Did the Linhof Technika III come with a fresnel lens?

boomshtick · May 18, 2021

Hello! I'm restoring my Linhof Technika III ver. 5 which did not have a fresnel lens when I got it. It doesn't seem to be designed to take one, as putting both a GG and a fresnel in the little compartment area gives literally no room to adjust the focus position, and that doesn't seem like something the factory would have done on purpose.

So was the tech III not designed to take a fresnel lens? If not, what's the best way to add one?

Edit: my camera's serial number is 59752 as per the cold shoe, which places it roughly around 1953 ish from what I've read.

thanks!

RalphLambrecht · May 18, 2021

boomshtick said:
Hello! I'm restoring my Linhof Technika III ver. 5 which did not have a fresnel lens when I got it. It doesn't seem to be designed to take one, as putting both a GG and a fresnel in the little compartment area gives literally no room to adjust the focus position, and that doesn't seem like something the factory would have done on purpose.

So was the tech III not designed to take a fresnel lens? If not, what's the best way to add one?

Edit: my camera's serial number is 59752 as per the cold shoe, which places it roughly around 1953 ish from what I've read.

thanks!

very thin GG?

AgX · May 18, 2021

It seems to have been a accessory to be bought extra. No hint at an extra thin groundglass, but just one thickness to be used with and without fresnel lens.
The fresnel lens was to be put from the rear onto the already mounted ground glass.

It seems that when the Technika III was introduced, the fresnel lens not yet was available as then there were not yet hints at such.

boomshtick · May 18, 2021

RalphLambrecht said:
very thin GG?

I don't think so because using my calipers (which are cheap but should give some idea), the max space available is 2.4mm, and the gg that came with it is .9mm, so that leaves only approx. 1.5mm to fit a fresnel and have some adjustment range, and even then the leaf springs are almost completely squashed, which doesn't seem right. Without a fresnel the GG (and leaf springs) have much more room to breath and be calibrated, which seems like the way it was supposed to be.

whoops sorry agx, didn't see you there. That feels maybe a little more right. I think the .9mm GG that was in the camera might be original since it's so thin.

Bob S · May 18, 2021

boomshtick said:
Hello! I'm restoring my Linhof Technika III ver. 5 which did not have a fresnel lens when I got it. It doesn't seem to be designed to take one, as putting both a GG and a fresnel in the little compartment area gives literally no room to adjust the focus position, and that doesn't seem like something the factory would have done on purpose.

So was the tech III not designed to take a fresnel lens? If not, what's the best way to add one?

Edit: my camera's serial number is 59752 as per the cold shoe, which places it roughly around 1953 ish from what I've read.

thanks!

1956. Not 53.

boomshtick · May 18, 2021

Bob S said:
1956. Not 53.

Even better! Is that Bob Salomon? Am I correct in thinking that the fresnel was originally an aftermarket part and that it was mounted between the GG and the lens for the tech III?

abruzzi · May 18, 2021

Later Technikas mounted the fresnel between the ground glass and the photographer, and is easily and quickly removable. Mine came with the fresnel, and it’s still in the box—I’ve never used it, never really found it necessary. Mounting between the ground glass and the lens changes the focus doesn’t it?

boomshtick · May 18, 2021

abruzzi said:
Later Technikas mounted the fresnel between the ground glass and the photographer, and is easily and quickly removable. Mine came with the fresnel, and it’s still in the box—I’ve never used it, never really found it necessary. Mounting between the ground glass and the lens changes the focus doesn’t it?

Yeah, I've heard that only earlier technikas had the fresnel on the lens side, but I'd like to know which years that was done in! I'd like to try the fresnel on mine since it's pretty dark without. And yeah, it changes the focus, but I assume that back in the day you'd send the camera back to the factory to have it reshimed to accommodate the fresnel, if indeed it was mounted on the lens side.

AgX · May 18, 2021

If the camera would have to be readjusted after mounting the fresnel screen, it would not be listed as a pure accessory in the pricelist for the Technika III, when for the lenses the cam machining is hinted at. .

boomshtick · May 18, 2021

AgX said:
If the camera would have to be readjusted after mounting the fresnel screen, it would not be listed as a pure accessory in the pricelist for the Technika III, when for the lenses the cam machining is hinted at. .

Oh that clears it up then. Is there a manual or catalogue or something that I could find out more about the camera in floating around? I've already looked at cameraquest

AgX · May 18, 2021

Some of that stuff needs deep digging on the net.

boomshtick · May 18, 2021

AgX said:
Some of that stuff needs deep digging on the net.

Oh boy I guess I better go start looking again then

awty · May 18, 2021

I have a Technica iii type 5 all original with original box and sports view. Doesnt have a Fresnel, so as others have said it may of been an after market accessory if it existed at all.
Cant say I have ever thought I needed one. The original ground glass is bright enough for me.

Pieter12 · May 18, 2021

Try https://www.butkus.org/chinon/linhof/linhof_technika_iii/linhof_technika_iii.htm

boomshtick · May 19, 2021

awty said:
I have a Technica iii type 5 all original with original box and sports view. Doesnt have a Fresnel, so as others have said it may of been an after market accessory if it existed at all.
Cant say I have ever thought I needed one. The original ground glass is bright enough for me.

Wow that's really cool. I have a 240 and a 90mm. The 240 is pretty bright, but I definitely want a fresnel for the 90. What did your camera come with? I think mine had the sports finder, the 240, and the 90mm; I like to think that was basically everything and that I have a full set (minus the cam for my 90 unfortunately). I know those are the only lenses it came with because those two infinity stops are notched on the rail.

Pieter, thanks! I can't believe I forgot to check there. WOW I learned a lot; you came in at a great time! My 90mm infinity stop was off by about a centimeter, and it was driving me crazy until I happened to notice the part in those instructions about lowering the bed/ tilting back the standard for wide angle lenses, then it was perfect! It's crazy to realize that the tech III only has rear tilt as a byproduct. That's why I like learning as much as I can about this camera.

awty · May 19, 2021

Came standard with Linhof symmar f 5.6 150mm convertible with 150mm range finder cam and distance rule for 150mm lens.. There are notches for 90mm and 240mm as well, but you need a rangefinder cam to suite.

boomshtick · May 19, 2021

awty said:
Came standard with Linhof symmar f 5.6 150mm convertible with 150mm range finder cam and distance rule for 150mm lens.. There are notches for 90mm and 240mm as well, but you need a rangefinder cam to suite.

That’s interesting. Mine just has the notches for my two lenses.

awty · May 19, 2021

boomshtick said:
That’s interesting. Mine just has the notches for my two lenses.

The first notch on mine is 90mm, second is 150mm and is where the rule works from. The third looks to be 180mm.

RalphLambrecht · May 20, 2021

abruzzi said:
Later Technikas mounted the fresnel between the ground glass and the photographer, and is easily and quickly removable. Mine came with the fresnel, and it’s still in the box—I’ve never used it, never really found it necessary. Mounting between the ground glass and the lens changes the focus doesn’t it?

see attached different mounting locations for the fresnel are possible with different benefits and drawbacks.

boomshtick · May 20, 2021

Wow, thanks guys, those are both really interesting.

Did the Linhof Technika III come with a fresnel lens?

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