Nikkor 360/500 on Linhof Technika?

[mfohl]

Hello Folks, I have seen references to a Nikkor 360/500 lens, and a Nikkor 360/500/720 lens. Much discussion in one thread. But I didn't see anything about bellows draw. Can I use either of those with the Technika? What is the bellows draws of those lenses at infinity?

Thanks in advance, Folks. Your wisdom may cost or save me some dough … :)

-- Mark

[Dan Fromm]

Mark, the first post in this https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?138978-Where-to-look-for-information-on-LF-(mainly)-lenses discussion is a link to a list of links to sources of information useful to LF photographers. It includes links to two Nikon LF lenses catalogs. The answer you want is in them. Go look.

[mfohl]

Thanks for this, Dan. There is certainly a boat load of information there. I was not able to find anything about the convertible Nikkor lenses, 360/500 and 360/500/720. And for the lenses there, I saw nothing about bellows draw. Often, the bellows draw is the focal length. But with some "tele" lenses, the bellows draw is actually less than the focal length.

[Sal Santamaura]

Go to pages 9 and 10 here


http://www.kennethleegallery.com/pdf/Nikkor_LargeFormatLenses.pdf

and compare the flange focal distance of Nikkor-T combinations to available Technika bellows extension. That will provide definite answers with respect to infinity focus and a good feel for closer subject distances.

[Dan Fromm]

Mark, flange focal distance is on the data pages. That's what you need to know.

[mfohl]

Thanks, Dan. I don't know all the terminology.

[Bob Salomon]

Thanks, Dan. I don't know all the terminology.

Distance from the back plate of the shutter to the film at infinity.

[Dan Fromm]

Thanks, Dan. I don't know all the terminology.

Understandable. The LF photographer dialect of English has a large vocabulary that takes a while to learn.

[Gary Beasley]

I would imagine you would need a top hat lens board to even get started with one of those lenses on a Technika.

[Mark Sampson]

IIRC, Linhof offered a 360mm Schneider telephoto lens (Tele-Xenar?) for the Technika. I'lll suggest that the 360 Nikkor will be usable, but the 500 will be too long. My own experience with the 500/11, many years ago, also suggests that you would want a more rigid camera than a Technika stretched to its limits.

[Corran]

I have the Nikkor 360 / 500 / 720 telephoto set, and both a Linhof IV and Master Technika.

I use them on a tophat board. The 360 and 500 work fine on my Technikas. The 720mm doesn't. You have to extend the back all the way to use the 500mm, which can be a bit awkward.

[Greg]

I use a 500mm f/7 Komura tele lens on my 4x5 Chamonix all the time, and the wooden Chamonix is no wheres near as rigid as a metal Technika. Tripod head is an overkill to begin with. Once I compose the shot, I attach a slightly modified Manfrotto Long Lens camera support from the front tripod leg up to the front of the camera. Sometimes, well actually most of the time, the image on the GG has to be recomposed by a little bit after the Manfrotto support is "locked" in place. The support is not stressing the front bed of the Chamonix (would be easy to do) but is supporting it. Even on a windy day, the whole thing is amazingly solid.

[Corran]

PS: Here's a complete set with multiple extensions and "boards" for Copal 0, 1, and 3:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luland-Linhof-Lens-Board-4-5in-99-96mm-Convex-board-Extension-Tube-Wista-NEW/183126114765

What I have is a single tube and #1 "board" - would have liked to have bought this one instead, but it wasn't available back when I bought an extension board like 8 years ago. I have no experience from this seller but I have heard good things, and this seems like an excellent value. Shipping from China, so may take a bit of time.

[Greg]

I have no experience from this seller but I have heard good things, and this seems like an excellent value. Shipping from China, so may take a bit of time.

For the past year I have used a Luland Produced CNC Technical 3D Large Format Camera Tripod Head 100mm TH-100 with my whole plate and 8x10 Chamonix cameras. The head is very well made and the machining on it quite impressive.

[Bob Salomon]

PS: Here's a complete set with multiple extensions and "boards" for Copal 0, 1, and 3:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luland-Linhof-Lens-Board-4-5in-99-96mm-Convex-board-Extension-Tube-Wista-NEW/183126114765

What I have is a single tube and #1 "board" - would have liked to have bought this one instead, but it wasn't available back when I bought an extension board like 8 years ago. I have no experience from this seller but I have heard good things, and this seems like an excellent value. Shipping from China, so may take a bit of time.

Wista has been making that type of board for decades and also offers a 32mm extension ring if you need more extension.

