My equipment
Anoraksia...
I'm wary of the tendency to "anoraksia" amongst photographers – a concentration on equipment is ultimately unhealthy. The camera and lenses are simply tools, the brand doesn't really matter, what does is whether the gear does what you want it to.
That being said, I know that there is also a healthy aspect to an interest in the gear used by professionals, such as myself. This knowledge can be used by people to make informed decisions about what might suit them. Please read on to find out more about why I've chosen the gear that I use.
A little history...
I've been using Linhofs since I bought my first large format camera in 1983. Back in those days I had Technika Mark IV.
I really loved this camera but found that various aspects of the design were restricting the images that I could make. The Mark I camera was designed back in the 1930's and was originally used as a press camera. Whilst incredibly robust and compact the clamshell design meant that using lenses wider than 90mm became a real fiddle (I should point out that later versions addressed this restriction though not completely successfully in my opinion). The other problem arises when using graduated filters. The folding baseboard can stop you dropping an ND grad as far as you might wish. The way around this is to drop the bed and use tilt and rise on the front standard to give you room below the lens. This all takes time and I found it a little frustrating.
One thing that you can definitely say about Technikas is that they hold their value well – I part-exchanged mine for the same price that I had paid for it 18 years earlier!
Current camera
I made the change to a Technikardan 45 S in 2001 and have never found its design a restriction. The range and number of movements available on this camera mean that you're much more likely to find yourself on the edge of your lenses capabilities than to find the camera restrictive.
Movements:
Front standard: 50mm rise/20mm fall, unlimited swing and tilt
Rear standard: 50mm rise, unlimited swing and tilt
The hybrid folding monorail design means that the camera is compact. Many people say that it is complicated and time consuming to set up and break down but I find that it is simplicity itself and infinitely easier than a folding baseboard camera such as an Ebony. Although it is heavier than a wooden camera I find the build quality and engineering to be worth the slight weight penalty. When everything else is loaded into the pack the extra kilo makes very little difference.
The Gear:
Linhof Technikardan 45 Mark II
90mm Rodenstock Grandagon N f4.5
150mm Schneider Apo-Symmar f5.6
210mm Schneider Apo-Symmar f5.6
270mm Nikon T*ED f6.3
400mm Fujinon T f8
Minolta Flashmeter VI
Fuji Quickload film back
Film: Velvia 50 Mark II Quickload
Gitzo carbon fibre tripod G1327
Manfrotto 410 geared tripod head
LEE Filters: 0.3, 0.45, 0.6, 0.75, 0.9 ND graduated
Heliopan 105mm warmtone polariser
Paramo darkcloth
Lowepro Super Trekker AW II
Waterproof clothing by Paramo
Buff by Buff
Handkerchief by Paul Smith
Socks and pants by M&S
