One of the beauties of the Rolleiflex system is that the lenses and accessories are to the largest degree compatible across the camera-range. "Upgrading" to the latest camera body does not mean one has to forgo backwards-compatibility, thus saving money. In case where such compatibility is not mechanically or electronically feasible, accessories can often be converted for use with the latest camera bodies.
Schneider and Zeiss lenses
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Franke & Heidecke is manufacturing lenses designed and licensed by Schneider and Zeiss in its Braunschweig, Germany, production plant. Schneider-Kreuznach and Carl Zeiss are the world's best-known companies of medium-format lenses. Their designs are top-of-class. |
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Anti-reflection coating
All lenses feature Rollei's special HFT coating (High-Fidelity Transfer) for suppressing reflections and producing optimum color brillance. The coating consists of special ultra-thin films evaporated on the lens surfaces. The result is a noticeable reduction in the amount of light reflected from the lens elements and thus less contrast-degrading flare. In addition, light transmission is increased, allowing full use of lens speed.
PQ and PQS lenses
PQ and PQS lenses use Rollei's pioneering Direct-Drive Technology. Both the diaphragm blades and the shutter blades of the lens are driven with the utmost precision in 1/3 increments by two linear motors, controlled by the camera's microprocessor. The leaf shutters are hand-stamped, ultra-thin carbon fiber produced for the aerospace industry. They are extremely thin and the smooth frictionless blades work on an air cushion. Then gold-plated contacts ensure smooth and wear-free transmission of control pulses and power supply.
PQS lenses have a top speed of 1/1000s - the highest on the market of medium format cameras - while PQ lenses reach 1/500s. Flash synchronization is possible at all speeds.
AF and AFD lenses
AFD lenses are optically and mechanically identical to their AF counterparts, with the exception of the aperture ring missing on the AFD lenses. AF lenses work on the 6008 AF and Hy6 / AFi series. AFD lenses only work with the Hy6 / AFi series.
All AF and AFD lenses sold by Franke & Heidecke fully conform to each lens' specifications and are individually tested against their specifications and benchmarks. As always, there may be very small differences that fall within the specified tolerance levels. Glass for AFD lenses is said to be picked from among the top tier.
AF and AFD lenses include advanced glass types with particularly high refractive indices. These provide a combination of proper lens curvatures and suitable glass types, optimally corrected for sharp and brilliant images.
Manual lenses
In addition to the AF and AFD lenses a variety of manual Schneider and Zeiss lenses can be used. Manual focus-assisting through arrows is provided in the viewfinder of the 6008 AF and Hy6 / AFi cameras.
Restrictions in combination with specific cameras
The Hy6 / AFi is compatible with PQ and PQS lenses only. The 6008 AF can use older, non-PQ/PQS lenses as well (lenses for Rolleiflex SLX, 6002, 6006).
