Technika - a few things of interest...

f/λ · Oct 5, 2014

Hello everybody,

currently I am investigating the possibility of getting my hands on a Linhof Technika (4x5 - 5x7). Given that there is a host of them, a few questions that came up during the process. Maybe somebody is able to help out.

1. I see that there has been a range of Technika models over time. The first one that is similar to the modern version is, AFAIK, the Technika III. It seems to be available at relatively moderate prices over FleaBay and other such sources, and due to that güd german engineering, usually in sufficiently well preserved condition. Is there any downside apart from age that might come up during use? Is there something that would justify investing in a later model, such as the Technika V?

2. The Technika III has been available in a 18x13 model (5x7 in less enlightened units). As I would not mind the extra size and weight, are there any downsides to that model? The issue of getting larger film than 4x5 is known to me, but from a mechnical point of view, they seem similar.

3. The ground glass hood of the Technika is sadly of the leather variety. Are there full metal hoods available, or do I have to stick to leather hoods?

Thans in advance yours truly

Chromatic aberration

Oren Grad · Oct 5, 2014

This will fill in some of the details for you, particularly re your question 1:

https://www.cameraquest.com/techs.htm

gone · Oct 5, 2014

I'm going to give you my 2 cents on this, even though it's not exactly what you asked. Those cameras are over engineered, over weight, and over priced. I guarantee that you could take one and have a shoot out w/ a Graflex Crown Graphic w/ an Ektar lens and never see the difference in the images (except that if you get a good one, the Ektar will be sharper).

If you want one for the superb fit, finish, and status (whatever the last may be worth), then that's one thing. But having done exactly what I suggested w/ my Crown Graphic and a friend's Linhof w/ slide film, we came to the conclusion that it was a better idea to just go w/ the Graflex, and put the considerable difference in money into a LOT of film. Or, into a used car w/ a good trunk lock to tote the thing. My friend was extremely upset that he couldn't tell which shot was taken w/ which camera. Total cost of my setup w/ a 203 Ektar and Star D tripod = around $280. That didn't come close to what he paid just for his Symmar lens. Would the Heligon have made a noticeable difference? Permit me to doubt.

I decided after that landscape shooting excursion in the American Southwest that LF was too slow for my style, but when you get those 4x5 chromes back from the lab, wow. Few things in photography are as impressive as LF slides on a light table.

f/λ · Oct 5, 2014

As you might have guessed from the snarky remark regarding units, I am not based in the USA. This means Graflexes are far and few between. Over here, they sell for basically the same as Linhofs, if they ever sell. Buying and having it sent overseas is not really an option, given import and shipping charges. Apart from that, 50 year old wooden frames are not exactly my taste.

Further contributions welcome!

Greetings

Chromatic aberration

Oren Grad · Oct 5, 2014

f/λ said:
This means Graflexes are far and few between.

Graflex != Graphic. They are very different cameras - Graflex is a big SLR, Speed/Crown Graphic is a folding press camera, often with a rangefinder. I imagine you meant the latter, but it helps to be careful with the terminology, or you're likely to waste some energy sorting out confusion.

f/λ said:
Over here, they sell for basically the same as Linhofs, if they ever sell. Buying and having it sent overseas is not really an option, given import and shipping charges.

Technikas come in a wide range of prices. If you really want to use the rangefinder, a V or Master, which is likely to be more expensive than a Speed or Crown even outside the US, might be the best choice. OTOH, if you don't want to use the rangefinder, a wooden field camera will offer more flexibility for less weight. But if you don't mind the limitations of a Technika and want a metal camera, a III in good condition might be a decent, economical choice.

f/λ said:
Apart from that, 50 year old wooden frames are not exactly my taste.

Graphics are very sturdy cameras, not like many folding wooden field cameras you may have seen. I'm much more worried banging my Technika around than my Graphics. That said, if you want to use a rangefinder camera that's designed to readily interchange a range of focal lengths while maintaining RF coupling*, a Technika is the way to go. If you're sticking to a single RF-coupled focal length, I'd say it's a wash - you can set up a Graphic for any FL that's reasonably near normal, though the Technika will certainly be more refined in construction.

*EDIT: I should have added, though, if you really want a complete Technika set with several cammed (RF-coupled) lenses, it's going to cost you.

