Rollei 6008i

[cham_saranasuriya]

Hi Guys,

 

I am a Nikon user and was interested in R6008i before. Some guys

thought that it had electrical problem especially Vijay N so I was

reluctant to buy. Just interested to know the opinions now as to

reliability especially in Landscapes & portraits

 

Cheers

[bobby_cranford]

I have had the Rollei for almost 2 years. It has been on several car and plane trips to different locations in the U.S. It has been in the deserts and below freezing temperatures. I have not had any electronic problems with the camera. There was an issue in cold weather which I thought was due to the batteries loosing power. It turned out to be a mechanical problem with the mirror. When the camera got cold, there was a contraction of one part inside which would cause the mirror to stick in the up position and skip frames on the film. I sent the camera back to Rollei USA. They tested it, found the problem, made the repair and returned it FOC within a week. Rollei's service has been very good. The few conversations I have had with them have been polite and helpful.

 

I use the camera for landscape and portraits. I am an amatuer, so it is not used continuosly. But, it does get banged around in my travels. I take care of my equipment, but it does get used. I have the 40mm S.A., 80mm Planar and 150mm S.A. All good lenses and a nice range for my pictures.

 

I have thought about a large format camera and maybe one day. I don't plan on making really large prints, so the 6x6 negative has been more than sufficient.

 

If you can, try one before you buy it.

 

Sincerely,

[wim_van_velzen]

Hi Cham,

<p>

I have had a Rollei since November 2002 and use it for wedding formals and landscape work.

<p>

I haven't had a single problem, neither with the camera nor the 50, 80 and 150mm lenses.

<p>

Others reported electronic-related problems, that is for sure. But most of the problems have long been solved.

<p>

IMO, Rollei has the best specification for any 6x6 SLR and is as reliable as any other system. And yes, eventually all cameras or lenses can have a problem. But that seems to be live :-(

<p>

<a href="http://www.fotografiewimvanvelzen.nl">Wim</a>

[cham_saranasuriya]

is there any advantage of getting 6008AF apart from AF which is not a must for me?

[wim_van_velzen]

Hi Cham,

<p>

Yes there is: the AF has better flash options and the finder information is presented in more understandable way than the dots of the 6008i.

<p>

This month though Rollei announced a 6008i2, which is the same as the AF, apart from not having AF! So, that would be the camera for you.

<p>

<a href="http://www.fotografiewimvanvelzen.nl">Wim</a>

[msitaraman]

Cham, I've had a 6003 for 10 years. In terms of build quality, this has been a dead serious pro quality camera. No issues for me at all. These cameras are little used in the US, but very much a professional competitor to Hasselblad in Europe.

[michael_kravit]

Cham,

 

I have been using 6008 cameras for a number of years. Most recently I

purchased a 6008 AF. I can tell you that the three 6008 bodies I have owned

have been perfect. Not a single problem.....Oops, I forgot, one had a meter

that was reading 3 stops off. A quick trip to Rollei service and the camera was

back in my hands making perfect exposures in about a week.

 

About a year ago, I sold a Hasselblad 203FE kit for the Rollei 6008AF and

have never regretted my decision.

 

I purchased a 6008i (Used) for my son who is in law school. He loves the

camera and has not had a single problem with his either.

 

Make the jump and enjoy one of the best cameras in the world.

[jim_chow]

As you have probably read in my previous postings from 5 yrs

ago, I have been using the 6008i for 5 yrs now. I have two

bodies, one was purchased in '99 (I think), the other in '97. The

'97 one, which was a gray market body, had the initial electronic

problems. After the repair by Rollei, the electronics have been

functioning perfectly. The only minor problem I had since was a

small light leak in the flap behind the mirror. That was fixed

(wasn't really under warranty anymore, but it was still fixed for

free) back in '99, I think. I used to fly 60K miles/year on photo

trips to SE Asia, Europe, desert SW, California high sierras on

multi-day backpacking trips (camera in the pack, subject to

constant vibration), and in snow during the winter in Japan. The

trick to saving the batteries is so keep it in your pocket until you

shoot, then load it in, shoot, remove it. I've used one battery over

a week in sub freezing temps doing this. I've shot the camera

down to 3F and up to 106F now that I live in AZ...no problems.

Since the first 6008i body is 5 yrs old, I don't mind thrashing it in

severe conditions...still, it's been reliable.

[rocketman]

Greetings to all. . .I have owned my Rollei 6008i since 2000 and have had no problems with it. None, nadda, zilch! I don't give mine the workout Jim Chow gives his. I do mostly weddings and portraits with the occasional landscape thrown in for good measure. I plan on getting another 6008i body and a 6008AF as soon as I can afford them. I'm very pleased with the Rollei kit I own, which includes, 50/4, 80/2.8, 150/4, and my 300/4. I also have a 45-degree prism finder and several backs. Just my $0.02. YMMV.

 

Cheers,

 

Jim