Which Camera Is Better Rolleyflex 6008 ,6006

In 1976, Rollei released the SLX, a fully electronic medium format SLR to compete with Hasselblad'southward famous machines. With a built-in calorie-free meter, automated motor advance, and shutter-priority auto-exposure, information technology was in many ways a far more than avant-garde photographic camera than the ones beingness produced by Rollei'due south Swedish rivals. The photographic earth took notice. Rollei had fabricated another incredible camera.

In 1984 a totally new series of Rollei MF SLRs was unveiled; the 6000 series. Advancements in electronics throughout the 1980s and '90s meant Rollei's newest SLRs could exist smarter, more durable, and more feature-dense than any medium format SLR that came before them. For the next xxx years the brand would go on to push the range forward, resulting in some of the all-time medium format SLRs in the world.

But even though the 6000 series cameras were worthy of special attention, they never seemed to achieve the popularity of those by Hasselblad. That'due south a shame, and so let'due south rectify information technology. With incredible build quality and unmatched optics from some of the world'south best lens makers, the 6000 series should be on any true photo geek's list of covetous cameras. And of the many 6000 serial cameras, the one's to own may exist the ones marked 6008.

The 6008 Professional, 6008 Professional SRC one thousand, and 6008 Integral all pack the greatest combination of features, highest modularity, and best build quality of any photographic camera in the 6000 series. While other cameras in the lineup forego sure features (the 6003 loses its interchangeable backs and the 6001 lacks a light meter, for instance) the 6008 models practice everything (and often much more) than whatever shooter could ask of a camera. In that location's even the intelligently named 6008 AF, for those who want to own the world's first autofocus half dozen x 6 camera.

Only what's so special near a 6008? A lot, actually. For that, let'south dive deeper.

To start with the very basics, all of these cameras are SLR cameras, which may come up as a surprise to those not cervix-deep in photographic camera culture. Tell even experienced photograph geeks that Rollei made medium format SLRs and you'll mostly be telling them something they don't know. The brand has been so closely associated with its classic Rolleiflex TLRs, the iconic cameras with two lenses stacked vertically on the front end of the machine, that plenty of shooters neglect to realize that they ever fabricated anything else. But they did. What this means, practically speaking, is that the 6008s feature all the benefits of a unmarried lens reflex design – interchangeable film backs, interchangeable lenses, precise framing, intense macro capability, choice of viewfinder types, and more.

Across this inherently applied functionality, the 6008s are also stunning in their quality. These are amid the most robust cameras I've e'er laid easily on. They're dense and solid, with metallic everywhere and rubberized coatings to protect vulnerable edges. When because the Hasselblad and the 6008 adjacent, the Rolleis flounce the Hassy. The German camera'southward build quality is from the "dense as a stone" school while the Hasselblad (a stunningly built camera in its own right) feels more like a hard cheese.

But what really places the Rollei 6008 into the upper class of medium format SLRs are two simple things – an unmatched spec canvass, and world-class lenses. Let'southward start with the specs.

This camera'southward feature list reads more than like a professional, Japanese 35mm SLR, with all the bells and whistles y'all'd expect from a car in that segment. And if you've shot the usual medium format cameras (TLRs, those bones rangefinder oafs, Mamiyas) prepare for a quantum leap. The 6008's got multiple metering modes including average, spot, and multi-spot; multiple auto-exposure modes including shutter-priority, aperture-priority, full program, and total transmission; an advanced LED display; shutter speeds from 1/500th or one/1000th of a second down to 30 seconds in i/3 steps; exposure compensation, depth-of-field preview, mirror lock-up, wink sync at every shutter speed, auto motion-picture show ship, multiple exposure shooting, AE lock, and so much more than. That'southward an incredible list. And it'due south non even the entire listing.

Its lenses come from Rollei, Zeiss, or Schneider, three optical powerhouses whose reputations precede them. Most in-the-know shooters will recognize these names as some of the all-time in the globe of lens-making, and the simple centre examination confirms this. Images fabricated with these lenses and a 6008 are only amid the highest quality y'all'll find in a medium format film camera. Resolving power, flare and ghost command, contrast and colour, were all world-class at the time of their release, and even today they're incredible performers with real individuality and graphic symbol.

And there's no shortage of lenses to choose from. Each contains an electronically controlled leaf shutter and diaphragm, which allows for flash sync at all shutter speeds. There are lenses from Zeiss to span from 40mm to 500mm, and a handful of excellent offerings from Schneider. Macro lenses, teleconverters, and shift lenses add to the versatility, and at that place are fifty-fifty zoom lenses, something a chip unusual in the medium format world. Fast glass is available, though expect to pay a premium.

