Thanks for an enlightening presentation. It was explained to me separately by technicians at Sinar and Linhof that the “little metal tabs“ are actually precision milled surfaces in a cast metal object. They align with similar middle surfaces on the lens standard. (There are similar interfaces at the rear standard with the ground glass frame.) These milled surfaces are integral to the collimation of the optics and image plane at the zero points. They serve a great deal more important service than just being pads or decoration. They are an assurance of complying with the ANSI standards. Your demonstration does establish quite convincingly their benefit even just as ‘pads’. And, given that there are many new marques of LF cameras where such fine tolerances are not inherent in the camera itself, ‘acceptable limits’ is probably the final arbiter.
Linhof and later version Sinar lens boards have machined registration spots to precisely and accurately locate lens to lens board then lens board to camera to extract the optical performance designed into modern view camera lenses. The same precision and accuracy is applied by Sinar and Linhof and other high quality view camera manufactures to assure the ground glass to film in film holder area register with proper accuracy and precision. This is always better on a high quality metal view camera over a wood view camera. This precision advantage of precision made metal view cameras come into their own when large lens apertures are required and consistent registration from ground glass image to film in the film holder is a must.
I'm entering large format, and I bought a 4 boards set from Luland after your video. Got them today, paid 42€ shipping to Italy included. I can't compare with anything else, but they seem pretty well made. Thanks for the suggestion! BTW I really like your channel :)
I have half a dozen lenses in original linhof boards, but I decided to get one of these Luland boards based on your review, for a lens I just bought. It arrived today and I must say, I am pleasantly surprised with this board. Beautiful fit and finish and no slop in mine. Lets see how it does in the coming years. Thanks for the review of it and making us aware.
Great comparison. Reminds me to thank you for the info about the Sinar to Linhof board adapter in one of your other videos. I took the suggestion and purchased a Luland from China on eBay. Received it just recently and the fit and finish is great. Haven't used it yet, so actual light trap performance is pending. Thanks again.
my experiance with large format is that most things need slight adjustment out-of-the-box new or used. In the case of that #0 lensboard it would be electrical tape on the backside. adapt improvise overcome. or something like that
A couple years ago when I bought my 4x5" Chamonix, I tried a variety of Technika-style lens boards from China and Japan. A few were absolutely horrible and most were OK. Then somewhere along the line, I heard about Luland boards found on eBay and that is all I use now. I order the center hole boards since my Chamonix does not need the offset style. Terry Thomas... the photographer Atlanta, Georgia USA
There are some aspects of the Luland lens boards that are better than the Linhof lens boards. The finish is equal to better than Linhof, the Linhof is cast (with casting porosity) then machined as needed, the Luland is precision CNC from solid aluminum resulting in a nice finish and identical fit. The set of four LuLand lens boards fit excellent on a Linhof Technikardan with zero issues. ~Luland lens boards, highly recommended.
It’s still $13.99 as far as I can tell. Make sure you are looking at the seller “Luland66”. There is another company selling their product at a mark up.
Hi, interesting video! In my experience there seems to be a great variety in specs on the camera side as well, so the original Technika board might face a tight or loose fit all the same... What I REALLY would like to see is a clone of the Linhof “Recessed Comfort Board” which at a whopping 300+ Éuros offers special levers and scale to make it possible to set Aperture and Shutter comfortably from outside of the hole... Cheers, R.
The closest I can find is the regular recessed board: www.ebay.com/itm/Linhof-4-5in-LF-Lens-Board-99-96mm-Recessed-11mm-copal-0-Eccentric-hole-Luland/183107619221?hash=item2aa2108995:g:eeoAAOSwn55a2aUZ
In my previous comment, I stated that as a rule, I don't buy knockoffs. However, I did buy one Luland board, for the purpose of modification, to hold an enlarger lens with a swing-in red filter as on enlargers. This is because I use one of my Technika cameras as the enlarger head within an outfit offered by LInhof decades ago. A hole that I needed to drill for the filter stem, was to go right through where the Linhof badge is fixed. With the badge removed, there was a stepped surface which needed to be flat. I'd rather drill a hole through a 3rd party board than the original, so that's what's happened.
Thanks for an enlightening presentation. It was explained to me separately by technicians at Sinar and Linhof that the “little metal tabs“ are actually precision milled surfaces in a cast metal object. They align with similar middle surfaces on the lens standard. (There are similar interfaces at the rear standard with the ground glass frame.) These milled surfaces are integral to the collimation of the optics and image plane at the zero points. They serve a great deal more important service than just being pads or decoration. They are an assurance of complying with the ANSI standards. Your demonstration does establish quite convincingly their benefit even just as ‘pads’. And, given that there are many new marques of LF cameras where such fine tolerances are not inherent in the camera itself, ‘acceptable limits’ is probably the final arbiter.
