View Full Version : Linhof Technika III with Fujinon 90mm f/5.6
Hey all,
I recently purchased a Fujinon 90mm f/5.6 for my Linhof Technika III. Much to my surprise, the diameter of the rear element is a few millimeters bigger than the hole in the front standard. Anyone with a Technika III have a similar lens they recommend? I'm currently shooting night scenes in my neighborhood I Los Angeles so I'm looking for lenses fast enough to focus in the dark.
Thanks!
I shoot slower lenses on my Tek III in LA at night also, but there's usually enough light in the city at night to barely see enough to focus and frame once your eyes adjust... Washing your GG + fresnel helps a little, or getting a brighter screen helps, but note the III screens are a specific thickness and generic screens may not focus at the same point as your film plane, so you need one that matches that distance in camera... Make sure if you take apart screen assembly to wash that everything goes back in exactly as when you started... Dishwashing liquid + running water is fine, but note lines on GG might wash off...
Lens can be used, but with the inconvenience of removing rear element, putting lens on camera, removing back, then screwing on rear inside camera... (Tedious, and don't fumble anything!!!)
I'm using a SA 90mm/f8 and I can barely see through it wide open, or use the optical finder to see where the edges end up... After awhile, it kinda happens by feel...
And go to Harbor Fright to buy one of those ultra super bright LED flashlights to help you see/focus at night...
Good luck!!!
Steve K
FYI, the rear diameter of the Rodenstock 90 4.5 Grandagon-N is 70mm.
According to a Horseman catalog, the LF Topcor 90/5.6 by Horseman has a removable protection ring at the back to enable the lens to be used on the Horseman FA etc. (About 66mm.)
Bernice Loui
7-Aug-2021, 09:20
Camera imposes HARD limits on what lenses could be used. Or why image goals first, then lenses needed to achieve these image goals, then camera no greater than third in this priority list.
An alternative to the 90mm f5.6 Fujinon or similar f5.6 wide angle lens would be the Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm f6.8 has a rear element diameter of 60mm, should just fit.
This is one of the fixed-given trade-offs of the Linhof Technika lens board. Yes, they are small, they impose a hard limit on what lenses can be used.
If the largest aperture 90mm lens is a must, two lenses fit this requirement. 90mm f4.5 SW Nikkor (Nikon) or 90mm f4.5 Grandagon (Rodenstock). Either lens
has sufficient image circle and optical performance to work on 4x5 at f4.5, both will demand a different camera due to the diameter of the rear element.
Bernice
Hey all,
I recently purchased a Fujinon 90mm f/5.6 for my Linhof Technika III. Much to my surprise, the diameter of the rear element is a few millimeters bigger than the hole in the front standard. Anyone with a Technika III have a similar lens they recommend? I'm currently shooting night scenes in my neighborhood I Los Angeles so I'm looking for lenses fast enough to focus in the dark.
Thanks!
Chauncey Walden
7-Aug-2021, 09:37
I don't suppose putting it through on the diagonal and letting it drop down then would work?
Sean Mac
7-Aug-2021, 11:09
I have a Technika iii standard with a 70.8mm hole for reference.
The hole in a Technika iv is 84mm wide.
My wide angle for the Technika is a 100/6.3 Wide Field Ektar.
They are tiny compared to the Grandagon 90/6.8 but it's possible to run out of image circle quite easily.
:)
I don't suppose putting it through on the diagonal and letting it drop down then would work?Unfortunately it doesn't. The circular hole in the front standard is just too small. I'll try to post a picture so poor people like me don't make the same mistake I did!
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Thanks for the measurements Sean. I was looking at the lens cap for the rear element on the Fujinon 90mm f 5.6 and it said 80mm for the rear cap. Way to big for the Technika III.
Camera imposes HARD limits on what lenses could be used. Or why image goals first, then lenses needed to achieve these image goals, then camera no greater than third in this priority list.
An alternative to the 90mm f5.6 Fujinon or similar f5.6 wide angle lens would be the Rodenstock Grandagon 90mm f6.8 has a rear element diameter of 60mm, should just fit.
This is one of the fixed-given trade-offs of the Linhof Technika lens board. Yes, they are small, they impose a hard limit on what lenses can be used.
If the largest aperture 90mm lens is a must, two lenses fit this requirement. 90mm f4.5 SW Nikkor (Nikon) or 90mm f4.5 Grandagon (Rodenstock). Either lens
has sufficient image circle and optical performance to work on 4x5 at f4.5, both will demand a different camera due to the diameter of the rear element.
Bernice
Thanks Bernice, I'll check out the Rodenstock f6.8.
FYI, the rear diameter of the Rodenstock 90 4.5 Grandagon-N is 70mm.
According to a Horseman catalog, the LF Topcor 90/5.6 by Horseman has a removable protection ring at the back to enable the lens to be used on the Horseman FA etc. (About 66mm.)
Interesting. That should fit!
ic-racer
8-Aug-2021, 14:34
The Horseman/Topcor lens elements are identical to a Caltar, but only the Horseman version has the special rear housing that allows it to fit through a small front standard.
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If Sean Mac's camera is the same as yours then problem solved.
BTW, 90/4.5 lenses marked Caltar II -N have the same specs. (This is from a Calumet catalog 1995-1996. ) But, because Calumet sourced its lenses from more than one maker over the years, I would verify the rear diameter before purchasing.
Sean Mac
8-Aug-2021, 17:04
If Sean Mac's camera is the same as yours then problem solved.
I made the measurement from an earlier style of Technika iii front standard.
The type with the folding wire frame viewfinder.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1657/25260496263_917a04ca98_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/EubDtD)Linhof Technika III-Mod1 1949 (https://flic.kr/p/EubDtD) by xipho68 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/xipho68/), auf Flickr
Technika III Mod 1 by Xipho
It would be no harm to check the camera in question.
Murphy may have a German cousin ...:rolleyes:
Bob Salomon
8-Aug-2021, 17:11
I made the measurement from an earlier style of Technika iii front standard.
The type with the folding wire frame viewfinder.
All Technika lll cameras, regardless of age, have the same size hole in the front standard and all accent the same type boards.
It would be no harm to check the camera in question.
Murphy may have a German cousin ...:rolleyes:
Sean Mac
8-Aug-2021, 17:57
"All Technika lll cameras, regardless of age, have the same size hole in the front standard and all accept the same type boards."
Hi Bob,
it's good to have things confirmed by an expert....
:)
I've measured and confirmed the same measurement. I have that same wire finder but don't use it because I also have the adjustable focal length finder which suits my needs better. My bubble level is clear white and not red. Red gives it a nice Darth Vader look! I think mine is the last generation of the Tech III. Some of the smaller components do look different. Thanks so much for your help!
"All Technika lll cameras, regardless of age, have the same size hole in the front standard and all accept the same type boards."
Hi Bob,
it's good to have things confirmed by an expert....
:)
There are 3 or 4 slight variations on the III boards... One is slightly thicker, other has a small notch on bottom center edge, and other variations that will not let these work on entire series... Good news is sometimes with slight filing, they can be adapted to other types...
The other good news is these flat boards can be made from flat aluminium with not much trouble...
Another thing to watch for is on front of front standard, is the yoke on bottom and sides leaves limited space for operating shutter controls, cable connections, ideal position of scales etc... But there's usually one less than ideal position to mount where you can operate everything... (Cable release has to go upward, and then see where the levers and scale pointers end up...)
But not impossible... (Sometimes...)
Steve K
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