The V doesn't have that rear linkage either Roger, it came with the Master.
$1000 for a V w lens is good deal so long as it's not trashed.
Roughly speaking and in the USA, I would pay $1300 for a good V with a newer bellows and no issues. About $1000 for a IV, about $600 for a III, about $1800 for a Master.
A 1960s Linhof selected Schneider Symmar 150mm lens is worth $150-$200 in good shape. 1970s Symmar-S or 1980s Rodenstock Sironar-N another $50 to $100, a modern APO-L $350-$400. About the same for the 135mm and 210mm lenses.
The Ergo Grip is $75-$150. The older viewfinder $150, the newer Zoom finder $300-$450 (and much better than the old VF).
If the V doesn't work out, the best bang for the buck is a IV. The big difference between them is that the V has is a ratcheted rise lever that often strips its gears. The IV uses a knob, which is harder to get at with a 90mm lens but you can just extend the front, raise the front, then return the front to focus position. The IV is otherwise stronger and less expensive.
From the V onwards Linhof standardized the focusing cams so that they are interchangeable between all the cameras. But in practice most people find it still worthwhile to return their cameras and lenses to the service center to be checked and aligned even if they are using standardized cams.
The Master is more friendly to use wide angle lenses with because it has the ratcheted rise and flap on top of the main housing to allow extra rise with the bellows compressed. Whether that is worth the premium is for you to decide.
I wouldn't get a III unless it was pristine as nobody wants to work on them and they don't have an easy to use front tilt mechanism. The lensboards are a pain too.
Service can be expensive and even the newer Masters have been made for 30 years, so its bellows can be just as gummy and fried as an older model. A new bellows is at least $300, they are very thin leather and high quality in order to fold up so thin yet still have more extension than other field cameras. The Technika is really the only 4x5 folder you can hang a heavy (Copal 3 shutter, 300mm) lens on and not be worried about rigidity. The other nice thing is that with the special recessed lensboards, you can fold the thing up with relatively large lenses like the 180 Symmar in a Copal 1 or the 135 Xenotar in Compur 1. Their rangefinders are also excellent.
Besides the bellows going to Hell every 15 years or so, what else sucks is the focusing hood (leather side panels rip and flop about) and the damned weight and expense of them. Also the backs are something to watch when you buy them as there are many types of fresnels that people have tried over the years and a lot of them botched the alignment so you'll want to check them out.
I've owned four of them. The best one ever was a beater IV I bought that had a short 12-inch bellows from a Crown Graphic installed (I don't use long lenses) and also the Crown Graphic all-metal focusing hood. Stripped the horrid tan leather off and replaced it with cameraleather.com black covering. It was a very strong, almost indestructible camera.
But in general, it is like a classic car, you don't want to cheap out on the parts or servicing. The right way to get a Linhof is to send it to Marflex (the USA service center) and have Martin Ardnt (ph 1-252-652-4401) give it his $200 to $800 going over and blessing.
Right now I use a $200 Crown Graphic. It is almost half the weight and since I rarely use a lot of movements, it is functionally identical, rather like how a $100 Nikon will do everything a $3000 Leica will do. I will get another Linhof someday when I get a windfall but I think it is better to buy film and not be bothered with cameras that are too precious. Cool hobby though, wanking off to gear ;-)
