Linhof Questions from a complete LF beginner

[stuart_todd]

I've got a couple of questions regarding the Linhof Technika field

camera and it's lenes. Of all the large format cameras we have

available to use at university, it seems to be the ugly duckling

compared to the Horseman view cameras. So far I�m the only brave soul

who�s keen on using it, but no one else knows much about it�

 

Firstly, is the Technika field camera any good for architectural

photography? It does have limited back movements, but if I recall you

don't need much in the way of back movements for architectural work.

Or should I stick with the view cameras?

 

Secondary, how good are the Linhof lenses? The technicians who look

after the faculty gear once referred to them as a "pieces of sh*t".

But they seem to bear the Schneider name them, and here's me thinking

that Schneider made good LF lenses???

 

Thirdly, one of the lenses in the Linhof kit is marked Symmar

1:5.6/150 in white lettering, then followed by 1:12/265 in green

lettering. On the back of the lens there seems to be a rear element

that screws off, with the 12/265 in green lettering. I'm guessing

that this lens can either be used as either a 150mm or a 265mm lens?

Yes?, No? If Yes, please tell me how.

 

Fourthly, there is this blade thingy under the rails that look's like

it was ripped out of a swiss army knife. From what I've found it

controls the rangefinder as you're suppose to change the 'blade' for

the different focal lengths. I'm finding the 'blade' more of a

hindrance then a help, I don't use the rangefinder and when I do

macro work or when using a non-Linhof lens on the Technika,

the 'blade' slips out of place and jams the rails when winding the

rails back into the body. Which usually ends up with me swearing and

having to stick my fingers in under the bellows to hold it back as I

wind the rails back. Will the camera still operate properly (minus

rangefinder) with the 'blade' removed?

 

Big thanks in advance to any Linhof know-it-all can help me.

Kind regards,

 

Stu :)

[brian_ellis3]

I'm not a "Linhof know-it-all" but I'm familiar with the cameras, so here goes:

 

Assuming your school didn't spring for the $3000 to $4000 needed to buy a Linhof Master Technika or Master 2000 I'll assume your camera is a Linhof III, IV, or V. These cameras can be used for architecture to some extent but they aren't the ideal architectural camera. The problem is that the shortest focal length lens that can be used and still have room for movements is a 90mm lens. A 75mm lens can be used but it's inconvenient and there's no room for movements. Lenses shorter than 90mm and movements are often needed for architectural photography so that's why it isn't the ideal camera for architecture. Despite that, I used my Technika V with a 90mm lens for architecutre occasionally and it worked fine, it's just a question of the specific situation with which you're dealing.

 

Linhof didn't (and doesn't) mnake lenses. Linhof selected certain Schneider lenses with closer manufacturing tolerances than Schneider's, did a few things to them the details of which I no longer remember, and then added the Linhof name. These lenses are known as "Linhof select" lenses and often command a 10% or so premium in the used lens market.

 

Your guess is correct, you have an older double convertible lens. At its normal 150mm configuration the lens should be just fine for most purposes if it hasn't been beaten up by years of student use. To use it as a 265mm lens remove the front element (I think it's the front element, I haven't used this particular lens but that's how the convertibles I have used worked, someone can corrrect me if it's the back element that's removed for this particular lens). The performance as a 265 almost certainly isn't as good as at 150mm but it might be acceptable and it can be improved if you hold a yellow or orange filter in front of the shutter while the photograph is made.

 

The blade thingy is a cam used for rangefinder focusing. You don't need it for ground glass focusing so you can safely remove it.

[upscan]

Stuart: Luckily you went to university to be taught by professors and not by the technicians that look after the photo equipment. As a blanket statement, the comment on Linhof lenses is false, though it may be true of the specific lenses they have at your school. That symmar you refer to is a very old design, a symmar convertible, probably over 30 years old. So called Linhof lenses are the cream of production from Schneider or Rodenstock, reason why they are so expensive. The technika is possibly the best field camera ever built, although in its initial incarnations it may be rather cumbersome. If the camera is as old as the symmar, yes it would be an ugly duckling. The cam you refer to is only needed for rangefinder use. You will not need it otherwise. For architectural use, other cameras are more versatile and give you more of the movements that you will need. To take advantage of the movements you will need the lenses to go with, which should have adequate coverage. Hopefully the school can provide you with better lenses than that ancient symmar, and better technicians.

[michael_briggs2]

<p>As others have already said, your guess that the Symmar is intended to be convertible is correct. You can remove either the front or rear element -- LF photographers argue about which is best. Removing the front is optically better, and an original Symmar brochure that I have makes it clear that this was Schneider's intent.</p>

 

<p>The Symmar was a top-of-the-line professional quality lens 40 some years ago. For normal lenses for LF photography, the quality improvements over the years are less than for many other types of lenses. Many famous photographs have been taken with lesser lenses. If you are curious, you can date it from the serial number with the table at <a href="http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/age_of_lenses/">http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/age_of_lenses/</a>.</p>

 

<p>Some previous threads on this lens: <i>schneider convertible</i> at <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0039CM">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0039CM</a>, <i>How Do I Use a Schneider Convertable Symmar?</i> at <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0038gX">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0038gX</a>, <i>Schneider-Kreuznach 'Symmar' 150/265 convertable</i> at <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=003Csv">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=003Csv</a> and <i>Schneider 180mm/5.6 convertible .... is it "too old"?</i> at <a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005Qnz">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005Qnz</a></p>