Linhof on ebay

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arcimboldo

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Thanks, yes i will ask him. But often it seems better to ask different people.
 

wiltw

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The eBay ad title says Linhof Super Technika. Description is written in German, but says in English that the camera may not be shipped to USA! The listing says the camera for sale is specifically 6x9.

A translation of the German description
"Complete equipment, Linhof Super Technika with 65mm, 100mm and 180mm lenses from Rodenstock. 2 roll film cassettes, 6/6 and 6/9 and various accessories in silver case. Pretty hard to ship, therefore the transport price. Photographing like a master in the analogous age! With viewfinder and backlight, the equipment leaves nothing to be desired. (A suitable tripod would be good!)
Happy bidding!"
​
The Super Technika was manufactured in two versions, the normal and the "B" version meant to accommodate the 53mm Biogon. The cameras are identical except for the finder optics, the normal model being designed for the 65mm Angulon and the "B" version having a wider view to accommodate the 53mm. How to tell them apart? the "B" version has an engraved "B" underneath the serial number on the top of the camera. Apparently the 6x9 weighs 4 1/2 lbs and the 4x5 wieghts 6 1/4 lbs respectively.

That camera as Super Technika IV comes in 4x5 form and also in 6x9 form. An article describes these lenses as suited for 6x9:
Zeiss 53 Biogon, 100 Planar and 180 Sonnar.​
but the listing says the lenses that come with it are 65mm, 100mm and 180mm.
 
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AgX

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"Super Technika" refers to the basic construction (field camera with advanced front standard plus rangefinder), not to the format.
 

Dan Fromm

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wiltw said:
The listing says the camera for sale is specifically 6x9.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. You are over interpreting. That the seller offers 6x6 and 6x9 roll holders proves nothing. FWIW, I have a 2x3 Super Rollex roll holder for my 4x5 Cambo.
 

AgX

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But the camera on the photo is a 6x9. (Don't know whether that proofs anything though.)
 
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arcimboldo

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I think its a 6x9, a "little linhof". was there a version iv an v of this model. the bigger technikas label v where often brown, the iv often black. was there sth like this with the 6x9 linhofs. oh, linhof is so confusing.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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It's a Super Technika V 23b, just like mine. Maximum rollfilm format is 6x9. It also takes 2x3" and 6.5x9 cm sheet film holders. Linhof made 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 rollfilm backs for it.
 

wiltw

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Dan Fromm said:
I don't think so. You are over interpreting. That the seller offers 6x6 and 6x9 roll holders proves nothing. FWIW, I have a 2x3 Super Rollex roll holder for my 4x5 Cambo.
Click to expand...


I suppose it is totally meaningless that the posted description in the eBay listing says:

Item specifics
Condition:
Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully ... Read more
Marke: Linhof Technika
Filmformat: 6x9 cm
Modell: Linhof Super Technika Komplett
Filmtyp: 120mm

Are you implying that this might be a 4x5 camera with a 6x9 rollfilm back?
What about the issue, "the camera may not be shipped to USA!"
 

Dan Fromm

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You're right, I misread it, I apologize.

If you go to the shipping and payments tab, you'll see
The seller has not specified a shipping method to United States. Contact the seller and request shipping to your location.
Click to expand...

If anyone in the US wants to buy the camera, it should ask the seller about shipping it here before bidding. I've asked sellers outside the US who didn't state clearly that they'd ship to the US whether they would, have sometimes been asked to stay away but have usually been urged to bid.

Linhof made Super Rollex roll holders in a number of gate sizes -- IIRC, 24x36, perhaps 645, 6x6, 6x7 and 6x9; 6x7 and 6x9 are the most common -- and with mounting plates to fit 2x3 and 4x5 Grafloks and, as shown in the listing, what seems to be a non-Graflok 2x3 Linhof. 4x5 non-Graflok Linhofs too. My Super Rollex has a 6x9 gate and a mounting plate that fits a 4x5 Graflok. Linhof isn't the only firm that made 2x3 roll holders to fit 4x5 Graflok backs and there are even 2x3 insertion type roll holder for 4x5 spring backs. There are also 6x7 roll holders for 4x5 cameras.
 
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arcimboldo

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Thank you for your answers. I am from Germany, so shipping would be no problem.
 
