Technika prices in 1970?

[Oren Grad]

Does anyone have a price list or other literature documenting what the price of a new 4x5 Technika, with finder, grip and cammed normal lens, would have been in 1970? A 5x7 Technika similarly configured?

For those of you who follow The Online Photographer: yes, this question arises from a behind-the-scenes discussion we've been having as a follow-up to Ctein's post on camera prices.

Thanks...

[Gudmundur Ingolfsson]

I am quoting from memory. In 1969 I bought a Leica M4 with a f2 35mm Sumicron lens for DM 1100 at that time the VW Beetle Standard (the cheapest version) was DM 4800. Linhof stopped making the 5x7" version Technika in 1986. At that time it was obvious that the E6 slide films were such an improvement over the earlier slide films that you would get the same quality from a 4x5" as you had gotten from a 5x7" earlier. I 1988 the 5x7" Linhof which was still available was DM 8600, a bit more than the 5x7" Sinar P2, close to the price of a budget VW.

[bjdejong]

Hi Oren,

Sofar, I have not found the prices for 1970.

But what about a Super Technika IV - 4x5 for $500 in 1960?

See page 36: Olden Camera and Lens Company 1960 cameras and accessories (NY) (http://www.cameramanuals.org/booklets/olden_camera_1960-2.pdf)

and thank Mr. Butkus from OrphanCameras.com (http://www.butkus.org/chinon/index.html)for putting this all on the web.

Cheers,

Barend Jan

[Ivan J. Eberle]

Nothing to help with the Technika price, but I'm thinking the then-new Sinar P would've also been in the running for Most Expensive Camera of 1970. Or the Superwide Hasselblad with the 38m Biogon, perhaps.

[Bill_1856]

WOW, Barend! What a find.
Wonder what ever happened to Olden? In those days when I visited NYC, the first thing I did after checking in at the hotel was to make a bee line for Oldens.

[David Lindquist]

I have a photography buyers' guide copyrighted 1970 by Ziff-Davis (publishers of Popular Photography); it's titled "Photographic Catalog 1971" and was handed out by Brooks Cameras, San Francisco.

Price given for the Linhof Super Technika V, 4 X 5, is $765.00; for the 5 X 7, $1160.00. This included the hand grip, but NOT a lens/lens board/cam or multifocus optical view finder. Prices for these additional items are not given.

Scanning this buying guide, it looks like the most expensive camera was the 8 X 10 Sinar P Expert at $1410.00. This included the carrying case, but not, of course, a lens.

The Hasselblad Superwide C was a "mere" $815.00.

David

[Ivan J. Eberle]

David, was the Superwide C price with or w/o the Biogon?

[Oren Grad]

Thanks, everyone! David, that's great. Given the general price level, I think it's safe to say that the finder and lens would have added at most a few hundred dollars more in each case.

Ivan, the Biogon on the SWC is a fixed - not interchangeable - lens, so it necessarily comes with the camera.

[David Lindquist]

David, was the Superwide C price with or w/o the Biogon?

As Oren notes, the 38mm f/4.5 Biogon was permanently mounted, so that price includes the lens. Also price includes the film back.
David

[Bob Salomon]

WOW, Barend! What a find.
Wonder what ever happened to Olden? In those days when I visited NYC, the first thing I did after checking in at the hotel was to make a bee line for Oldens.

It went up his nose.

[David Lindquist]

I also have a June 1972 price list from Kling Photo Company (U.S. importers of the Linhof at that time). It has more detailed information about the 4 X 5 Technika V, but notes that information for the 5 X 7 would be "furnished on request". The Technika body was $1050.00. This included the anatomical grip but not a lensboard/lens/cam or Multifocus finder.

The Multifocus Universal Optical Viewfinder, Model C was $215.00.

Several "normal" lenses were offered. As a typical example, a 150mm Technika Symmar in a No. 1 Compur was $289.00 ($216.00 in a Copal). Supplying the lens with a cam and mounted on a board was an additional $70.30.

Among some of the pricier offerings were the 150mm f/2.8 Technika Xenotar in a No. 2 Compur for $709.00, the 135mm f/3.5 Planar (described as "New Type") in a No. 1 Compur for $725.00 and the 75mm f/4.5 Biogon in a No. 0 Compur for $1330.00. Lensboard + mounting and cam would be an additional $60.80 to $76.30 depending on the lens.
David

[Oren Grad]

Thanks, David. So we're in the ballpark of $2000 for a deluxe configuration of the 4x5.

[PaulSchneider]

so about 10k if you correct for inflation ...

[Oren Grad]

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI calculator, $2100 in 1972 inflates to just under $11,000 in 2010, which is pretty close to what a Master Technika with finder, grip and cammed 150 Apo-Sironar-S would cost if you ordered a set new in the United States now.

[Ivan J. Eberle]

So long as we're time-traveling, re the Superwide C: I'll take 3. Could you pack them with some extra silica for long-term storage?

Kling Photo mention is near and dear, in that Paul Klingenstein killed off his own brainchild (the Meridan 45C, in prototype and slated for production--I've got one of two known surviving prototypes), to re-import Linhofs c.1950. The 1948 Peerless Photo catalog on Camera Eccentric indicates a price for a bare Meridian 45A without a lens or RF at $225.

