Rodenstock Grandagon N 90mm f/4.5 with Technika IV/V camera

[swatch]

May I ask for advices on using Rodenstock Grandagon N 90mm f/4.5 lens on Technika IV/V camera per below:

1) is it ok using flat board or is it a must to use recessed board?
2) how to obtain infinity focus (which part of the camera to be move back and forth) when front standard to be pushed all the way towards camera body until it click into position (understand the need/requirement of dropping the drop bed/upper track as well remove rangefinder coupling cam)?

The photo I want to take will be in landscape orientation (not interested to turn the camera 90 degree for portrait orientation).

Thanks for your help with advices.

[swatch]

Answer has be found after reading the user manual of MT which can be downloaded from website of reseller in UK named Linhof & Studio.

1) regular flat lens board is sufficient, recessed lens board is not a must
2) using 90mm lens at landscape orientation is unaffected ( drop bed will not be seen in lower part of picture ) even drop bed being maintained at regular 90 degree position
3) only in portrait orientation require drop bed at 30 degree downward ( first of all remove coupling cam if any ), sliding up and down of front standard on upper track for focusing ( for 90mm lens, front standard is still or must be on upper track for infinity to close/near focus)

MT was purchased earlier on eBay. Parcel is arriving and I am eager to try it out upon it's arrival in coming days.

[Vaughan]

The question you need to ask is whether the rear cell of the lens will fit through the hole in the front standard. There are some lenses that do not.

[swatch]

Hi Vaughan, thanks for your suggestion. I checked with the user manual and on page 33, list of recommended lenses for Technika camera, Grandagon-N 4.5 / 90mm is one of recommended lenses and use with Linhof lens board number 001026.

[Vaughan]

Linhof lens board number 001026.

That's a standard flat Technika lens board with Copal 1 hole. The hole is "offset" below the geometric centre of the board, which is standard and as the maker intended.

Some (particularly third party) boards are sold with "centred" holes, which gives the lens an additional 5mm of rise. Either will work, you just need to consider where the hole is on the board when zeroing the front standard and lens on the camera.

Recessed Technika lens boards are only available for size 0 shutters, size 1 shutters won't fit, so you won't be able to mount the Rodenstock into a recessed board even if you wanted to.

That's a HUGE lens particularly with the Copal 1 shutter. Is there a reason you favour that instead of a Nikkor 90mm f4.5 or f8? Both Nikons are in Copal 0 shutters and the Nikkor f8 has the distinction of being the only "slow" 90mm lens with the same image circle as the "fast" lens.

[swatch]

Hi Vaughan, thank you for sharing the information about lens board. Agree with you that there are others 90mm lenses that cover similar image circle but lighter in weight and size. The main reason for having Grandagon 90mm f/4.5 is easier focus under the shade (dimmer light ) inside wood jungle.