Rollei production in Braunschweig - current situation

<p>Interesting blog post on the current situation of Rollei production in Braunschweig for anyone interested in

this erstwhile pioneer of the camera industry:<br>

<a

href="https://rolleiflex.us/blogs/news-tech-tips-updates/factory-visit-summer-2016-yes-they-are-still-in-business">Factory

Visit Summer 2016 - Yes they are still in business!</a></p>

<p>It'd be so nice (and readable) if that blogger didn't use medium grey and light grey font on a white background.</p>

<p>Will they outsource production? Will current artisanal assembly in small numbers continue when the parts run out? With ten staff members, some part time, will they probably simply provide repair services?</p>

<p>Colin,<br>

Thanks for sharing my link. :-)<br>

All, I'm happy to answer any questions there may be, excluding comments about the style of presentation I use. <br>

Arthur - presumably they will outsource some production of metal parts and other items - but this would not be new - they have done this for a very long time already. The optics came from Zeiss or Schneider since forever as an example and also from third party manufacturer's in Germany. Many metal parts were made elsewhere for a long time and also the circuit boards too. The bigger question will be what products will continue and what new items will be added. They did change the design of the metal shades for the bayonet 104 lenses in the 6000 and Hy6 platforms and they have new film backs coming for the Hy6. <br>

A lot of how they do depends on whether there are sufficient sales or not. I'm sure they would add additional employee's when there is need to do so, but they are able to both do service and make new product now. <br>

Regards,<br>

Eric Hiss<br>

Rolleiflex USA</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thank you Eric<br>

wonderful news</p>

<p>Hi Eric, thanks for that. Looks like they are doing ok, working away under the radar.<br>

Is it the case that Leaf is the only digital back maker which supports the Hy6 mount? Can it take any of the new CMOS backs?</p>

<p>Hi Ray,<br>

As I understand it, the lock-out of other back makers Phase One had via contract was released during the turnaround, and therefore Sinar backs and any other back maker can supply digital backs for the Hy6. The newest Hy6 Mod2 bodies can operate with Leaf AFi, AFi-ii and Credo backs as well as the older Sinar backs. Sinar can now also supply new backs in the Hy6 mount though they only produce their multi-shot backs. I've been very keen to try one of their eXact 16-shot backs on my Hy6 with the 90mm APO macro lens. </p>