Meanwhile, a Deardorff Commercial 4x5 was only $131, the 5x7 was $136.50 and the 8x10 was $187. Postpaid. ("That's right, I'll take five of each, please. And could you schedule their delivery for, say, about late Spring of 1999? Ring me up to remind me so I can go meet them at the station? Thanks.")

[engl]

Kling Photo mention is near and dear, in that Paul Klingenstein killed off his own brainchild (the Meridan 45C, in prototype and slated for production--I've got one of two known surviving prototypes), to re-import Linhofs c.1950. The 1948 Peerless Photo catalog on Camera Eccentric indicates a price for a bare Meridian 45A without a lens or RF at $225.


Do you have any information about or photos of the Meridian 45C?

I always though the Meridian 45B was one of the most interesting press/technical cameras, so I wonder what the next iteration would have been like...

[Inayat Noor]

I have the 1965 "Photography Directory and Buying Guide" for all camera gear.
Linhof Color 4X5: $104.50
Color 23: $299.50
Kardan Color 5X7: $592, 8X10: $817
Technika 70: $845, c 3 lenses:$1849
Super Technika V 4X5: $699.50, 5X7:$940
Press 70: $$735

Burke and James 11X14: $324.50

[Ivan J. Eberle]

Engl,
Yes, I own and regularly use one of the two known surviving Meridian 45C prototypes. A Meridian Instrument Co. engineer's son has the other. Mine has a completely revised swing and shift arrangement on the front standard which is pretty sweet in that it has a cam lever lock (instead of the big kludgy thumbwheel and channel arrangement on the 45B that doesn't permit small amounts of swing). I own a nice 45B as well.

I also have the original brochure for the 45C that used images of the prototypes. I'll be putting together new webpage for some of my gear soon and will send you a link when I get it up.

[engl]

Engl,
Yes, I own and regularly use one of the two known surviving Meridian 45C prototypes. A Meridian Instrument Co. engineer's son has the other. Mine has a completely revised swing and shift arrangement on the front standard which is pretty sweet in that it has a cam lever lock (instead of the big kludgy thumbwheel and channel arrangement on the 45B that doesn't permit small amounts of swing). I own a nice 45B as well.

I also have the original brochure for the 45C that used images of the prototypes. I'll be putting together new webpage for some of my gear soon and will send you a link when I get it up.

I look forward to seeing your page about the 45C! Thank you.

What about the back, is it a Graflok, or same as the 45B?

[Oren Grad]

How about the Deardorff V11 in 1970... anyone?

[David Lindquist]

How about the Deardorff V11 in 1970... anyone?

My previously referenced buying guide shows circa 1970 Deardorff prices as follows:

11 X 14: $795.00

And for completeness:
4 X 5 Special with revolving Graflok back: $425.00*
4 X 5 Special with reversible spring back: $385.00*
5 X 7: $385.00*
8 X 10: $550.00
8 X 20: $1150.00
12 X 20: $1150.00

* Hope I'm not being impertinent in reminding that the 4 X 5 Special was in fact the 5 X 7 with a 4 X 5 reducing back, and, of course, marked 4 X 5 Special, or words to that effect.
David

[Oren Grad]

Thanks again, David - much appreciated! :)

[Bob Salomon]

Now that I am back in the office I checked our files and we do have the last BMC price list for Linhof from 3/1/1975.

In 1975 the list price for a Master Technika 45 with the "Multifocus Rangefinder" not the view finder, Fresnel, wire frame finder and the left grip was $2,550.00. Lens, lens board, coupling and the Multifocus viewfinder were all optional and not included in the price above.

The Kardan Color 45S was $525.00 list and the Kardan B 45 was $1835.00 list.

Berkey Photo Marketing Corp. did not put the 23 or 57 Technikas in this price list nor did they include the 57 or 810 B models either.

The oldest HP Marketing Corp. Linhof price list that we still have is from 3/1/77 and in that price list the same 45 Master Technika outfit was $2,641.00 list. The 23 Super Technika V, 23B was $2,289.00 as equipped above and the 57 Super Technika V was $3,624.00 with left and right grips but without the sports finder.

The Kardan Standard 45 was $495.00, the Super Color 45 (round rail version) was $1,125.00 and the 57 SC was $1,395.00 and the 810 version was $2,985.00. The 45 B was $1,890.00, the 57 B $2,225.00 and the 810 B was $3,380.00.
The yaw free, continuously variable assymetric axis Kardan Master L 45 was $2,295.00 and the 57 version was $2,435.00. This was the camera that spawned the famous Sinar/Linhof law suit. That suit was settled in favor of Sinar since the court in Germany found that since one of Linhof's variable assymetric axis points was the same as Sinar's fixed assymetric point on the P that the Linhof system infringed on Sinar's assymetric axis patent.
Many people were under the impression that the infringement was over the yaw free movement. Since the first yaw free camera shown was the original Linhof Kardan yaw free was not an issue in the suit.
For reference:
The current MSRP in the USA for a new Master Technika 45 Classic is $9,411.99 for the body only, no Fresnel, grip or frame finder. This is the list price which dealers discount from.

[Oren Grad]

Thanks, Bob. Interesting bit of economic history - the big wave of inflation plus $/DM exchange rate changes in the early '70s is apparent in the mid-decade prices.