Does any one know anything about this Linholf/Technika lens?

[brendan_s1]

My local camera shop has a monorail 4x5 Century Graphic? for sale, it

is fitted with a Linholf lensboard and mounted on it is a Braunschweig

Technika Helia Lens marked 1:4.5 15cm?

 

The shutter is marked 'Synchro-Compur Linholf Shutter'

 

Can anyone tell me anything about this lens? It looks to be in good

condition and the camera is selling with tripod & 3 or 4 dark slides

for $A1650.00 - about $US1250.00.

 

Would this be a reasonable price?

 

Any information would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Brendan

[michael_briggs2]

Linhof supplied lenses made by other manufacturers. They added an extra inspection and added their name to the lens, or the word "Technika". So the lens is a a "Heliar" model made by the Voigtlaender company in Braunschweig that was vetted by Linhof. Similarly, the shutter was made by Compur.

 

It is a bit peculiar that a Century Graphic has a Linhof lensboard. It is in an adapter lensboard?

 

The Heliars are well regarded, but don't have the cult following (and high prices) of a closely related Voigtlaender lens, the Apo-Lanthar. Here is a thread about these lenses: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00D4XG

 

The price seems high to me.

[brendan_s1]

Thanks Michael,

The lensboard has been 'modified a little' (camera shop's words not mine) and the outfit did seem a bit expensive - however there was always a chance the lens was worth more than it looked.

 

I think I will pass on it and keep looking. Unfortunately we do not get that much second hand LF stuff come on the market here in Australia, when it does most dealers want top dollar.

[scott_walton2]

They are good lens and the shutters are very easy to clean and lube yourself! The 150mm is a good starting lens and you should be able to use it for long time.