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 dial remained at the camera. Its ‘little brother’ the Rolleiflex 6002 had an improved film back not compatible with the SLX. Leaving the film speed dial on the 6006 camera clearly was a design fault. With the 6008 the film speed dial 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 dial. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Photo © 2022 F.W. Stutterheim
Polaroid magazines and 70 mm film magazines
The Rollei factory offered several Polaroid instant pack film magazines and two 70 mm film magazines. 70 mm film is no longer available. Polaroid does not offer pack films anymore. Fujifilm type 100 pack films are also out of production but old stock can be found sometimes. Please find the original Guide to Using Polaroid Instant Pack Films and the spec-sheet of Fujifilm FP100C Instant film from our downloads page. Supersense have revived instant peel-apart pack films suitable for the Rolleiflex 6000 Polaroid magazines: One Instant Color P7 Type 100 Pack film. The ‘pack’ is handmade and contains only one sheet of film.
Compatibility
Compatibility matrix roll film backs/magazines
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 |
Compatibility matrix Polaroid magazines
Cameras | Polaroid magazines ‘Rolleiflex SLX’ with or without dark slide no film speed dial |
Polaroid magazine Year 1984 (Rolleiflex 6006) with dark slide no film speed dial |
Polaroid magazine Year 1989 (Rolleiflex 6006-2) with dark slide no film speed dial |
Polaroid magazine ‘System Rolleiflex 6000’ with dark slide and film speed dial |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rolleiflex SLX | yes | yes | yes | yes, set film speed on camera |
Rolleiflex 6002 | no | no | no | no |
Rolleiflex 6006 | no | yes | yes | yes, set film speed on camera |
Rolleiflex 6008 Prof Rolleiflex 6008 Prof SRC1000 |
no | no2 | no2 | yes |
Rolleiflex 6003 Prof SRC1000 | no | no2 | no2 | yes |
Rolleiflex 6008 i Rolleiflex 6008 E |
no | no2 | no2 | yes |
Rolleiflex 6003 Prof | no | no2 | no2 | yes |
Rolleiflex 6001 Rolleiflex AF Rolleiflex i2 |
no | no2 | no2 | 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. |
|
Polaroid film magazine for SLX only. Labeled Rolleiflex SLX3 |
8.3 × 10.8 cm | 1976 - 1983 | 977 300 | 10 Exposures of 6 × 6 cm on Pack film. Without dark slide |
8.3 × 10.8 cm | 1982 - 1991 | 977 280 | 10 Exposures of 6 × 6 cm on Pack film. With dark slide |
Rolleiflex 6000 film changing systems

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 dial 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.) |
|
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. |
|
Polaroid film magazine, with dark slide. |
8.3 × 10.8 cm | 1984 - 1991 | 960 080 | 10 Exposures of 6 × 6 cm on Pack film. Contour adapted to period cameras. |
8.3 × 10.8 cm | 1989 - 1991 | 960 090 | 10 Exposures of 6 × 6 cm on Pack film. Contour adapted to period cameras. |
|
Polaroid film magazine System Rolleiflex 6000. |
8.3 × 10.8 cm | 1988 - ? | 760 315 | 10 Exposures of 6 × 6 cm on Pack film. With film speed setting, only communicated to cameras from 6008. Can be used with earlier cameras, but film speed is to be set on the camera. With dark slide. |