philosomatographer
Well-known
Just to chip in, I am a regular user of a late second-series (fixed-lens) Linhof Technorama 617S with multi-coated Super-Angulon XL lens.
I don't think you'd pick one up for much less than $3000, otherwise you are getting a great bargain. When it comes to the results, one can make the same arguments as, say, a Leica MP body compared to a Cosina Voigtlander R4m. With the same great lens, assuming all is in tune, both will render an identical image.
A Leica M body has a certain craftsmanship about it, however, and the same goes for a Linhof - it's simply beautifully built, and should last forever. You have to decide if it's worth it to you. Personally, I think that the bigger challenge lies in taming the 3:1 format. And remember, these are huge cameras, "small" as they may be for something that shoots the same film area as a 4x5in view camera.
Note: the Fuji cameras have rather "cheap" shutters with a fixed lifespan, hence the shutter counters built into most of the cameras. When they die, they need to be replaced. Most of the other options using standard LF shutters (Linhof, Fotoman, Gaoersi, etc) do not have this problem.
Anyway, I personally adore the format, and when I shoot black and white, I usually load my Technorama up with Ilford HP5, and shoot with the centre filter, pretending that I have ISO100 film loaded. Very hand-holdable in good light (this shot was hand-held, shot at f/16) and of unbelievably high technical quality, I don't think any other hand-held camera could easily match it:
click here to see image, too wide to display inline without annoying fellow forum readers
However, with colour slide film, on a tripod, is what I think this camera is best at. Before my technorama, I had never known how good an MC Schneider Super-Angulon XL lens is, it's simply unreal. At least as good as any modern Mamiya C-series lens for 6x7cm, but over the whole 6x17cm frame, and zero detectible aberration of any kind I know of. The complete lack of distortion is especially remarkable, and despite what Schneider says, the lens is actually very good wide open already, remember this is a huge piece of film, so softness due to lens abberration does not show up unless you make vast enlargements. I have a number of images where I was forced to shoot at f/5.6, at infinity, and the resolution is extremely good across the frame. But at f/16, it really sings (it's as if every last leaf is clearly rendered in the foliage in this shot, looking at the slide or the 120 Megapixel scan):
(This is a shot straight in to the sun, not many lenses can maintain contrast like this in the shadow areas. The secondary reflection was caused by the Cokin X-Pro grad ND filter I had to shoot through to tame the dynamic range)
A Technorama 617S is a superlative camera, but very expensive, you kind of need to view it as a long-term "investment", it's certainly built to last. But you need to be sure you like the 3:1 to begin with.
And remember that you can indeed get this fabulous lens performance on a much cheaper body if you need to. Linhof have excellent, excellent customer service though - even to second-hand buyers living in third-world countries
. I have never been as impressed by a company's commitment to their clients.
I don't think you'd pick one up for much less than $3000, otherwise you are getting a great bargain. When it comes to the results, one can make the same arguments as, say, a Leica MP body compared to a Cosina Voigtlander R4m. With the same great lens, assuming all is in tune, both will render an identical image.
A Leica M body has a certain craftsmanship about it, however, and the same goes for a Linhof - it's simply beautifully built, and should last forever. You have to decide if it's worth it to you. Personally, I think that the bigger challenge lies in taming the 3:1 format. And remember, these are huge cameras, "small" as they may be for something that shoots the same film area as a 4x5in view camera.
Note: the Fuji cameras have rather "cheap" shutters with a fixed lifespan, hence the shutter counters built into most of the cameras. When they die, they need to be replaced. Most of the other options using standard LF shutters (Linhof, Fotoman, Gaoersi, etc) do not have this problem.
Anyway, I personally adore the format, and when I shoot black and white, I usually load my Technorama up with Ilford HP5, and shoot with the centre filter, pretending that I have ISO100 film loaded. Very hand-holdable in good light (this shot was hand-held, shot at f/16) and of unbelievably high technical quality, I don't think any other hand-held camera could easily match it:
click here to see image, too wide to display inline without annoying fellow forum readers
However, with colour slide film, on a tripod, is what I think this camera is best at. Before my technorama, I had never known how good an MC Schneider Super-Angulon XL lens is, it's simply unreal. At least as good as any modern Mamiya C-series lens for 6x7cm, but over the whole 6x17cm frame, and zero detectible aberration of any kind I know of. The complete lack of distortion is especially remarkable, and despite what Schneider says, the lens is actually very good wide open already, remember this is a huge piece of film, so softness due to lens abberration does not show up unless you make vast enlargements. I have a number of images where I was forced to shoot at f/5.6, at infinity, and the resolution is extremely good across the frame. But at f/16, it really sings (it's as if every last leaf is clearly rendered in the foliage in this shot, looking at the slide or the 120 Megapixel scan):
(This is a shot straight in to the sun, not many lenses can maintain contrast like this in the shadow areas. The secondary reflection was caused by the Cokin X-Pro grad ND filter I had to shoot through to tame the dynamic range)
A Technorama 617S is a superlative camera, but very expensive, you kind of need to view it as a long-term "investment", it's certainly built to last. But you need to be sure you like the 3:1 to begin with.
And remember that you can indeed get this fabulous lens performance on a much cheaper body if you need to. Linhof have excellent, excellent customer service though - even to second-hand buyers living in third-world countries
. I have never been as impressed by a company's commitment to their clients.
