Linhof Kardan 45S Color camera and two Lenses

[german786]

Hi,

I came across Linhof Kardan 45S Color camera with Fujinon 150MM F6.3 and Wollensak 139mm F4.5 lenses. There are around 8 Film holders, Kodak Film holder as well, Tripod head and some other small accessories. I have been struggling to see through the ground glass , but i don't see nothing, i mean to say where is the viewfinder? How can you see the subject. I have used rolleiflex 2.8F and i have no idea at all about this LF stuff. It was out of passion for photography that i bought it yesterday.

Does anybody have the instruction manual for it?

Or can anybody help me and tell how to set up the camera? I don't understand where is the Viefinder. I see through ground glass, however, nothing cn be seen.

Please help

Regards German786

 

[raid]

The lens may be closed. Open up the aperture.Many lenses go down to f45.

 

[Doug]

The ground glass is the viewfinder. You should find a lever on the lens to open the shutter for viewing and focusing. You will learn a lot in exploring the capabilities of that fine camera!

 

[bolohead]

Not sure of that exact camera. See if there is a rear cap on the lens. If there is, take it off. Once it is off, then set the shutter to T or B and trip the shutter (hold it open if using B). That should allow you to see an image on the ground glass.

 

[raid]

I have the same model camera.

 

[Frank Petronio]

;-)

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

 

[maddoc]

The Fujinon-W lens series has a black plastic lever to open the the shutter for ground-glass viewing. If the lens is mounted in a direction that the aperture scale is on top that lever is on the right side when you face the camera. The lever has to be pushed all way up to open the shutter and all the way down to close the shutter and operate it as usual. Also make sure that the rear cap is not mounted and that the aperture is set to maximum. Make also sure that the distance between lens board and ground glass is approximately similar to the focal length of your lens. It is easiest to start in a dark room and trying to focus on an not to bright artificial light source (NEVER the sun !!) , that way you get a feeling for the basic settings of your fine camera.

In the future and if you plan to use your camera on a regular basis, get yourself a loupe (4x ~ 6x) and a dark cloth. Both allow for much easier and more precise framing and focusing.

 

[oftheherd]

german786 - First, welcome to RFF. Hope you have had your questions answered. There are a lot of people here with experience in LF and no doubt, that camera specifically. Don't hesitate to ask any questions, no matter how silly they may sound. Be sure all of us started out with zero knowledge and had to ask.

Let us know how you are doing.

 

[german786]

Linhof kardan 45S

Linhof kardan 45S

Hi,

Thank you very much for your positive and encouraging replies. Yes, with the help of your advices and suggestions i finally managed to set up the camera and it works great now.

If anybody is interested in this camera and can offer me something for it please let me know as i guess it is too much for me.

Regards and best wishes!

German786

 

[dperez]

Don't Knock it Till You've Tried It!

Don't Knock it Till You've Tried It!

Hi,

Thank you very much for your positive and encouraging replies. Yes, with the help of your advices and suggestions i finally managed to set up the camera and it works great now.

If anybody is interested in this camera and can offer me something for it please let me know as i guess it is too much for me.

Regards and best wishes!

German786

It's not as difficult as you think... Try joining the Large Format Photography Forum and read some of the basics. LF is way fun, and the quality is worth the trouble. Give it a try.