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geesbert
18-Oct-2008, 12:34
i just managed to acquire a really cheap linhof 679 (no CC nor CS) to use with my new Leaf AFI 7 back.

I have very little experience with LF cameras, so i have a few questions:

*how essential is a sliding adapter? I thought i would get one, but my dealer said he wouldn't recommend it, as they are not precise enough and wear out quickly, which doesn't help precision either. he said Life View is much better

* is a hasselblad finder a decent solution or should i go for the bellows loupe?

* my main use for this camera is food photography, so i am getting close, but nor really close, something like 5:1 to 2:1. should i get a macro lens or a regular one?

* what is the widest lens in real life applications that can be used on this camera? is 35mm really an option, especially as i have the simple version without shift at the standarts? i do have a wide bellows.

all help appreciated

Stefan

http://www.randlkofer.com

nelson_chan
19-Oct-2008, 13:49
Check out these links. People that write for lum love their digital back view cameras.
They are nice. Kapture Group makes a really nice stitch/sliding adapter for the Linhof. It is also half the price of Linhof's adapter back. I once had a Linhof 679 CC in hopes of shooting digi view work, but much prefer 8x10 film. I hope this helps.

http://luminous-landscape.com/essays/digital-view.shtml
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/digital-ebony.shtml
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/counting-ants.shtml
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/digital-view.shtml

Bob Salomon
19-Oct-2008, 14:28
Stefan,

Your dealer is delusional or has no experience. We have sold the Linhof sliding back adapters ever since it became available for the original M679. That is several different models over the years. None have ever been reported to us or to the Linhof service center in the USA as not being precise enough and none have "worn out".

The Hasselblad loupe is sufficient but you need to be aware that Linhof changed the ground glass adapters for the 679 cameras two or three years ago. The original gg adapter backs had two slots and four metal studs. The gg fit in the slot closest to the lens and the fresnel fit the rear slot and the focusing bellows attached to the four studs.

Now the gg adapters have three slots and no studs. The gg and frenel still fit the first two slots and the current focus bellows fits the last slot. The current focus bellows does not fit the older version.

To tell them apart the current version sliding backs, gg screens and focusing accessories have an S suffix after the number. The older versions do not have the S. They are not interchangeable so you must get the proper versions.

Our experience is that the Linhof sliding backs are more precise then the third party ones and are sized properly so that when extreme wide angles, like the 28mm Apo Sironar Digital HR are used they focus to infinity with the correct lensboard.

The lens that is optimized for your application is the 120mm Apo Sironar Macro Digital lens.

The widest lens is the new 23mm Rodenstock digital lens introduced at Photokina last month. Both of the new Rodenstock digital lenses (23 and 40mm) and the M679cs and the new Linhof Techno digital field camera will be at our booth at the Javits show next week along with factory representatives from both Linhof and Rodenstock. Booth 254 and 155.

Bob Salomon
19-Oct-2008, 14:29
Just noticed that you are in Germany so you probably will not be at the show next week. Hope you got to see these items at Photokina last month.

geesbert
20-Oct-2008, 00:30
hi Bob

Thanks for the information. Actually my Studio is about 5km from the Linhof factory, but before i go there i wanted to get real life experience, thus my questions.

I've seen the current camera with sliding adapter at photokina, where i decided to get the m679cs, but then someone offered me a 679 with three lenses (not digital), wide bellows, ground glass, systainer, the whole RZ film and pola setup and a few more goodies for 1500€. and it hasn't fallen off a truck, he is the original owner.

the 120mm macro was my choice too, thanks for the confirmation.

i have not decided about the sliding adapter, i guess in the beginning i try without, but as I see it, it will be on my next shopping list...