I just got a nice deal on a Linhof Technika V, so I'm selling off my quirky but very functional modified prewar Technika II, if anyone is interested in a rugged, but relatively lightweight, inexpensive 4x5" camera.
The early Technikas are usually avoided, because they were 9x12cm cameras and used lensboards that are no longer made, but this one has had a 4x5" Graflok conversion, and I've made a bunch of wooden lensboards for it, so it's quite functional. With the Graflock back it can take Grafmatic holders, rollfilm backs, and other accessories. Also has a fresnel for brighter viewing with the folding hood.
Notable flaws are--the accessory shoe has been removed, and someone drilled a 1/4" hole in the top, perhaps to mount some accessory, but neither of these affect the operation of the camera. Not a flaw per se, but there are a few infinity stops filed into the bed, and it seems there are a few that have been filled in with epoxy. You can file your own stops if you want them, and fill in the old ones with epoxy if they are in the way.
The camera has a revolving back and 17" triple-extension bellows in good shape, and the bellows isn't stretched to the limit at full extension, so all movements are available. Rear tilt and swing, just like later Technikas. Bed has +/- 15 deg. drop (for wide lenses) or rise. Front standard has geared focus, geared rise and fall, and geared lateral shift, and 15 deg. backward tilt, so that if you drop the bed for use with a 90mm lens, you can tilt the front standard back to plumb and use front rise to recenter the lens. To get front forward tilt, you can drop the bed, raise the lens, and get up to 15 deg. forward tilt. Alternately, you can do indirect front tilts and swings by tilting or swinging the back and releveling the camera. There is a bullet level on the camera body and two levels on the bed.
A few attractions that this one has over even my new Tech V are--front fall (modern Technikas have to be turned upside down to do this directly), geared shift (modern Technikas just slide freely), and it's lighter and more compact as a field camera, not having a rangefinder. Frankly the metal Graflex folding hood is also better than the Linhof, with its folding leather blinds that tend to wear out and get in the way.
I paid $350 for it and would like to sell it for the same price plus shipping.
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