In another thread, ("Sinar Hy6 USA pricing"), EPd mentions:

"Do not forget that the optical properties of the AFD lenses are exactly the same as the non-AFD's. All they did was removing the aperture ring as the aperture can be set from the camera's interface."

Yet I can recall reading that the AFD lenses are designed to take advantage of the extreme flatness of the sensor (relative to film) and to bring the red, green and blue light into better planar focus as the sensors do not have the color layering aspect to them that film does.

Leaf's latest literature cites:

"Features specially designed Schneider AutoFocus digital (AFD) lenses for greater contrast and resolution, distortion correction and absence of color fringes."

Can anyone help me to factually understand what the "Digital" aspect of the AFD lenses actually is (no speculation please)?

Thanks in advance,
Brad

Only time will tell.
I currently have the non AF Schneider lenses and I do hope they can cut the mustard.
I don't want to have to upgrade.
Cheers,
Willem.

Bradley,

All existing Schneider designs have not been recalculated or otherwise optically altered to get the AFD-label, as said by me. They just lost their aperture ring. However a few new designs will be introduced in addition and they will be calculated with the digital use in mind from the beginning. Also a range of non-Schneider lenses has been announced. These carry Zeiss Jena names, aka Jenoptik names now (NOT Carl Zeiss names!). These lenses will be manufactured by F&H and they are newly calculated for use with the Hy6/AFi. The first one expected in that range will be the 35mm Flektogon. I have an interesting quote from the extra bulletin that was published by the German Magazine ProfiFoto for the official presentation to the world of the Hy6 in Jena, last month. It comes from an interview with Sinar's Marketing Director Erich Frefel:

"PROFIFOTO: Bis die neuen Digital-Objektive lieferbar sein werden: Gibt es Einschränkungen bei der Nutzbarkeit der teilweise recht betagten Rolleiflex-Objektive?
Erich Frefel: Es besteht absolut kein Grund, mit dem Kauf auf die Digital-Objektivreihe zu warten. Unsere Tests haben ergeben, dass die bestehende Objektiv-Palette in keiner Weise betagt ist und sich ohne Einschränkungen hervorragend für den Einsatz in der digitalen Fotografie eignet. Mögliche Verbesserungen der nur minimal veränderten Digitalobjektive bewegen sich im Vergleich zu den aktuellen Produkten auf höchstem Niveau und setzen in Verbindung mit der Sinar Hy6, ohne elektronische Korrekturen, qualitative Maßstäbe in der heutigen Mittelformat-Fotografie."

Mr. Frefel says (in short) that there is absolutley no reason to wait for the AFD labeled versions of the lenses because the existing ones are fully up to the task of shooting digital. In conjunction with the Hy6 they set quality standards at the highest level, without the need of electronic corrections.

EPd

I can confirm the below Sinar statement and technical information contained in this post as being technically accurate.

It can be read and taken as an official Sinar information as well.

Thanks EPd and best regards,
Thierry

Can these lenses be used on the 6008 series cameras? In theory one wouldn´t need aperture rings for those cameras either, so the new ones should work - unless there are some differences in their respective electronic systems.

By the way - I hate to have to set the aperture setting through the camera instead of ´right away on the lens´. But that might be an acquired taste...

What this all means that all the second hand stock of Schneider and Zeiss lenses for the 6000 series
will go up in value,like the second hand stock of the Contax 645.
I'm glad I have my selection.
40+55 PCS+60+80/2+90Makro+180/2.8 and a 1.4 Longar that's designed for the 2/80 and 2.8/180

Now I need that Hy6 body!

Cheers,
WR.

Thanks guys for the information. That helps!

Oh, and Rethmeier, if you need a place to "store" all that Rollei glass, please, don't hesitate to call!

-Brad

Don't forget that most Rolleiflex 6000 series lenses are also still available NEW. The 6008AF an i2 are still available too and could well act as a viable backup for the Hy6. All you would need is an extra adapter to connect your DB to the 6008.

If I'm not mistaken the 6008AF will except Sinar backs but not Leaf.

Thierry? Steve Hendrix or someone please correct me if I'm wrong.



Best,
Don

That is correct. The only backs for Rollei 6008 (other than P20) are Sinar (entire lineup) and Hasselblad (iXPress and CF).

Steve Hendrix
www.ppratlanta.com/digital.php

Yes, the whole Sinarbacks lineup can be attached to the Rolleiflex 6001 / 6003 / 6008 / 6008 Integral / 6008 AF cameras:

- Sinarback 54 H (multishot)
- Sinarback 54 M & MC (single shot)
- Sinarback eMotion 22, eMotion 54 LV, eMotion 75 & eMotion 75 LV
- Sinarback eVolution 75 H (multishot)

The SB 54 M/MC uses the same adapter as the SB eVolution 75 H (552.45.043), and all the eMotion models use the same adapter (552.36.073).

Beside this, the Eyelike Precision backs can also be adapted to the Rollei 6000 series.

Best regards,
Thierry

Btw...the upcoming 35 mm. Is it corrected? It's not a fisheye right?

Yes, it will be fully corrected and also cover the full 6x6 frame. It will have automatic floating elements and have special correction for flat field focusing. At least that's the theory. F&H is working hard to make it a practical reality currently.

EPd or Thierry,
When using lenses with aperture ring,
where should it be set to work correctly in all modes controlled by the grip?
Billy

A-mode position.