linhof aero press questions.

i ahve seen a few of these areo press linhofs go on ebay and they look really interesting. The infi i have seen on the lenses seem to say that they are really sharp, but what does that mean? sharper than zeiss lens for hassy? Also they all use 70mm cine rollex back, do you think one could adapt a 120 back on one of these? i think one of the pistol grips rotates to advance the film, obviously that could not be saved. I guess i am looking fo rgeneral advice or experience with these camera. They just look so awesome and i need some help deciding on getting one or not.

I think they have a standard Linhof international back that works with Graflok-type backs and conventional filmholders. There were a few lens sets for these cameras, but I think they were just conventional LF lenses in helical mounts. There were Zeiss lenses for the Aero.

If you wish to use a camera for general purpose photography then I would recommend the Technika Press Seventy. As is recall they offered two set of frame lines: 53, 80, 180 or 65,100, 180 All of the sets that I have ever seen for sale were the 53, 80, 180 versions. The most common were a 53mm Biogon, 80mm Planar, 180mm Sonnar. I have seen individual cameras offered with 100mm Planar. The lens providers were Schneider and Zeiss. The shutters were very similar to Hasselblad C Compur shutters. The quality of mechanics and optics were of a very high order.

Given the vintage of the lenses I believe that the Zeiss lens would be best from both design and quality control.

These are very hard to find,very expensive and finding parts parts would be a nightmare.

The quality of the viewfinder was even more advanced than Leca's in that it offered automatic correction for reduction of field at close focussing distance.

You would do yourself a favor by getting a Mamiya 7 and forgetting these exotic cameras.