Linhof Technika 4x5 Timeline...

[Embdude]

Trying to piece together the 4x5 Technika timeline. Any help nailing down the dates would be appreciated.

I am starting Post-War with the III

These are now updated dates of production (Thank you Mr Salomon):

Technika III Oct 1946 to Oct 1960
The III seems to have been continually improved across the 10 year span. In addition to incremental improvements there were also certainly variations for the intended market as well.

Technika IV Oct 1956 to May 1963
(complete redesign from the III) Seems little variation over time compared to the III, the rangefinder housing changed somewhere in the middle of production but little else did.

Technika V Apr 1963 to start 1976
The ratchet jack on the front standard seems to have evolved but like the IV little else changed over production.

Master Technika 1972-Present (The Classic is the MT, Rebranded the MT Classic about Y2K)
Little change, strap lugs, and Fresnel placement are all that come to mind

Master Technika 2000 1995-2005

Master Technika 3000 2005 - Today

[Mark Sampson]

The lens boards changed from the III's simple rectangle to the complex shape used since- now used by many cameras and generally known as the "Technika-style" board.
Cameraquest.com has a couple of articles about early versus later Technikas. Of course our Mr. Salomon will have all the info at his fingertips.

[Bob Salomon]

Trying to piece together the 4x5 Technika timeline. Any help nailing down the dates would be appreciated.

I am starting Post-War with the III

These are the tentative dates I have determined from advertisements... It also appears from price-lists that previous models were sold concurrent with the new models for up to a couple of years, of course I can't tell if they were still in production or just stockpile...

Technika III 1947-1957
The III seems to have been continually improved across the 10 year span. In addition to incremental improvements there were also certainly variations for the intended market as well.

Technika IV 1957-1963
(complete redesign from the III) Seems little variation over time compared to the III, the rangefinder housing changed somewhere in the middle of production but little else did.

Technika V 1963-1976
The ratchet jack on the front standard seems to have evolved but like the IV little else changed over production.

Master Technika 1972-2000
Little change, strap lugs, and Fresnel placement are all that come to mind

Master Technika Classic 2000 - Today

Master Technika 2000 1995-2005

Master Technika 3000 2005 - Today

lll Oct 46 to Oct 60
lV Oct 56 to May 63
V Apr 63 to start 76
Master 72 to present. The Classic is the MT.

[Embdude]

Thanks Mark, Yes cameraquest is full of good info. Yes the 4x5 has 2 styles with quite a few interesting variations within them. The 2x3 has even more styles and seems to be an even more complex timeline than the 4x5... maybe I will get to the 2x3's after I nail down the 4x5...

[Embdude]

Thanks M. Salomon! That is very precise and great info! I have updated the original dates above I had guessed at. Very interesting that the III continued for so long after the IV was released. 14 years is a very good run! It makes me wonder about the final version III with the geometrically shaped front. I had assumed it pre-dated the IV but perhaps it was released at the same time.

[Bob Salomon]

Thanks M. Salomon! That is very precise and great info! I have updated the original dates above I had guessed at. Very interesting that the III continued for so long after the IV was released. 14 years is a very good run! It makes me wonder about the final version III with the geometrically shaped front. I had assumed it pre-dated the IV but perhaps it was released at the same time.

Or the factory had inventory that took a while to sell. Rather then continue production after later models were introduced.

[Bob Salomon]

Thanks M. Salomon! That is very precise and great info! I have updated the original dates above I had guessed at. Very interesting that the III continued for so long after the IV was released. 14 years is a very good run! It makes me wonder about the final version III with the geometrically shaped front. I had assumed it pre-dated the IV but perhaps it was released at the same time.

14 years is a drop in the bucket. The Master is the run to look at. 1972 to today!

[Embdude]

The smaller 2x3 / 6x9's seem to have a less straightforward or obvious timeline... Here is what I have so far from the Post-War period

Super Technika 23 or Super Technika III 1952-1957
Mostly Black Leather

Super Technika 23 or Super Technika IV 1956-1964
Tan Leather, minor redesign, single point back attachment lever

Wide-Angle 65 1966-?

Press 23 1956-1963
No Bellows or movements

Student Kamera ?-?
no rangefinder

Technika 70 1962-1979
Complete redesign, new lensboard style

Press 70 1963-1969
no bellows or camera movements

Aero Press & Electric 70 no dates found sometime in 1970's
A Ariel variant of the press70, no camera movements or rangefinder

Expert 70 - ?
no rangefinder

Super Technika V 1970-1979
Like a mini 4x5 is style

23 V-B 1979-2003
a V with a flap for wide angle

I may be missing one or two... let me know what you think

[Bob Salomon]

The smaller 2x3 / 6x9's seem to have a less straightforward or obvious timeline... Here is what I have so far from the Post-War period

Super Technika 23 or Super Technika III ?-1957
Mostly Black Leather

Super Technika 23 or Super Technika IV 1956 1964
Tan Leather, minor redesign, single point back attachment lever

Wide-Angle 65 1966-?

Press 23 1956-1963
No Bellows or movements

Student Kamera ?-?
no rangefinder

Technika 70 1962-1979
Complete redesign, new lensboard style

Press 70 1963-1969
no bellows or camera movements

Aero Press & Electric 70 no dates found sometime in 1970's
A Ariel variant of the press70, no camera movements or rangefinder

Expert 70 - ?
no rangefinder

Super Technika V 1970-1979
Like a mini 4x5 is style

23 V-B 1979-2003
a V with a flap for wide angle

I may be missing one or two... let me know what you think

Why did you leave out the 45 Aero Technikas or the 69 Aerotronica? Or the 45 Technar?

[Embdude]

Well to be honest I know very little about the Aero gear. I admit to never seeing any of the Aero cameras in person. I was the pilot for a number of aerial photographers in the 1990's in San Diego and did not even know of the Linhof's back then. I saw lots of Fuji MF gear Lots of Nikon F4's and some cinema cameras that looked rather pricey. Los Angles was the big market then, and now, so perhaps the big shot aerial photographers up there had Linhof's. Also I was small fixed wing planes while I'm sure the big budget photographers were renting pricey helicopters...