The Rolleiflex SL26, manufactured in the period between 1968 and 1973, marked a special milestone in the history of cameras, especially in the field of 126 film format cameras. Conceived by the renowned German camera engineer Heinz Waaske, this camera embodied an exquisite blend of technology and innovation that makes it a remarkable specimen in the history of photography, despite its limited production number of 28,570.
With its dimensions and design, the SL26 appears both small and boxy, yet offers a robust metallic structure that proves very handy and functional. One of its striking features is the simple "match-needle" metering, which makes it much easier for the user to set the correct exposure.
The lens system is remarkably versatile, with three interchangeable lenses, all based on the Tessar design. The standard lens supplied is a Zeiss Tessar 40mm f/2.8 (4 elements in 3 groups), but users also had the option of equipping their camera with a 28mm wide-angle or an 80mm portrait Pro-Tessar lens, which were separate add-ons.
The camera offers a simple film advance mechanism that does not require film to be rewound, ensuring a clean surface. Nevertheless, the film advance is quite powerful and requires a long pull. One of the advantages of this system is the inclusion of a quick-reverse mirror, a feature not found in many German cameras of the time.
The SL26 also offers a reasonable variety of shutter speeds, with speeds from 1/2 second to 1/500 second plus a B setting for longer exposures. The system is purely mechanical, which means that even if the battery dies, the camera will continue to function. This is particularly remarkable as the camera uses a 625 mercury cell, which was later replaced by a zinc-air battery.
Despite its compact size, the camera has a bright viewfinder with a central split-image focusing aid surrounded by a generous ground glass aperture on a fine Fresnel screen, making focusing much easier.
The Rolleiflex SL26, despite its compact and robust design, does not come without its drawbacks. The availability of 126 film and processing capabilities can be considered limited, an aspect that could potentially limit ease of use. In addition, the volume of the shutter, especially for a camera with a leaf shutter, can be considered quite loud.
In terms of price range, the SL26 originally sold for DM 628 (equivalent to about USD 299.50), making it the most expensive camera for this format. A complete set, which included additional accessories such as UV filters, extra lenses and rubber shutters, could be stored in a special bag, which was also available in an always handy field case.
