Linhof Super Technika III 6x9 lens focus with 180mm lens

[Dan McCabe]

At 73 I have been a photographer, analog camera repairman and collector for over 50 years so I am not new to this. However I am recently new to Linhof Technika. I have acquired a Linhof Super Technika III with the typical 3 lenses, 65,105 and 180, with both a 6x6 and 6x9 backs. The 105mm lens focuses accurately at infinity, to the ground glass, to the rangefinder and to film when set to second detented infinity stop on the rails and with the cam set for 105. The 65mm also focuses accurately once everything is set up for that lens. I do realize the lens cams have no affect on ground glass focus. When I use the 180mm lens set to the third furthest out detent setting on the rails it will not reach infinity on the ground glass until I release the front lens standard and move it back off the detents about 1/16 inch or 1 mm from the detent holes. I have thought about just drilling new detent holes at the location where it focuses to infinity but something does not seem right . I have tried two good Schneider Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 180mm f5.5 lenses on this with the same results. Can anyone shed any light on this or had this happen to them. Thanks

 

[reddesert]

I think on the Technika III the detents (infinity stops) are hand filed notches into the rail that are specific to the lenses in use. If your outfit was originally together then maybe someone filed the notch for the 180 wrong, as unlikely as that seems, or there is some way you don't have the rail in the correct position; and if not original, then maybe the notch is just slightly inappropriate for the lens and board you have.

The official line is that if you don't have a factory matched set of body, cams, and lenses, that the Technika III has to be calibrated by a tech to have the RF focus correctly with the cams, etc. But it sounds like you're capable of dealing with all the focus calibration issues - check it at infinity and some shorter distance, make sure the ground glass is in the right way around, etc.

 

[xya]

I have a pre-II from 1936. same thing, the stops are filed or drilled. apparently you know what you do, so just file a new stop. that will be a bigger stop with 2 ends, the old and the new. so you don't lose anything.

just my of curiosity: does the 180mm match the production date of the camera?

 

[Dan McCabe]

Thanks guys for your help! This Technika has holes in the rail for the infinity stop detent balls. I went ahead and drilled new holes in the rails when the 180 lens was precisely focused on the ground glass. I now use this position for this 180mm lens and this works perfectly. No, this lens did not come with this camera. I am so excited about butting this camera to use and getting back in the darkroom. Thanks again, Dan

 

[Dan McCabe]

Using, not butting this camera!

 

[c t b]

I one day want to get one of these

 

[lobitar]

The problem may perhaps most likely be someone has removed or added a washer between the shutter and the lens panel. Do not mess with the drilled stops in the rails, but fix it with the appropriate washers, if possible. Good luck with this great camera.

 

[abruzzi]

The problem may perhaps most likely be someone has removed or added a washer between the shutter and the lens panel. Do not mess with the drilled stops in the rails, but fix it with the appropriate washers, if possible. Good luck with this great camera.

This is a good point. My Xenotar 105mm works perfectly, and when I was temporarily removing it from the lens board, there were several washers adding up to about 1.5mm, that placed the lens perfectly at infinity.