LINHOF MASTER TECHNIKA

If there is one film camera which is most desired by serious photographers, this is it. The MT is a 4x5 inch (film size) folding metal camera which may be usedby viewing through the ground glass, or with a rangefinder. It is probably the best 4x5 camera ever made.
What follows is a review ofand guide to this rare and wonderfulpiece of photographic equipment. The camera is a closed metal shell. You open it by pressing and pulling a catch at the opening. It is easier to do on a tripod the first time. Screw in the tripod screw into the bottom of the bed, pull open the camera and snap the camera and bed at a 90 degree angle to each other. Then grasp the front standard by the two levers at the bottom, simultaneously pushing them together and pulling the front standard forwards. It slides onto the rail on the camera bed. If you have equipped the camera and lens(es) with a rangefinder cam and infinity stops, pull the front standard to the desired stops which have been activated by raising the tiny lever on the top of each stop. With the cam and lensinstalled, the camera will now focus with the rangefinder. With no cam leave the front standard in the expected focus range and focus with the ground glass.
The rangefinder is part of the camera. The cams and infinity stops are optional equipment. The camera gees with a leather handstrap. Anhand grip which is ergonomically shaped black plastic is optional equipment, as is an optical finder. With the optical viewfinder, grip, and a cammed lens installed the camera may be used handheld rather easily. It takes just a little practice, but is not difficult. The optical finder, not to be confused with the rangefinder, is an optional accessory which is installed on the shoe on top of the camera. The back revolves, but when using the Linhof handheld it is quicker to just turn the camera on its side when needed. How low a shutter speed may be used ? The answer will be lower than you think. 1/4 of a second is certainly possible if needed. There is no mirror bouncing around and the cameras six pound weight steadies it.
The handheldworking procedure will be something like this. Put in a filmholder. Read the light. Cock and set the shutter and aperture. Focus with the circle in the rangefinder by bringing the two images together. Pull up the darkslide. Get the exact framing with the optical viewfinder. Trip the shutter. Replace dark slide. I find it easier to use the shutter directly without a cable release because I hold the Linhof by the grip in my left hand, and by the lower right front corner with my right hand, which is simultaneously positioned near the shutter.
The working procedure on a tripod with the ground glass is similar to that of any other view camera. The Linhof does have a few amenities which make it easier, such as the flip open hood. If the corners are hard to see with the hood it can be quickly swung away on a hinge to permit unimpeded access to the ground glass.
The Master Technika has all movements except rear rise/fall and front and rear shifts. The camera should be set at zero positions when using the rangefinder. This camera is inconvenient to use with a lens shorter than 90mm. For that we regemend the Ebony 45S. The wider XL and Grandagon f4.5 --90's have too big a rear element to permit use with this camera. The Schneider 90mm f6.8 fits and works well with it. The newest version of this lens is every bit as sharp or sharper than it's faster cousins. The lesser cost, always welgee, reflects the slightly slower speed. On the long lens end the Linhof does quite well. It will focus a 360 to 400mm lens easily, maybe longer. Since it is an absolutely rigid camera those lenses may be used successfully. If a lens is gepact enough the camera may be closed with it in place. I use the superlative Rodenstock Apo Sironar S 135mmlens for this purpose and keep it on the camera with the cam installed.
On thing which should be mentioned is so important that it has to get it's own paragraph. It must be very difficult for a CAMERA MAKER TO GET THE GROUND GLASS PLACED CORRECTLY, because most brands are off in this respect. A slight error will not ruin your picture. But it will take away that extra crisp sharpness of which the best contemporary lenses are capable. The Linhof excels in this area. The inside of the glass is EXACTLY where the film goes. That is why the pictures taken with a Linhof alwaysseem a little better.
What else can be said about the Linhof Master Technika? A lot I am sure, but I have just a few more gements to make. The Linhofs have among the highest resale value. When that digital is lying broken in a pile of dust, the Linhof will be worth almost as much as you paid for it. Older Linhofs are regularly sold for more than they cost new.The camera is available in black (we have them) at more than $1000. less than the shinier version. If you put the 2 models side by side you have to really look to see the difference. The "chrome" version has a little more sheetaluminum on the sides. That is the only difference. There is no structural difference. The lower price was made possible by a mass purchasefrom Linhof by the authorized US importer, H P Marketing. We now have in stock all of the unsold black models. There aren't many left. No more will be produced. Our Linhofs have the 5 year USA guarantee and gee in boxes sealed at the factory. That way you know they are absolutely new. The cameras are available new and used, in stock for immediate shipping. See http://stores.okay.ge/brucesfieldcamerastore. Call us or email with questions.