Rolleiflex SL35

A 35mm SLR system created using both Rollei's own developments and the legacy of Zeiss Ikon.

THE SL35 SERIES:

• SL35 - a basic SLR with the Quick-Bayonet Mount, horizontal travel mechanical cloth shutter with a top speed of 1/1000th of a second, and TTL stop-down exposure metering with match needle system in the viewfinder. The accessory shoe was optional. At the time, these specifications were no longer impressive, nevertheless, it was a very well built camera, elegant, compact and lightweight, with very good ergonomics;
• SL350 - an updated SL35 with open-aperture metering, improved viewfinder and a hot shoe on top of the pentaprism;
• SL35 M (aka Voigtlander VSL1) - a derivative of the SL706 M42 screw-mount camera developed by Zeiss Ikon on the basis of the Icarex camera. A larger and heavier model, which, although it replaced the SL350, had the same basic specifications, and did not bring anything radically new;
• SL35 ME (aka Voigtlander VSL2 automatic) - an improved SL35 M with electronically controlled shutter and aperture-priority automatic exposure mode;
• SL35 E (aka Voigtlander VSL 3-E) - a model with new vertical acting metal design electronically controlled shutter, LED indicators in the viewfinder (instead of a match-needle system), memory hold, multiple exposure and exposure compensation functions, as well as a built-in auto winder coupling.

The SL35 was built in Germany and from 1972 in Singapore, the SL350 in Germany only, while the SL35 M/ME/E models in Singapore only. In 1981 Rollei went bankrupt. In order to survive, they had to discontinue the SL35 E (the only SL35 series camera in production at the time), close the Singapore plant and focus on high end products.

THE HIGH-END 2000/3000 SERIES:

• SL 2000 F motor - a 35mm SLR with unusual cubical shape. It looked like a typical medium format SLR and had interchangeable film magazines, two integral finder systems and a built-in motor drive. Of course, it also had all professional features of the time such as an electronically controlled shutter (with top speed of 1/1000th of a second), TTL open-aperture exposure metering, aperture-priority automatic exposure mode and manual mode with LED matching;
• 3003 - an updated model with top shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second, upgraded electronics and improvements in ergonomics;
• 3001 - a simpler version of the 3003 with top shutter speed reduced to 1/1000th of a second, one shutter release switch on top of the camera and a telescopic finder only.

THE LENSES:

In collaboration with Carl Zeiss and Schneider-KREUZNACH, a complete line of top-quality lenses was created: from fisheye and ultra-wide angle to medium telephoto prime lenses, plus macro and shift lenses. Some of these lenses were manufactured under license by Rollei Fototechnic GmbH. The lenses were originally single-coated, but a multi-layer coating was applied from 1972 and the corresponding HFT marking was added on their front rings.

The Rolleinar lens range was created in 1977 as an alternative. It was a practical selection of sensibly spaced focal lengths offered the demanding photographer the whole spectrum of creative photographic composition from fish-eye to super telephoto up to moderately fast zoom lenses and macro lenses. Rollei's strict evaluation criteria guaranteed the user an excellent cost-benefit ratio. To achieve high cost-effectiveness, Rollei worked with several leading lens manufacturers.