Linhof 2x3's...what are they like?

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 23, 2015

Dan Fromm said:
Typo or mental slip? I just checked my Boyer fiches techniques for Beryls (Boyer's version of the Dagor). Beryls were sold as separable, single cells' focal lengths are ~ 1.7x the pair's focal length.

Thanks, Dan--mental slip. I shouldn't be posting on my phone in bed before the first coffee.

Pioneer · Jun 23, 2015

I am curious. What are the advantages to 2x3 sheet film over 120 roll film. I do have a nice little 2x3 Graphic but have never used it.

Also, how do you develop it, in a tray?

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 23, 2015

The Linhofs can use sheet film (6.5x9cm or 2x3") or rollfilm backs.

I find I use sheet film when I want the option of processing individual sheets separately or I just want to shoot one or two shots. Sheets also stay nice and flat and are easy to manage from an organizational perspective. I don't have a 6x9 back for my 2x3" camera, just 6x7 (three of them), so I also might use sheet film for a more panoramic format.

Depending on how many sheets I have to process, I can use tanks and hangers, the Nikor sheet film tank, or 5x7" trays.

Also, the Linhof rollfilm backs are quite bulky, so it's somewhat more comfortable to use the camera handheld with Grafmatics or double-sided sheet film holders.

The advantages of rollfilm are that there are more film types available, ease of processing, and easier/quicker handling for more high-volume shooting situations.

ZenziFriend · Jun 30, 2015

my Technika III 6x9 came yesterday, 1954, with 105 xenar and 65 Angulon cammed, lens shade for the Xenar, Rollex 6x9. Not film tested yet, but mechanically everything works except the RF distance scale.
RF works , but has a little offset, there should be an correction screw beneath the leatherette so I will fix it soon, I hope.
Ground glass is perfectly aligned for the lenses at infinity stop.

Camera has not been used a lot, also according to the accompanied Selen Meters it was amateur hand, and maybe not used for a long time... Bellows seems very good, but not star tested yet. But I have a NOS spare Bellows anyway.

maybe a first film will be in today...

Just building a Compur 1 plate for my Busch Glyptar 4.5/150 (tessar), plate is amde out of a plastic dustbin (ala curver), fits and is light tight, but with prototype 1 the rear screw of the lens does not fit into the hole of the camera, so I glue the thick screw ring to the plate and mount the lens there....

So i have 150 mm, and I have some 135mm double anastigmats that i can test if a use of the rear element as ca 250mm lenses do any good...

Absolutely nice and well made camera, best craftmanship! Hope it will survive me...

Camera came with a german 1954 full price list, so if anyone needs old prices (DM) for Linhof, I can help...

Christiaan Phleger · Jul 4, 2015

How much was your kit in the old prices then?

Nokton48 · Jul 4, 2015

Pioneer said:
I am curious. What are the advantages to 2x3 sheet film over 120 roll film. I do have a nice little 2x3 Graphic but have never used it.

Also, how do you develop it, in a tray?

I shoot 2x3" in my three Plaubel Makiflexes. It's fun, great when you have lots of time and want single exposures. Much less to carry around than 4x5 or 9x12cm. When working quickly I switch to roll film. Freestyle has Arista 100 & 400 sheet film in 2x3" at really good prices.

I found a Honeywell Nikor insert for 2x3" sheet film, it fits in a standard 120 Nikor Film Tank. Holds 12 sheets at a time. It works well.

Also fits 6.5x9cm film.

ZenziFriend · Jul 4, 2015

RidingWaves said:
How much was your kit in the old prices then?

Technika 6x9 980 DM
camming the lenses : free
105 Xenar Compur COMX 159 DM
65 Angulon Compur COMX 138 DM
(Tele Xenar 180 259) dont have it
Rollex 6x9 160 DM
3 Filters a 12 DM
shade 42 mm 29 DM
each lens plate : 6 DM

Linhof kg Präzisions-Kamera-Werke, München
"Vertretungen und Musterlager in allen Kulturstaaten der Welt"

all Prices German Price list 12/54 4.20 DM = 1 USD $

in 1955 a standard VW Beetle was 3790 DM!
So the normal set was half price of a new car!

