A less expensive Linhof
Nobody's mentioned the Technika III. They can be acquired at a much lower price, and of course have more limitations, but for general use when extreme movements aren't likely to be needed, they are great. It has the back movements, front rise and shift, but no forward tilt. You can get forward tilt by dropping the bed and using the rise and rear tilt to adjust for what you need. The rear movements and the front rise are the most important; if I needed fancier movements, I'd break out the Cambo. The III is built like a tank and stands up really well under the heaviest use. For me, that's essential.
I had one for a long time and used it a LOT, even though the rise was worn and I had to clamp it in place when using it much out of straight on normal. I had recovered it myself in brown leather, and made several lensboards for it myself, the one for a 90 mm angulon having an image of my eyes photo-etched into it using circuit board resists. The III has only one cam, but that's all I needed, because the cam matched the 127 ektar, the only lens I needed to use with the RF. I usually used it on the tripod, for landscape and architecture.
I really don't consider the Technika to be a press camera at all. I suppose it has been used that way, but why use a camera with so many capabilities for a single, limited purpose? Now, of course, the function of the press camera is performed by the digital slr.
My III was stolen in a breach of confidence. I've often been tempted to publish the name of the guy who stole it but I suppose I could get into some sort of trouble, so I don't.
I've missed it and have been looking to replace it, but I found a technika 70 which is now on the way to me. Since I'm older than I was when I was so often packing the III around, and strangely, getting older every day, it ocurred to me that 120 rollfilm ought to be just fine. The camera coming has the roll back but lacks the standard ground glass one. I'll want to replace that because the rangefinder doesn't help much when you use the movements.
The Linhof is really a lightweight compared to my OTHER camera - the Kodak 8x10 Master View. That thing will keep any floor from floating out into space.
Nobody's mentioned the Technika III. They can be acquired at a much lower price, and of course have more limitations, but for general use when extreme movements aren't likely to be needed, they are great. It has the back movements, front rise and shift, but no forward tilt. You can get forward tilt by dropping the bed and using the rise and rear tilt to adjust for what you need. The rear movements and the front rise are the most important; if I needed fancier movements, I'd break out the Cambo. The III is built like a tank and stands up really well under the heaviest use. For me, that's essential.
I had one for a long time and used it a LOT, even though the rise was worn and I had to clamp it in place when using it much out of straight on normal. I had recovered it myself in brown leather, and made several lensboards for it myself, the one for a 90 mm angulon having an image of my eyes photo-etched into it using circuit board resists. The III has only one cam, but that's all I needed, because the cam matched the 127 ektar, the only lens I needed to use with the RF. I usually used it on the tripod, for landscape and architecture.
I really don't consider the Technika to be a press camera at all. I suppose it has been used that way, but why use a camera with so many capabilities for a single, limited purpose? Now, of course, the function of the press camera is performed by the digital slr.
My III was stolen in a breach of confidence. I've often been tempted to publish the name of the guy who stole it but I suppose I could get into some sort of trouble, so I don't.
I've missed it and have been looking to replace it, but I found a technika 70 which is now on the way to me. Since I'm older than I was when I was so often packing the III around, and strangely, getting older every day, it ocurred to me that 120 rollfilm ought to be just fine. The camera coming has the roll back but lacks the standard ground glass one. I'll want to replace that because the rangefinder doesn't help much when you use the movements.
The Linhof is really a lightweight compared to my OTHER camera - the Kodak 8x10 Master View. That thing will keep any floor from floating out into space.