personally I'd avoid Mr. Cad for such an expensive purchase, especially of an electronic medium format SLR system IMO.
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Freecom, I haven't bought anything other than film from Mr. Cad, but you have hit the nail on the head in terms of my quandary. The SLX's and 6000's have silicon electronic hearts and that is where my doubts lie. Rollei mechanicals tend to be pretty good, my V in spite of the abuse it received before I bought it has survived for a long time.

I have to say I liked the feel of both the SLX and the 6000's which feel far more like handling a TLR when compared to my Hassleblad.

I have to say though I have never ever seen one out and about and I wonder is there a message in that that I need to take heed of?
 
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Ffordes have a good selection of 6000 series kit, don't know how they compare price wise.
 
Had a look at some of the completed listings for 2.8Fs on eBay too (I know, riskier than going to a dealer) and there was a 2.8F that went for £310! You've got until July, just wait and you'll soon have the TLR you've always wanted.
 
Fruitflakes, I think you are right, I need to keep my GAS in check and just be patient!
 
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freecom2 said:
That 3.5F Metered Xenotar looks like the pick of the bunch, but as you can see from those descriptions, clean optic Rollei TLRs are harder and harder to come by.
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I guess the silly price Rollie's are the ones with pristine glass. That's the irony with my V, crippled and ageing mechanics but very clean glass.

May be transplant surgery is the way forward.
 
Andysnap said:
Ffordes have a good selection of 6000 series kit, don't know how they compare price wise.
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The Ffordes ones seem pretty competitive and I have in the past found their descriptions pretty accurate.
 
FruitFlakes said:
Had a look at some of the completed listings for 2.8Fs on eBay too (I know, riskier than going to a dealer) and there was a 2.8F that went for £310! You've got until July, just wait and you'll soon have the TLR you've always wanted.
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Just had a look at the listing you mentioned, that was a very risky spend of £300+. Absolutely no mention of functionality in the listing (the seller addresses it slightly in the question, but that's not tantamount to saying 'it's working okay'), talking about being a 'collector's piece' isn't always a good sign...! Could be just fine though, so who knows.

Jao said:
I guess the silly price Rollie's are the ones with pristine glass. That's the irony with my V, crippled and ageing mechanics but very clean glass.
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Silly priced ones are the relatively rare models (3.5E3 springs to mind), the newer FX/GX models, any of the wide/tele models, and the white face 2.8/3.5s. Let the collectors go wild over them.
 
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Not sure about the Rollei SLX but I have been thinking about getting a 6008 camera for a while.

They are fully electronic and use NiCad batteries. If you get orginal ones odds on they will be knackered but you can get them remade either by kits of Ebay or I think you can pay £70 to get them sorted, just can remeber where.

All the lens are eletronic so then to be a bit on the pricey side. There are some called Rolleigons which were cheaper and from what I have read read ok lens but never used them so dont know.

They are an all in one kit complete with metering, auto wind one, easy film loading and from what I have read create to use.

The are on the heavy side up around the 2kgs mark with an 80mm lens,but that is about as heavy as my Bronica SQAi with metering head, lens, grip etc.

The only thing I have read about them is they do not like rain as they tend to stop working, but once dried out they are fine again. However I cant work out just how much rain will cause them to stop.

I think that even the SLX has a simple metering system in them and I think the lens will fit both the SLX and 6000 series however the backs are not inter changeable.

I don't have any links on this machine but if you search Google you can find a far bit of info on them, but it will take a hunt and you will have to go past the first page.

Wish I not read this thread it has got me wanting one now :help: :lol:
 
Nick, I think you are right about the SLX, it was the first electronic Rollei SLR and like many early electro cameras there migt be an issues about spares and repair. The 6000 series one would hope might have ironed out some of the early problems.

Although heavy, I did like the feel and handling of the 6008. It is a tall camera and although very different to the Rollei TLRs, it felt more like them than it id did a Hasselblad.

Your information about battreis and the rain is very informative and I will add to my growing dosier on these cameras. I have done a bit of gooling and that has yielded some interesting but very contradictory information. That said google is the hoem of the contradiction.

I might see if I can find somewhere to hire one to try out.


Sorry if my thread has started a slippery slope!
 
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