Arklatexian · Jul 4, 2015

puketronic said:
I'm interested in a Linhof 2x3 (Tech III/IV) but they seem not too popular.

1. How is the viewfinder/rangefinder? With brightlines? Is it clear or is it very dim?
2. What is the close-focus limit for the rangefinder? If it matters on which lens, then I am thinking of the normal lens?
3. I assume that the backs are fixed and do not rotate?

I think you are correct when you call this camera a medium format. It is the film size that determines what the camera is, not the camera and over the years that has changed. When my pre WW2 2x3 Speed Graphic was manufactured it was called a Minature Speed Graphic as were all 2x3 cameras of that era. 35mm cameras were just becoming used by a few photographers and were advertised as sub-minature cameras. Minox was being developed about that time and when they came out people called them "spy" cameras. As to processing the 2x3 sheet film, I have always had fewer problems developing this size in "daylight" tanks than I have with 4x5. Except, of course, for the large Jobo tanks designed for 4x5, 5x7, 8x10. Now I am going into a corner somewhere where I shall be consumed with envy toward you and your "Baby Linhof".....Regards!

ZenziFriend · Jul 5, 2015

I think the viewfinder is large and bright enough. Close focus with the viewfinder is quite good, less than 1 meter. You have a manual parallax compensation.

For sure you can rotate the back! it might be a MF, but its a Linhof!
Back can be rotated at any time, its light sealed...Later when the sun and the 38 degrees C left here in Germany I will develop the films from today.

Hope I can handle the film transportation now (overlap), and did also some macro testing, also with reversed tessar.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 5, 2015

My Tech V 23b has separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows, like the 4x5" versions. I use the later style zoom finder, which has a manual parallax adjustment, but works fairly well. I've also used the older style finder, which crops the image in the finder, rather than zooming it. You can also get a wire-frame finder. With a normal lens, the rangefinder is accurate to about 3 feet, maybe 2.5 feet with a wide lens, and 5 feet with a long lens. Outside the limits of the rangefinder, you can use the groundglass, which is also necessary if you plan to use the camera movements.

The 2x3" Tech III has a different system, using a top-mounted rangefinder with viewfinder masks. I haven't used that system.

The back on any Linhof technical camera rotates, tilts and swings.

ZenziFriend · Jul 5, 2015

with the 105 Xenar the coupling distance is 0.5 meter.
The wievfidner has 0.5 magnification for 105 mm

Neil Poulsen · Jul 6, 2015

I had a Tech for a number of years. It was my first view camera, and it was versatile. I had three cam'd lenses: 65mm Angulon, 105mm Zeiss Tessar, and a 180mm Tele Arton.

I rarely used the range finder, always preferring to use it as a VC and focusing on the GG. Had plenty of extension, suitable for my purposes. A slick camera and very solid build quality. On a few occasions, I used the camera hand held and focused through the RF. Worked fine, and the images came out sharp.

My most serious misgiving with the camera is its inability to use wide angle lenses with any degree of rise. As I recall, the 65mm interfered with the housing on any significant rise, and a 75mm would interfere with the viewfinder. Also, lens boards were hard to find. So, I sold it through a (pre-EBay) Shutterbug ad and bought a Deardorff 5x7 with both a 4x5 and 5x7 back. But, I had a great time with the camera, while I owned it.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 6, 2015

The Tech V 23b has a flap on the top of the body like the 4x5" Master Technika, so you can get more rise with a wide lens.

ZenziFriend · Jul 24, 2015

Now my Super Technika III 6x9 (23) is complete. I got the missing rangefinder mask (there were some availible in ebay Germany), have a nice set of lenses and three original lens plates "Zero" and two "One" as well as a selfmade version of a "two"

Lenses for the rangefinder are:
- original Angulon 65
- 105 Xenar

(the heliar 4.5/105 also seems to work with the 105 in reasonable accuracy according to first tests)

As a long lens I have the faboulous Rodenstock Apo-Ronar 9/240 which I can focus down to 1.5m, with fantastic results...

other lenses to play with:
-4.5/150 Busch Glyptar (Tessar) in Compur 2
-several 4.5/135 Tessar Type or double anastigmats, (Compur 1) best of the da is a Dialyte tpye Schneider Isconar DA with quite stunning performance.
-some 105 mm from the collection, like Sonnar, Tessar, Skopar (all tessars), also Isconar DA and a 1949 Zeiss Jena T 3.5/105 and a Teaasr 4.5/120

ZenziFriend · Feb 10, 2016

Camera works great. Handheld work wirh the Xenar 105 is easy, and ground glass photography with the other lenses too.