Frank Petronio
Well-known
I've used the Fuji 6x17 and well it is nice camera, it feels about the same quality as their GW and GSW line -- then I used my friend's Linhof 6x12 (which is like the 6x17 only not as wide).
The Linhof is just a much nicer quality camera. Whether it is worth the extra cost is up to you to decide.
The Linhof is just a much nicer quality camera. Whether it is worth the extra cost is up to you to decide.
Debusti Paolo
Well-known
Great pics!!!I like them!I decided to buy a linhof 612 (panoramic and maybe more portable than a 617 camera with a super angulon 75 or 90 but F5,6!).I've seen a pair of auction on e+ay (Both in England!!!) ended for 1200/1500 euro!).Now i'm saving money for it!!!!I've seen a 612 pc II body for 600/700 euro but I DO NOT KNOW where to buy a used lens for itJust to chip in, I am a regular user of a late second-series (fixed-lens) Linhof Technorama 617S with multi-coated Super-Angulon XL lens.
I don't think you'd pick one up for much less than $3000, otherwise you are getting a great bargain. When it comes to the results, one can make the same arguments as, say, a Leica MP body compared to a Cosina Voigtlander R4m. With the same great lens, assuming all is in tune, both will render an identical image.
A Leica M body has a certain craftsmanship about it, however, and the same goes for a Linhof - it's simply beautifully built, and should last forever. You have to decide if it's worth it to you. Personally, I think that the bigger challenge lies in taming the 3:1 format. And remember, these are huge cameras, "small" as they may be for something that shoots the same film area as a 4x5in view camera.
Note: the Fuji cameras have rather "cheap" shutters with a fixed lifespan, hence the shutter counters built into most of the cameras. When they die, they need to be replaced. Most of the other options using standard LF shutters (Linhof, Fotoman, Gaoersi, etc) do not have this problem.
Anyway, I personally adore the format, and when I shoot black and white, I usually load my Technorama up with Ilford HP5, and shoot with the centre filter, pretending that I have ISO100 film loaded. Very hand-holdable in good light (this shot was hand-held, shot at f/16) and of unbelievably high technical quality, I don't think any other hand-held camera could easily match it:
click here to see image, too wide to display inline without annoying fellow forum readers
However, with colour slide film, on a tripod, is what I think this camera is best at. Before my technorama, I had never known how good an MC Schneider Super-Angulon XL lens is, it's simply unreal. At least as good as any modern Mamiya C-series lens for 6x7cm, but over the whole 6x17cm frame, and zero detectible aberration of any kind I know of. The complete lack of distortion is especially remarkable, and despite what Schneider says, the lens is actually very good wide open already, remember this is a huge piece of film, so softness due to lens abberration does not show up unless you make vast enlargements. I have a number of images where I was forced to shoot at f/5.6, at infinity, and the resolution is extremely good across the frame. But at f/16, it really sings (it's as if every last leaf is clearly rendered in the foliage in this shot, looking at the slide or the 120 Megapixel scan):
(This is a shot straight in to the sun, not many lenses can maintain contrast like this in the shadow areas. The secondary reflection was caused by the Cokin X-Pro grad ND filter I had to shoot through to tame the dynamic range)
A Technorama 617S is a superlative camera, but very expensive, you kind of need to view it as a long-term "investment", it's certainly built to last. But you need to be sure you like the 3:1 to begin with.
And remember that you can indeed get this fabulous lens performance on a much cheaper body if you need to. Linhof have excellent, excellent customer service though - even to second-hand buyers living in third-world countries
thegman
Veteran
For lenses, why not get some advice here:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/
Or maybe email Linhof and ask. Of course, there is always eBay, the classifieds here, and also this chap:
http://klyment.org/serendipity/
I don't know him, just read his blog, but he often has some stuff for sale.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/
Or maybe email Linhof and ask. Of course, there is always eBay, the classifieds here, and also this chap:
http://klyment.org/serendipity/
I don't know him, just read his blog, but he often has some stuff for sale.
Debusti Paolo
Well-known
THANKS,
but on eBay I've seen only complete camera and never seen a lens for a linhof 612....
maybe I'll mail ti linhof but I think that it will be better to buy a cmera like this.... ebay item 180448612518!! and maybe CLA once arrived!). But if I'll find a good lens I'll buy it!!thegman
Veteran
That looks like a nice camera, but I don't know anything about them, so don't listen to much I say!
As far as I know you don't need to get a lens especially for the Technorama, many different large format lenses will fit, maybe Google around for a compatibility list, or maybe look at Gaoersi's website, they have a list of lenses compatible with their cameras, which I understand are similar.
Also, I'm not sure a CLA will be all that required, there is no range finder to drift or anything like that, it'll probably work just fine out of the box!
As far as I know you don't need to get a lens especially for the Technorama, many different large format lenses will fit, maybe Google around for a compatibility list, or maybe look at Gaoersi's website, they have a list of lenses compatible with their cameras, which I understand are similar.
Also, I'm not sure a CLA will be all that required, there is no range finder to drift or anything like that, it'll probably work just fine out of the box!
Debusti Paolo
Well-known
I've seen that the linhof612 pc II are quite popular in UK but I think they use particular lenses(but I'm not sure!!!) and they can be interchangeable (althought they are expensive!!!). I've saved about 1500 euro for this type of camera..if you find one please drop me a line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!