Anyway, if you have your heart set on a Technika - no excuses needed, we all have our subjective preferences - do take a look at Stephen Gandy's page that I linked above. That will give you a good orientation on the model variations and why you might prefer one over another.

cowanw · Oct 5, 2014

There is a difference in the lensboards a III takes. Perhaps, you might look into the availability or makeability of the style you will need.
As to units, I am unclear from the wording of your post which is the less enlightened unit.
Although, I see you use commas, the absence of which, in the snarky phrase, probably, means the inch is less enlightened.
While arguably true, regarding enlightenment, the two film sizes are in fact not interchangeable; 5x7 film may tend to be to small for an 18x13 holder.
This may impact your choice, depending on the film you can purchase.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 5, 2014

As mentioned above, III lensboards are harder to find than lensboards for the IV/V/Master.

If you don't need the rangefinder, as Oren says, an older model isn't such a problem. I even had an old Tech II, and it was a great lightweight field camera with all the rear movements of the later Technikas as well as geared front shift and rise and front tilts, and the lensboards were simple to make. If you can afford it and don't need the rangefinder, consider a Master Tech 2000 or 3000, which is better at handling wide lenses and uses readily available IV/V/Master lensboards.

If you do need the rangefinder, look for a IV/V/Master. The V and Master have a zeroed groundglass, so they can use interchangeable cams and lenses, but this is not as advantageous as it might seem. There are not so many used lenses with V/Master cams available, and if you are going to have your own lenses cammed by Linhof service, then you probably want to send them the camera anyway, to check the rangefinder and groundglass calibration and set up the infinity stops properly. While you can set your own infinity stops, Linhof can do things like shim your lenses to share infinity stops (for instance, with the top rail retracted to the -1 position, a 90mm lens can use the same stop as a 150mm lens, or a 75mm lens can share a stop with a 135mm lens). So if you're sending it for service anyway, it doesn't matter so much whether the lenses and cams are interchangeable with other Technikas, unless you own a backup Technika body.

The Master has a flap on the top to allow for more rise that can be used with a few ultrawide lenses in the range of 72-90mm. If you don't plan to own one of these lenses of the latest design, then you won't have the coverage to take advantage of this feature.

AgX · Oct 5, 2014

momus said:
I'm going to give you my 2 cents on this, even though it's not exactly what you asked. Those cameras are over engineered, over weight, and over priced. I guarantee that you could take one and have a shoot out w/ a Graflex Crown Graphic w/ an Ektar lens and never see the difference in the images (except that if you get a good one, the Ektar will be sharper).

You may be comparing apples to oranges. At least the advanced Technikas were not only intended as reporter and field cameras, but also as cameras for technical studio work.
Thus their movable back and their advanced front standard.

A most versatile camera obviously got its drawbacks due to this.

RalphLambrecht · Oct 6, 2014

f/λ said:
Hello everybody,

currently I am investigating the possibility of getting my hands on a Linhof Technika (4x5 - 5x7). Given that there is a host of them, a few questions that came up during the process. Maybe somebody is able to help out.

1. I see that there has been a range of Technika models over time. The first one that is similar to the modern version is, AFAIK, the Technika III. It seems to be available at relatively moderate prices over FleaBay and other such sources, and due to that güd german engineering, usually in sufficiently well preserved condition. Is there any downside apart from age that might come up during use? Is there something that would justify investing in a later model, such as the Technika V?

2. The Technika III has been available in a 18x13 model (5x7 in less enlightened units). As I would not mind the extra size and weight, are there any downsides to that model? The issue of getting larger film than 4x5 is known to me, but from a mechnical point of view, they seem similar.

3. The ground glass hood of the Technika is sadly of the leather variety. Are there full metal hoods available, or do I have to stick to leather hoods?

Thans in advance yours truly

Chromatic aberration

I don't see what's bad about the leather hood but ,I bought a metal hood from Linhof for mt Technikardan.Hold on to your wallet .Linhof is dangerous to your financial well being.

f/λ · Oct 6, 2014

Thanks so far, 2 of 3 answered.

Anybody got anything with respect to the 13x18 Technikas?