AFD lenses can only be used with the Hy6 / AFi since they lack an aperture ring. Their aperture needs to be set on the camera, which is not possible on the 6008 AF
Overview of available Schneider and Zeiss lenses (2012)
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Type |
Aperture Range
f/ |
Shutter speeds
30s to |
Angular field |
Elements/
Groups |
Focusing range
m |
Max diameter
mm |
Max length
mm |
Weight
g |
Image circle
mm |
Filter size |
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Zeiss F-Distagon 30mm f/3.5 (fisheye) |
PQ |
3.5 - 22 |
1/500 |
180/112° |
8 / 7 |
inf - 0.3m |
108mm |
122mm |
1550g |
80mm |
built-in M 24x0.5 |
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Schneider AFD-Flektogon 35mm f/3.5 (with floating elements) * |
PQS |
3.5 - 22 |
1/1000 |
96/76° |
10 / 8 |
inf - 0.5m |
104mm |
105mm |
1300g |
80mm |
bayonet 104 |
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Schneider Super-Angulon 40mm f/3.5 (with floating elements) |
PQ |
3.5 - 22 |
1/500 |
88/68° |
8 / 8 |
inf - 0.4m |
83.2mm |
72mm |
750g |
80mm |
M 77 x 0.75
VI (outside) |
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Schneider AF-Super-Angulon 50mm f/2.8 |
PQS |
2.8 - 22 |
1/1000 |
74/56° |
9 / 8 |
inf - 0.6m |
104mm |
115mm |
1500g |
80mm |
M 95 x 1 |
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Schneider AFD-Super-Angulon 50mm f/2.8 |
PQS |
2.8 - 22 |
1/1000 |
74/56° |
9 / 8 |
inf - 0.6m |
104mm |
115mm |
1500g |
80mm |
M 95 x 1 |
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Schneider AF-Xenotar 80mm f/2.8 |
PQS |
2.8 - 22 |
1/1000 |
52/38° |
7 / 6 |
inf - 0.8m |
84.5mm |
66.5mm |
520g |
80mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Schneider AFD-Xenotar 80mm f/2.8 |
PQS |
2.8 - 22 |
1/1000 |
52/38° |
7 / 6 |
inf - 0.8m |
84.5mm |
66.5mm |
520g |
80mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Schneider Xenotar 80mm f/2.8 |
PQS |
2.8 - 22 |
1/1000 |
52/38° |
7 / 6 |
inf - 0.8m |
84.5mm |
66.5mm |
520g |
80mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Schneider Apo-Symmar 90mm f/4.0 Makro |
PQS |
4.0 - 32 |
1/1000 |
47/34° |
6 / 4 |
inf - 0.4m |
104mm |
110mm |
860g |
92mm |
M 95 x 1 |
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Zeiss Planar 110mm f/2.0 |
PQ |
2.0 - 16 |
1/500 |
39/28° |
7 / 6 |
inf - 0.8m |
104mm |
95mm |
1295g |
80mm |
M 95 x 1 (filter)
bayonet 104 (lens hood) |
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Zeiss Makro-Planar 120mm f/4.0 |
PQS |
4.0 - 32 |
1/1000 |
36/26° |
6 / 4 |
inf - 0.8m |
81.5mm |
94.3mm |
820g |
92mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Makro-Apogon 120mm f/4.0 |
PQS |
4.0 - 32 |
1/1000 |
36/26° |
6 / 4 |
inf - 0.8m |
81,5mm |
94,3mm |
820g |
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Rollei size VI bayonet |
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AFD-Makro-Apogon 120mm f/4.0 ** |
PQS |
4.0 - 32 |
1/1000 |
36/26° |
6 / 4 |
inf - 0.8m |
81,5mm |
94,3mm |
820g |
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Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Zeiss Sonnar 150mm f/4.0 |
PQS |
4.0 - 32 |
1/1000 |
29/21° |
5 / 3 |
inf - 1.4m |
81.5mm |
102mm |
890g |
80mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Schneider AF-Tele-Xenar 150mm f/4.0 |
PQS |
4.0 - 22 |
1/1000 |
29/21° |
5 / 5 |
inf - 1.4m |
95mm |
114mm |
890g |
80mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Schneider AFD-Tele-Xenar 150mm F/4.0 |
PQS |
4.0 - 22 |
1/1000 |
29/21° |
5 / 5 |
inf - 1.4m |
95mm |
114mm |
890g |
80mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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AFD-Tele-Apogon 150mm f/4.0 ** |
PQS |
4.0 - 32 |
1/1000 |
29/21° |
6 / 4 |
inf - 1.15m |
95mm |
114mm |
840g |
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Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Schneider AF-Tele-Xenar 180mm f/2.8 |
PQ |
2.8 - 22 |
1/500 |
26/18° |
