[rollei_list] Re: Rolleimot...first Rollei SLR
- From: CarlosMFreaza <cmfreaza@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:16:28 -0300
Peter , I noticed now that you are mixing the facts completely, the
first SRL prototype and the interchangeable lenses prototypes were two
different cameras, they were not produced for different reasons and I
don think to repeat those different causes.
It's very difficult to discuss with someone mixing facts, it does not
make sense to continous this topici if you don't distinguish between
1955, 1957, 1958 and 1962/63.
Carlos
2010/4/11 CarlosMFreaza <cmfreaza@xxxxxxxxx>:
> What is your source Peter? Where did you obtain that info? Who was
> better informed than Prochnow that integrated the team that developed
> the prototype?
>
> Carlos
>
> 2010/4/11 Peter K. <peterk727@xxxxxxxxx>:
>> Carlos,
>>
>> All this is interesting but have to say that a lot of this is what one would
>> call romanticizing the past. I read that management convinced Heidecke to
>> abandon the interchangeable lens TLR.
>>
>> Now I am sure you have been in executive meetings. The term "he lost
>> interest" reminds me of one where after an hour of discussion, the President
>> of the company I worked for listened to what myself and a colleague had to
>> say, then turned to us and told us "This is not open for discussion, you
>> will ...." And believe me I am using very nice language to describe the
>> discussion much like Prochnow does in his book. Of course the press release
>> read that we had reached an accord in doing...." This is what I call
>> romanticizing.
>>
>> Bear in mind, Heidecke was older, tired and his health was declining at that
>> time. It was only a few years before he passed on and not long after later
>> Rollei was in financial troubles. So I for one do not buy the claim that
>> Rollei TLR sales were good. At that time you had immense competition from
>> Mamiya, Minolta, Yashica, and others. Granted the Rollei was the pro's
>> choice, but Mamiyas sold well and were eating away at Rollei's market. They
>> had a very good quality camera at a lower price point with excellent and
>> interchangeable lenses. So you could buy the TLR and 2 lenses for what a
>> Tele Rollei would cost.
>>
>>
>> Peter K.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 9:23 AM, CarlosMFreaza <cmfreaza@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> He lost interest Peter. A team of three engineers developed the 1955
>>> SLR prototype, two of them were Richard Weiss and Claus Prochnow, they
>>> finished the camera for 1957 and according Prochnow, Heidecke lost
>>> interest in the SLR production for two reasons: 1) The TLR sales were
>>> very good; 2)Viktor Hasselblad and Heidecke talked on the issue during
>>> their 1955 meeting in Göteborg: " After its completion in 1957,
>>> _Reinhold Heidecke lost interest in the 6x6 SLR_. There was a good
>>> turnover from the Rolleiflex and his colleagues persuaded him that
>>> they could develop other cameras... The decision was also a result of
>>> a meeting between Reinhold Heidecke and Victor Hasselblad in
>>> Gothenburg..." (Report 2, page 26-538 and SL 66 brochure).
>>> BTW the SLR production in 1957 would mean a continous improvement for
>>> the model 10 years before the SL 66 regular production and an earlier
>>> competition regarding Hasselblad when the market was still different,
>>> but as a results of that decision, Rollei R&D became only dedicated to
>>> design improvements and accesories for the TLR including the
>>> Rolleimot, it only changes in 1962, after Heidecke death in 1960, when
>>> Rollei new management decided to develop the SL 66 and to manufacture
>>> a 35mm camera, but it's necessary to say things were good for the
>>> Rollei TLR up to about 1960
>>>
>>> We commented several times on the interchangeable lenses TLR camera,
>>> the prototypes were ready for production in 1958, this time the
>>> Rollei management had a stronger influence on Heidecke to decide the
>>> camera no production, deviating from the original design towards the
>>> Tele and Wide Rolleiflexes. Anyway, "it was clear that this was not a
>>> substitute for a single-lens reflex camera" writes Prochnow on the TLR
>>> with interchangeable lenses in the previous page, but it was a direct
>>> competition against the Mamiya TLR with interchangeable lenses, they
>>> started to lose their own market.
>>>
>>> 2010/4/10 Peter K. <peterk727@xxxxxxxxx>:
>>> > From what I have read, Heidecke did not lose interest. He was talked out
>>> > of
>>> > the idea of producing an SLR by the management of Rollei. These were the
>>> > same geniuses who talked him out of putting the interchangeable lens TLR
>>> > that he developed into production. They were comfortable and making
>>> > money so
>>> > they did not want to change.
>>> >
>>> > If you think about it, these idiot managers thought the Rolliemot was OK
>>> > to
>>> > develop but not an SLR? Talk about stupidity. The Rolliemot is odd or
>>> > maybe
>>> > useless but it was what I would call the Edsel of accessories. I am sure
>>> > there are odd accessories things developed by other cameras makers
>>> > throughout the years. Even Leica (are they still in business these
>>> > days?)
>>> >
>>> > --Peter K
>
---
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