Linhof Tech V - Rangefinder Removal

[shicks5319]

I love my Tech V, but I want to take the range finder off for weight and compactness. I have never focused with it and can't imagine any circumstance where I'd miss it.

Anyone here done that? Have any words of advice about removing the rangefinder?

Thanks

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

You could send it to Marflex and have it done properly. They can remove all the parts associated with the rangefinder and put a cover plate and new leatherette piece on the side.

That said, I think it would be better to have one of your lenses cammed, if you don't have any cammed lenses, and see what the rangefinder can do for you. I shoot handheld press style with the rangefinder, use it for portraits so I can check focus with a filmholder on the back, and to check focus in landscape situations in low light or with a wide lens where it may be hard to check focus accurately on the groundglass. When I'm traveling, I like being able to go between press style and view camera style shooting with one camera, and having all my shots in the same format, which adds to the formal unity of the work, even if the techniques are otherwise different.

The downsides are that removing the rangefinder isn't going to save that much weight (I suspect around 2-3 oz.), and it will reduce the value of the camera, should you decide to sell it in the future. If you really want a rangefinderless Technika, better to buy a MT 2000 or 3000 (maybe the advent of the 3000 will drive down the price on the 2000 on the used market), and get the added wideangle functionality in exchange for the rangefinder.

 

[eddym]

I'm with David. I have a 180 Symmar S lens with cam for my Tech V, and it is great for portraits or just quick shots that do not require movements. I would not remove the rangefinder, even if I did not have a cammed lens.

 

[shicks5319]

Handheld 4X5

Thanks guys for responding. I have to admit that I have never tried hand holding a 4X5. All the press work from the past not withstanding, the prospect seems a little daunting to me.

Do you folks find that you can make sharp images hand holding such a large camera?

 

[shicks5319]

Handheld 4X5

David, I went over to your website and saw some of the images you created withe the Tech V handheld. VERY impressive. That must take a lot of practice.

What kind of flash do you use with this camera?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

With any camera, you'll get a sharper image by using a tripod, but some kinds of shots just can't be gotten easily with a tripod, and if a tripod causes you to leave the camera at home, then you can't shoot anything.

These are handheld with flash, Weegee-style, so that's one approach--

http://www.echonyc.com/~goldfarb/photo/halloween/index.htm

These were shots that should have been taken with a tripod, but I was just casually walking around with the Technika without being particularly on a photographic expedition, and if I had to carry a tripod, the camera would have stayed at home--

Handheld with 6x7 back--

Also, remember the rangefinder is still useful with a tripod for portraits or any kind of action where you want to focus and have film in the back at the same time.

I've even done a little impromptu bird photography (large, relatively approachable birds) with a cammed 360/5.5 Tele-Xenar and rollfilm back. The limiting factor there is the slow max shutter speed, but if you're shooting something like herons or waterfowl, they can hold still.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

For handheld flash work, I usually use a Norman 200C setup with an LH2 or LH3b head. The Halloween shots were with a GVI Vari-Strobe head and the Norman pack, but that head futzed out a few months ago after a long hard life. I use it on a simple Norman bracket. Stratos makes some brackets that should work with a Tech as well.

 

[dslater]

With any camera, you'll get a sharper image by using a tripod, but some kinds of shots just can't be gotten easily with a tripod, and if a tripod causes you to leave the camera at home, then you can't shoot anything.

These are handheld with flash, Weegee-style, so that's one approach--

http://www.echonyc.com/~goldfarb/photo/halloween/index.htm

These were shots that should have been taken with a tripod, but I was just casually walking around with the Technika without being particularly on a photographic expedition, and if I had to carry a tripod, the camera would have stayed at home--

Handheld with 6x7 back--

Also, remember the rangefinder is still useful with a tripod for portraits or any kind of action where you want to focus and have film in the back at the same time.

I've even done a little impromptu bird photography (large, relatively approachable birds) with a cammed 360/5.5 Tele-Xenar and rollfilm back. The limiting factor there is the slow max shutter speed, but if you're shooting something like herons or waterfowl, they can hold still.

Hi David,
can you give some info on lens used and shutter speed for these images? Also, have you ever tried using a monopod with your LF camera?
Dan

 

[Roger Hicks]

Do you folks find that you can make sharp images hand holding such a large camera?

Yes, because the degree of magnification of the final image is so small as compared with smaller formats. This is how press men used to get away with 1/10 and 1/5 second exposures with 5 inch or 135mm lenses. The biggest problem I found with my last hand-held 4x5 (MPP with 150/4.5 Apo-Lanthar, which I cammed myself from a blank supplied by the MPP Owners' Club) was usually depth of field. Well, that and the occasional light leak, but I didn't worry about that as I was aiming for a 'vintage snapshot' look. There are some hand-held Polaroid Sepias (with visible light leaks) at
http://www.rogerandfrances.com/sgallery/g sepia 2.html

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The flash shots were all with a 210mm/5.6 Symmar convertible at f:8 or f:5.6, 1/15 sec. just to catch some ambient light and motion at night. The flash freezes the subject.

For ambient handheld shots, I usually try to be around 1/250 sec, but I'll go slower if I need the DOF or in low light. I like selective focus, so short DOF is usually part of the look for me. It's a big camera, but the rules are the same as with a smaller camera, and you have the mass of the camera and relatively low vibration leaf shutter in your favor.

The chess table was with a 150/4.5 Xenar. The underpass was probably the 135/3.5 Planar.

 

[eddym]

Thanks guys for responding. I have to admit that I have never tried hand holding a 4X5. All the press work from the past not withstanding, the prospect seems a little daunting to me.

Do you folks find that you can make sharp images hand holding such a large camera?

I have shot the Tech V handheld (or monopod-held!), but rarely do so. But when taking portraits with the camera on tripod, it's much easier and faster to use with a rangefinder and multifocus viewer than having to duck under a dark cloth, focus, come out into the light, close the lens, insert a filmholder, pull the darkslide, and hope the subject has not moved much!

 

[shicks5319]

Portraits with Tech V

I guess if I were to leave the rangefinder on this camera, it would be for the purpose of portraiture. I currently shoot people with either MF or 35mm only because of the focusing problems on a moving subject.

This discussion has encouraged me to give it a try.


Thanks everyone for taking the time on this.