Linhof lens board does not fit to Linhof Master Technika!

[Greg]

On a related side note: I have a 4x5 Chamonix view which takes Linhof lens boards. I had 3 OEM Linhof boards which worked fine on the camera. A year or so ago bought 3 clone Chinese "Linhof" lens boards off EBay and stored them away. Recently I bought a 4th lens for my Charmonix and mounted the lens onto one of the Chinese "Linhof" lens boards. Went to use it on the Chamonix and couldn't mount the lens board onto the front standard. Turns out the circular "dimple" on the rear of the board is roughly a mm wider in diameter, just enough to not let the board mount. Had to grind off the "dimple" in order to use the lens board.

[Bob Salomon]

On a related side note: I have a 4x5 Chamonix view which takes Linhof lens boards. I had 3 OEM Linhof boards which worked fine on the camera. A year or so ago bought 3 clone Chinese "Linhof" lens boards off EBay and stored them away. Recently I bought a 4th lens for my Charmonix and mounted the lens onto one of the Chinese "Linhof" lens boards. Went to use it on the Chamonix and couldn't mount the lens board onto the front standard. Turns out the circular "dimple" on the rear of the board is roughly a mm wider in diameter, just enough to not let the board mount. Had to grind off the "dimple" in order to use the lens board.

Greg, I really don't see how this is related. You are talking basically about a cheap, counterfeit lens board made to a totally different specification, for some reason, then a real Linhof board. Caveat empertor, or however it's spelled. By the way, that round, raised ring on the back of the board is the light trap. So I hope that your girding it does anything to effect its purpose.

[Greg]

Bob,
Found out all to well that: If the price seems too good to be true.....
Greg

[Sal Santamaura]

You have not read the threads that I both started and contributed over the past 15 or so years about this...I hope I don't have to do this explanation again in 10 years.

To paraphrase my favorite bumper sticker from among thousands I've seen over the decades, you'll feel much better when you give up hope. People just refuse to use this resource by searching the archive rather than thinking of it as a chat room. If, in your retirement, you haven't transcended your role as Linhof explainer, expect to repeat this process again and again, in far fewer than ten years.

...clone Chinese "Linhof" lens boards off EBay...

...You are talking basically about a cheap, counterfeit lens board made...

I'm as disgusted with much of the junk coming out of China as anyone. However, I suspect Greg put "Linhof" in quotation marks because the seller neither labeled its product with an alleged Linhof badge nor claimed it was an actual Linhof board. It's not counterfeit. Rather, what's being described is a 'Technika style' lens board.

"You get what you pay for" is an erroneous, invalid expression. A high price is no guarantee of quality or fitness for purpose. The correct phrasing would be "One doesn't get what one doesn't pay for." I strongly advise against knockoffs, especially when buying lens boards, and particularly if considering those coming out of China. While there are some rare examples of quality Chinese manufacturing, they're few and far between. Most inexpensive products originating there are poorly made and, just to ice the cake, frequently contain unsafe substances.

[Tin Can]

I have seen knock-off 'metal' Linhof Style boards crack under load of a LF lens.

Do you trust your expensive lens and shutter on imitation made of 'metal'?

Humidity Dumpty comes to mind.

[RussPhoto]

After close inspection of Linhof Master Technika front standard slot I found two small notches from both sides that was cause of my lens boards fitting well (see pic. with red arrow). Second picture I took of front standard is Linhof 4x5 Color, as you will notice there is no any notch detected and I have never had problems fitting all my lens boards inside of it. I'd like to add that all my Linhof lens boards are originals - not aftermarket. I have few Toyo boards that fits well without any adjustments in both Linhof MP and Linhof Color. I also have Ebony Linhof style lens board that doesn't fit in both cameras, so if you buy Ebony lens boards with intention to use in Linhof camera, they won't fit or will fit with great force.

[roger-wilco-66]

Just for the record, I use new manufactured aluminum Shen Hao boards, which fit well in a Technika V. My front standard looks like the right one of your photos (labeled Linhof 4x5 Color). The lens board has a bit of lateral play (about half a millimeter), but I'm not sure if it is enough that the Shen Hao board would not get blocked if that notch in the MT standard extends beyond the normal dimensions. If it would block and this would be the culprit, this isn't anything a fine file (applied to the lens board :-) ) could not remedy.

Cheers,
Mark

[Bob Salomon]

Just for the record, I use new manufactured aluminum Shen Hao boards, which fit well in a Technika V. My front standard looks like the right one of your photos (labeled Linhof 4x5 Color). The lens board has a bit of lateral play (about half a millimeter), but I'm not sure if it is enough that the Shen Hao board would not get blocked if that notch in the MT standard extends beyond the normal dimensions. If it would block and this would be the culprit, this isn't anything a fine file (applied to the lens board :-) ) could not remedy.

Cheers,
Mark

Mark, the fit issue is with recent Technika, TK cameras made in the past decade or so. Don't confuse the issue by talking about a camera made no later then in 1976. The older cameras are not part of this.

[Greg]

However, I suspect Greg put "Linhof" in quotation marks because the seller neither labeled its product with an alleged Linhof badge nor claimed it was an actual Linhof board. It's not counterfeit. Rather, what's being described is a 'Technika style' lens board.

You are correct the boards were not labeled with any badges. Only description was something in the order of "will fit cameras that take Technika style lens boards". Their finish and visually their machining looked impeccable... unfortunately months later when I actually went to use them, the accuracy of their dimensions left much to be desired. They're history and now only use OEM Chamonix and OEM Linhof boards.

FYI: Chamonix list their lensboards as "Linhof type carbon fiber lens board: $80" They are a bit different from OEM Linhof boards. Both OEM Chamonix and OEM Linhof boards fit the Chamonix 4x5 with equal precision.

Bob, I believe I may have talked with you probably in the 1980s when my Rollei SL66 (+ back, prism, and lens) fell off a Linhof Heavy duty tripod (the Rollei Sl66 Quick Release Plate Tripod Adapter failed) and into a stream. SL66 was repaired and served me well for next 10 years or more.

Greg

[Bob Salomon]

You are correct the boards were not labeled with any badges. Only description was something in the order of "will fit cameras that take Technika style lens boards". Their finish and visually their machining looked impeccable... unfortunately months later when I actually went to use them, the accuracy of their dimensions left much to be desired. They're history and now only use OEM Chamonix and OEM Linhof boards.

FYI: Chamonix list their lensboards as "Linhof type carbon fiber lens board: $80" They are a bit different from OEM Linhof boards. Both OEM Chamonix and OEM Linhof boards fit the Chamonix 4x5 with equal precision.

Bob, I believe I may have talked with you probably in the 1980s when my Rollei SL66 (+ back, prism, and lens) fell off a Linhof Heavy duty tripod (the Rollei Sl66 Quick Release Plate Tripod Adapter failed) and into a stream. SL66 was repaired and served me well for next 10 years or more.

Greg

Greg, yes, that would have been me. Time flys!