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arcimboldo

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The serial number of the Linhof is
A751050
Is there a way to check the production year? the only advice i found is to contact bob salomon
 
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arcimboldo

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Is there anyone who knows the linhof-number related to the zoom-finder for the technika 23? was there a finder with paralax correction and zoom for different focal lenghts combined with masks for different rollfilm backs (6x6, 6x7, 6x9) or how did the finder work?
 

btaylor

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Yes, a zoom finder with parallax correction, all manual of course. The format is changed using interchangeable masks at the front, IIRC.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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There are two main types of top mounted finders--the Universal finder and the Zoom finder. There were also wire frame finders, but be sure you get both parts--the eyepiece and the wire frame--and that the frame has the right connection to attach to the front standard of your camera.

The Universal finder crops the image as you adjust the subject distance and focal length to show you where the frame is.

The Zoom finder keeps the image size more or less constant and zooms to show where the frame is. This is the later, more expensive option, and there are two main types--the older one with the knurled metal finish and the later one with the rubber rings.

They all come in 2x3", 4x5", and 5x7" versions with masks for smaller formats. If you use a 4x5" finder with a 6x9cm mask and a 2x3" finder with a 6x9cm mask, they will show the same composition, but the image will be smaller to your eye using the 4x5" finder.

2x3" finders are hard to find, and if you find one, it's even harder to find the masks (remember a 4x5"->6x7cm mask is different from a 2x3"->6x7cm mask), so if you go that route and don't find a complete set with all the masks you want, you'll be shopping for years to get the whole thing together.

4x5" and 56x72mm (Linhof's version of 6x7) have the same aspect ratio, so if you shoot that format on the smaller camera, you can use a 4x5" finder with a 4x5" mask and set the focal length on the finder for the analogous 4x5" focal length corresponding to your medium format lens. You'll also find it easier to find masks for 4x5" finders than you will for the 2x3" finder, so you won't have to shop for as many years to complete your kit. That's what I use.
 
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arcimboldo

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Thank you david. Which is the best way to look for a 2x3 finder, are there other names than "linhof 2x3 finder" for example a linhof number? here in germany i never see linhofs in camera shops for used equippment, so the internet will be the best way to find linhof stuff. does linhof still sell old equippment?
btw. who used linhof in the past? was there a typicall application, such as leica m for reportages in the 50s-70s?
 
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arcimboldo

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I found a mask offered as 6,5x9 / 2x3" so this should be the engraving instead of 9x12 / 4x5 ? On the other hand i found a finder with this engraving (see picture). So 2x3 is a short form of 2,25 x 3,25 but was not used by linhof? and the 6,5 x9 masks for the 2,25 x 3,25 finder are marked only as ... / 2x3 ? is this inconsistent?
 

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David A. Goldfarb

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The image shows the engraving on a Linhof 2x3 finder. "2x3" is the nominal term for 2.25x3.25" sheet film, but the actual size of the format can vary with the filmholder. 6.5x9cm is the European sheet film format. The groundglass back can take both sizes of sheet film holder (both holders have the same external dimensions), but the size of the film is different. So this holder should be able to take masks for 2x3", 6.5x9cm, and all the smaller rollfilm formats that Linhof made backs for (6x9, 56x72mm, 6x6, and possibly 645). If you want to use sheet film, use whatever you can get most easily. The masks have to be the right type to fit the viewfinder physically (either the knurled metal type or the type with the rubber ring, depending on which finder it is), and they need to be masks designed for a 23 finder, and not a 4x5" or 5x7" finder.

I don't know the model numbers.

Bob Salomon used to have that information, and might still give it out on the forum at lfphoto.info, but he's retired, and might have better things to do than looking up serial and model numbers for Linhof users. If you're in Germany, I'd contact the factory. They should also be able to tell you whether they have masks for the last version of the finder in stock, or maybe they even have a finder on the shelf, but brace yourself for the price of a new one.
 
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arcimboldo

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There are different masks available for the 2x3 finders. I found a 2x3 finder with a mask labeled as 6x9. Then there are masks for the 2x3 finder labeled as 6x9 and an additional focal lenght (f=270). Are the ones refering to a specific focal length for non-zooming finders?
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Could you post some links? Zoom and Universal finders should cover a range of focal lengths. Single focal length finders are probably for other cameras, like the Technorama, though I don't know if, say, the 612 Technorama has a 6x9 mode.
 
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arcimboldo

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David Lindquist

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I came to this thread late. Bob Salomon still provides build dates for Linhof based on the serial number on the largeformatphotography forum. He evidently kept a copy of this information when he retired. While he can answer questions about specific serial numbers (not just age, but also the model) he cannot make the whole "list" available. Also occasionally a serial number will be too new for him to have the information.
David
 
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