Introduction
Basic principles
The film changing systems have three basic parts. Film inserts, film backs and film magazines. Roll films are pre-loaded into inserts, an insert is loaded into a back or a magazine. A back basically stays on the camera, a magazine can easily be mounted or changed. An insert can be loaded into a mounted magazine or a loaded magazine can be mounted. Inserts are intended to accelerate the changing of roll films.
Although the basic principle is quite simple, in real life it turns out to be fairly complex. The first camera of this family, the SLX, only had a film back and film speed was set on the camera. The second member - the Rolleiflex 6006 - was fitted with a magazine but film speed setting remained at the camera. Its ‘little brother’ the Rolleiflex 6002 had an improved film back not compatible with the SLX. Leaving the film speed setting on the 6006 camera clearly was a design fault. With the 6008 the film speed setting was moved the magazine. The 6008 magazine, now called Magazine 6000, was of course not really compatible with 6006 cameras. The ‘little brother’ of the 6008 is the 6003 with a new film back with film speed setting. Replacing its back for a Magazine 6000 was an option, although a later and improved 6003 needed an additional Film Stage 6003 before accepting the magazine.
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Magazine 6000 with two inserts and a magazine back cover. The small white triangle indicates an
insert for 6006 and later magazines. I have never seen one but I understand the inserts of
the SLX have a larger triangle. The magazines have only pressure plates. Unlike other medium
format SLRs the film plane is located in the Rolleiflex 6000 camera, not in the detachable
magazine. See next image. Photo ©2021 F.W. Stutterheim |
Inserts, film magazines and film backs
Inserts
The inserts are holders that take a roll film and an empty spool. After finishing a roll there is no need to move the empty spool to the ‘take-up spool’ position. The new film simply replaces the exposed one and the insert can be turned and is ready for use. The insert is equipped with two diagonally placed gears for transporting the film. Only one gear matches with its counterpart in the camera. The SLX and Rolleiflex 6000 cameras have no feeler mechanism like the TLRs and the SL 66. The film has to be manually wound to a mark. After closing the back or magazine the film is automatically wound to frame 1 after releasing the shutter.
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A Rolleiflex 6008i body with the Film Stage mounted. At right on the shutter speeds ring find the
shutter speeds of 1 and 2 seconds in green. The large white button activates the light meter. Also
on the right are 6 electrical contacts with the magazine. Down left the brass film transport gear.
On the outside the SE/ME mechanical switch to disengage the film transport for multi-exposures. On
the function knob the setting for multi-spot (3 tiny dots) is hardly visible. Unlike 35 mm SLRs the
green setting stands for reset! The film chambers indicate the position of full
and empty spools in the insert. Photo ©2021 F.W. Stutterheim |
Magazine or Back
Film magazines are designed to be changed in mid-roll without losing film. Film backs are designed to stay on the camera. Backs should only be detached after finishing the film when it is fully wound. Backs have no dark-slides. The general idea is to change inserts at film-end in mounted backs and magazines and change magazines only when chosing a different film in mid-roll. Magazines 6006 can be used on later cameras but its use is not advised. In this situation neither camera nor magazine has the option of setting the film speed and the system defaults to ISO 100/21° (ASA 100, 21° DIN to old-timers like me). The desired film speed can only be obtained by adjusting the exposure compensation switch. Magazines for the 6006 are labeled as such. Magazines for later models are labeled as ‘Magazin 6000’. SLX backs cannot be used on 6000 cameras. Even so 6000 backs are not suitable for the SLX camera. Only 6003 backs can be replaced for Magazines 6000 (with the limitation mentioned before). Magazines have an integrated laminar dark-slide.
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The Rolleiflex 6008i body with the Film Stage detached. The film stage has four fixing points and
is held by two springs on either side of the body. It must be removed for mounting a Magazine
4560 or a digital back. Use your nail to get it out. Photo ©2021 F.W. Stutterheim |
Magazine 4560
The sophisticated Magazine 4560 was introduced in October 1996. It is possible to switch between landscape and portrait format by simply repositioning the magazine in its frame. Attention: this applies to the backs labelled “4560” only. There is an earlier 4.5 x 6 cm back without this turning feature. The Magazine 4560 is suitable for cameras having the third generation micro-processor and a detachable Film Stage. In other words: the 6008i and later cameras. Those cameras also need the proper firmware version called Index.
Polaroid magazines and 70 mm film magazines
The Rollei factory offered several polaroid magazines and two 70 mm film magazines. They are not described on these pages. Film is no longer available.
