technika or technikardan

[Jarvman]

Just wondering what the advantages of having a monorail camera over a folding field camera are. Do the technikas have back movements and also what applications are they used for? I'm just getting started on LF and don't know much about the operation of the cameras. Cheers

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The Technikardan has more flexible movements, so it can work easily as a studio camera for still life, for architectural subjects, with wide lenses, and it folds compactly, so it works in the field as well. Jack Dykinga uses a Technikardan.

The Technika offers the attraction of a rangefinder, so it works as a press camera or for portraits in the studio (so you can focus with a filmholder ready to shoot), and it is self-casing, so it's more protected in the field than a Technikardan. It has back movements and generally very good movements, so there is little view camera work you couldn't do with a Technika, but you might have to think about it a little more than you would with a monorail. You have rear swing and tilt, front rise, shift, swing and tilt. So if you need front drop, you might turn the camera sideways, rotate the back, and use the front shift for front drop or you might mount the camera upside down (which is easy to do) and the rise becomes fall. If you are shooting a still life and need to keep the lens in a certain place and want rear shift, you need to move the camera and use front shift. Wide lenses are a bit awkward with a Technika, compared to a monorail, but if you don't need the rangefinder, the Tech 2000 and 3000 work better with wide lenses. John Sexton uses a Technika.

 

[RobC]

If you are a landscape photographer and will only rarely use the camera in a studio, then the technika is a better option unless you want to use very wide lenses. The Technikardan which I have, is better for wide angle lenses and also has a longer extension for macro work. The technika only focuses on the front standard. The technikardan needs the bellows protecting in transit or they can easily be removed whereas the technika is largely self protecting.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I use my Tech V more in the field and even handheld. For still life, I like my Sinar P. While I think the Technika is the most versatile camera I have, there's no camera that does everything perfectly, and it might be better to think of having a few of them for different purposes.

 

[msage]

I agree with what has been posted here. The technic is less connivent with short lens (65mm or 75mm) then most monorails. The Technic IV that I have has bellows that are not completely IR lightproof. I get fog using HIE with the technic, but not with my Wista. Both cameras are fine with Maco IR820.

One way I was taugh was that the front movements control plane of focus and the back movements control distortion or the shape of the image.
Michael

Just wondering what the advantages of having a monorail camera over a folding field camera are. Do the technikas have back movements and also what applications are they used for? I'm just getting started on LF and don't know much about the operation of the cameras. Cheers

 

[Michael Kadillak]

There is considerable information on this subject that you can review in detail at your descretion. Since I own one of each camera I have a short answer for you.

If architecture (interior or exterior) is a dominant theme in your photography and you tend to favor short or long focal length lenses then I would recommend the TK45S

If you are a landscape photographer that stays in the reasonably normal range of lenses and can afford the Technika, then I would recommend the Technika.

Both are marvelously engineered and investments that last a lifetime.

Cheers!

 

[Jarvman]

If you are a landscape photographer that stays in the reasonably normal range of lenses and can afford the Technika, then I would recommend the Technika.

This sounds more my ticket

Thanks again for the advice people

 

[35mmDelux]

both fantastic cameras. The TK45 has more movements than the Technika. The Technika is easier to transport and sets up faster. It comes down to what you plan to use them. I decided to keep the Technika MT and sold my TK45s. Landscapes and portraits do not require extensive movements. With a greater budget I would have kept them both.

 

[gary mulder]

I totally agree with previous posts. Just one additional remark: if you are still in the learning curve towards using movement the technika is, as already stated, not always straight forward. In this case you could consider a cheap monorail camera as a learner but I am convinced that for a landscape photographer the Technika could be called the ultimum tool.