Rollei is Back! First Single Lens Reflex Auto Focus Camera in 6x6 Medium Format to be Unveiled by Rollei at PMA 2005

ORLANDO, FL, February 16, 2005 Rollei, manufacturer of the classic twin-lens 6x6 Rolleiflex that has been a workhorse and a work of art for 85 years to professionals and enthusiasts, is back in the U.S.! And in a big way. Rollei will introduce five new cameras for professional photographers and digital camera enthusiasts, at the PMA 2005 Annual Convention and Trade Show here (booth 4598/99).

Of particular interest to professional photographers will be the new Rolleiflex 6008 AF with a db20p PhaseOne digital back and 16 megapixels. It is the world’s first single lens reflex camera in a 6 x 6 medium format to offer rapid and precise auto-focusing with its dedicated AF lenses.

In addition to unveiling its new cameras, Rollei will announce a restructuring of its US subsidiary, Rollei USA LLC. It will be headed by Bernd Franke.

The 6008 AF is targeted to studio and on-location professionals -- from portrait, fashion and landscape photographers, to photojournalists and corporate/government photographers involved in “workflow” photography. It is compatible with the extensive line of Rollei-6000 lenses

In addition to metered manual, the Rolleiflex 6008 AF offers three precise metering methods (center-weighted average, evaluative and spot), and comfortable exposure control with aperture-priority, shutter-priority and programmed AE. It also has comfortable flash photography with pre-flash metering, plus the option of selective exposure compensation to cope with difficult situations.

The new camera becomes Rollei’s top-of-the-line model, but retains full compatibility with Rollei’s 6000 system, which means it’s compatible with the more than 20 current 6000 system lenses.

The Rolleiflex 6008 AF weighs 1500 grams and is 143 x 139 x 124 mm without lens. It will begin shipping later this month and be available through specialty retailers. A unique Direct Source Marketing program which, essentially cuts out the middle person in distribution, will help keep the cost down. While pricing hasn’t been finalized, it is expected to be in the $16,000 (US) range.

In addition to the 6008 AF, the company will unveil the Rollei dr5, an ultra-flat, “go anywhere” digital camera with 5 megapixels. In addition to fitting in a shirt pocket without a bulge, the camera features instant readiness and minimal shutter lag, which makes it an ideal candid camera.

Another new product is the powerful 5.1-megapixel Rollei dr5100. Discriminating amateurs and professional users will be impressed by its features: 5.1 megapixels, 3x D-VarioApogon zoom lens, voice and video recording plus a host of manual controls. It weighs only 205 g. Its stylish aluminum body and an ergonomically shaped rubber grip on the right-hand side make the new digital camera very easy to handle. A fast f2/5-4.3 wide-angle zoom lens with a very short focal length at the lower end offers ideal sweeping panoramas and group pictures even in a confined space

Rolleiflex will also show a 4-megapixel superzoom camera, the Rollei dk4010 with 10x zoom lens and a 6x digital zoom that covers focal lengths from 5.7 to 57 mm, equivalent to 37-370 mm in 35mm photography. With f/2.8-3.1, it offers high speed for the wide zooming range. A high-speed auto-focus system guarantees consistently sharp pictures. Another feature is unlimited continuous shooting.

The company will also show the compact Rollei Prego dp5200 digital camera with 5.2 megapixels, a 3x zoom lens and a 4x digital zoom shooting. It features a large and easy-to-read 2.5-inch TFT color display and an extra flat, stylish lightweight metal body.

The MSRP for the Rollei dr5100 and dp5200 is expected to be $400 (US). The Rollei dk4010 will have a MSRP of $500. Pricing has not been set on the Rollei dr5. For more information, contact: Rollei USA LLC, 570-629-4391, or www.Rollei.com.