Linhof 617SIII How to focus?

[joe_chiu1]

Hello,I'm a Rollei user from Hong Kong and, I'm planning to buy a 617

panoramic camera. Linhof is my first choice. I would like to ask

1.how to focus this camera,is it like a rangefinder camera? 2.how is

the quility when compare to Hass 903SWC or Rollei 40mm Superangulon?

3. can it be handhold,though I know best results is from tripod?

Thanks very much for sharing your experiences. Joe.

[ellis_vener_photography]

joe,

I believe this is the third time you have asked this question. The answers

haven't changed.

[bob_salomon3]

" 1.how to focus this camera,is it like a rangefinder camera?"

 

No it is zone focusing although Linhof showed a prototype groundglass

focusing system at Photokina.

 

"2.how is the quility when compare to Hass 903SWC or Rollei 40mm

Superangulon?"

 

How do you compare a 6x6 cm image to a 6x17cm image? You can't. You

want extreme wide on a square use hasselblad or Rollei. You want a

sweeping panoramic that is 3 times as wide use the 617. The question is

comparing apples to oranges.

" 3. can it be handhold,though I know best results is from tripod?"

 

Yes it can easily be used handheld. I've used it handheld in high winds

overlooking San Francisco bay from the bluffs on the Marin County side and

made 60" wide prints as well as in Death Valley and Arches and Dead Horse

Point hand held and made 60" prints. No problem.

 

Of course I am in my 60's so you may have trouble doing hand held work with

it if you are younger (G).

[cxc]

I've used the Technorama 612 handheld, and been happy with the results. I'm a big guy, and I found it quite a handful; I'm pretty sure the 617 would be quite cumbersome, but yet simple and usable.

 

For me, superwides lend themselves to compositions focussed on infinity, so focussing is rarely at issue. When it is, you guess the distance and set the lens and hope for the best (rarely a problem).

 

I was able to rent; hanging the 612 around my neck for a day convinced me that I didn't want the 617 around my neck for any length of time. Also it was broad enough for me, and I'm a bit of a wide-angle freak, IMHO the 617 is a bit of overkill, a very narrow specialty camera.

 

The SWC is much easier to use, and the lens a marvel of minimized distortion. The 617 will be relatively difficult to use, and requires care to avoid distortion. It is very expensive, given its limited usefulness. Then again it provides a view that is hard to match without going large format.

 

CXC

[rolleica_bean]

Suggest you go get a Fuji TX-1 or Hassy X-PAN. More practical.

You can find in Tin-Chung new set of TX-1 with 45 for only HKD9900.

They carry Linhof 617 as well, check the real thing, you will know which to go.