What the hell is with the linhof technika

[Pupfish]

The only thing I've ever done to my Tech V is replace the bellows.

I briefly considered one before I bought my first Meridian. But then I discovered Linhof bellows for a Technika typically cost more than entire cameras or systems.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

[...]But then I discovered Linhof bellows for a Technika typically cost more than entire cameras or systems.

<*/gasp\*>

 

[Sirius Glass]

The Linhof was a huge version of a Leica or Exakta, which was light years ahead of the Graphic shutter band. It was only 2 big curtains, smaller and self closing and simple to use, as it attempted to repeal a few laws of phyics. It jammed in damp conditions, at the sight of model, a timely critical moment and/or, your paying customer.

 

[Pupfish]

Poisson, I take that as sarcasm, and that's okay. I actually find the prospect of spending $500 for bellows more like an absurdity, myself. Instead of buying just a bellows, I'd rather have that beautiful Sinar Norma (with a couple of sets of bellows) that went for about the same money a couple of weeks back. Or either of my Meridians, just about the same bucks, neither of which needs bellows because they're synthetic instead of leather (60 years old and going strong).

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

You can get a new Technika bellows for a lot less than the Linhof price from Custom Bellows UK, and it might in fact be the same bellows, since they have a long history of making bellows for other manufacturers, and they certainly have the Linhof patterns on file.