7 / 7 |
inf - 1.8m |
100mm |
135mm |
1480g |
80mm |
M 95 x 1 (filter)
bayonet 104 (lens hood) |
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Schneider AFD-Tele-Xenar 180mm f/2.8 |
PQ |
2.8 - 22 |
1/500 |
26/18° |
7 / 7 |
inf - 1.8m |
100mm |
135mm |
1480g |
80mm |
M 95 x 1 (filter)
bayonet 104 (lens hood) |
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Zeiss Sonar 250mm f/5.6 |
PQS |
5.6 - 45 |
1/500 |
18/13° |
4 / 3 |
inf - 2.5m |
82.5mm |
170mm |
1150g |
80mm |
Rollei size VI bayonet |
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Schneider Apo-Tele-Xenar 300mm f/4.0 |
PQ |
4.0 - 32 |
1/500 |
15/11° |
6 / 6 |
inf - 3.2m |
101mm |
262mm |
2000g |
80mm |
M 95 x 1 |
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Schneider AF-Variogon 60-140mm f/4.6 |
PQS |
4.6 - 32 |
1/1000 |
67/50°
32/23° |
13 / 11 |
inf - 0.7m |
119mm |
210mm |
2400g |
80mm |
M 122 x 1 filter adapter |
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Schneider AFD-Variogon 60 - 140mm f/4.6 |
PQS |
4.6 - 32 |
1/1000 |
67/50°
32/23° |
13 / 11 |
inf - 0.7m |
119mm |
210mm |
2400g |
80mm |
M 122 x 1 filter adapter |
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Schneider Variogon 140-280mm f/5.6 |
PQ |
5.6 - 45 |
1/500 |
32/23°
16/11° |
17 / 14 |
inf - 2.5m |
94mm |
238mm |
1750g |
80mm |
M 95 x 1 / 93mm drop-in-filter |
* A first calculation in 2006 did not yield the desired quality level. The second optical and mechanical calculations, resulting in an optimum quality lens, were completed at the end of 2008. Production has not started given the developments at F&H in the first half of 2009 but is still considered by DHW.
** Initially presented at Photokina 2008 but production had to be delayed given the developments at F&H in the first half of 2009. DHW has taken up further development and production. Subsequently the Tele-Apogon 150mm was presented at Photokina 2010, with availability from the Fall of 2010 onwards. Production of the Makro-Apogon 120mm has not yet started. While both lenses had initially been calculated at 120mm, the Tele-Apogon has been redeveloped as 150mm. The Tele-Apogon and Makro-Apogon are improved Carl Zeiss designs (the license to use the Carl Zeiss name has expired, hence they are offered under the Rollei name).
Two teleconverters are available: the 1.4x AF-Longar and the 2.0x teleconverter.
Lens tests
Some Schneider AF lens tests can be read here.
Lens charts by Rollei Fototechnik and Franke & Heidecke
MTF charts and other characteristics of many Schneider and Zeiss lenses for Rollei can be found here.
Some personal reflections
Some people ask if there is a quality difference between Zeiss and Schneider lenses, in particular as several lenses overlap in terms of focal length and/or speed. As I own and use exclusively Schneider lenses, with the exception of the Zeiss f-Distagon fisheye lens, I have no personal experience. If you read others' experience views seem to differ. But if you want autofocus you are almost certain to have Schneider lenses. Most of the Schneider lenses are of a more recent design date than the ones from Zeiss. Many of the Zeiss lenses have also been produced in Hasselblad V system mounts. Schneider started its experience with medium format-lenses as a manufacturer of its highly acclaimed Variogon zoom lenses, which have been produced in several mounts (Rollei, Hasselblad V, Zenzanon).
Accessories
Overview accessories Rolleiflex 6008 AF (also available as PDF download)
Overview accessories Rolleiflex Hy6 / Sinar Hy6 / Leaf AFi (also available as PDF download)
Overview accessories Leaf AFi (also available as PDF download) and Leaf AFi-II (available as PDF download)
Regardless of the logo displayed, accessories are manufactured by Franke & Heidecke. They are identical and interchangeable across the Rolleiflex Hy6 / Sinar Hy6 / Leaf AFi systems, with the exeption of the lithium-ion battery (see further below).
