Rollei Digital Bundle (Rolleiflex 6008 AF + Phase One P20) user feedback

Hello All,

Please allow me share with you impressions of mine induced by work with this fresh solution from Rollei.
I’ve got Rollei Digital Bundle (Rolleiflex 6008 AF + Phase One P20) just two months ago and love it so far. The driven reasons in this move for me was truly unique combination of next factors: square format (I like it so much!), amazing lens optics (Schneider!), true 16-bit color space with 16 Mpx resolutions of lossless RAW files right out of the box, autofocus (still good to have in some situations), wide dynamic diapason and wonderful details delivered by P20 digital back.

To be honest with you, I’ve spent tremendous amount of time (months) trying to identify my future medium system (before that I was working with Nikon D100 but very soon realized that 6Mpx level isn’t adequate to my needs). Finally, I end up with two systems only – Hasselblad and Rollei. Soon after that it’s became obvious for me that Rolleiflex modular approach and overall quality of German mechanics/optics seems better to me and would give me all what Hasselblad solution has (not H1 – don’t like this, sorry guys) plus autofocus and several others options in addition.

Yes, I was aware about some drawbacks of this setup but found them acceptable for me: slow and some time non-accurate autofocus in difficult light situations (however, it’s still not bad to me once you aware of this and can control it) and 1.5 crop factor…

Here you’re some more quick positive impressions of mine:
- very bright chimney viewfinder;
- very convenient handle grip;
- superb overall build quality;
- simplicity and good logics in camera controls placement;
- amazing colors which P20 delivers;
- the shooting speed just drives me crazy– thanks to very fast P20;
- level of details is just amazing – never seen something close to that yet;
- overall completeness of all setup – just open the boxes, put all parts together and you’re ready to shoot;
- weight of this setup – it’s heavy (but it is medium system, right?) and… I like it too somehow!

And, of course, there are some disadvantages too – it is always there, right? They are:
- 1.5 crop factor (oh man, how much I wish to pass all parts of my picture I see through viewfinder right to the P20 with no crops at all!);
- better integration between P20 and Rollei 6008 AF camera body (for instance, EXIF data of my images doesn’t show up shutter and aperture settings)
- IMHO, P20 digital back should be better documented out by Phase One.
- Capture One software is a really good one and well adequate to but graphical user interface might be improved.

I was really surprised to see so large box (like box with medium CRT monitor inside) delivered at my home when it arrives. But soon I’ve realized why it is so huge – small (but heavy!) P20 comes in large black plastic handback which includes P20, some documentation, charger, set of two batteries, set of power adaptors (for many countries!), two cleaning fluid solutions (very kind and convenient) and opal calibrating plate.

Bottom-line, I like this system, glad it’s arrived this year, believe it is best out of best in it’s own class and almost sure it is kind of lifetime system which would deliver thousands of wonderful images in right hands; don’t hesitate to ask more questions if you wish – I would be glad answer them all if I could.

Please feel free take a look on some pictures made with this setup at 1st time with Rollei Digital Bundle. All of them have been taken on Cape Cod, MA.

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Kind regards,
Oleg Moiseyenko, ASMP, New Jersey
oMoses online portfolio