Greets

DREW WILEY · Oct 6, 2014

Where are you going to find the film and filmholders? You might contact Bob S. at HP Marketing, as to at what point, if any, 13x18 cameras
could accept 5x7 holders. Old Technika 5x7's are very different from the Super Technika 5x7, which is rather uncommon and a downright clumsy behemoth. The old III's even in 4x5 can be difficult to find parts for. Most of the improvements came with the Super, hence the dramatic climb in resale prices at this point onward. It befuddles me why anyone would even want a later 5x7 Technika - it's one of the least ergo cameras out there, unlike its 4x5 and 6x9 cousins. Technical cameras in general are a compromise between view cameras and press cameras, though in this category, Technikas are beautifully made and comparatively durable, but can be rather expensive to repair when they do need it.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 6, 2014

I think filmholders are interchangeable between 13x18cm and 5x7" cameras, like 9x12cm and 4x5" or 6.5x9cm and 2x3", but the film slots inside are different, no?

The attraction of one of these cameras, I think, would be for portraits, so you get a big neg with a conventional shutter that synchs to studio strobes, but you have rangefinder focusing and a parallax corrected viewfinder, so you can check focus and framing while you have a filmholder in the back, ready to shoot.

That said, I know Ole Tjugen has taken his into the field and used it handheld.

f/λ · Oct 6, 2014

13x18 sheet film is still available, so no problem here, even if they don't accept 5x7. I will shoot mostly 4x5, with 13x18 giving me a bit of headroom for "special needs" scenery. Repair is not an issue either, I have a veteran of the force practically around the corner, and then there is Linhof themselves. Regarding the supposed clumsiness of the camera, I cannot quite follow.

Anybody got any technical input on the 13x18 models?

DREW WILEY · Oct 6, 2014

I know the modern plastic Lisco and Fidelity 13X18 holders had the same outside dimensions as their 5x7 ones, though you can't interchange the
film sizes per se due to differing slot dimensions. But per clumsiness, I was referring to the Super Technika. Just get ahold of one and you'll understand. It's a heavy beast and I can't imagine anyone wishing to use it in the field as a technical camera, given the range of far more ergonic and portable 5x7's out there. Weighs more than my 8x10. Plenty of people use 4x5 Technikas in the field.

newsbabe345 · Oct 6, 2014

A 5x7 tech. especially the version V is simply a larger version of the 4x5. Coupled rangefinder is useful luxury even in the studio, and yes you can use it handheld as a press camera.

The V has a neat secondary focus gearing for use with very wide lenses and a handy bail-style back.

There are few or no downsides; with the prices of sheet film even Linhof gear pricing seems reasonable.

DREW WILEY · Oct 7, 2014

I was under the impression that the 5x7's also used a different lensboard from 4x5's. The helical gearing of Technickas and also Horseman tech
cameras is awfully nice and smooth compared to the usual. But at long extensions they sure don't balance as well on a tripod as monorails. One
more reason I have every reason to call the Technika 5x7 a comparative clunker, though a wonderfully made one.

resummerfield · Oct 7, 2014

DREW WILEY said:
I was under the impression that the 5x7's also used a different lensboard from 4x5's....

Yes, that is true. But you can get adapters to fit the smaller boards.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 7, 2014

On my 4x5" Technika, I've got two Arca-Swiss-type plates oriented fore-and-aft, one on the body and a long one on the bed, so that I can slide the camera from one plate to the other in a long clamp, keeping the camera balanced at any extension, no matter what I've got on the front or the back. It also works as an ersatz macro rail in a pinch. The same should work on a 5x7".

DREW WILEY · Oct 8, 2014

Yeah, a sliding plate would do it. I've machined those from time to time for certain rigs. My older brother was a Technika addict (and salesman at one point), while I cut my teeth on the Sinar system; so excuse my prejudices. Just food for thought. There are pros and cons to each kind of
system and how it handles in given applications.

resummerfield · Oct 8, 2014

David A. Goldfarb said:
On my 4x5" Technika, I've got two Arca-Swiss-type plates oriented fore-and-aft, one on the body and a long one on the bed, so that I can slide the camera from one plate to the other in a long clamp, keeping the camera balanced at any extension, no matter what I've got on the front or the back. It also works as an ersatz macro rail in a pinch. The same should work on a 5x7".

Yes, it does work on a 5x7 Technika. If you put a spacer on the forward plate (on the door) to match the height of the plate on the body, you an slide the camera the full length on an Arca-Swiss clamp for perfect balance of any lens. My spacer was about 1/4".

Technika - a few things of interest...

f/λ

Oren Grad

gone

f/λ

Oren Grad

cowanw

David A. Goldfarb

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AgX

RalphLambrecht

f/λ

DREW WILEY

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f/λ

DREW WILEY

newsbabe345

DREW WILEY

resummerfield

David A. Goldfarb

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resummerfield

Technika - a few things of interest...

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