Film magazines
6060 film magazine (6×6 film format)
This is the standard, classic film magazine for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF. There are two variants: one for use with 120 rollfilm, resulting in 12 square images; the other for use with 220 rollfilm, resulting in 24 square images.
The 6060 film magazines for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF and Rolleiflex Hy6 / Sinar Hy6 / Leaf AFi are not identical. The 6008 AF has a built-in motordrive, missing on the Hy6 / AFi. The 6060 film magazine for the 6008 AF thus lacks a motordrive and is a solid mechanical construction, with a mechanical film exposure counter and ISO film sensitivity knob. Unlike with Hasselblad, there is no need to change the position of empty film spools in the film insert, thus reducing film loading time. The spool mechanism ensures that film stays perfectly flat at all times, without bubble effect that may happen with Hasselblad's film spool mechanism in case unused film stays in the magazine for a longer period of time.
The 6060 film magazine for Hy6 / AFi cameras was presented at Photokina 2010 with availability as from November 2010. It had been under development since 2008 but was delayed due to the developments with F&H. The magazine is built like the 4560 magazine, with the difference of the film format, and has an electronic film counter and ISO film sensitivity setting running on lithium batteries. It takes both 120 and 220 rollfilm and, though it is a square format, can be rotated. Click here to see the information leaflet - part 1 - part 2 (in German).
6060 film magazines of either type can be attached directly to the camera body, without the need for an adaptor.
6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF with film insert
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6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF |
6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF with ISO setting knob |
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6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF with film insert |
6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF |
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Prototype 6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex Hy6 |
Prototype 6060 film magazine |
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Prototype 6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex Hy6 with back opened |
Final 6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex Hy6 / Leaf AFi |
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Final 6060 film magazine for the Rolleiflex Hy6 / Leaf AFi opened |
4560 film magazine (4,5×6 film format)
This is the standard film magazine for the Rolleiflex Hy6. It takes both 120 and 220 rollfilm, respectively giving 16 and 32 rectangle images.
Since the 4560 film magazine has a built-in motordrive, it can be used with both Rolleiflex 6008 AF and Rolleiflex Hy6 / Sinar Hy6 / Leaf AFi cameras. However, it needs to be attached to the camera body via an adaptor. The adaptors for 6008 AF and Hy6 / AFi are camera-specific and not interchangeable. Based on my experience, however, the units produced for the 6008 series (catalogue nr 88798) have a slightly different outside texture matching the 6008 camera than the more rubberized ones (catalogue nr 58987) produced after the Hy6 came to market. While there is no functional difference take the one that matches your camera best.
The film counter and ISO film sensitivity setting are electronic and run on lithium batteries. Also here, film remains entirely flat thanks to the spooling mechanism. Of particular interest is the fact that the 4560 magazine can be switched easily from landscape into portrait format (the back needs to be unmounted and turned. As a protective measure this is only possible when the built-in drawslide is closed).
Finally, all 4560 and 6060 film magazines have a built-in laminar drawslide (a novelty introduced by Rollei and copied by Hasselblad with its H series). Operation of the drawslide actuates a lock that prevents inadvertent "exposure" on the slide as well as improper removal of the magazine with the film gate still open.
4560 film magazine for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF with adaptor, film insert and focusing screen
4560 film magazine for the Rolleiflex Hy6 / Sinar Hy6 / Leaf AFi with adaptor and film insert
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4560 film magazine with Rolleiflex 6008 AF adaptor |
4560 film magazine with Rolleiflex Hy6 adaptor |
Instant film magazine
An instant film magazine is available for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF. Since results can be examined directly using a digital back as well, the need for instant film magazines has diminished accordingly. It thus would have made little sense to develop such magazine for the Hy6 / AFi cameras.
The film magazine enables 10 6×6 frames on Fuji and Polaroid film packs of 8.5x10.8cm (such as Fuji FP-100B and FP-100C films). It has no integrated laminar darkslide but is nevertheless convenient to operate.
