Rolleiflex SL35 lenses

The Rolleiflex SL35 manufactured by Rollei introduced yet another bayonet mount when launched in 1970. This bayonet mount was used on all Rollei's 35mm SLRs, and on most of the Voigtl?nder VSL models. This lens mount is sometimes called QBM for Quick Bayonet Mount.

There were three versions of the lens mount. The first lenses for the SL35 had only one pin for the automatic diaphragm preselection. With the introduction of the SL350, a new cam was added to transmit the selected aperture to the body for the open-aperture metering. Later, with the introduction of the SL2000F and SL3003, another cam was added to permit the display of the aperture in the viewfinder. The older lenses can mount on the newer bodies, but they do not activate the new features. The older bodies can accept the newer lenses transparently.

1 Zeiss
2 Schneider
3 Rolleinar
4 Lens accessories
5 Notes
6 Bibliography
7 Links

Zeiss

The lenses produced in that mount were mostly from Carl Zeiss and were of high quality. Some of these lenses had begun their career as Contarex lenses, and most of the range was to be recycled as Yashica / Contax lenses. Some of the Zeiss lenses were sold under the Voigtl?nder name to go with the VSL range.

There were two variations of the barrel, the older lenses (one-pin and two-pin lenses) had an all metal finish on the focusing ring, the later ones (two-pin and three-pin lenses) had a rubberized focusing ring. The Voigtl?nder name variant only existed with two pins, in the old finish. At some point Zeiss introduced the HFT multicoating in all the lens range.

List of the Zeiss lenses, and Voigtl?nder equivalents:

15/3.5 Distagon
16/2.8 F-Distagon, fisheye
18/4 Distagon
25/2.8 Distagon = Color-Skoparex
28/2 Distagon
35/1.4 Distagon
35/2.8 Distagon = Color-Skoparex
50/1.4 Planar
50/1.8 Planar = Color-Ultron
60/2.8 Macro-Planar
85/1.4 Planar
85/2.8 Sonnar = Color-Dynarex
135/2.8 Sonnar (with built-in lens hood)=Color-Dynarex
135/4 Tele-Tessar = Color-Dynarex
200/4 Tele-Tessar = Color-Dynarex (with built-in lens hood)
500/4.5 Mirotar, mirror lens
1000/5.6 Mirotar, mirror lens
1000/8 Tele-Tessar

Schneider

At the beginning of the SL35 career, a limited range of lenses were made by Schneider. These lenses only existed in one-pin version, and they have a finish quite similar to the first Zeiss lenses.

35/2.8 SL-Angulon
50/1.4 SL-Xenon (prototype only)^[1]
50/1.8 SL-Xenon
135/3.5 SL-Tele-Xenar

It seems that at least two of the Schneider M42 lenses (type IIIb) were made in very limited numbers in QBM mount:^[2]

35/2.8 Curtagon
50/1.9 Xenon

Later, Schneider also manufactured two special perspective control shift lenses. They have no diaphragm automation, and have their own finish.

28/2.8 PC-Super Angulon, special shift lens
35/4 PC-Curtagon, special shift lens

Rolleinar

A more economical range called Rolleinar was manufactured mostly by Mamiya and were mostly of reputable quality too. They were also sold under the Voigtl?nder name, with AR indicating a Rolleinar origin.

List of the Rolleinar lenses:

14/3.5 (fisheye) F-Rolleinar = Color-F-Skoparex AR
21/4 Rolleinar = Color-Skopaerex AR
28/2.8 Rolleinar = Color-Skoparex AR
35/2.8 Rolleinar = Color-Skoparex AR
50/2 Rolleinar
50/3.5 Rolleinar Macro
55/1.4 Rolleinar = Color-Ultron AR
85/2.8 Rolleinar = Color-Dynarex AR
105/2.8 Rolleinar = Color-Dynarex AR
105/2.8 Rolleinar Macro
135/2.8 Rolleinar = Color-Dynarex AR
200/3.5 Rolleinar = Color-Dynarex AR
400/5.6 Rolleinar = Color-Dynarex AR
500/8 (mirror lens) Reflex-Rolleinar = Reflex-Dynar AR
28-80/3.5-4.5 Zoom-Rolleinar
28-85/4 Zoom-Rolleinar = Vario-Skoparex AR
28-105/3.2-4.5 Zoom-Rolleinar
35-105/3.5 Zoom-Rolleinar = Vario-Dynar AR
35-105/3.5-4.3 Zoom-Rolleinar
50-250/4-5.6 Zoom-Rolleinar
70-210/3.5-4.5 Apo-Rolleinar
80-200/2.8 Zoom-Rolleinar
80-200/4 Zoom-Rolleinar = Vario-Dynar AR
2x converter

Lens accessories

42mm screw mount adapter, to mount 42mm screw lenses
42mm screw mount adapter with auto diaphragm, same as above with the transmission of the automatic diaphragm preselection
39mm screw mount adapter, to mount Leica screw lenses. It does not preserve infinity and is only useful for macro work.

Inverting ring in 49mm diameter
Adapter for macro lenses
Adapter for microscope

Extension tubes 7.8mm, 15mm, 30mm and 50mm with auto preselection
Bellows with auto preselection

Rectangular lens hood for 25/2.8 Distagon
Folding (rubber) lens hood for 35/2.8 Distagon, 50/1.8 Planar, 85/2.8 Sonnar, 135/4 Tele-Tessar
Screw-in lens hood for 85/2.8 Sonnar and 135/4 Tele-Tessar

Lens case for 25/2.8 Distagon
Lens case for 35/2.8 Distagon, 50/1.8 Planar or 85/2.8 Sonnar
Lens case for 135/4 Tele-Tessar
Lens case for 200/4 Tele-Tessar

Filters in 49mm diameter, for 25/2.8 Distagon, 35/2.8 Distagon, 50/1.8 Planar, 85/2.8 Sonnar, 135/4 Tele-Tessar, and in 67mm diameter for 200/4 Tele-Tessar:
- middle yellow
- green
- orange
- light red
- UV
- R 1.5
- gray -2
- gray -3
- infrared
Polarizing filter in 49mm diameter
Soft effect lenses Zeiss Softar I and II in 49mm diameter

Rear lens cap
Front lens cap in 49mm diameter and 67mm diameter

Notes

↑ Example observed in an eBay auction, lens no. 9993372.
↑ See this page of Captain Jack's website.

Bibliography

Afalter, Udo. Voigtl?nder Kameras & Objective. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 2nd edition, 1998. ISBN 3-89506-137-9.
Matanle, Ivor. Collecting and Using Classic SLRs. London: Thames & Hudson, 1996. ISBN 0-500-01726-3. Pp.107–9.

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