All this said, nosotros know we're dealing with a pinnacle camera. That's obvious. But what's not obvious (without spending some time with the camera) is the sheer potency of the Rollei 6008. This is a truly masterful photographic tool, which comes from a combination of intelligent design choices and surprisingly excellent ergonomics.

The 6008 features a detachable manus grip. Which sounds pretty underwhelming on newspaper. I mean, how exceptional can a hand grip be? But it really does make a earth of difference. Where Hasselblad and TLR machines are a bit impuissant in operation, and frankly impossible to deeply manage with i manus, the 6008's handgrip creates a treatment methodology that'due south secure and sublime. It plugs into the shutter speed selector via a leap-loaded quick-disconnect, and pivots into four secure detents to allow comfortable positioning of the camera at dissimilar angles. An anodized release push button positioned under the pollex allows incredibly quick aligning, and a securing strap wraps around the operators duke to allow the photographic camera to hang comfortably when not firmly gripped.

When using the handgrip, all of the most important controls autumn perfectly nether finger and thumb. In that location'due south the on/off switch, which also selects shooting modes (single, continuous, and bracketing mode), the AE lock, shutter speed selector, depth-of-field preview, display on/off switch, and the shutter release. Compared to other medium format SLRs, this functionally effortless design is incredible. Without moving our hand position one fleck, we're able to control nearly everything we need to control to create an epitome. Our second paw is free to focus and set discontinuity on the lens.

The metering system is extremely accurate, factoring stray lite through the viewfinder, offer choice of spot and average metering systems, and calculating through-the-lens, off-the-motion-picture show exposures for perfect shots in any light. Set the shutter speed and aperture ring both to "A" and we're effectively property an incredibly capable medium format betoken-and-shoot camera. Of form, those who prefer aperture-priority, shutter-priority, or full manual are all equally well-served.

The ability to mix and match lenses, viewfinder, film (and fifty-fifty digital) backs makes this modular organization photographic camera a camera for every shooter. It'southward equally capable of portrait sessions in a studio and landscape shooting in the field. Unlike the Hasselblad, which despite its quality has never had a reputation for durability, the Rollei can be lugged upward a mountain or tossed on the dorsum seat of a embankment cruiser (I've done it). It'due south no Nikonos, you'll want to avoid water and serious drops, just the Rollei handles rough work ameliorate than nearly medium format cameras.

What else is in that location to say? This is one of those rare cameras in which I've been unable to find serious mistake. It's just a fantastic camera.

Simply despite all this glowing praise, at that place volition be people for whom this camera won't work. For i, it'due south electronic. It uses batteries, and if the batteries aren't charged the camera won't work. This, for some photo geeks, is a non-starter. The simple solution? Buy a second bombardment and go on your batteries charged. For those worried near battery life, put those fears to remainder – I shot this camera intermittently for 16 months and never had to recharge the battery once.

And for still more, this camera will simply exist too large and heavy. Hasselblads are lighter, even if they're clumsier in the manus, and for some shooters lightness is a big deal. And TLRs, despite all their drawbacks in usability and versatility, are smaller and lighter still. If ultimate portability is a master business concern, retrieve twice near buying a Rollei 6000 series car. For shooters who desire to expose medium format negatives in a travel size camera, there may be better cameras.

And I suppose in that location are folk who just can't go behind the square format epitome. Although Instagram has helped repopularize this somewhat uncommon attribute ratio, the 6 x 6 frame is non for everyone. It'due south also pretty outrageously loud, so street shooters of the timid variety may not take to information technology, even if I used it on the streets of New York City and Boston without much suffering. Oh, and information technology's expensive. No escaping that.

Just fifty-fifty if we focus on these small detractions, they're soon forgotten. Shooting the Rollei 6008 is one of the well-nigh enjoyable ways to experience photography. The methodology of its design, the unsurpassed quality of its build, and the beauty of the images information technology makes would be rare individual traits. To notice them all married together in 1 masterful motorcar is something really special.

And let's not overlook the incredible fact that this camera with a couple of lenses would have sold, when new, for more $10,000. Buyers today tin can grab a kit for under a chiliad. And though that is far less coin than information technology used to sell for, the camera is no less amazing today than it was back and then. For shooters searching for the very best medium format SLR, this is one photographic camera that should be on the list.

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