Viewfinders
The Rolleiflex 6008 AF and Hy6 cameras come standard with a waist-level viewfinder. Alternatively, 45° and 90° viewfinders are available. Working through a waist-level viewfinder offers a very direct and natural contact with the photographic subject. However, it can be challenging for newcomers since the displayed images are mirrored (the left and right sides of the subject are swapped). In order to allow for precise focusing, the waist-level viewfinders contain a 3x focusing magnifier (with +2.5 to -4.5 diopters), which can be pulled up and back. Another advantage of such viewfinders is that they take a minimum of space as they fold back when not in use.
A prism viewfinder offers a more conventional approach to the photo-capturing process and a SLR camera-like experience. The 45° prism viewfinder is under most circumstances the more convenient choice as it combines ease of use with the more natural holding position typical for waist-level finders. The viewfinder image is 2.5x magnified. The 90° viewfinder is of the telescopic (6008 AF) or high-eyepoint (Hy6 / AFi) type offering a viewfinder image magnification of 3.4x. Its eyepiece can be adjusted from +2 to -4 diopters (telescopic) or +4 to -4 diopters (high-eyepoint).
The downside to both the waist-level finder and 45° prism viewfinder is that they are useless when the camera is tilted to the side. For this purpose, the 4,5×6 film magazine as well as Leaf and Sinar digital backs can be turned from landscape to portrait without need to turn the camera body (the issue is not relevant for 6×6 film magazines or square format digital backs such as the PhaseOne P20 as all sides of the picture are of the same size).
The 45° and 90° viewfinders can be mounted perpendicular to the lens in both directions (they can thus be turned in four positions spaced 90° apart). All viewfinders enable full functionality, including built-in light metering and information display (in contrast to Hasselblad the light metering system is incorporated in the camera body and not in the viewfinder). The bright, internal LCD on the viewfinder offers a full display of the camera’s essential settings.
Viewfinders for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF and Rolleiflex Hy6 / Sinar Hy6 / Leaf AFi are not identical and not interchangeable since they have a different camera mount. However, DHW Fototechnik can convert existing viewfinders upon request.
The latest version of the 45° prism viewfinder for the Hy6 / AFi has been altered (curved cut-out under the base) in order to allow for the rotating adaptor for Sinar digital backs to be used. This was not possible with the earlier versions. DHW Fototechnik can convert older viewfinders upon request.
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Rolleiflex 6008 AF with waist-level viewfinder |
90° telescopic viewfinder for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF |
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45° prism viewfinder for the Rolleiflex 6008 AF |
The 45° prism viewfinder can be mounted in different positions |
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Sinar Hy6 with waist-level viewfinder and focusing magnifier |
Leaf AFi with waist-level viewfinder |
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Rolleiflex Hy6 with 45° prism viewfinder |
Leaf AFi-II with 45° prism viewfinder |
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Rolleiflex Hy6 with 90° viewfinder |
Sinar Hy6 with 90° viewfinder |
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Leaf AFi-II with waist-level viewfinder and with 45° prism viewfinder |
Leaf AFi-II with the three viewfinder variants |
Rolleiflex 6008 AF viewfinder display
Rolleiflex Hy6 / Sinar Hy6 / Leaf AFi viewfinder display
Remote release
While the remote releases for the 6008 AF and Hy6 / AFi are both electrical, they are not identical as their body connectors are camera-specific. Also, the remote release RC-120 for the 6008 AF is made of plastic, while the one for the Hy6 / AFi is made of metal. The remote release for the 6008 AF can be obtained with cable lengths of 40cm, 5m and 10m. The one for the Hy6 / AFi is 1m long. The remote release for the 6008 AF has classic mirror lock-up function. On the Hy6 / AFi release a button holds up the mirror when the camera body is in ultra-fast mode.
