Rollei

Rollei is a German manufacturer of optical goods founded in 1920 by Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, and maker of the Rolleiflex and Rolleicord series of cameras. Current products also include specialty and nostalgic type films for the photo hobbyist market.

After being purchased in 1995 by Samsung Techwin,[1] part of the South Korean Samsung Group, it was sold back to its internal management in 1999.[2] In 2002 it was bought by a Danish investment group, and in 2005 was split into two different companies: "Rollei GmbH" in Berlin, owner of the Rollei brand and selling various OEM equipment, and "Franke & Heidecke GmbH, Feinmechanik und Optik" in Brunswick, an equipment factory.

In early 2009, Franke & Heidecke GmbH, Feinmechanik und Optik declared itself insolvent.[3]

Currently Rolleiflex medium format cameras and Rollei 35 are being produced by DHW Fototechnik - a company founded by former Franke & Heidecke employees.[4]

Rollei cameras typically use Carl Zeiss or Schneider Kreuznach lenses, as well as lenses manufactured by Rollei based on designs by Zeiss, and occasionally lenses made by Japanese manufacturers.

Contents

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Classic examples — medium format

Classic examples — 35 mm

Modern examples — 35mm

Modern examples — medium format

cameras from the Rolleiflex series 6000
camera model period of production description
SLX 1976–1979 prequel of the series 6000
SLX 2 1978–1985 improved electronics
6006 1984–1989 interchangeable magazin, TTL-measurement
6002 1986–1990 without interchangeable magazin, TTL-measurement
6008 Professional 1988–1992
6006 II 1989–1993 multiple exposures
6008 Professional SRC 1000 1992–1995 with PQS lenses up to 1/1000 s
6003 SRC 1000 1994–1996 like 6008 without interchangeable magazin
6008 Integral 1995–2002 Master Control
6003 Professional 1996–2003 improved electronics, faster transport
6001 professional since 1998 no exposure meter
6008AF since 2002 autofocus
6008 Integral2 since 2003 electronics from 6008AF without autofocus
Rolleiflex Hy6 since 2007 "hybrid" for digital and analogue
X-Act1 since 1999 view camera, with wide angle bellows
X-Act2 since 1998 view camera

Modern examples — digital

Accessories — TLR

Some accessories manufactured for Rollei TLRs:

See also

References

External links