Linhof T 617 Limited Edition Camera.
Today I received with much excitement a second hand Linhof T 617 Limited Edition that is based on the renown 617IIIs series that Rod Thomas was selling. He mentioned to me that he wasn’t using it to its full potential anymore and that it was just sitting in his cupboard. I was also concerned that buying this camera I wouldn’t be able to sell my trusty Fuji 617, but she is all packed up and ready to be shipped out already this Friday, enjoy the camera Macca.
I had been periodically looking for a replacement camera with a 90mm lens as there have been more times than not where I had wished I had a 90mm lens to give the viewer of my work more of what I was seeing.
And I had pretty much given up on looking anymore as the US dollar had dropped so much in the last 6 months that it wasn’t even worth looking for one form overseas anymore. But that was until I saw a post on Rods blog saying he was selling all his film and from that I thought well if he is not using the film then he musn’t be using the camera he has, so I asked the question and to my surprise he made an offer on his Linhof that I knew I would never find anywhere else. Plus he offered with the kit all the film, a 95mm polarising filter, Xpro Cokin filter set, sealed pelican case.
It will be an awesome camera to take with me to Western Australia on my next major trip this year, plus I will enjoy the company of Rod where we will meet up in Broome before heading to Cape Leveque and south to Karainji for 2 weeks of my 5 week trip of Western Australia.
I will be heading out to Katherine Gorge this weekend with a bunch of friends and it will give me the chance to test the camera out and see the results of both the ease or not on the use of the camera and also the quality of the lens. So come back and see my next post that will have results from the camera. But from what Rod tells me I am sure I wont be dissapointed at all.
What a beauty of a camera Casey, congrats!!! I’m sure you’ll love it, look forward to some new 617 shots from you. This will work brilliantly in the Kimberley!
I would actually like one of those viewfinders, just so I can frame stitched digital panos using a 617 viewfinder and not the builtin 3:2 viewfinder. If I ever find a 90mm one used at a fair price I’m getting one.
One thing I’ve read about the Linhof, you have to unmount the back plate to change film rolls?
Thanks Flemming I am sure I will using it as well, and yes it would be better to buy a Fuji viewfinder, I think at Mainline photo in Australia they are asking 1200.00 for the 90mm, so they are not cheap at all to buy.
You are correct in that the whole back comes off when changing rolls of film, but if that’s the worst thing about the camera, then I am ok with that, just means I have to be extra careful.
It will be an awesome kit to use with during the trek through the Kimberly, and I plan to take at least 30 propacks of Velvia 50 with me for this one. And the dollar is coming back up as well. Just under $0.70 nice.
Casey, I am glad she all turned up in good condition and that your happy with it….. Ill talk to you some time later this week I am sure…. 68 sleeps ! ! !
Thanks Rod, Just getting used to it will be different for a little while, but I look forward to putting her through her paces thats for sure. I just logged into BHPHOTO as well and I can even order 1 propack of Velvia 50, Adorama was the same. Lets hope they get more in before we leave.
Pure vintage, absolutely love it. Was it expensive? And it is complete film and do you have a dark room?
Sorry, I’m playing 21 questions here.
Hi Katie, its totally a film camera and needing no batteries at all, I dont have my own dark room, all the film I have processed at a lab and scan the photos here at home. I hope this answers your questions. 4 weeks today and I am off to WA.
Hi Casey, congratulations for your purchase, and most of all for your results!!
I just had one question: Based on your experience do you think the 72 mm lens would be useful? or just for a bunch of occasions? It seems 90 mm could make the ideal panoramic wide angle lens…but what do you think?
Thanks and keep on the good work!
Rafael, Switzerland
Thanks Rafel, I have not used the 72mm myself, but I do recall that when I was talking to mainline photo here in Australia that they strongly sugessted that I seriously consider why I want a 72mm before buying it as its a very wide angle lens as you get curviture when dropped above or below the horizion. The 90mm is wide enough and I can tell from using the 105mm on the fuji that the difference is huge in terms of what you get. So I hope that I have answered your questions.
Casey.