It certainly feels like it was carved out of a solid block of WW2 tank armour. However I think the overall solidity of the camera justifies its weight. However on my first try out with it today I found it was easy enough with a little ingenuity - and I speak as someone who much prefers tilting and swinging the back standard rather than the front.
Mine is astonishingly rigid, with no discernable free play in anything whatsoever - something I certainly couldn't say for my Tachihara 8x10!Ī Technika has some idiosyncrasies as compared with most LF cameras, and even with other technical cameras - for example, its unusal back movement design is not liked by many.
The IV ended production in the early 60's, so they're all fairly elderly, but as I can confirm the engineering is first rate, and if anything is going to last forty odd years and still be in full working order a Technika will. There was a big change in specifications in going from the III to the IV, and it is the first model with full front movements and which also takes many of the spares made for the modern versions - something that's obviously quite important if you need to replace a ground glass or bellows, for example. For those looking for a relatively inexpensive but high quality entry into LF the Mk IV seems to be the one to go for.
The Linhof Technika name covers a series of technical cameras produced over many decades - Marks I - V, and the current MasterTechnika Classic and 2000 models. Focusing slide for macro or stereo photography.We've had people here asking about inexpensive entry models for LF here a few times over the years, so I thought I'd give a little run down and a few first thoughts about the Technika IV.Cine Rollex back for 53, 56 x 72 roll-film.Super Rollex back for 10, 56 x 72 on 120 roll-film.Super Rollex back for 6 x 9 on 120 roll-film.Also the frames were applicable to the 56 x 72 mm image size. Cams could be supplied for different lens focal-lengths but the frames shown in the finder were fixed to these options. There were different versions for different lens combinations: 65-100-180 mm, 53-80-180 mm and 53-100-180 mm. For technical use there is a full set of movements to the front and rear standards together with a drop-bed and a bellows extension enabling macro (and long-focus) use. It was especially suitable for location work in the areas of industrial and commercial photography.įor hand-held use the camera has a very large finder showing frames for three lenses, combined with the finder is a coupled rangefinder. The Linhof Technika 70 was intended for both hand-held and tripod-mounted work, it has aspects of fast-handling press cameras and technical stand cameras. 6308/7 "Lens Shade/filter Holder and Filters", No. 6603/11 "Important Information on Filters", No. Linhof orange filter, 51 mm screw fit for 180 mm lens. Linhof 70 mm diameter filters to fit lens shade: UV, Yellow, Orange, Red.Lens shade with adapters for all lenses.Super Rollex back for 6 x 9 cm exposures on 120 roll-film. 3 double dark-slides, 6.5 x 9 cm, in boxes.Spring back with Fresnel focusing screen. Sliding baffle for incident light measurement.įocusing lock. Selenium exposure meter, match needle type.
Vertical plumb indicator in viewfinder.Īuto-stop on film advance when using Super Rollex back. Indicator in finder shows limit of parallax compensation. Frames also show field reduction for close focus. Bright-line direct-vision view-finder with outline for 53 mm, 100 mm, 180 mm lenses, there was a switch to turn off the 180 mm frame. Lenses coupled via interchangeable cam matched to individual lens. Infinity catches for each lens.Īttributes: Coupled rangefinder, swing prism, active to 2 ½ feet. X, M flash synchronisation.Ĭonstruction: Metal body, leather bellows.įormat: 6 x 9 cm exposures on 120 roll-film.įocusing: Bellows. Shutter: Synchro-Compur, speeds 1 - 1/500, B. Convertible lens comprising: two f12, 175 mm groups, iris to f45. Lens: f5.6, 100 mm Schneider Symmar, iris diaphragm to f45.