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Thread: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

  1. #1

    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    167

    How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Hi,

    Many people decide to have three lenses. One wide,
    one middle lens, and one long lens.

    As a long lens I like the 180mm. lens over the 210mm.
    focal length.

    Having shot 35mm. and some medium format,
    the 180mm. is equivalent to a 60 mm. in 35mm.
    format, and the 210mm. is equivalent to a 70mm.
    in 35mm. format.

    It is the middle and the wide angle lens that I am not
    too sure about.

    As a middle lens, I feel attracted to the 120mm. and
    135mm. large format lenses, but I don't know for which
    one I should decant myself for. If I am right with my
    equivalencies throughout this post, these two focal lengths,
    for example, are equivalent to 40mm. and 45mm. in 35mm.
    format.

    Then, there is the 75mm. and 90mm. lenses for
    the option of a wide angle lens.

    Which focal length would you choose as a wide, middle and long lens?
    Which focal lengths do you like best?

    The 180mm. (or 60mm. lens) is for me a better
    long lens than the 210, as I don't like to be far from the
    person I take the portrait from. Are you more a 210mm.
    shooter or do you go even longer?

    I was never a big fan of the 150mm. (or 50mm.) lens as a
    middle lens. I always thought that a middle lens was
    a bit wider, at 45mm. or 40mm., (or 135mm. and 140mm.
    in large format). As a more general purpose lens, I find
    any of these two focal lengths to be very good. I would
    use any of these to take a picture of a person from the
    waist up, for example, or two to six people together in a
    small group, and even some landscape and architecture.

    The 90mm. and 75mm. (or 30mm. and 25mm. in 35mm.
    format) are interesting lenses to me for natural and architectural
    landscapes. Meaning for the latter, to take pictures of
    rows of houses or buildings that are less than three or four
    storeys high that come out, can one say, without distortion(??).

    Of course would be very interesting to try most of these
    focal lengths on my own, but I think your advice could
    also help me to consider in favor or against any of these
    focal lengths.

    Thank you very much in advance, kind regards!

    P.S. These are a couple of older threads that came up in a google search:

    1.
    https://www.largeformatphotography.i...p/t-79296.html

    2.
    https://www.largeformatphotography.i.../t-119757.html

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    713

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    It's a personal choice, but back when I was shooting with quite a bit Linhof Technikas I found the 90, 150, 210, 300 lens line up to be perfect.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    167

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Hi,

    Thank you for your message : ) !!!
    Were you able to close the camera with any of those lenses inside?
    Would it have been possible with a recessed board, for at least for
    the 90mm. and 150mm. lenses? If possible, portability is also
    interesting to me!
    Thank you again, kind regards!

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Quote Originally Posted by Ig Nacio View Post
    Hi,

    Thank you for your message : ) !!!
    Were you able to close the camera with any of those lenses inside?
    Would it have been possible with a recessed board, for at least for
    the 90mm. and 150mm. lenses? If possible, portability is also
    interesting to me!
    Thank you again, kind regards!
    As the Linhof distributor in the USA from the 70s to 2015 and the Rodenstock distributor from 86 to 2015 the 3 most common lenses are the 90, 150 and 210mm.
    The 150 on the 001015 recessed Comfort board does close up in the camera. The 90 and any lens in a 1 shutter from 180mm up will not close in the camera. The 90mm 5.6 or 6.8 or 8.0 requires the 001015 recessed board as well. The 90mm 4.5 Grandagon N requires a flat board.

  5. #5
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,338

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Bob, that's what they told students in photo schools. Not bad for a starting commercial lineup - a 90 WA for architectural interiors, a 150 because it's "normal" I guess (I've never even owned a 150), and a 210 for portraiture. But people see things differently, and I strongly recommend tailing along with someone who has other lens options to view subject matter through, rather than stereotyping choices. I trend more to longer focal lengths, and typically carry 180, 250, and 360, often a 450 too. Other people mostly see things wide-angle. No rules except that the image circle must cover, and your range of bellows extension must match your lens choices. Technikas won't allow one to go too long in focal length without resorting to telephotos; that's one of the reasons I chose the Sinar system instead. Then there's the issue of folding the thing up with a lens installed, and which lenses it can be cammed for. My brother shot a Super Technika. Technikas remind me of turtles that can quickly clam themselves shut inside a cozy shell. For my first ten years I used a 210 lens exclusively.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    167

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Hello Bob,
    Thank you for your message : ) !!!

    I just looked up the recessed board that you mention.
    It is a 12 mm. recessed lens board. It is very
    expensive new.

    On e-bay, I have seen boards that are 19mm. and 21mm.
    recessed lens boards for Copal '0' lenses. I wonder if all
    the Copal '0' lenses here mentioned could close up.
    (I wonder if almost all, except the 180mm. and 210mm,
    may be able to use the 19mm. and 21mm. ,recessed
    boards from e-bay and may, at the same time, also close up
    inside the camera)

    Thank you again, kind regards!

  7. #7

    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    167

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Hello Drew,

    Thank you for your message : ) !!!

    Yes, I may only get the 135mm. or 120mm. lens.
    That's why reading you guys is very helpful.
    Yes, it is also great to be able to open the camera
    and have the lens mounted and ready to shoot.

    Thank you again, kind regards!

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Quote Originally Posted by Ig Nacio View Post
    Hello Bob,
    Thank you for your message : ) !!!

    I just looked up the recessed board that you mention.
    It is a 12 mm. recessed lens board. It is very
    expensive new.

    On e-bay, I have seen boards that are 19mm. and 21mm.
    recessed lens boards for Copal '0' lenses. I wonder if all
    the Copal '0' lenses here mentioned could close up.
    (I wonder if almost all, except the 180mm. and 210mm,
    may be able to use the 19mm. and 21mm. ,recessed
    boards from e-bay and may, at the same time, also close up
    inside the camera)

    Thank you again, kind regards!
    Lenses in a 1 shutter will not fit a Linhof recessed board.

    Did you read what the Comfort board does?

  9. #9
    Eric Woodbury
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    1,637

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    Ig, the 135mm is a wonderful choice. I'm not a big fan of the 150mm on 4x5 either, but the 135 is very nice. Plus, if you really need the 150mm, just crop 11%. The 135 is nice, too, because they are cheap and small. The 75mm is one lens I've never owned. I do like the 90mm Nikkor and it will cover my 5x7, too. As you get much wider than 90, you'll need a center filter, which I think is a pain. The 180 is nice.

    For starters, I think you've made excellent choices. Don't spend a bunch of money on lenses yet. Eventually you'll collect them all, then sell them off and start again. It's part of the fun.

  10. #10
    Foamer
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    2,430

    Re: How to decide for a set of three lenses for a Linhof Technika IV

    I find my most used are 90, 135, 180. Also have 75 and 300. I use the 75mm for interiors, the 300mm for details and landscape isolation. You're going to find you use large format a bit differently than you do 35mm. Although the lens equivalents you calculated are close you're likely to find the format doesn't directly translate to 35mm.


    Kent in SD
    In contento ed allegria
    Notte e di vogliam passar!

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