Wayne,
The GX/FX line is a glimpse of where Rollei could have gone, just as Canon did
with the introduction of the AE1/A1, or Minolta with the XD7 etc.
I had an interesting exchange with Jan Böttcher, from whom I bought new copies
of Rollei Reports 1 & 4 recently, about how F&H (or DHW) totally messed up in
the last years instead of focussing on a smaller, “leaner” niche market company
(“Manufaktur” in German), a core line of modernized TLRs / Rollei 35s etc. and
also gradually getting ready for some digital models as Leica managed to do.
Clearly the vision was not there.
More electronics does not mean a complete break with tradition, but can mean
more reliability, esp. in accurate exposure. If you still shoot chromes, as I
do, the GX/FX might in fact be a camera you will enjoy with tradional
feel/handling, newer glass, and more exposure reliability (looking for a GX
Expression myself).
Jan
On Jan 24, 2020, at 11:59 AM, wayne pinney <tennjed@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I guess I should have consulted the John Phillips book. I have the book and---
use it more as a reference, having not read it cover-to-cover. As best as I
can determine, based on the one paragraph John Phillips dedicates to GX, he
does not really consider the GX to be a part of the traditional Rolleiflex
line. Interesting. Not sure what to think.
I have/use old Rollei cameras ranging from Original, to 2.8D Planar….to
include some Rolleicords. My joy in shooting all of them is based on
results, feel, durability, form and format, and, last but not least, the
great tradition they represent. From what John Phillips writes in his single
paragraph, it makes me wonder if the GX models are completely divorced from
all of these things pertaining to my Rollei experience.
Best,
Wayne