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Remote release RC-120 for the 6008 AF (40cm) |
Remote release RC-120 for the 6008 AF (40cm) |
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Remote release RC-120 for the Hy6 / AFi |
Remote release RC-120 for the Hy6 / AFi detail |
Batteries and power
Rechargeable batteries are not interchangeable between the 6008 AF and Hy6 / AFi systems.
Rolleiflex 6008 AF
The Rolleiflex 6008 AF uses a custom 10V NiCad sinter battery (consisting of Sanyo 500 mAh cells), which is inserted in the camera body itself. The battery design is dated by today's standards but is still good for about 200 shots at standard room temperature (around 20° C). When only 20 exposures remain, a warning will light up in the viewfinder. All camera functions will be disabled below a minimum charge. The standard custom charger (110-240 V, 50/60 Hz) has an automatic rapid-charging stop and indicators for rapid and normal charging. Rapid charging will take up to about one hour. The charger will then switch back from rapid to normal charging. In a hurry, you may stop charging after only 15 minutes. The battery will then provide sufficient energy for about 50 shots. The charger can also be connected to a 12V car battery. An external battery adapter is available for use at very low temperatures, which allows the battery to be carried on the body or in a bag. Finally, if more power-supply options are needed, the Rollei PowerInterface can be used. It has the same size as the NiCad battery and is inserted in the battery compartment instead of the latter. Different power sources can be connected to it, e.g. the standard charger, the 12V Rollei power-supply adapter, the Rollei battery box for lithium batteries (5x type DL123A 3V-lithium batteries.
Capacity about 30 – 40 films (6x6/120) in normal ambient temperature), the Einhell Mobile Energy Station or a car‘s 12V cigarette-lighter socket. Generally speaking, the PowerInterface requires 12 – 18V DC of at least 200 mA.
In case you would like to upgrade the NiCad battery cells to more modern and powerful NiMH equivalents, I recommend reading this good how-to-do guide. But note that the Rollei charger only charges the original NiCad batteries.
DHW Fototechnik also offers a more contemporary 10V battery pack with lithium-polymer cells, as an alternative to the older NiCad battery back. The new PowerUnit uses higher capacity cells (910 mAh) without memory effect and can be fully charged in 50 minutes.
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10V NiCad sinter battery |
standard charger with inserted NiCad battery |
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external battery adapter |
standard charger |
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PowerInterface and NiCad sinter battery |
PowerInterface with 12V Rollei power-supply adapter |
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Rollei battery box for 5 lithium batteries of 3V |
12V Rollei power-supply adapter |
Rolleiflex 6008
AF with external battery adapter and NiCad battery
Rolleiflex / Sinar Hy6 and Leaf AFi
The Hy6 and AFi systems use contemporary 7.2V or 7.4V lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, inserted in the camera's handgrip. However, while the battery size is identical, the Hy6 and AFi models use batteries with different mechanical contacts: the Rolleiflex and Sinar Hy6 variants use connector pins, while the Leaf AFi has flat contacts. Leaf decided to change the battery contacts on the camera body since it wanted the body to use standard Aptus digital back batteries. Both the Leaf and the Sinar thus use identical batteries in their respective camera bodies and in digital backs. Upon request, DHW Fototechnik can convert the handgrip of the Hy6 / AFi to be used with one of the two types of batteries, which is useful if you mix different bodies and want to standardize on a particular type of battery.
The Rolleiflex and Sinar Hy6 cameras use a 7.2V, 2400 mAh battery. Leaf uses a 7.4V, 2350 mAh battery. They come with different chargers from Hähnel. The Rolleiflex Hy6 is delivered with the very compact and cable-less Hähnel Ultima charger plugging directly into a wall power socket (with the very neat ability to change adapter plates so that different types of batteries can be charged with one single charger - the S1 plate is needed for the Sinar battery). The Leaf AFi comes with the more conventional Hähnel MCL 103 charger. The Hähnel charger delivered with the Leaf can also directly power the AFi digital backs via an adapter/connector. The Sinar Hy6 comes with a conventional charger as well. All chargers can only charge a single battery at once and can be used with 12V car battery adapters. Hower, some Sinar sets are also delivered with a twin charger.
