Linhof Technika - How Practical is Hand Holding?

[William D. Lester]

I will be sending my Super Technika V in for service work to Blazes in Toronto shortly. That have advised that camming my modern lens is a $475.00 job. Does anyone actually use the camera hand held? I have always used it tripod mounted but since it is going to the service centre, it's on my mind to get this done as well while it's there. By the way, I still have the original 150 convertible Linhof lens that came with the camera and is already cammed. The problem with it is that the shutter runs erratically and I stopped using it years ago. I'm sure it could be serviced as well but then I would have to keep making choices about which lens to use. I'd like to hear what other users think.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Yes, I have several cammed lenses, and I use the camera handheld. It's also useful to have a cammed lens on a tripod for portrait subjects, so you can check focus with the rangefinder while you have a filmholder loaded and ready to shoot.

[Bill_1856]

Too heavy and unwieldy for me to hand hold.

[DrTang]

I took the raangefinder off mine - thats my comment on using it hanheld

[Bob Salomon]

I took the raangefinder off mine - thats my comment on using it hanheld

And how much weight did butchering the camera save?

[Darin Boville]

I found it too heavy for extended handheld. Then again, maybe once you build up your wrist strength...

--Darin

[jose angel]

I like to have my Technika ready for handheld work (working RF, external viewfinder, grip and cable), but to be sincere, I rarely use it this way (between one time and never, I`d say... )

It depends on your work... for handheld shooting I use a Mamiya 6 system, but if I were in the need of having 4x5" negatives instead of roll film (not likely), I`d certainly use the Technika, why not?
Maybe because I`m a sharpness freak, I use tripod for almost everything (the only exception with the cellular phone, simply because it`s a bit of a nonsense and... I don`t have the adapter!)(-yet-).

[Corran]

I've done it plenty with big and heavy 250/270mm lenses and I have perfectly sharp negatives to prove that it's possible. My wrist didn't like me till I figured out I could adjust the grip to a more comfortable position.

Is it easy? No, but so what. Way lighter is a converted Polaroid 900/110A/110B but with only one lens and limited close-up focusing (but a nice combined view/rangefinder on the 900 and 110B). If I am ONLY using a 135mm lens I grab the Polaroid but unfortunately I like a 150mm better for people (most common subject for handheld work) or longer. My 250mm Sonnar is killer heavy but I love it. There's always the other option of medium format, which is valid, but for me personally I really enjoy the results of 4x5, over MF.

Here's some examples of handheld work:
http://valdostafilm.blogspot.com/201...13-photos.html
http://valdostafilm.blogspot.com/201...leftovers.html

Are they all perfect? Nah, but with a bit of practice I get mostly keepers. The weight/bulk of course also helps to stabilize the camera. One more tip - rest the camera against your chest while focusing and shoot, it's pretty stable.

[DrTang]

And how much weight did butchering the camera save?

not much at all.. but it doesn't catch in my camera bag now..

I never ever used it.. then I had a chance to sell off the lens with matching cam.. so..off it came

I now have a slightly lighter camera w/o the finder bump.. making it smaller as well

don't worry -it's pretty beat up..I didn't kill any museum piece or anything

[coisasdavida]

Is it easy? No, but so what.

+1