Compatibility
Compatibility matrix
Cameras | Film backs SLX | Film backs 6002 | Film magazines 6006 | Film magazines 6000 | Film magazine 4560 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rolleiflex SLX | yes | no | no | no | no |
Rolleiflex 6002 | no | yes | no | no | no |
Rolleiflex 6006 | no | no | yes | yes | no |
Rolleiflex 6008 Prof Rolleiflex 6008 Prof SRC1000 |
no | no | Defaults to ISO 100/21° | yes | no |
Rolleiflex 6003 Prof SRC1000 | no | no | Defaults to ISO 100/21° | yes | no |
Rolleiflex 6008 i Rolleiflex 6008 E |
no | no | Defaults to ISO 100/21° | yes | limitations1 |
Rolleiflex 6003 Prof | no | no | Yes, with Film Stage 6003 Defaults to ISO 100/21° |
Yes, with Film Stage 6003 | limitations1 |
Rolleiflex 6001 Rolleiflex AF Rolleiflex i2 |
no | no | Defaults to ISO 100/21° | yes | yes |
Rolleiflex SLX film changing system
Rolleiflex SLX film changing components
Component | Versions | Produced | Order number Identity number |
Particulars |
---|---|---|---|---|
Film insert | for SLX only | 1976 - ? | 208 966 | Several versions and names over the years. |
Interchangeable film back for SLX only, 120/220. |
6 × 6 cm | 1976 - ? | 12 Exposures on 120, 24 exposures on 220 film. | |
4.5 × 6 cm | 1979 - 1985 | 977 310 | 16 Exposures on 120, 34 exposures on 220 film. Film and finder masks in protective cover. |
Rolleiflex 6000 film changing systems
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Magazine 6000 with its laminar dark-slide, an insert 6000 and the protecting back cover of the
magazine. Back covers were provided only with separately sold magazines. The little white label
is a reminder of future business from my trusted repair shop. Photo ©2021 F.W. Stutterheim |
System 6000 film changing components
Component | Versions or parts | Produced | Order number Identity number |
Particulars |
---|---|---|---|---|
Film insert | from 6006 | 1976 - ? | 960 075 98 004 |
Small white triangle on either side. |
Film back 6002 | 120 / 6 × 6 cm | 1986 - 1991 | 760 030 | Interchangeable film back for 6002 only. 12 Exposures on 120 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the back. |
220 / 6 × 6 cm | 1986 - 1991 | 760 031 | Interchangeable film back for 6002 only. 24 Exposures on 220 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the back. |
|
120 / 4.5 × 6 cm | 1986 - 1991 | 760 032 | Interchangeable film back for 6002 only. 16 Exposures on 120 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the back. Film and finder masks in protective cover. |
|
220 / 4.5 × 6 cm | 1986 - 1991 | 760 033 | Interchangeable film back for 6002 only. 32 Exposures on 220 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the back. Film and finder masks in protective cover. |
|
Magazine 6006 | 120 / 6 × 6 cm | 1986 - 1991 | 760 070 | Interchangeable film magazine. 12 Exposures on 120 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the magazine. |
220 / 6 × 6 cm | 1986 - 1991 | 760 071 | Interchangeable film magazine. 24 Exposures on 220 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the magazine. |
|
120 / 4.5 × 6 cm | 1986 - 1991 | 760 072 | Interchangeable film magazine. 16 Exposures on 120 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the magazine. Film and finder masks in protective cover. |
|
220 / 4.5 × 6 cm | 1986 - ? | 760 073 | Interchangeable film magazine. 32 Exposures on 220 film. Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the magazine. Film and finder masks in protective cover. |
|
Magazine 6000 | 120 / 6 × 6 cm | 1988 - ? | 88 798 | Interchangeable film magazine. 12 Exposures on 120 film. Film speed set on magazine from ISO 25/15° - 6400/39°. |
220 / 6 × 6 cm | 1988 - ? | 88 799 | Interchangeable film magazine. 24 Exposures on 220 film. Film speed set on magazine from ISO 25/15° - 6400/39°. |
|
120 / 4.5 × 6 cm | 1988 - ? | 88 800 | Interchangeable film magazine. 16 Exposures on 120 film. Film speed set on magazine from ISO 25/15° - 6400/39°. Film and finder masks in protective cover. |
|
220 / 4.5 × 6 cm | 1988 - ? | 88 801 | Interchangeable film magazine. 32 Exposures on 220 film. Film speed set on magazine from ISO 25/15° - 6400/39°. Film and finder masks in protective cover. |
|
Magazine 6000 with data print |
220 / 4.5 × 6 cm | 1992 - 1996 | 89 169 | Interchangeable film magazine with date, time or indicator number exposed on the film. 32 Exposures on 220 film. No film speed setting on magazine. Film and finder masks in protective cover. External power supply. |
Magazine 4560 | Magazine 4560 120 / 4.5 × 6 cm |
1996 - ? | 14 987 | Interchangeable film magazine. 16 Exposures on 120 film. Film speed set on magazine from ISO 25/15° - 6400/39°. |
Film insert for Magazine 4560 |
1996 - ? | 14 986 | ||
Adaptor frame for Magazine 4560 |
1996 - ? | 10 776 | Adaptor frame for mounting Magazine 4560 on Rolleiflex 6008i (from Index 3), 6001 and 6003 professional (from Index 2). Cameras with earlier Indexes after factory upgrade. (Camera number remains unchanged.) |
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Film Stage 6003 | 1996 - ? | 13 493 | Film Stage 6003 has to be inserted into Rolleiflex 6003 in order to optimise the position of film in the film gate when using magazines instead of the 6003 film back. |