Handheld LF

[David A. Goldfarb]

I just made my first foray into handheld LF (well, actually I was using a 6x7 rollfilm back, but I've got Grafmatics that I'll use once it all feels more natural) today with my new Tech V. What a blast!

I'd read that Linhofs were really too heavy to be practical for this, and I'd be better off with a Crown or Super Graphic, but it's not true. The camera is heavy (about 6-7 lbs), and I have some weakness in my left wrist due to an injury, but with the ergo grip and a neck strap the camera is so well balanced, I find it easier to carry than my Bronica S2A 6x6 camera. I'm also surprised by how little shutter vibration is carried through the camera. It all feels very solid. The chromes will tell. I was a bit concerned about the separate rangefinder, but I'm used to using an uncoupled rangefinder on my Voigtlander Perkeo II, so this is a little faster than that.

This looks like it might be my new travel camera, for trips when I might want a view camera, but also want to go tripodless as well.

Anyone else using the big camera off the tripod?

 

[Ole]

David, look at this thread:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I have tried it, and it worked (after a fashion). Next time I'll use my venerable Voigtländer Bergheil at 1/10th the weight...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I remember that one. It is curious that they made 5x7" Technikas for such a long time. They really are monsters as rangefinder cameras go.

I'm not really too into sports, but I'm impressed by this shot:

http://www.linhof.de/english/gallery/sport.html

You suppose if I keep this up I'll have a left bicep like that guy? Maybe then it will be time to move up to 5x7"!

 

[Jorge]

handheld LF cameras are a lot of fun, I had a Crown Graphic with bulb flash and everything and it was a lot of fun to use. It is not easy photography but not as hard as people might think, you need to learn how to prefocus. IOW work on the DOF so you know that on distances from x feet to xx feet you will have everything sharp and then dont worry about the range finder. this is done much easier than with a MF or 35 mm camera. Go out with a polaroid holder and enjoy, you will have a lot of fun.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Yes, I'm much more aware of DOF tables than I used to be, since I acquired a couple of small rangefinder and viewfinder cameras in the past few years. With the even shorter DOF of 4x5", it's all that much more important.