The power supply of a fully recharged battery is sufficient for approx. 500 exposures with a film back at 20º C ambient temperature. Depending on the condition of the battery, charging may take 1 – 2 hours.
A word of caution regarding batteries. The early Hy6 cameras and Sinar eMotion digital backs were delivered with Varta V290 or Pisen batteries (7.2V, 2000 mAh). While they were interchangeable, Sinar recommended using the Varta for the eMotion digital back and the Pisen for the Hy6 body. The Pisen battery was an intermediate solution until the new Sinar V290 battery became available. With firmware update 2.09 Sinar has dropped support for the Varta V290 and recommends its own Sinar V290 battery. The Varta may still work, however, but a number of users have noted that the battery may switch itself off in case of exceeding internal current. The switch-off is an internal battery protection mechanism. Usually, after charging, the battery will recover and can be used again. In any case, the Sinar V290 can cope better with higher internal current and should thus be recommended. An alternative third-party battery would be the Sony NP-F550 7.2V 2350 mAh.
For the Leaf AFi series, compatible third-party batteries include Samsung SB-L160
7.4V models, as well as models from Energizer. However, as a general rule it should be avoided to take batteries with less power than the original ones.
An alternative charger enabling simultanuous charging of two batteries would be the Hähnel PowerStation Twin V Pro. It can be ordered with appropriate contacts for the Sony and Samsung types of batteries.
Finally, it should be mentioned that both Hy6 and AFi systems can operate with a single battery in the camera handgrip powering both body and digital back, and with two batteries in both handgrip and digital back in order to increase the system's autonomy.
Rolleiflex Hy6 with lithium-ion battery
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Hähnel Ultima charger model 90800 delivered with the Rolleiflex Hy6, with battery attached |
Sinar charger with battery attached |
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Sinar V290 batteries and charger |
Leaf battery with flat contacts |
Leaf AFi battery, Hähnel MCL 103 charger and different power cables
Flash system
Rolleiflex 6008 AF and Hy6 / AFi systems offer full flash gun automation, including TTL and fill-flash, via the Metz SCA-3002 interface. Metz Mecablitz flash guns can be connected via the dedicated Rollei SCA-3562 adapter and provide an automated and powerful solution. The advantage of the Metz system is that the flash guns can fully exploit the camera-specific functions of different brands by exchanging the brand-specific SCA adapter. Thanks to the lens leaf shutters any shutter speed from 1/1000 s to 30s (6008 AF) or 32s (Hy6/AFi) can be used for flash synchronization, which is particularly useful for fill-flash.
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Rollei SCA-3562 adapter |
Metz SCA system |
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Rolleiflex 6008 AF with Metz Mecablitz 54 MZ-3 |
The Metz Mecablitz 54 MZ series are a perfect companion |
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Photo bags
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Finding a suitable photo backpack for a medium format system can be challenging as most common bags are developed for 35mm systems.
The LowePro series Vertex 200 or 300 work reasonably well with the added advantage that they have a laptop pouch for digital photographers.
For photographers wishing the "nec plus ultra" the König Photobag is recommended. This sturdy bag can be relied upon under the most adverse conditions (including 100% waterproof). It can be ordered as a standard version or with a tailor-made inside to fit specific equipment, and can easily contain a Rolleiflex 6008 AF or Hy6 equipment. The bag can be fitted as a carrying bag, a shoulder bag and a backpack with interchangeable and easy to fit carrying straps. It is quality "made in Germany" matching a camera system "made in Germany".
König Photobag leaflet (in German)
Test report by ColorFoto magazine (in German)
Test by FotoEspresso magazine (in German)
Article by Photoscala.de (in German)
Here are some images of my own König Photobag filled with Rollei gear, which give you an idea of its capacity
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