Technikarden 45S and Master Technika 2000

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Currently debating investment in a Linhof Technikarden 45S or Master Technika 2000. Subject matter will be landscapes. Will be packing extended distances on foot. Lens preference leans to wide and ultra wide but will ultimately employ a full range of lenses. Would like feedback from Landscape Photographers "who are actually using, or have used both of these cameras"... your likes/dislikes... comments on the features and benefits of each. Also...I know that Mr. Salomon is the HP product expert; but, who is the person equally enthusiastic about Linhof on the retail side. My sincere thanks for taking time to respond.

-- Steve Baggett (sjbmusic@bellsouth.net), January 24, 2000

Answers

I think you will have a difficult time finding many photographers with extensive experience with both cameras. They are mutually exclusive for most of us, if only due to price. Having used the Master Technica and models V, IV and III, I like the Technica series. It does most of what I need for landscape & general shooting both. When I need longer bellows, I use an extension lens board(either commercially or home made) and get over the shorter bellows this way. The cameras are bombproof & will survive well in conditions where you get injured. The Technikardans are excellent, as I have seen from friends who have them. I would love one but having one of each isn't feasible. So, I stick with my technica & use it a lot. In buying either camera you won't go wrong. Many excellent images have been shot with both models. The 2000 should be as good or 'better' than anything Linhof has made to date in this type of camera. The Technikardans should hold up for a long time as well. It mainly comes down to personal preference & that may be nothing more than buying one & learning to use it well & seeing if you are missing shots the other would give you.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), January 24, 2000.

Perhaps you should contact John Sexton.

he owns the 2000 and the Technikardan. Although he may have the older TK.

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), January 24, 2000.


Steve, If you've read some of the other threads on this site, then you'll know what I'm about to say, but here it is anyway.

I've only used the TK45, and an older model at that. But I like it very much, particularly the range of lenses that can be used with minimal fussing. I work with 90-600 mm (tele at the long end, but 360 mm + extension). I use a bag bellows for the 90.

But in some threads, you'll read complpaints from users who find the camera difficult to work with. It's all very personal.

I strongly recommend that you rent both cameras with a lens and try them, yourself. You may find that one fits your stle more than the other.

Good luck, Bruce

-- Bruce M. Herman (bherman@gci.net), January 29, 2000.


Steve,

not only is it subjective, but you must consider the source as well. there are postings from Technikardan users who sold their beautiful camera because they could not fold/unfold it without great difficulty and trauma. and so, I thought I would clock the operation. not only could I leave the lens on, but folded the camera in seven seconds, fitting perfectly in my OutPack main compartment. seven seconds, and for that difficult task, I have German perfection, markings on all movements, detents, back-locks, and the smoothest of movements imaginable. am I happy Linhof owner? you had better believe it!

-- Daniel Taylor (aviator@agalis.net), January 29, 2000.


The Master Technika 2000 costs about $2300 more than the TK45S. Some prominent landscape photographers prefer the Master Technika: Jack Dykinga, John Fielder, and JohnSexton. Some of Master technika's features are not likely to be used for landscape photography: rangerfinder focusing, cammed lenses, folding focusing hood, and wrist loop. Absent the hand grip and rangefinder focusing unit, the folded-up Master Technika 2000 is smaller and weighs slightly less. The Master technika 2000 can be carried easily in a Xone VI 4 x 5 field camera bag, but the TK45S fits too tightly. The Master Technika 2000 better protects the bellows from abrasion when being carried in a backpack. I have not had difficulty folding and unfolding the bellows of the TK45S, but I can understand why the bellows is more prone to crimping by a careless user. The Master Technika 2000 requires focusing adapters for 58/65 mm lenses, while the TK45 does not. The maximum rear lens diameter is limited to 83 mm for the Master Technika 2000. The lens boards are identical. The comparatively small dimensions of the lens boards allow several lenses to be stored with ease in a backpack. The center axis lens tilts of the TK45S greatly eases focusing, especially with wide angle lenses. I have used only a Rodenstock 75 MM and 115 wide angle lenses with the TK45S. The TK45S requires a bag bellows for these lenses. Adjustments are needed to keep the flat bed of the MT 2000 from obstructing the image when using extra wide angle lenses. The TK45S has a longer bellows, and can handle a 450-480 lens. The Master Technika 2000 is limited to a 360 telephoto lens. It is unknown to me whether Linhof sells a compendium lens hood for the Master Technika 2000. I routinely use a Linhof compendium lens hood with the TK45S to minimize flare and loss of contrast.

