ronald_gratz

<p>According to "The Linhof Story" the technikaflex was not a separate camera but rather an attachment that could be fitted to the Super Technika V to turn it into a TLR. It could be used with either a 150 or 270 mm lens. They do not mention how many were made but do say that it was not a success since with modern films a 120 TLR proved more popular.<br> At the time of the book's publication (1990) "A few units are still available at the Linhof works".<br> Ron Gratz</p>

<p>John,<br> From what I have read Zeiss invented lens coating in 1935 so a 1930/31 lens would not have it yet. But, your lens could have been secondarily coated after manufacture so it is possible. <br> There is an email group that is followed by folks much more knowledgeable in such matters that I am. You could post your question there: <a href="mailto:ZICG@yahoogroups.com">ZICG@yahoogroups.com</a> <br> Ron<br /></p>

<p>The Kodak 9x12 (different from 3-1/4 x 4-1/4) sheet film holders will fit the Maximar. As for Zeiss-Ikon, beware. They made several different sheet film holders for their plate cameras. You want those marked 665/7. Metal holders marked 726/7 are clip on rather than slide in and were made for the Ideal and Universal Juwel cameras. They will not fit the maximar. There are also wooden holders (teak) for their tropical cameras (tropen adoro and tropica) that will not fit the maximar.<br> In addition to the holders you will also need 9x12 film sheaths for the Zeiss holders. I have some Kodak holders that were made for film rather than glass plates but right now they are buried somewhere and so I cannot give you specifics. Finally, there are reducers (marked 725/4) that will fit into the Zeiss 9x12 plate holders and allow use of 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 plates. You can combine these with Kodak 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 film sheaths to allow use of that film in the 9x12 plates. As if that were not enough, several companies made slide in ground glass spring backs that allow use of modern (eg Lisco) double sided 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 sheet film holders.<br> You might want to consider looking for a RADA or SUYDAM 120 roll film back made for the 9x12 plate cameras (careful here too because they also made these for 6x9 and probably other sizes as well). This will allow use of any of the current 120 roll-films, your 135mm lens becoming a modest telephoto lens.<br> Welcome to the wonderful (and confusing!) world of the old plate cameras! Once you get the hang of them they are still capable of first rate photography.<br> Ron Gratz</p>

<p>My 1995 Sotheby's catalog of the sale of the estate of Man Ray includes the following cameras:<br> Thornton-Pickard folding field camera<br> Zeiss-Ikon Contaflex SLR - the photo looks like the Contaflex IV<br> Zeiss-Ikon Ikoflex III TLR<br> Voigtlander Avus 9x12<br> Unidentified half-plate tailboard camera<br> Ron Gratz</p>

<p>While the Brownie was strictly an amateur camera, it is significant that the 1954 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph was taken with a Kodak Brownie (model not specified). The photo is of a truck accident on a bridge with the cab dangling off the bridge. The driver is seen climbing to safety on a rope that had been lowered to him. My source is the book: " Moments - The Pulitzer Prize Photographs" by Sheryle and John Leekley, Crown Publishers, New York.</p> <p>Ron Gratz</p>