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Rolleiflex SLX

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Rolleiflex SLX
Rolleiflex SLX, with standard Planar HFT 80 mm f/2.8 lens and waist-level finder, open
Overview
TypeMedium format single-lens reflex camera
Focusing
Focusmanual
Exposure/metering
ExposureTTL exposure
Flash
Flashhot shoe

The Rolleiflex SLX is a line of medium format single lens reflex cameras made by Rollei, in regular production starting from 1976. The SLX incorporated electronic autoexposure and motorized film transport, competing directly with the integrated-motor Hasselblad 500EL/M and effectively displacing the earlier Rolleiflex SL66 line, although the older camera continued to be produced.

The SLX was discontinued shortly after the Rolleiflex 6006 was released in 1984.

History

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After the introduction of the all-mechanical SL66 in 1966, Rollei began designing a successor which would incorporate electronics to enable contemporary features from small-format photography, including autoexposure and motorized film transport. The prototypes initially were designated SLC66, then SLX66, and finally were revealed at photokina '74 as the SLX.[1] The SLX reached retail markets in Spring 1976.[2]

Internal updates aimed to improve reliability were rolled out as an SLX Mark II in 1978 and the original SLX was discontinued in 1979. The updated cameras may be distinguished by the color of the trim plate surrounding the power/drive mode dial and 14-pin DIN interface on the right side of the camera. On the original SLX, this is an unpainted aluminum plate, while on the updated models, this is painted black.

Design

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Rolleiflex SLX system:
  1. Lens hood
  2. Rollei-HFT Planar 80 mm f/2.8 lens
  3. Film holder
  4. Camera body (with back opened)
  5. Battery
  6. Folding waist-level finder
  7. Fast focus lever
  8. Filters

Like the Rolleiflex TLR, SL66, and the Hasselblad SLR, the SLX uses 120 or 220 rollfilm to produce frames of up to 6×6 cm (nominal); the actual image size is based on imperial units, measuring 2+1⁄4×2+1⁄4 in (57×57 mm).[3]: 16  The camera has a modular design; the central camera body incorporates the single-lens reflex mirror and exposure controls, with interfaces accommodating interchangeable lenses, viewfinders, and focusing screens.[3]: 517  Some of the accessories for the SLX may be interchanged with the SL66, including the focusing screens.[3]: 524 

With the standard (80 mm) lens and folding waist-level finder, the SLX measures 153×138×85 mm (6.0×5.4×3.3 in) (L×H×W) and weighs 1.8 kg (4.0 lb).[3]: 516 

Basic operation

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Compared to the SL66, the SLX adds shutter-priority autoexposure capability and drops the manual crank for motorized film advance and shutter charging. The light meter is now integrated into the camera body, instead of being housed in an accessory viewfinder. In addition, the SLX back is integrated into the camera and cannot be removed; film is loaded into an interchangeable holder, but these are not protected by a dark slide.[4]

The main switch falls under the photographer's right hand, and has three rotary positions for "O"ff, "S"ingle, or "C"ontinuous exposures. A 14-pin interface for remote operation and a depth-of-field preview button (stop-down) are next to the main switch.[4]

The opposite side of the camera has a strap lug, hotshoe, and a slot to accommodate the rechargeable NiCd battery; advertised stamina is 1000 exposures per charge.[4] It measures 75×30×36 mm (3.0×1.2×1.4 in) (LWH) and operates at 9.6 V with a capacity of 450 mA-hr.[3]: 530  The battery has an integrated 20 mm cartridge fuse (0.8 A / 250 V)[5] to protect the film transport motor from overcurrent in case of a jammed mechanism.[3]: 531 

Two separate shutter releases are provided on the bottom front corners of the camera, which may be operated by the photographer's right or left hand.[4] Shutter speeds are selected by a knob operated by the photographer's right hand and range from 30 to 1⁄500 sec in whole steps.[4] Since lenses are focused by helicoid extension, the traditional focusing knob on the left side of Rolleiflex SL66 and TLR cameras is not present.

Backs

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Film is loaded into interchangeable film holders, which are inserted into the hinged back at the rear of the camera.

Both 6×6 and 645 rollfilm holders were available; the 645 back produces images that are 1+3⁄4×2+1⁄4 in (44×57 mm) in landscape orientation. In addition, a Polaroid back was available[4]

Lenses

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Main article: List of lenses for Rolleiflex SLX/6000/Hy6 cameras

The SLX uses conventional helicoids for focusing instead of the extending focusing bellows on the camera body of the SL66. In addition, SLX lenses all are equipped with in-lens leaf shutters. Because of this, SLX and SL66 lenses are not compatible.

