Bought a 6x9 Technika. Some Focus problems.

[cmmatthews]

I just bought a very nice condition Technika III package. Came with 3 lenses and original "tri-cam".

I'm having focus problems with both the GG and the Rangefinder. The rangefinder is out of alignment. From what I can tell, repairing this is a delicate operation. To make matters worse, when I rack the standard to the infinity stop and then check the GG, infinity is not in focus. The camera needs to be racked out about another 1 cm to put infinity in focus.

The GG itself looks quite old and in poor shape, so I want to replace that anyway, but I am not sure that just replacing the GG will fix the focus. Any ideas on things I can try?

[Peter K]

I'm having focus problems with both the GG and the Rangefinder. The rangefinder is out of alignment. From what I can tell, repairing this is a delicate operation. To make matters worse, when I rack the standard to the infinity stop and then check the GG, infinity is not in focus. The camera needs to be racked out about another 1 cm to put infinity in focus.
It looks like you've used the wrong infinity stop. The one with the red dot is for the 105mm lens, the black dot for the WA-lens and the green for the long focal lenght.

The GG itself looks quite old and in poor shape, so I want to replace that anyway, but I am not sure that just replacing the GG will fix the focus. Any ideas on things I can try?
Only touch the GG if you have solved the focussing problem. If this is solved remove the GG from the back and wash it with a soft brush, soap and warm water. After remounting the GG will be much brighter.

Peter

[Glenn Thoreson]

The infinity stops are obviously not set for that lens. It's normally a simple matter to adjust them for the lens in use. You can only use one set of infinity stops for the one lens they are set for. Look closely at the stops. There should be small screws that lock them in position. Simply loosen them and set the stops where you want them.

[Peter K]

There should be small screws that lock them in position. Simply loosen them and set the stops where you want them.
Not for the Technika III and IV. There are little holes in the top rail.

Here (http://cameraquest.com/lint369.htm) you can find informations about the Technika IV 6x9. The only diffrence between a III and a IV is the back removing: four sliders with the III and one lever with the IV.

[Glenn Thoreson]

Hmmmmm ------ Never had a Linhof. I just assumed they could be set like the Graflex kind. Ya gets what ya pays for, eh? :D

[cmmatthews]

It looks like you've used the wrong infinity stop. The one with the red dot is for the 105mm lens, the black dot for the WA-lens and the green for the long focal lenght.

Only touch the GG if you have solved the focussing problem. If this is solved remove the GG from the back and wash it with a soft brush, soap and warm water. After remounting the GG will be much brighter.

Peter

I am using the correct infinity stop. Also tried another lens which is cammed for it with the same issues.

The ground glass is also rounded off strangely. It's not rectangular, looks like someone may have chipped it and sanded the edges at some point, but I don't know why that would change the infinity focus.

It also doesn't look there is an easy way to remove the ground glass. Am I missing something there?

[Peter K]

I am using the correct infinity stop. Also tried another lens which is cammed for it with the same issues.
For the WA lens the upper rail has to pushed back toward the camera body after pressing a latch, for the long focal lenght the upper rail must drawn in the opposit direction.


The ground glass is also rounded off strangely. It's not rectangular, looks like someone may have chipped it and sanded the edges at some point, but I don't know why that would change the infinity focus.

It also doesn't look there is an easy way to remove the ground glass. Am I missing something there?
The T III was often used with a GG with clipped corners.

[ic-racer]

For the focus problem, as mentioned, report back after setting the infinity stop.
In terms of the GG being off, or at a different distance than the T-distance of the film holder, I think that can be checked with film and some "focus check" shots better than with a depth micrometer.

A fresnel lens will brighten the GG screen.

[cmmatthews]

For the focus problem, as mentioned, report back after setting the infinity stop.
In terms of the GG being off, or at a different distance than the T-distance of the film holder, I think that can be checked with film and some "focus check" shots better than with a depth micrometer.

A fresnel lens will brighten the GG screen.

Not really sure I can do much more about the infinity stop. It's a notch on the focusing rail and not really configurable. When I slide out the standard, it will notch into the infinity stop.

There are 3 infinity stops. The 1st is for a 65mm lens, the 2nd is the 105mm, and the 3rd is for a 180mm lens. I am putting it into the 2nd stop. The lens is cammed to the matching serial number of the lens. Not really sure I can do much more at this point, but I am pretty baffled when infinity would be out of focus on the GG.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the GG is out of position somehow but it looks fine to me.

[Bob Salomon]

Does the cam have the serial number of the camera stamped on the bottom of the cam?

[cmmatthews]

Does the cam have the serial number of the camera stamped on the bottom of the cam?

Just checked, yes it does.

[ic-racer]

Are the lenses Linhof lenses on Linhof lensboards?

If so it seems to be pointing to a ground glass placement issue. Have you checked to rangefinder and infinity with at the film plane with film? If that is OK then the ground glass is not in the correct position.

[cmmatthews]

Are the lenses Linhof lenses on Linhof lensboards?

If so it seems to be pointing to a ground glass placement issue. Have you checked to rangefinder and infinity with at the film plane with film? If that is OK then the ground glass is not in the correct position.

Yes, they are on Linhof boards.

Does anyone know how to remove the GG on this thing? It looks like the screws are on the backside of the GG with no easy way to get to them. Looks like I need to unscrew the tensioning "bars" that hold the film holders?

[Bob Salomon]

At this point you are best to get the camera to a qualified service center that knows how to properly install and calibrate a 69 Linhof.

A very famous photographer, George Tice, went to Maine with his TK23 system on an assignment. While there he broke his ground glass. He went to a camera repair place in Maine and the repairman installed a non Linhof GG. Unfortunately the new screen was a different thickness then the old screen so the repairman made what to him seemed to be a very easy adjustment.

Everything George shot from that point on was out of focus. Of couse this was film and he didn't see that there was a problem until he returned from Maine and processed the film. Nothing was acceptable! So he sent the camera to Linhof service, had a new screen installed and the camera properly adjusted and to make sure that this can't happen to him again bought a replacement complete 23 Linhof back assembly, with GG. A very, very expensive lesson and a great waste of time.

Just have it adjusted, if still possible considering the age if parts are needed, and get it done right! And that camera is more then overdue for a professional CLA anyway.

[cmmatthews]

At this point you are best to get the camera to a qualified service center that knows how to properly install and calibrate a 69 Linhof.

A very famous photographer, George Tice, went to Maine with his TK23 system on an assignment. While there he broke his ground glass. He went to a camera repair place in Maine and the repairman installed a non Linhof GG. Unfortunately the new screen was a different thickness then the old screen so the repairman made what to him seemed to be a very easy adjustment.

Everything George shot from that point on was out of focus. Of couse this was film and he didn't see that there was a problem until he returned from Maine and processed the film. Nothing was acceptable! So he sent the camera to Linhof service, had a new screen installed and the camera properly adjusted and to make sure that this can't happen to him again bought a replacement complete 23 Linhof back assembly, with GG. A very, very expensive lesson and a great waste of time.

Just have it adjusted, if still possible considering the age if parts are needed, and get it done right! And that camera is more then overdue for a professional CLA anyway.

Yes, this is what I assumed. Even if I get the GG problem solved, it doesn't fix my rangefinder problem. I bought the camera to use with a 6x9 roll back so the GG is even secondary to that.

I'm going to try to work it out with the seller because the item was sold as being Focus "OK".