The Rolleiflex SL66 is a 6×6 cm SLR camera made
by Rollei. It was the company's first single-lens reflex. While the naming
"SL" is most likely for single lens, the "66" probably
refers to the 6x6 cm image format, coincidentally the camera was introduced at
the 1966 Photokina show. The original chrome & black SL66 model
remained in production until 1986.
It is a fully mechanical, modular system camera that does not
require battery power for operation. It uses interchangeable finders (including
a prism and a metering magnifying finder) and film magazines. A 4.5×6 cm format
magazine is also available. The film magazines can
accept 120 or 220 film loaded onto inserts. To protect
against loosing exposures when changing magazines it uses an interlocking dark
slide system. Remove the dark slide by pulling upwards. A dark slide holder is
built into the magazine, inserting upwards from the base. The shutter,
a focal-plane shutter with cloth blinds, gives speeds 1-1/1000 second
plus 'B', and is synchronized for electronic flash at 1/30 sec via
body's PC socket. There are two dedicated sync connectors, one for X
electronic and another for FP bulb. The body controls are located and designed
similar to their TLR line of cameras. The right side of the body has the film
advance knob which has flip out crank. It sits on top of the shutter speed
controls. Operation of the crank is similar to their TLR, first with a clock
wise rotation, followed by a counter-clock wise rotation. The shutter
release button has a screw in cable release terminal. A unique feature of
the camera is a bellows focusing mechanism. The focusing knob is on the left of
the body. A depth of field scale is printed on the main focusing knob. The
unique bellows design also permits the lens to be tilted (up to 8 degrees up or
down) to increase depth of field in close-up work. The is accomplished with a
small lockable knob on the front left of the body below the accessory shoe.
Additional scales are on the side of the bellows with markings for 80, 120 and
150mm lenses along with a tilt scale.The SL66 is a very
high-quality camera but was very expensive, and rather few were made. By 1986,
about 28,900 of the original SL66 had been made. Some more models and 'Special
Editions' were produced after 1986. The Rolleiflex
SL66E was made from 1982. It
is built and designed similar to the original SL66 but updated with more
electronics. New features include built-in TTL average metering and flash
metering (about 500 made) along with a hot
shoe. The FP bulb terminal is no longer available. The lens mounting mark area
now has exposure control adjustment. The magazine back now has ASA settings
with a range of 25 to 6400 along with a crank style lever. It is powered by a
PX28 battery. The SL66X is similar to the SL66E but with only
TTL flash metering (about 500). The SL66SE was released in 1986 with spot
or average metering (about 3500 made). After 1992, only a few collector's
editions were made.The camera uses
interchangeable, coated Carl
Zeiss (west, Oberkochen) lenses
of very high reputation, with focal lengths between 30 mm and 1000 mm. The
lenses originally offered do not couple with the metering prism; a new set was
produced which do. Because of trademark issues, these lens designs have also
been found with Oberkochen Opton markings for resale in GDR/DDR and eastern
European markets. There are a couple of lenses with leaf shutters built in. This allows more flexibility
in higher flash sync speeds and are capable from 1/30 to
1/500 of a sec. To use the faster flash sync speeds, the shutter speed on
camera body must be set to 1/30 or below. Cock the lens shutter and attach the
sync cord to the lens. There are also a few third-party lenses for the SL66,
made by Carl Zeiss Jena, Rodenstock and Novoflex.
There are some later lenses that are branded Rollei, licensed from Carl Zeiss
they tend to be identical to the Zeiss version, but sometimes minor build
difference. The lenses have the Bay
VI bayonet for hoods and filters.
(Source Wikipedia.)
This camera is in used condition, we have serviced it before sale . A
very usable camera.
Condition
exterior : Camera is been carefully cleaned and checked
Condition
mechanical : The camera operates good, all shutter speeds
are working OK and film transport is
fine, the tilt shift function is good and the bellows is light tight. This
camera is recently serviced
Number : 903570010
Finder : Is been cleaned, the ground glass is clear(
minor marks)
Transport
: Nice and smooth
Shutter: Works OK on all speeds.
Comes with film holder nr 17256