Pete Askew
Admin
I had to pop into work today and, as I had few minutes to spare, I decided to do something I've been meaning to do for some time - take some shots of our Master Technika.
This camera, unlike the MPP (http://www.realphotographersforum.c...p-mark-vii-type-b-micro-technical-camera.html) and the Speed Graphic (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/4140-1947-speed-graphic.html), is still being made. Mine is a mid to late 80s version and essentially identical to the current Classic model (Linhof Master Technika classic). Like the MPP it is a folding, portable, metal technical / field camera. However, it has slightly more movements and a large range of accessories that make it a very practical system and can be hand held with more ease.
Here you can see the basic camera with the lens extended and the daylight viewing hood fitted.
It is fitted with a Schneider Apo Symmar 210mm f 1:5.6 lens.
And an ergonomic grip.
The viewing hoods are part metal and part cloth and can be a pain as they flop in when they've been stored a while. Handy for working off tripod outside though. They unclip so a cloth and loupe can be used. Like the MPP and Speed Graphic, they are also equipped with a linked range-finder although you need the right focus cam for the focal length of lens you are using. These are simple to change.
One of the problems with folding cameras like this is when focusing wide angle lenses as the carrier detaches from the focusing rails when it is close to the back to facilitate folding. To overcome this, Linhof make a wide angle lens adapter. This fits in place of a standard lens board and has its own bellows. It takes smaller lens panels than the normal 5x4 ones and these have a central hole rather than an offset one. Here it is fitted with a 75mm lens
Another option is an accessory viewfinder than can be adjusted to match the focal length being used and parallax.
Like the later Speed Graphics and the MPP, although the native format is 5" x 4" sheet film, the back can be detached to allow other backs to be fitted, even digital! Here is the camera with the back removed - a task that takes about 2 seconds.
And with a 6x9 cm roll film back fitted (there are many to choose from although 6x7 and 6x9 are the most common).
When you've finished, the camera can be quickly folded up for transport and storage.
The shot above shows the secondary tripod mount which is useful when you want to use a substantial amount of tilt and to drop the lens board below the normal arrangement shown above.
And this is the case it lives in along with accessories and a range of lenses.
The Linhof lens panel is used by a number of cameras including Ebony and so is a useful standard to use. It is quite a small panel and there are also adapters that allow you to fit the panels to cameras that have larger standards and I have adapters for my Sinar and Cambo cameras although some lenses are also kept in their native mounts as they are too bulky for use on most portable cameras.
Being Linhof, these cameras are beautifully made and a joy to use.
This camera, unlike the MPP (http://www.realphotographersforum.c...p-mark-vii-type-b-micro-technical-camera.html) and the Speed Graphic (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/4140-1947-speed-graphic.html), is still being made. Mine is a mid to late 80s version and essentially identical to the current Classic model (Linhof Master Technika classic). Like the MPP it is a folding, portable, metal technical / field camera. However, it has slightly more movements and a large range of accessories that make it a very practical system and can be hand held with more ease.
Here you can see the basic camera with the lens extended and the daylight viewing hood fitted.
It is fitted with a Schneider Apo Symmar 210mm f 1:5.6 lens.
And an ergonomic grip.
The viewing hoods are part metal and part cloth and can be a pain as they flop in when they've been stored a while. Handy for working off tripod outside though. They unclip so a cloth and loupe can be used. Like the MPP and Speed Graphic, they are also equipped with a linked range-finder although you need the right focus cam for the focal length of lens you are using. These are simple to change.
One of the problems with folding cameras like this is when focusing wide angle lenses as the carrier detaches from the focusing rails when it is close to the back to facilitate folding. To overcome this, Linhof make a wide angle lens adapter. This fits in place of a standard lens board and has its own bellows. It takes smaller lens panels than the normal 5x4 ones and these have a central hole rather than an offset one. Here it is fitted with a 75mm lens
Another option is an accessory viewfinder than can be adjusted to match the focal length being used and parallax.
Like the later Speed Graphics and the MPP, although the native format is 5" x 4" sheet film, the back can be detached to allow other backs to be fitted, even digital! Here is the camera with the back removed - a task that takes about 2 seconds.
And with a 6x9 cm roll film back fitted (there are many to choose from although 6x7 and 6x9 are the most common).
When you've finished, the camera can be quickly folded up for transport and storage.
The shot above shows the secondary tripod mount which is useful when you want to use a substantial amount of tilt and to drop the lens board below the normal arrangement shown above.
And this is the case it lives in along with accessories and a range of lenses.
The Linhof lens panel is used by a number of cameras including Ebony and so is a useful standard to use. It is quite a small panel and there are also adapters that allow you to fit the panels to cameras that have larger standards and I have adapters for my Sinar and Cambo cameras although some lenses are also kept in their native mounts as they are too bulky for use on most portable cameras.
Being Linhof, these cameras are beautifully made and a joy to use.
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