I have a nice Schneider Componon-S 150 in a modern Compur1 shutter, very good as a macro and for me also suitable for long range....

I also have a procuedure that I can get the pictures with the rollex without overlaps.
I use thicker spools (homemade or old Agfa Wooden spools) and I set the film numbers by hand while pressing the knob on the magazine, as using auto stop does not work with modern films.

ZenziFriend · Feb 18, 2016

Now I have upgraded the camera with a Super Rollex 56x72 magazine (a lot faster than the rolleex in handling) an a Schneider Symmar-S 5.6/150 in a very modern compur, for maximum shift and tilt, as the standard Xenar 105 does not cover enough area for movements..

Anyone here who is also using a Baby Technika? (or other 6x9 (23) technicql field camera?

mnemosyne · Feb 18, 2016

I am using Japanese Baby Technika clones, a Horseman VH and also a VH-R (VH plus rangefinder). Nice cameras and lenses but they definitely lack the "aura" of the Technikas!

ZenziFriend · Feb 18, 2016

mnemosyne said:
I am using Japanese Baby Technika clones, a Horseman VH and also a VH-R (VH plus rangefinder). Nice cameras and lenses but they definitely lack the "aura" of the Technikas!

Hi, do you have some photos of this cameras....?
They are nonexisting here in Germany, Linhof ruled the market...

Do they have Topcon lenses?

mnemosyne · Feb 19, 2016

ZenziFriend said:
Hi, do you have some photos of this cameras....?
They are nonexisting here in Germany, Linhof ruled the market...
Do they have Topcon lenses?

I may be wrong, but my impression was that Topcor, Topcon and Horseman are just different brand names from the same company, so one could say they had their own house brand of lenses, yes. Horsemans do pop up from time to time on German Ebay or Ebay classifieds, but you are right that they had little presence here in Linhof land. I bought my VH-R as a complete set with three lenses and all kinds of accessories for a reasonable price from Adorama. Later I added the VH and more lenses and stuff when I traveled to Japan. As you can imagine they are much more available over there and the prices are sometimes almost ridiculously low given that these are really high quality cameras. For someone in Europe that wants to buy a Horseman system, the best chance would be Ebay.com where lots of Japanese photo dealers list their offers. For some reason, searching Ebay.de with the item location "worldwide" option does NOT work to find these offers! The prices are mostly reasonable, but a good bit higher than what you would expect to pay on site in Japan. I bought my VH in very good condition (perfect bellows!) from a small 2nd hand photo dealer in Kobe for as little as 20,000 Yen, which is around 160 Euros or so.
Regarding photos, I have a PDF version of a massive Horseman catalog from their heydays in the late 1980s that lists all the contemporary Horseman models, accessories, lenses for 6x9 and also LF (4x5/8x10) with lots of technical info and also pictures of course. Just drop me a PM.

ZenziFriend · Feb 19, 2016

Horseman is aown company, but had a cooperation with Tokyp Kugaku for Lf cameras.
topcon and Topcor ar ethe brand names for cameras and lenses from tokyp kogaku (tokyo optical)
Now the company is named topcon, but the are no longer in camera business, but still in optical devices (theodolites)

ZenziFriend · Feb 20, 2016

the screws for adjusting the rangefinder of the Model III

It is easy, remove the letherette besides the viewfinder, then adjust the ground glass to Focus a medium range obcet, and adust the screw until the rangefinder is correct...

Adjusting a Technika Rangefinder by xipho68, auf Flickr

Linhof 2x3's...what are they like?

David A. Goldfarb

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Pioneer

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ZenziFriend

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Neil Poulsen

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mnemosyne

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Linhof 2x3's...what are they like?

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