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[hide] |
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 |
Some accessories manufactured for Rollei TLRs: