Given a Linhof Technika 4x5...lots of questions

[Washington Bob]

Hi Everybody,
I am new to this forum and after lurking about for months I decided to try my hand at LF photography. I have been using 35mm and 120 film for many years but this is my first time with LF.

I was recently gifted with a used Linhof Technika 4x5..serial number #63217. Can someone tell me when this camera was made?

It came in an old heavy metal bound case along with the following items:

Komura 500mm f7 lens in a Copal-No. 3 shutter/Technika lens board

Schneider-Kreuznach APO-Symmar f5.6 210mm lens in a Copal #1 shutter and Wista lens board

Schneider-Kreuznach Agulon f6.8/90mm Linhof branded with Sychro-Compur shutter in a recessed looking Linhof lens board

white anatomical grip

Polaroid 545i back

Linhof Super Rolex 6x7 rollfilm back

riteway cut film holders

changing bag/Hama 10x loupe/shutter cable/extra Wista lens boards/filters

I am not new to photography as It has been a lifelong hobby to me but I really feel like the new kid on the block with this LF gear.

I would sincerely appreciate it if someone could point me to a book or books about Linhof cameras and how they operate. No owners manual with this setup.

It was well used by a local photographer for many years and I consider it a true treasure. I look forward to learning how to make it take wonderful photos again.

I will be an active member on this forum and hope I will have something to contribute in the future. In the meantime I have much to learn. Anyone that can tell me about this camera, it's lenses, the accessory backs will be most helpful.

I am looking at this forum and on the net for this info but I feel that folks that use LF gear and love it will be my best resource.

Any and all help most appreciated by this new LF photographer. Thankyou all so much.

from the foothills of Mt. Rainier,
Washington Bob

[Steve Hamley]

Interesting articles hare:

http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm

Ask Bob Salomon for when it was made:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=9975

Welcome to the forum.

Cheers, Steve

[Brian Ellis]

Go to the home page for this forum, scroll down to "Camera Reviews," click on it. Then scroll down to "Linhof Technika 4x5 IV." Click on it. You'll then see links to an owners manual for a 4x5 Technika III and a Technika IV that Q.T. posted. If you have a Technika IV, V, or Master you can at least get started with that owner's manual, the operation of the Technikas didn't change very much from those three models. IIIs are a good bit different.

So your first step will be to figure out which model you have if you don't already know. I'm sure Bob Salomon can tell you the model if you give him the serial number. But for quick starters, look at the color of the leatherette that covers the camera. If it's black you probably have a III, if it's light brown a IV, and gray a V. Theoretically black could also mean a Master but given your other gear I doubt that you have a Master. And there were some Vs that came in black (I had one) but they were relatively rare.

Technikas are great cameras. I've owned quite a few 4x5s and the Tech V and the Master that I owned were my favorites.

[Bob Salomon]

1957 IV

Does that roll film holder have lever or knob wind?

[Frank Petronio]

You are very lucky, that is a great outfit, I like the original owner's lens selection too, I bet that 500mm is pretty cool. It's as capable as any new gear out there, no compromises.

If you can afford to have it looked over and serviced, the Linhof service center for the USA is:

Marflex
Martin Arndt
work 1-252-652-4401
work marflex@aol.com
117 Anchorage Rd.
Havelock NC 28532

And they are excellent, but like everything Linhof, you pay for quality. But I bet he could clean, adjust, and check it all over for you for a reasonable amount, and he is completely honest and will give you options, not force you into spending more than you want to.

Have fun!

[Washington Bob]

Hi Everyone,
Thankyou so much for your replys...they have been most helpful.

The roll film holder has a lever wind on it. #14428

I am really looking forward to learning as much as possible about this wonderful camera and will certainly have it cleaned and serviced while in my care.

In my reading about LF camera I see little about lenses as large as the Komura 500mm f7 that came in this kit. Has anyone here heard of this lens? Should I post this question to the lens forum? Would this lens be similar to a 135mm lens in 35mm photography?

It has a Polaroid 545i back with it. Will this back allow me to use Fujifilm Quickloads?

I will read the on line listed manuals to start getting a feel for this fine camera and to learn as much as I can about its many features. I am very excited to have such a great camera to start my LF experience with.

The photographer that gifted me with this camera and kit has used it extensively in the USA and Africa and now has gone digital exclusively.

The photographer that gifted the camera to him worked for the National Geographic Soceity and traveled the world with this camera and kit. He was the one that assembled the lens selection.

It has now been passed to me to work with and learn with. I am honored to receive this kit and will do my best to make the best photos I am capable of.

Thanks to all on this forum...I will be needing much help in the following days and months learning about this camera and kit. I hope to become someone that will have something to contribute also with the knowledge I gain.

from the foothills of Mount Rainier,
Washington Bob

[Frank Petronio]

The 90mm is about like a 28mm on a 35mm camera, the 210 is about a 65mm, and the 500mm is unusual for 4x5, it is extremely long, like a 135-150mm maybe? The Komura doesn't have the stellar reputation of the German lenses but that doesn't mean it will make bad photos.

Those are rough ballparks. In practice most photographers find that lens preferences don't translate between small and large formats for a number of reasons, from proportions to clarity being different. The 90 and 210 are a classic good combination for many people, others will suggest adding a 135 as in intermediate but I would wait until you shoot for a while before adding anything.

And the lever roll film backs are far better than the knob ones.

[Washington Bob]

Thankyou Frank for your posting. It is most helpful . I have much learning to do and appreciate the help.
Bob

[J D Clark]

Bob,
You *can* use the 545i back with Fuji Quickloads, as well as Kodak Readyloads and Polaroid films (if you can find them at this point).

John Clark
www.johndclark.com

[Washington Bob]

Hi John,
Thankyou for your post. I am now off to look for a tutorial on how to use the Polaroid 545i back. So much to learn but a lifetime to do it.
Bob

[Brian Ellis]

I've heard of Komura's, they're not totally obscure and may be pefectly fine lenses. I've just never used one.

If your friend was using the Komura with your camera it must be a telephoto lens because 500mm is too long to be focused even at infinity on a Technika IV if it's a normal (i.e. non-telephoto) lens. You might do a little reading on LF telephoto lenses since they're a little different in use than normal lenses.

Your friend doesn't happen to have any other LF cameras he's giving away, does he? I'd really like an 8x10 Deardorff but I wouldn't turn down a Kodak 2D either. : - )

[Washington Bob]

Hi Brian,
Thankyou so much for your post. I will indeed read up more on LF telephoto and see what it is all about. I had the Komura 500mm f7 on the Linhof today and it will focus just fine using the ground glass.

It is such an interesting camera to use. I read the owners manual posted on line here and that was a great help in learning a few things....so much more to learn however..

I put the 210 Schneider on there and WOW....very nice.

Do they make a ground glass for this with a grid and perhaps markings for where the 120 roll film will cover?

My friend is a wonderful photographer and has gone completely digital. He is passing on this outfit as it was passed on to him...so that another may benefit and learn from it and use it to make wonderful photos. When I am done with it I shall make sure it is passed on to another photographer that wants to enter the LF world.

He is a modest man but his work is easy to find on the web as is the photographer that passed the kit on to him. Perhaps someday I will be 1/4 as talented as they are. It something I will strive for and I look forward to learning alot from this forum.

Thanks to all that have posted.
Bob

[Bob Salomon]

Do they make a ground glass for this with a grid and perhaps markings for where the 120 roll film will cover?

Bob

The standard Linhof ground glass today is a grid screen and Linhof makes a template for the gg with all of the roll film formats that they supply on it. These can be ordered from your camera store or the service center. But before you change gg make sure you know if the camera has a fresnel and where it is.

[Washington Bob]

Thankyou Bob,
I am going to Robi's Camera Store in Lakewood,Washington today to get a few items for this camera. They are one of the few left that still develop 4x5 film and they have a LF specialist there also.

Are you able to tell if the lever wind roll back #14428 is of a similar year to this Linhof?

After reading various catalogs reprinted here and on the net it even appears that the case I have with it is the factory attache case.

Lots to learn and I am excited to do so. It appears from my reading that Linhof made an extensive selection of accessories for this camera and that is wonderful.

This camera was not a closet queen...it has been used extensively throughout it's life and well taken care of. I plan on continuing that history.

Thanks again for your expertise.
Bob

[Bob Salomon]

Thankyou Bob,
I am going to Robi's Camera Store in Lakewood,Washington today to get a few items for this camera. They are one of the few left that still develop 4x5 film and they have a LF specialist there also.

Are you able to tell if the lever wind roll back #14428 is of a similar year to this Linhof?


Bob

Being a lever wound back makes it a Super Rollex rather then the old knob wound Rollex back. However, the Super Rollex has been in production for decades and I have no record of when yours would have been made. Marflex might.

[Washington Bob]

Thankyou so much for your post Bob.
Bob

[Washington Bob]

I would like to know if there are any books or manuals I should look for concerning this particular cameras and Linhof in general. I want to know all I can about this camera and the Linhof company. Thanks,
Bob

[Frank Petronio]

Check eBay for vintage copies of the Linhof hardcover books, especially from the early 1960s which would be the era of your camera. They are fascinating and you never see half of the cool stuff they made here in the USA. They really have a lot of great information not only about Linhof but about photography technique in general.

[Bob Salomon]

I would like to know if there are any books or manuals I should look for concerning this particular cameras and Linhof in general. I want to know all I can about this camera and the Linhof company. Thanks,
Bob

Linhof published a book (actually the publisher's name was Grossbild but it was at one time part of Linhof) called Camera Movements. See if you can find that. If you are looking for a book detailing Linhof's history and information on each camera they made, up to recently, the Linhof Camera Story there were two versions of this book. You would want the second one which was published in 2000. That would be current except for the new Techno, the M679cs (it does have the M679cc) and the Master Technika 3000 (it does have the 2000).

[Bob Salomon]

Check eBay for vintage copies of the Linhof hardcover books, especially from the early 1960s which would be the era of your camera. They are fascinating and you never see half of the cool stuff they made here in the USA. They really have a lot of great information not only about Linhof but about photography technique in general.

Actually you did see all that stuff in the USA. You had to go to the right shows or to the right camera stores. But we took all 3 size Technikas, Aero Technikas, AeroTronicas, Tenhnars all the tripods and heads, copy stands, enlarger, etc to shows and there were dealers who stocked these. Dealers like Ken Hansen Photographic, Altman, etc.

[Washington Bob]

Hello Frank and Bob,
Thanks so much for the information about Linhof. I am going to start looking around and see what I can round up. I like to gather up a library of useful books about each of the cameras that I use.
all my best,
Bob