Linhof 617IIIs review
As I mentioned in my previous post on my blog, I would like to give my thoughts on the Linhof 617III s Panoramic camera since buying it a couple of weeks ago, and now that I have had a chance to take it out and run it through its paces, here is what I think about it.
The first thing I noticed about this set up is the weight, my old Fuji weighted in at 2310g and the Linhof weighted 2900g with a 90mm lens. And its noticeable difference straight up.
Other things that are different is the back comes off completely where as the 2 Fuji models don’t which can be difficult to load and unload film if your not careful where you place the back as you can’t just buy a replacement. On the other hand the body is made of die cast alloy and feels solid as a rock. But if that’s all that is only issue then really I don’t have a lot to worry about.
On the positives, I can now open up to 5.6 but in saying that Linhof recommend that to get the full effect of the centre filter you should stop down at least 2 stops and you will then have no issues with the fall off which is 1/1/3 stops. Also now with the 90mm I have 115 Degree angle of view as apposed to 80.3 with the Fuji 105mm which may not seem a lot, but when shooting landscapes of distances that are further away, its ecommpases a lot more. The viewfinder is very bright as well and also has lines that will give you a guide when paralex error come into play. The 90 mm lens can also focus a lot closer than my old Fuji, from the min distance of 3trs to now I can focus down as close as 1.2 mtrs. The lens also has a B and T setting which is great if you are not confident on your cable release staying open for extended amounts of time. I also like the fact that you can carry the camera on your back and the view finder in your pocket for quick compositions.
Today I received back my first transparencies and looking through the loupe and to see the clarity and sharpness is an abosulte winner, its is sharp from edege to edge and I am blown away at what I saw on the light box. I have added a slice of the neg to show the sharpness and I now know that I am more than happy with this camera and will get complete enjoyment out of using this in the coming years, and now I can understand why Peter Lik and Ken Duncan have these camera, just magnificant.
Great review Case and very nice shot, sorta stuff I love. The slice of neg looks brilliant!
Camera sounds like a big improvement on the Fuji (that I used for a few months last year). The 90mm and min. focus of 1.2 meters is a huuuuge improvement.
Unless someone creates an affordable digital pano camera I am still very tempted to get a 617.
Look forward to your next many Linhof shots!
Tanks Flemming, and I think there is one digital panoramic and you have to sell your house to buy it.
Anyway I hope you have a great trip when you leave in a few days and I look forward to seeing your shots from the Kimberly as well.
yeah there’s the Setiz:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/seitz-d3.shtml
Not very affordable!!!!! Not very practical either to lug around in the outback!
Thanks very much mate on the trip, sure it’ll be awesome – I may not get to Kimberley before Mid May as it looks now so who knows, might run into a KCPHOTO 4wd
Cool, keep an eye out for me, I will have advert magnets on the side as well, so you wont miss me at all. I will be in Broome on the 27th May, but leave Elquestro on the 19th. So in between those dates I will be on the Gibb.
Hi Casey. I was wondering whether you also had problems when using the linhof with the 90 mm + center filter + lee holder for grads + polarizer. I am using them, and getting horrible vignetting! However, i think using grads + polarizer is quite needed in a lot of occasions! I dont know whether there could be another way of using grads + polarizer without getting vignetting (when using the center filter too)…What is your experience?
Hi Rafael, I have a B&W PL filter and its covers way past the edge of the center filter but I cant put on the Lee filters at the same time as they are too small to cover the Pl filter, and sometimes you can see that. I do have 2 Cokin filters and they cover all of the quite well, but are not as soft in the gradation as the Lee filters, so I use them when I can. But in answer to you question I have not had any edge cut off that you ask about at all. I hope this helps and answers your questions. Great site with great images as well.
Hi Casey
Just stumbled upon your review. I’ve been using a linhof along with the 72 90 and 180mm lenses. Brilliant camera as you already know! Are you still using yours these days or stitching instead?
Cheers
Dave
Wow one could only wish to have a range of len’s like that. I am still using mine as much as I can. I have been playing a little with stitching with the 85mm but only playing at this stage.