[Corran]

I am well aware. Many companies do - mine was made by Ebony. Here's the Wista:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/63471-REG/Wista_214522_Extended_Lensboard_for_1.html

The Luland board is cheaper and already comes with multiple extension rings and different size shutter hole pieces. It's a no-brainer.

[Bob Salomon]

I am well aware. Many companies do - mine was made by Ebony. Here's the Wista:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/63471-REG/Wista_214522_Extended_Lensboard_for_1.html

The Luland board is cheaper and already comes with multiple extension rings and different size shutter hole pieces. It's a no-brainer.
So does Wista’s. But you checked the wrong board.

[Corran]

So does Wista's what?

The listing on B&H seems to be for a lensboard with 6mm extension and a Copal 1 plate. That's it. The eBay link has all the accessories you could possibly want for less money. Seems like a good deal.

[Bob Salomon]

So does Wista's what?

The listing on B&H seems to be for a lensboard with 6mm extension and a Copal 1 plate. That's it. The eBay link has all the accessories you could possibly want for less money. Seems like a good deal.

Check the accessories.

https://www.wista.co.jp/e_wista/e_show/e_acces/e_acces2/e_acces2.htm

[Corran]

Bob

I'm talking about what is FOR SALE on B&H! Please read a bit more carefully.

[Bob Salomon]

Bob

I'm talking about what is FOR SALE on B&H! Please read a bit more carefully.

You can order this from any camera store, including B&H.
Just because they don’t list everything doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Or you can just go to the bottom of this page from the distributor.

http://www.omegabrandess.com/products/Wista

Note, there are two different versions, one specifically for the Technika that locks to prevent long, heavy lenses from coming off the front standard.

[Corran]

Assuming this is the product that would include all of the accessories (it doesn't mention extension pieces), the Luland is looking pretty good:

http://www.omegabrandess.com/products/Wista/214569

It's a wonder how anyone expects to sell this stuff with no listings, no pictures, a vague / non-existent description, and an enormous price.

[Greg]

Assuming this is the product that would include all of the accessories (it doesn't mention extension pieces), the Luland is looking pretty good:

http://www.omegabrandess.com/products/Wista/214569

It's a wonder how anyone expects to sell this stuff with no listings, no pictures, a vague / non-existent description, and an enormous price.

Have dealt with omegabrandess.com in the past and can recommend them 100% I'd give them a call to see exactly what they are selling... but the Luland, I agree, looks pretty darn good.

[Bob Salomon]

Assuming this is the product that would include all of the accessories (it doesn't mention extension pieces), the Luland is looking pretty good:

http://www.omegabrandess.com/products/Wista/214569

It's a wonder how anyone expects to sell this stuff with no listings, no pictures, a vague / non-existent description, and an enormous price.

It comes with a built in tube and two extension tubes and 0, 1 and 3 adapter rings.

Why it is or isn’t pictured and listed isn’t my concern anymore. It certainly was when we were the distributor. But we sold all of our inventory and gave all the files and glossies to Omega when we closed almost 5 years ago. What they have done since is their business, not mine.
B&H charges for listings on their site. So Omega might not wanted to pay.

When we were still distributing Rollei B&H developed their first catalog. They tried to bill us over $50,000.00 for the listings that they decided to put in the catalog for Heliopan, Kaiser, Linhof, Rodenstock, Wista, Braun, Gepe, Berlebach. We didn’t.
They also charge for display space in their store.
So don’t be surprised that everything from every manufacturer and distributor isn’t shown or listed there. But all is available there. You just have to ask them.

[Corran]

That's all well and good but 95% of the folks looking online for an "extension lens board" will find the few listings on B&H (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Lensboards/ci/99/N/4077634610?filters=fct_lensboard-type_5744%3Aextended-lensboards) and figure that's what's available. Omega is not mentioned at all so the lay person will have no idea they can find something more comprehensive on a different site, though again the information is sparse.

Meanwhile cheap versions of the same thing available from China immediately come up in Google searches via eBay. I've used lens boards from various sellers in China and have no qualms with them, Luland is probably similar. I'm not sure what the point of bringing up Wista was. Sinar, Ebony, Toyo, and a host of other companies make/made similar products.

Heck you can get one on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Extension-Linhof-Technika-ShenHao-Chamonix/dp/B01MXXZZUP

For the OP or others, regarding the actual question:

Measure the total bellows draw or look up the spec, and see how much more you need for the 500mm Nikkor to reach infinity. You'll probably want a tophat that reaches farther than that, since you likely want to be able to focus a bit closer than infinity. An option with multiple "rings" to extend the board more or less is a great option.

[GG12]

Interesting. Is the recessed lens mount 4544 still made? And does it use a Tecnica board style?