How to distinguish a rollex back for a Linhof Super Technika 2x3?

[Bayliss]

I'm looking to get a medium format back for a my Linhof Super Technika 2x3, the issue is looking on ebay I'm unable to tell if the different medium format backs are compatible with 2x3 rather than 4x5 linhof cameras, and sellers often don't specify.

Is there any simple way to distinguish them?

 

[Dan Fromm]

Which Rollex do you have in mind?

Super Rollex? Like this: https://linhof.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/super-rollex_e.pdf? These were made to fit Graflok/International backs. 4x5ers have a larger mounting plate. I'm not sure whether the 2x3ers were made to fit a 2x3 Linhof back. See below.

Jes' plain Rollex? Like this: https://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/linhof_rollex_rollex.pdf and this https://usedphotopro.com/linhof-rol...or-2x3-cameras-ulf-11-rlx66-4-80625-b42319f9? These were made to fit a 2x3 Linhof back. I don't know whether they were made to fit Graflok/International backs.

Re which back type, ask the seller for a photo of the front of the roll holder. Re size, if the mounting plate is much larger than the "works," 4x5.

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

Yes, the best thing is to take a look at the back: those for the "baby" Technika 2x3 have a round interconnection to allow the revolving back to turn, like the first two below; those for the Technika 4x5 have the standard "rectangular" Graflock attachment, like the bottom two below.

 

[Bayliss]

Which Rollex do you have in mind?

Super Rollex? Like this: https://linhof.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/super-rollex_e.pdf? These were made to fit Graflok/International backs. 4x5ers have a larger mounting plate. I'm not sure whether the 2x3ers were made to fit a 2x3 Linhof back. See below.

Jes' plain Rollex? Like this: https://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/linhof_rollex_rollex.pdf and this https://usedphotopro.com/linhof-rol...or-2x3-cameras-ulf-11-rlx66-4-80625-b42319f9? These were made to fit a 2x3 Linhof back. I don't know whether they were made to fit Graflok/International backs.

Re which back type, ask the seller for a photo of the front of the roll holder. Re size, if the mounting plate is much larger than the "works," 4x5.

Thanks for your response - I was considering either Rollex or Super Rollex, whatever I can find a good price on. I believe Super Rollex backs were made for the 2x3 cameras, I've seen them mentioned in manuals for the 2x3 cameras.

 

[Bayliss]

Yes, the best thing is to take a look at the back: those for the "baby" Technika 2x3 have a round interconnection to allow the revolving back to turn, like the first two below; those for the Technika 4x5 have the standard "rectangular" Graflock attachment, like the bottom two below.

Thanks for your response - ah is it really the case that all Rollex backs with the round flange are made for the 2x3 cameras? I had heard this before but there are so many backs with the round flange advertised online as 'for 4x5' that I thought it must be wrong - see examples below

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

The first is a completely different thing, for 70mm, maybe it attaches directly to 4x5'' by removing the revolving back adapter - however it seems to me that there's a mistake in the ad as it claims the item to have the "international back" while in picture it's quite obvious that it features Linhof's proprietary revolving back. My educated guess is that it's the 2x3 version, but I'm not 100% sure.

The second I would qualify as a wrong ad altogether.

In both cases, I suggest that you steer clear from these sales of weird stuff that it's not what you're actually looking for and/or that appear to contain errors or contradictions.

 

[Bayliss]

The first is a completely different thing, for 70mm, possibly it attaches directly to 4x5'' by removing the revolving back adapter (I really don't know - never owned such an oddity).

The second I would qualify as a wrong ad.

In both cases, why don't you just avoid these sales with weird stuff or that appear to contain errors?

Many listings for Rollex backs on ebay don't specify either 2x3 or 4x5, and the fact that there are several erroneous listings confused me - thank you for clarifying for me though

 

[abruzzi]

Unfortunately, if you want a back for a 2x3 camera, you need to carefully review the auction photos. For some reason ~5 yeas ago, 6x9 backs for 6x9 (2x3) cameras were plentiful, if a little over priced. Today when I look they are few and far between, and priced have increased ~50% over what they were 5 years ago.

