Linhof 2x3 Press camera

FrankS said:
With rear tilt, I can tilt the plane of focus for landscape shots all in focus, near to far, right?

Looks like this: http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00I/00IGLd-32712384.jpg
Click to expand...

Looks beautiful. That Planar should be quite a treat.

Basic view camera technique is to use the rear tilts for changing the shape of an object and the front tilts to change the focus place, including increasing focus distance.
http://www.trenholm.org/hmmerk/VuCamTxt.pdf

But with a little imagination it's easy to figure out how to use rear movements to achieve the same thing as front movements.
 
Frank I owned a Technika V and Technika 70 2x3. Both had a 100 planar, 180 Tele Arton and 53mm Super Angulon. The ones I had had bellows not a helical focus. The tilting back is tough to use IMO. If it's the same as the one on the cameras I had it tilts by extending posts from each corner. Basically it trs from the bottom, top and sides. This prevents using it for anything but closeup work when tilted. Honestly I'm not sure why Linhof put back movements on this type of camera. To focus to infinity you'd have to move the lens closer to the film which isn't possible with this cameta. I also used a 4x5 master Techniks for 30 years that had the same back tilts.

If your camera back is the same as the two 2x3's I had they require special backs that were only made by Linhof.

On a brighter note these are rugged cameras and are great for what they're designed for, press work. The 100 Planar is fantastic as well.

Enjoy your new camera and if you want real tilts and swings get a nice flatbed Wista, Calumer or Wisner. Also there's the Zone VI and Nagaoka at good prices. There are plenty of cheap 4x5's and cheap high quality glass to pick from and if you want to shoot roll film there are many very good roll backs at give away prices. Even if the camer doesn't have a Graflok back there are roll backs made by Calumet and others that just slide into a standard Graphic back.
 
Thanks for this trove of info, x-ray. 🙂

Crap that the camera can't focus to infinity with the top of the back extended to tilt the plane of focus.

With my style of shooting, one back will be all I need.

I've got a 4x5 Speed Graphic with 2 roll film backs, one is a Graphic brand, the other is a Linhof.
 
Linhof cameras are built to last a lifetime of hard work. They make Leicas look like toys. The Technika V 23 that I purchased came from a dealer in the Czech Republic. Somewhere in route to me a truck ran over the package. The Camera body, roll back and some accessories including Linhof glass filters were in the package. The lenses came in another package fortunately. Not only had the package been run over it had been dunked in water. There were tire marks across a water soaked package. Opening the package I expected to see a trashed camera. The tire had gone directly over the body and the edge of the back. Even my postman waited to see the damage. To our amazement there was no apparent damage. I opened the front of the body and it opened smoothly, the rails, focus and extension of the front standard were all smooth in operation and perfect. The roll back functioned perfectly and the ground glass was fine.

That afternoon I film tested it and found no issues. I thought it would be warped at best but it had survived with no issues.

Also there was no wAter damage because the seller had sealed it in plastic.

I used the camera for several years until going digital MF and sold it. I purchased a beautiful Technikardan 23S which was much better suited for a digital back.

Linhof did some crazy things unfortunately not in the customers best interest. The 2x3 roll backs are unique to Linhof. I'm not sure but think all 2x3's use a similar design where the back rotates without removing it. It's a unique design which made for a very heavy and expensive back. Graflok backs won't fit.

Also the ground glass thickness is critical. Unlike all other makers where the ground side sits on a frame in the back so any thickness of glass can be used Linhof indexed the glass from the back / smooth side so you must buy their expensive glass in order to get correct focus on the ground glass.
 
Great story and more info. Thanks!

btw, I love your human documentary photography. That pic of Popcorn Sutton with a still condenser worm is to die for.
 
Congratulations, Frank. I would love a Linhof one day. I have one of their classic tripods, which is wonderful, but it's not the same as being able to use one of their terrific cameras. That's an amazing story about the one run over by a truck, too.
 
Thanks, SC. I have a couple of Linhof tripods too. One is the Giant and the other is the Baby.

Good news about the tilting back: There is an infinity stop release to allow infinity focus with a back tilt.
 
The seller kindly sent a PDF manual.



From the pics the seller provided, it looks like the camera will be missing the viewfinder mask for a normal lens. eBay, I guess.
 
Frank,

I am also expecting one to be delivered today!

Would appreciate a copy of your manual - there are a couple on Butkus but yours has a different cover.

There is a chap on http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/ that will let you know the age of the camera if you post the serial number - search for the linhof serial thread.

Using a movement camera (even if only limited) will be new for me.

James
 
bideford said:
Frank,

I am also expecting one to be delivered today!

Would appreciate a copy of your manual - there are a couple on Butkus but yours has a different cover.

There is a chap on http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/ that will let you know the age of the camera if you post the serial number - search for the linhof serial thread.

Using a movement camera (even if only limited) will be new for me.

James
Click to expand...

Quick inspection on delivery and it turned out that only one of the three lenses matched the serials on the 3 way cam. Vendor claimed to have checked but clearly something went wrong. I'll go with the flow as a prompt refund was made on the return of goods - but it still leaves me the return shipping cost out of pocket due to (frankly) poor quality control. Given the importance of matching lenses and cams on these cameras it was a bad mistake to make. Part of me kind of thinks I was being had over but I guess I'm just glad for the refund. If the vendor reads this then perhaps they may feel generous enough to donate the same £27 shipping cost to a worthy cause......

My quest continues.....

James
 
bideford said:
Quick inspection on delivery and it turned out that only one of the three lenses matched the serials on the 3 way cam. Vendor claimed to have checked but clearly something went wrong. I'll go with the flow as a prompt refund was made on the return of goods - but it still leaves me the return shipping cost out of pocket due to (frankly) poor quality control. Given the importance of matching lenses and cams on these cameras it was a bad mistake to make. Part of me kind of thinks I was being had over but I guess I'm just glad for the refund. If the vendor reads this then perhaps they may feel generous enough to donate the same £27 shipping cost to a worthy cause......

My quest continues.....

James
Click to expand...

I've not owned this model but have had two Linhof's for many years that used cams , Technika 70 2x3 and Master Technika 4x5. I had matched cams with the Technika 70 and master but sold some lenses and went with more modern with the master. I found the cams matched the new lenses just fine. Even at wide apertures they worked well. I'm extremely critical as I used these in my commercial work for almost 30 years.

I'd suggest doing a test wide open before sending them back. You might be pleasantly surprised.
 
bideford said:
Frank,

I am also expecting one to be delivered today!

Would appreciate a copy of your manual - there are a couple on Butkus but yours has a different cover.

There is a chap on http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/ that will let you know the age of the camera if you post the serial number - search for the linhof serial thread.

Using a movement camera (even if only limited) will be new for me.

James
Click to expand...

Are you still interested, James?

Mine came today but with just the normal lens. Where are the serial numbers to check? It seems that the lens distance scale and the camera body's focus distance scale agree. That's probably good enough.
 
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