C41
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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The Linhof Technika III (1946) is a 4×5-inch technical camera manufactured by Linhof GmbH of Munich, Germany. It is the first postwar iteration of the Technika design, produced after the resumption of manufacturing at the Munich factory following World War II. The Technika III combines the movements of a field camera — front rise, fall, shift, tilt, and swing; rear tilt and swing — with the compact folding body, coupled rangefinder, and interchangeable optical viewfinder of a press camera, making it usable both on a tripod with ground-glass focus and hand-held with rangefinder focus.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 4x5 format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
View profile →BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The postwar Linhof Technika III re-established Munich precision engineering in 4×5 photography and defined the technical press camera concept for a generation of professional photographers.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 4×5 in (also accepts roll-film backs for 6×9, 6×7) |
| Mount | Linhof Technika lensboard (96×99mm) |
| Years | 1946–1956 |
| Bellows | ~320–350 mm maximum extension |
| Movements | Front: rise/fall, shift, tilt, swing. Rear: tilt, swing |
| Rangefinder | Optional, cammed to specific lenses |
| Viewfinder | Interchangeable optical bright-line |
| Ground glass | Removable with film-holder substitution |
| Build | Aluminium + steel + leather covering |
| Weight | ~2,600 g |
| Battery | None |
Linhof was founded by Valentin Linhof in Munich in 1887 and produced precision metal cameras of various formats. The Technika concept — a folding, hand-holdable 4×5 technical camera with movements and a coupled rangefinder — was developed through the late 1930s and saw prewar production in the Technika I and Technika II.
The Technika III was the first postwar model, introduced in 1946 as the Munich factory recovered from wartime disruption. It became the standard professional press and technical camera in German-speaking countries and was sold worldwide through Linhof's distribution network. Advertising photographers, architectural photographers, press correspondents, and scientific documentation teams all adopted it for its combination of movements and hand-holdability.
The Technika III V (1953) refined the front standard gearing and improved the rangefinder coupling. The IV followed in 1956 with further refinements, eventually evolving into the Master Technika (1972) which remained in production for decades. The lensboard system and rangefinder concept were maintained across all generations, providing remarkable continuity.
The Technika III represents the postwar German large-format tradition at its most functional. It is cheaper on the used market than the Technika IV, V, or Master Technika — prices typically run $500–$1,100 against $800–$1,500 for the IV and $2,000–$4,000+ for the Master. For photographers who want the Technika experience on a budget, the III is mechanically equivalent to the IV for most practical purposes.
The same Linhof Technika lensboards are used across all Technika generations, so lens purchases for a III can be used on a Master Technika later. The roll-film adapter system (Linhof Super Rollex) also fits all Technika generations.
Lenses are mounted on Linhof Technika lensboards in their own Compur or Copal leaf shutters:
BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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