A 10-pin interface is provided to transmit signals between the lens and camera body. The leaf shutter and aperture leaves are driven by voice coil motors, which Rollei called "linear motors".[6] The aperture control ring on each lens has a separate setting at "A", which puts the camera into shutter-priority autoexposure.[4]

Interchangeable lenses for Rolleiflex SLX cameras[7]
FL
(mm)		 Apr. Name Series Construction Min. Focus Dimensions Notes
Ele Grp Φ×L Wgt. Filter
Ultra wide angle lenses
40 f/4–32 Distagon HFT SLX 10 9 0.50 m (1 ft 8 in) 102×126 mm (4.0×5.0 in) 1,450 g (51 oz) Bay VIII
Wide angle lenses
50 f/4–32 Distagon HFT SLX 7 7 0.50 m (1 ft 8 in) 81.5×96 mm (3.2×3.8 in) 840 g (30 oz) Bay VI
55 f/4.5–32 PCS Super Angulon SLX 10 8 0.50 m (1 ft 8 in) 104×157 mm (4.1×6.2 in) 1,650 g (58 oz) 104 Perspective control lens
Normal lenses
80 f/2.8–22 Planar HFT SLX 7 5 0.90 m (2 ft 11 in) 81.5×63 mm (3.2×2.5 in) 590 g (21 oz) Bay VI
Portrait lenses
120 f/5.6–45 S-Planar HFT SLX 6 4 0.95 m (3 ft 1 in) 81.5×100 mm (3.2×3.9 in) 830 g (29 oz) Bay VI For macro photography
150 f/4–32 Sonnar HFT SLX 5 3 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) 81.5×102 mm (3.2×4.0 in) 890 g (31 oz) Bay VI
Telephoto lenses
250 f/5.6–45 Sonnar HFT SLX 4 3 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) 81.5×168 mm (3.2×6.6 in) 1,200 g (42 oz) Bay VI
350 f/5.6–45 Sonnar HFT SLX 4 4 5.00 m (16.40 ft) 90.0×227 mm (3.5×8.9 in) 1,650 g (58 oz) 68
Zoom lenses
140~280 f/5.6–45 Variogon SLX 17 14 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) 94×240 mm (3.7×9.4 in) 1,850 g (65 oz) 95

Extension tubes and a bellows unit were available for close-up work.[4]

Viewfinders and focusing screens

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As standard equipment, the SLX comes with a folding waist-level finder with a built-in magnifier and a ground glass focusing screen with a central split-image rangefinder spot surrounded by a microprism collar, grid lines etched at regular intervals, and an integrated Fresnel lens. The viewfinder displays an image 55×55 mm (2.2×2.2 in), which is 93% of the area recorded on the film.[3]: 99  The magnifying lens in the viewfinder could be changed.[4] Other available viewfinders include:

  • Rigid magnifying hood, which accommodates waist-level viewing with better shielding of the focusing screen[4]
  • Rotating pentaprism finder (45°), which provides an eyepiece at 45° from vertical, and rotates to allow viewing from the side or front[4]
  • Rotating pentaprism finder (90°), which provides a horizontal eyepiece for eye-level operation, and rotates to allow viewing from the side or front[4]

The screen could be changed to one of several alternatives, which are shared with the SL66:[3]: 524 

Focusing screens for Rollei SLX cameras
Image Catalog Grid Fresnel field lens Central focusing aid(s) Notes
560 060 Yes (11 mm) Yes Microprism (15 mm dia.) [3]: 94–95 
560 050 Yes (11 mm) Yes Split-image rangefinder (5 mm dia.) [3]: 115 
560 040 Yes (11 mm) Yes No [3]: 117–118 
560 180 Yes (11 mm) Yes Microprism (15 mm dia.) and split-image rangefinder (5 mm dia.) Standard screen[3]: 116–117 
560 030 No No No [3]: 117–118 
560 100 Yes (11 mm) Yes Clear with crosshair and measuring graticule [3]: 118–119 

Remote control

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Rollei offered the ME-1 multi-exposure control unit for the SLX; it allows the photographer to record up to ten images on a single frame, at a selectable interval between 0.1 and 1.5 seconds. It was supplied with a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) cable as standard, and a 10 m (33 ft) cable was available as an accessory.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Rollei SLX". Phil Cameras (in French). Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  2. ^ Ortner, Everett H. (March 1975). "Tomorrow's photo gear (but some of it's here now)". Popular Science. pp. 108–109. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mannheim, L. Andrew; Henle, Fritz (1975). The Rolleiflex SL66 and SLX Way. Focal Press. ISBN 0-240-50788-6.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Rolleiflex SLX: The up-dated professional system" (PDF). Rollei fototechnic. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  5. ^ "SLX 6x6 cm Single Lens Reflex Camera" (PDF). Rollei Division, Berkey Marketing Companies. October 1983. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  6. ^ Goldberg, Norman (June 1983). "Shop Talk: Accurate exposure automation is a hard-won gift from celver camera designers—and it's still evolving". Popular Photography. pp. 102, 104–105. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Lenses for 6006/SLX" (PDF). Rollei Division, Berkey Marketing Companies. 1984. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
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