-- David Caldwell (caldw@aol.com), February 05, 2000.


"The maximum rear lens diameter is limited to 83 mm for the Master Technika 2000."

The TK, MT and 2000 all have the same size hole.

"It is unknown to me whether Linhof sells a compendium lens hood for the Master Technika 2000. I routinely use a Linhof compendium lens hood with the TK45S to minimize flare and loss of contrast."

The Master Technika and the 2000 use the same compendium as the TK. The mounting adapter is the only difference between a compendium for the Technikas and the TK

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), February 05, 2000.


Steve: The higher priced MT 2000 comes with an APO f5.6/150 mm cammed lens. Sinar's book on large format landscape photography favors the 150 mm as the first lens to buy. Steve Simmon's book on large format cameras reveals the author's preference for the 210 mm as the first lens to be purchased, followed by the 120 mm and 300 mm.

-- David Caldwell (caldw@aol.com), February 06, 2000.

Steve: I goofed. It was not Sinar who recommended the 150 mm as the first lens to buy for a 4 x 5 camera. I do not recall where I read that recommendation.

-- David Caldwell (caldw@aol.com), February 06, 2000.

"Steve: The higher priced MT 2000 comes with an APO f5.6/150 mm cammed lens." No Technika is supplied with a lens. This is an option of the buyer and the dealer/ There is no reason to buy a cammed lens for the 2000 as it can't use the cam since it has no rangefinder.

"Sinar's book on large format landscape photography favors the 150 mm as the first lens to buy. Steve Simmon's book on large format cameras reveals the author's preference for the 210 mm as the first lens to be purchased, followed by the 120 mm and 300 mm."

The 150 is a true normal for a 45.

The three most popular lenses for 45 are the 90mm, 150mm and 210mm.

A 120mm is not nearly as popular with the vast majority of buyers as these 3 lenses.

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), February 06, 2000.


The Master 2000 can be used with 45 mm lens without any additional accessory. The Master III, IV and V take lenses to 75 mm and require accesories for lenses of 58 and 65 mm.

-- Charles Anderson (cua@aol.com), February 07, 2000.


"The Master 2000 can be used with 45 mm lens without any additional accessory."

Actually the 2000 takes 35mm to 65mm lenses with no additional accessory.

"The Master III, IV and V take lenses to 75 mm and require accesories for lenses of 58 and 65 mm. "

For 55 to 65mm lenses on the IV, V and Master an Accessory Wide Angle Focusing Device is required.

This does not fit a III which had it's own.

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), February 07, 2000.


View Camera magazine publshed an equipment review of the MT 2000 in its May/June 1996 issue, pp. 58-61. I do not know whether it ever published a review of the TK45S.

-- David Caldwell (caldw@aol.com), February 08, 2000.

Not ot pick nits but unless he has switched in the last year or so Jack Dykinga uses an Arca Swiss Fc, the field version. If I were to own a Linhof camera it would be a TK45s.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), February 09, 2000.

I recommend the review of the Linhof Technika line of cameras, including the MT 2000, at "www.camerarequest.com." Another useful website is "www.bhphotovideo.com." It provides detailed specifications and illustrations. In addition, I recommend that you use the "google" search engine, which provides a huge listing of internet sites commenting upon the Technika and Technikardan cameras. Neither the manufacturer nor distributor (HP Marketing Corp.) provides anything of substance on the Internet relating to these cameras. The same can be said for the manufacturers and distributors of Arca-Swiss and Sinar cameras. However, I have found HP's Linhof Product Representative, Bob Salomon, very knowledgeable, accessible and helpful. You can find some of his published comments on Technika cameras at this website other than in response to your question.

-- David Caldwell (caldw@aol.com), February 27, 2000.

I suspect you mean WWW.CAMERAQUEST.COM? I tried WWW.CAMERAREQUEST.COM, and received a "could not find" message.

-- neil poulsen (neil.fg@worldnet.att.net), February 27, 2000.




-- Ed Arnett (ea@aol.com), April 09, 2000.

"

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), April 09, 2000.

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