Linhof 6x9 Ground Glass Back

[wjlapier]

I purchased a rough looking Linhof Super Tech ( IV? ) 6x9 camera with no ground glass back. I plan to restore it. I found a back for a reasonable price but the owner says it's for 4x5 ( looks 6x9 to me )--it's the back with the circular ridge. I read that not all ground glass backs with the circular ridge are compatible. Some have a thicker ridge that won't allow the back to mount flush with the camera and the groove is too shallow. Anyway to know for sure if this back will fit my camera? What should I look for or ask about? I'm in the US and the back is in Europe so I'd like the back to fit and not worry about sending it back.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Linhof Technika 4x5” and 2x3” backs both have a circular mount and rotate, but they are different sizes. Measuring the rear plate, a 4x5” back is 158mm square. A 2x3” back is 123mm square. If the groundglass is 4x5”, then it’s a 4x5” back, though there is a rare 2x3” back for the 4x5” camera.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Unfortunately, my 2x3” Tech V is in the shop right now, so I can’t post an image of the groundglass back, but I have a 2x3” rollfilm back on hand, which has the same rear plate as the groundglass back. The back on the left is a 4x5” groundglass back for a 4x5” Tech IV/V/MT/2000/3000. The back in the center is a 2x3” groundglass back for a 4x5” Tech IV/V/MT/2000/3000. The back on the right is a 6x7cm rollfilm back for a 2x3” Tech IV/V. I’m not sure that these backs will fit earlier cameras like the Tech III.

 

[wjlapier]

This is the one I'm referring to:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Linhof-Ground-glass-back-with-viewing-hood-circular-rear-mount/362904350678

 

[itsdoable]

This is the one I'm referring to:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Linhof-Ground-glass-back-with-viewing-hood-circular-rear-mount/362904350678

That one looks very similar to my Technika 70 ground-glass back, along with the same focal length lenses on the chart (except mine has a 100mm). Those focal lengths are for 6x9, so that is probably not a 4x5. You can ask the seller to measure the diameter of the flange.

Mine has tan leatherette to match the Technika 70. I don't have a Super Technika IV, so I don't know if they are compatible.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Based on the DOF table, I'd guess it's 6x9.

 

[wjlapier]

The DOF does table suggest 6x9 to me too. Anything to the thicker ridge I read about?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I can’t tell from the photo if the flange is different from the 2x3” Tech IV/V/70 flange, but the seller can confirm the format by looking at the measurement which is printed on the edge of the groundglass, just out of legible range in the photo.

You might try and search on the net to see whether 2x3” backs are interchangeable between the Tech III and later models and if you don’t get an answer, ask BobS, who used to be a rep for Linhof and knows such things.

 

[Dan Pavel]

Based on the squares on the GG and the DOF table it should be a 6x9 back.

 

[abruzzi]

You might try and search on the net to see whether 2x3” backs are interchangeable between the Tech III and later models and if you don’t get an answer, ask BobS, who used to be a rep for Linhof and knows such things.

I’m performing a similar search. I’m looking at buying a baby Tech III, with a GG back, but I want to fit a roll film back. There is not much in the way of clear info on these on the web, though I have come across some forum discussion that suggest that newer backs fit the Tech III. And maybe the Tech V has issues with the early backs.

To the OP, I’d suggest broadening your search to Rollex and Super Rollex backs, because that is where I have encountered much of the discussion of fit between Tech versions.