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Linhof The Super Technika 23 Medium Format

5/5 (4 Reviews)

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Product Description

The smallest all-round technical camera, elegantly styled and built in the finest LINHOF tradition of quality and lasting reliability. This camera offers generous front standard and camera back movements with increased wide-angle efficiency and a choice of groundglass or range finder focusing.


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Reviews 1 - 4 (4 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by jamesritchieassoc a Professional

Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006

Strengths:    The Linhof 23b will accept lenses from the superlative Zeiss 53mm Biogon through about 250mm. Currently it is fitted with Schneider or Rodenstock APO types according to buyer preference. Like ordering a Bently car you have a personal choice in this and other accessories. There are many accessories. While this camera has been called expensive it seems to me that it is actually quite a bargain. How many cameras of other makes would you go through during it's lifetime of usability? The 1950 model still aquits itself quite well in the field and won't shame you with it's appearance. Porche used to be like that. Precision is it's benchmark and flexability of use its greatest strength. These cameras are seldom seen on the used market as owners die with them in hand.

Weaknesses:    Although I said the camera might not be considered expensive it does cost a lot of money. Like about $8000 for starters and up from there for more lenses and accessories. It is also not a light camera, this quality being incompatible with durability and precision. I don't consider it either bulky or heavy however. One may order the basic camera from New York but the fitted out version comes from Bavaria-Munich in fact. Actually, this gem has no weaknesses.

Bottom Line:   
The Linhof 23b Super Technika has been my right arm for the last twenty years having owned three as well as an old model III and two model IVs. I would unqualifyingly state that it is the finest camera of its type and the benchmark for virtually all cameras. To paraphrase a well know camera reviewer, it would be incorrect to say that the Linhof 23b is the Leica of medium format cameras as really the Leica aspires to be a Linhof, not the reverse. The camera is a chunk of quality with capabilities which rival monorail cameras and it has handhold possibilities. It really does shoot from the hand, and well at that. Has the best rangefinder in the world and some of the best lenses combined with enough heft to dampen the palsied hand of this Sexagenarian-enough to allow 1/30th second shots with the normal lens! On a tripod it nearly matches the best 4x5s and surpasses the rest. Easy lens interchanging with matching cam already in place, it's very convenient though not actually fast at different focal shots. The styling is world class as is the construction. Linhof's metal cutting is so good it was feared the the new owner would just dump the camera line and keep the machine shop. Fortunately not the case at all.

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $7500.00

Purchased At:   Minneapolis, MN

Similar Products Used:   Horseman 2x3 cameras are vaguely similar but really a wholly different quality.

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Tim Robinson Photography a Professional from SYDNEY AUSTRALIA

Date Reviewed: June 30, 2001

Strengths:    design,quality, looks lifetime investment.

Weaknesses:    price,at this size it can be fiddly. 4x5 version is easier to use.

Bottom Line:   
I bought mine new with my own set of camed lenses and will never sell it . I tend to use it either in the studio or in silly situations that it wasn,t designed for , like shooting a fashion story in India on it .You do tend to draw attention to your self.These cameras are not for everyone but i bought my 4x5 technica when i just left school in 1982 before even owning a car so you could say that i have grown up with Technica's.My next trip to India i will be taking my m6 leica because you do miss a lot of shots if your shooting travel shots.

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Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $8000.00

Purchased At:   Mainline

Similar Products Used:   Horsman is just a toy that won't last. Technica 5

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Emile de Leon a Expert from USA

Date Reviewed: January 11, 2001

Strengths:    Do everything camera.Moves... GREAT lenses..quality oozes...nothing better than tech 5. in 2x3 view. Tripod or hand hold...the best.

Weaknesses:    Expensive,bulky,no rain or snowing conditions,easy to make errors, nothing linked or auto.Repairs expensive if possible,call Marflex to see if repairs possible.Some finicky parts that can break easy esp.if you dont take your time and think.Get Linhof cat. in Torrington ct,usa.

Bottom Line:   
WOW!!!!!!!

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Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $1500.00

Purchased At:   TamarkinandMidwest photo(extras)

Similar Products Used:   Speed Grafic 4x5&2x3.I like Linhof 10x more!Though the ektar lens(grafic) is excellent.

Type of photography:   Fine Art

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Nelson Tan-Afuan a Intermediate from Manila, NCR Philippines

Date Reviewed: February 6, 2000

Strengths:    Portability and transportability for a 4x5 camera in any kind of assignment.

Weaknesses:    This is quite expensive?

Bottom Line:   
Technically no problem! But this camera back cannot attached digital back!

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Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Similar Products Used:   Sinar C, Sinar f2, Leica SL2, m3, M4-2,M4, M6 and Z2X; Hasselblad flexbody, 500cm & 500ELM, Nikon f90x,f2sb,fm2.

Type of photography:   Landscapes


Reviews 1 - 4 (4 Reviews Total)

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