I may be wrong, but AFAIK the Super Rollex backs were made in 3 different mounts--4x5 graflok, 6x9/2x3 cameras, and Alpa cameras. Neither the 4x5 or Alpa backs have the circular mounting ring.

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

Sorry Bayliss, I edited a bit my previous post in the meanwhile. I am now quite persuaded that the first ad is indeed for a 2x3 back: wrong description again. In any case, I suppose you're not interested in a 70mm back.

 

[Bayliss]

Unfortunately, if you want a back for a 2x3 camera, you need to carefully review the auction photos. For some reason ~5 yeas ago, 6x9 backs for 6x9 (2x3) cameras were plentiful, if a little over priced. Today when I look they are few and far between, and priced have increased ~50% over what they were 5 years ago.

I may be wrong, but AFAIK the Super Rollex backs were made in 3 different mounts--4x5 graflok, 6x9/2x3 cameras, and Alpa cameras. Neither the 4x5 or Alpa backs have the circular mounting ring.

They don't seem to be too uncommon on ebay, the 2x3 Super Rollex backs seem to be selling for around £100, which is quite a bit - hopefully I can wait around and find one for a bit less though

 

[Bayliss]

Sorry Bayliss, I edited a bit my previous post in the meanwhile. I am now quite persuaded that the first ad is indeed for a 2x3 back: wrong description again. In any case, I suppose you're not interested in a 70mm back.

Ah no problem, thanks again for the info

 

[abruzzi]

They don't seem to be too uncommon on ebay, the 2x3 Super Rollex backs seem to be selling for around £100, which is quite a bit - hopefully I can wait around and find one for a bit less though

You must be seeing things I’m not—maybe sellers that ship to UK but not US. Based on your comment I checked eBay just now. I searched “super rollex”. Hundreds were listed but most were graflok models for 4x5 cameras. There was one in Ukraine for $150 which was the cheapest. Next cheapest was $180. Then there were 3 from one seller each was about $280-$300. Then a Japanese seller had one for about $350. All of these were 6x7/56x72. I much prefer 6x9. The only 6x9 model I found that works on 6x9 cameras was $450.

I have 3 working 6x7 models and 2 6x9. I’ve also run through a lot of cheap ones that didn’t work or had a mismatched insert (i.e. the shell and therefore the the frame opening was 6x9, but the insert was 6x7 so it didn’t pull the film far enough and frames overlapped.) at this point I’m very cautious about cheap ones, because of the number of them I’ve had to return. The last one I bought about a year ago was a black 6x9 and I paid $300. At this point I won’t buy one unless it’s clear the seller is a photographer or a camera store.

 

[Bayliss]

You must be seeing things I’m not—maybe sellers that ship to UK but not US. Based on your comment I checked eBay just now. I searched “super rollex”. Hundreds were listed but most were graflok models for 4x5 cameras. There was one in Ukraine for $150 which was the cheapest. Next cheapest was $180. Then there were 3 from one seller each was about $280-$300. Then a Japanese seller had one for about $350. All of these were 6x7/56x72. I much prefer 6x9. The only 6x9 model I found that works on 6x9 cameras was $450.

I have 3 working 6x7 models and 2 6x9. I’ve also run through a lot of cheap ones that didn’t work or had a mismatched insert (i.e. the shell and therefore the the frame opening was 6x9, but the insert was 6x7 so it didn’t pull the film far enough and frames overlapped.) at this point I’m very cautious about cheap ones, because of the number of them I’ve had to return. The last one I bought about a year ago was a black 6x9 and I paid $300. At this point I won’t buy one unless it’s clear the seller is a photographer or a camera store.

Ah it doesn't seem to bad from where I'm sitting - here are a few sold listings on ebay, one active one, and a couple of backs for sale at a camera place near me, all at around £100. I would like a 6x9 model and those do seem very rare though.

 

[abruzzi]

yeah, I suspest UK (or German) sellers that don't ship to US. You're lucky in that respect, but definitely weed out sellers that seem more like people that found it in a box in their attic. As I said, I've had to deal with a bunch of returns. One german seller I bought two from and both were bad. There are a few good Linhof sellers in the UK, but they're likely to have expensive used backs (or if its Linhof Studio, you can buy a back brand new for only 1600ukp.)