Film changing systems Rolleiflex SLX and 6000 System

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.

Rolleiflex 6008i 1623, Photo F.W. Stutterheim — 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.

Rolleiflex 6008i 1634, Photo F.W. Stutterheim — 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.

Rolleiflex 6008i 1636, Photo F.W. Stutterheim — 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.

Rolleiflex 6008i 1734, Photo F.W. Stutterheim — Polaroid magazine ‘System Rolleiflex 6000’ with dark slide. The magazine with film speed dial is from the 6008 era.
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

The film back (120 / 6×6 cm) of the Rolleiflex 6003 Prof (SRC 1000) was only sold with the camera. A choice of 4 film backs was available for the Rolleiflex 6002. They were also sold separately.

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.
Interchangeable film back for SLX only, 120/220.	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

Film speed is set on the camera, rather than the back.

Rolleiflex 6000 film changing systems

Rolleiflex 6008i 1619, Photo F.W. Stutterheim — 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 from my trusted repair shop to ensure future business.
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.
Polaroid film magazine, with dark slide.	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.