Technika 70 lenses?

[Bipin]

Hello,

I've recently acquired a Technika 70 and am looking to buy some lenses for it. Does anyone know which lenses from this system fit inside the body when it is closed? In particular, will the 100/2.8 Planar? I've measured that a 33mm long lens - from the front of the board/rear of the shutter to the filter ring - will fit when closed. Some insight into other lenses within this system would be most appreciated - thanks!

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Nice item! Remind me, can it use 120 film or just70mm size?

 

[Bipin]

Nice item! Remind me, can it use 120 film or just70mm size?

Indeed! I got it for cheap; too good to pass up: It's missing some cosmetic bits on the front, which I'm replacing with 3D prints (works surprisingly well). The rangefinder works perfectly though and focusing is smooth as butter. The camera will take 120, 70mm or cut film depending on the back you use. A Super Rollex is ideal, though slide-in 6x7 backs exist for the mini-graflok standard, which would also work with a spring back.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Fantastic. As for lenses, as I recall, each lens needs a focus cam ground for that lens and possibly camera? At least, that is how the 4x5 Technicas worked. Good luck putting it all together.

 

[GarageBoy]

It uses a cam disc that I'm not sure if anyone will grind anymore

 

[Bipin]

Yes, it does use a triple cam disk. Shouldn't be an issue for me though. I have ground my own cams before with tiny hand files. It's slow, but accurate nevertheless. Brass blanks are also available on Shapeways I think, if anyone is interested!

 

[itsdoable]

I have the planar 100mm f/2.8, super-angulon 65mm f/8, tele-arton 240mm f/5.5, and a mamiya-sekor 50mm f/6.3 that was modified and mounted on a 70 lens board. My cam is only ground for the 100mm.

The 100mm and 65mm will fit in the closed body.

6x9 back on it is awesome.

 

[Bipin]

I have the planar 100mm f/2.8, super-angulon 65mm f/8, tele-arton 240mm f/5.5, and a mamiya-sekor 50mm f/6.3 that was modified and mounted on a 70 lens board. My cam is only ground for the 100mm.

The 100mm and 65mm will fit in the closed body.

6x9 back on it is awesome.

Very nice! I just bought a 100/2.8 from Setadel Studios in Toronto today - I'm excited to use it, and it's nice to know that it will close inside the body. I also have a Mamiya Press lens - a 65mm f/3.5 that I had to grind the filter ring and part of the rear lens' light baffle off of to fit in the camera. It'll close with 0.5mm to spare. Great on 6x7, something amazing on 6x6 with tilt/shift movements! I used a Mamiya Super 23 in the past, so I definitely feel at home with this lens lineup.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

There is still authorized Linhof service, and it should be still possible to have cams ground and the rangefinder calibrated on factory equipment. In the U.S. it's Precision Camera Works in Chicago. I'm not sure if Canada has its own authorized Linhof service, but check the German website at www.linhof.de .

 

[itsdoable]

I've had the Maniya Super 23 as well, the only thing I have left is the 50mm f.6.3 (and a beat up 127mm).

There are a handful of people that can calibrate and grind the rangefinder cam for your lens. My cam is a 65/100/180, so I could get the 65 properly cammed, and the 240mm is probably better served with the ground glass anyways. However, my main use is for the movements, which dictates the ground glass, so I've never got around to getting the 65 cammed. If I don't need movements, I tend to take something a little lighter.

I picked up a Fuji GX680III a few years ago (when their prices were bottomed out), and although a completely different beast, I find it easier to use for movements. Bulkier, but not heavier...

 

[Bipin]

Thanks for the comments David and itsdoable. I'll look into Precision Camera Works as Chicago isn't too far away. There's a place near Toronto as well that supposedly services Linhof equipment. I know they do Leica, but I'm almost positive I saw "Linhof" on their website as well, a few years ago. Their technician is Gerry Smith, although the name of the business itself escapes me. In any case, thanks for the tips!

 

[stawastawa]

Congrats, the 70 is a fun adventure. If you do grind your own cam make a video or show us some pictures. I'd like to maybe grind one in the future.

 

[Bipin]

A bit of an update: I was able to grind a tri-cam, originally cut for an unknown 65mm and 100mm lens, for two new lenses of the same focal lengths: A Zeiss Planar 100/2.8 and a Mamiya 65mm f/3.5 taken from a TLR. I began by securing a ground glass to the inside of my rollfilm back, to confirm I'd be working with the exact film plane as I'd be shooting with. I used a RB67 ground glass with a microprism and split-screen, plus a loupe. Next, I set infinity stops. The lens was positioned so the ground glass was in focus at infinity, while the bed was racked back and forth until the rangeinfder was also in focus. Once both the image and the rangefinder showed the same focus, the infinity stops were secured. I then focused the lens on the ground glass at different distances; 20m, 10m, 5m, 2m. Depending on how far to the left or right the rangefinder image was, I'd file or hammer the cam accordingly (using a ball-peen). Each lens took about 4 hours to properly cam this way. All in all, I'm very happy with the results!

As a quick side note; the Mamiya 65mm f/3.5 will cover 6x7 with a tiny amount of room for movements. It vignettes slightly, but it's nothing too bad. The 65mm also fits inside the camera body when closed. I had to grind off most of the filter rings and 3D print a recessed board for it (using sintered nylon), but it works fabulously. Overall, it gives me a fast, yet compact wide-angle solution: