Rollei 6008i TTL Flash Redux (but specific question unanswered)

[william_carter1]

I know, I know, there are other threads addressing this, but I

haven't seen an answer to this specific question (I've read every

thread containing the words "Rollei" and "Flash"). We all know that

TTL fill-flash is awkward at best on the 6008i. One alternative is

to just use the flash on auto mode. But this doesn't help for macro

shots where TTL is essential. So, I'd like to use the following

procedure, described in other threads: (1) set the exposure

compensation dial on the body to minus 2 and (2) set the ISO dial on

the magazine to overrate the film by 2 stops (with 100 speed film,

set the film speed to 25 and exposure compensation to minus 2). OK,

this now means that the ambient expoure is back exactly where it was

before I chanegd anything, but allows the flash to fire, since the

stupid Rollei computer will only fire the flash if you have the exp.

comp. dial turned to a negative value. But here's my question: what

now is my FLASH exposure? Have I just dialed in a minus 2 fill flash

exposure (as well as a minus 2 ambient exposure (which is corrected

by up-rating the film ISO))? In other words, will the TTL meter cut

off the flash when the subject receives the proper exposure minus 2?

And if that's true, how do I get NORMAL TTL flash, not fill? I have

to set the exposure comp to some negative value to get the flash to

fire, right? So how do I get "uncompensated" TTL flash? Or am I

wrong, and the procedure I laid out actually cancels everything out

and I get both ambient AND flash expsoure with no compensation? Just

turn the exposure compensation dial to minus 1/3 and shoot? (Since

by "normal" flash I mean "I don't care about ambient exposure," it

doesn't matter if the ambient light is underexposed by 1/3 of a stop,

right?)

 

Thanks for your help and forebearance in answering this question

again -- I'm looking to sell my Contax 645 system and need to know

how to use this crazy flash on the Rollei since I'll be investing

more heavily in the system.

[william_carter1]

Just to clarify -- the last two sentences of the 1st paragraph are reversed. It should read: "So how do I get "uncompensated" TTL flash? Just turn the exposure compensation dial to minus 1/3 and shoot? (Since by "normal" flash I mean "I don't care about ambient exposure," it doesn't matter if the ambient light is underexposed by 1/3 of a stop, right?). Or am I wrong, and the procedure I laid out actually cancels everything out and I get both ambient AND flash expsoure with no compensation?"

[tak_l._poon1]

Dear William,

 

Please try a small aperture plus 1/500 or, better still, if you are using PQS lenses, 1/1000 shutter speeds. Under such conditions, the flash should give you appropriate TTL flash as the TTL circuit can complete all calculations in half that time, but the ambient light will never be enough to be of any significance, even under bright sunlight. For this reason alone, the Rollei 6008i is superior to any other medium format camera or any 135 camera with the most advanced electronics. Since only this camera is able to give you 1/1000s shutter speed that can sync with flash. This shutter is a leaf shutter in the lens and so the time of opening is truely 1/1000s, unlike the film plane shutters which move at a speed of at most 1/250s and use a small slit to simulate higher shutter speeds.

 

Regards,

 

TL