Linhof and later version Sinar lens boards have machined registration spots to precisely and accurately locate lens to lens board then lens board to camera to extract the optical performance designed into modern view camera lenses. The same precision and accuracy is applied by Sinar and Linhof and other high quality view camera manufactures to assure the ground glass to film in film holder area register with proper accuracy and precision. This is always better on a high quality metal view camera over a wood view camera. This precision advantage of precision made metal view cameras come into their own when large lens apertures are required and consistent registration from ground glass image to film in the film holder is a must.
I'm entering large format, and I bought a 4 boards set from Luland after your video. Got them today, paid 42€ shipping to Italy included. I can't compare with anything else, but they seem pretty well made. Thanks for the suggestion! BTW I really like your channel :)
I have half a dozen lenses in original linhof boards, but I decided to get one of these Luland boards based on your review, for a lens I just bought. It arrived today and I must say, I am pleasantly surprised with this board. Beautiful fit and finish and no slop in mine. Lets see how it does in the coming years. Thanks for the review of it and making us aware.
I’ve really been impressed with their quality compared to other “budget” makers.
Great comparison. Reminds me to thank you for the info about the Sinar to Linhof board adapter in one of your other videos.
I took the suggestion and purchased a Luland from China on eBay. Received it just recently and the fit and finish is great. Haven't used it yet, so actual light trap performance is pending. Thanks again.
I’ve been very happy with mine
my experiance with large format is that most things need slight adjustment out-of-the-box new or used.
In the case of that #0 lensboard it would be electrical tape on the backside.
adapt improvise overcome. or something like that
A couple years ago when I bought my 4x5" Chamonix, I tried a variety of Technika-style lens boards from China and Japan. A few were absolutely horrible and most were OK. Then somewhere along the line, I heard about Luland boards found on eBay and that is all I use now. I order the center hole boards since my Chamonix does not need the offset style.
Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
There are some aspects of the Luland lens boards that are better than the Linhof lens boards. The finish is equal to better than Linhof, the Linhof is cast (with casting porosity) then machined as needed, the Luland is precision CNC from solid aluminum resulting in a nice finish and identical fit. The set of four LuLand lens boards fit excellent on a Linhof Technikardan with zero issues.
~Luland lens boards, highly recommended.
Also please note Linhof has spatial coating inside to reduce light reflection and cheap one dose not have it!
The Chinese manufacturers (or at least the dealers) already saw your video and raise the price of the Luland. That is what you have done!!
It’s still $13.99 as far as I can tell. Make sure you are looking at the seller “Luland66”. There is another company selling their product at a mark up.
Hi, interesting video! In my experience there seems to be a great variety in specs on the camera side as well, so the original Technika board might face a tight or loose fit all the same...
What I REALLY would like to see is a clone of the Linhof “Recessed Comfort Board” which at a whopping 300+ Éuros offers special levers and scale to make it possible to set Aperture and Shutter comfortably from outside of the hole... Cheers, R.
The closest I can find is the regular recessed board: www.ebay.com/itm/Linhof-4-5in-LF-Lens-Board-99-96mm-Recessed-11mm-copal-0-Eccentric-hole-Luland/183107619221?hash=item2aa2108995:g:eeoAAOSwn55a2aUZ
The original Comfort Board you speak of it is a gem.
@@TheNakedPhotographer Amazingly, that link still works, so I bought one. Thanks.
Actually Chinese users prefer the original manufactured lensboard~~ I got no idea why the manufacturers made the third-party version.
For people like me that have champagne taste, but municipal drinking fountain budget
@@TheNakedPhotographer you successfully made me laugh
i made my own toyo boards. i would never pay 200€ for a metal plate with a hole. :)
It's more than just a "metal plate with a hole".
@@parratt-world What is it then?
@@gregsoddworld seemingly, for some people, the hole does more than just stick a lens through 😉
The Linhof boards fit my Linhof cameras fit perfectly every time. Period.
I don't buy knock-offs.
Awesome
In my previous comment, I stated that as a rule, I don't buy knockoffs. However, I did buy one Luland board, for the purpose of modification, to hold an enlarger lens with a swing-in red filter as on enlargers. This is because I use one of my Technika cameras as the enlarger head within an outfit offered by LInhof decades ago. A hole that I needed to drill for the filter stem, was to go right through where the Linhof badge is fixed. With the badge removed, there was a stepped surface which needed to be flat. I'd rather drill a hole through a 3rd party board than the original, so that's what's happened.