Alright Linhof, fess up! (GS film back adapter)

[abruzzi]

Did you actually make these or was it an idea that never came to fruition?

I have never seen one in my years of owning linhof 6x9 cameras (Including TK23S) and Bronica GS-1, and given that I have a GS with 4 or 5 backs, I would actually find something like this kind of useful. Has anyone see something like this in the flesh? It looks like it doesn't put the film plane in the exact same spot because it says a "focus corrector slide" was part of the package.

 

[abruzzi]

OK, after two year of thinking this was a impossible to find "Unicorn" I now have a brand new one. I'll use this thread I started two years ago to post some info on it to make the info available to others. I'll get some photos up soon, but first is the instructions were in german, and not english. this is a touch more complicated that I originally thought. I've attached a PDF scan of the two page instructions. Below is the english translation using google translate:

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Operating Instructions for Back Adapter
Linhof / Bronica 001685

• Turn the transport wheel (1) until the hole (2) is visible. Insert the enclosed pin (3).
• Unscrew the transport wheel (1) counterclockwise and replace it with the enclosed transport wheel (4).
• First, hook the cassette into the two retaining plates (5), then press it down. It locks automatically.
• Unlocking and removing the cassette by pressing the button (6) is only possible when the cassette slide is inserted.

Film Advance with Adapter

Insert the film as usual and, with the cassette closed, turn the film advance knob (4) clockwise until the number 1 is visible in the window (7). The film advance will automatically stop. Press the lock button (8) before advancing.

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Reviewing the instructions and the parts provided, replacing the Bronica wind knob with the Linhof one is not something you will change mid roll as it requires opening up the back. Turning the knob will as-is will work for me since the kit only provided once replacement knob and I have 4 GS backs. I might look at possibly 3d printing a larger knob, but for now I won't install the knob on any of the backs to see if the Bronica knob will be ok for general use.

Another thing not mentioned in the instructions is an additional piece. It is clearly a spacer meant to go where a film holder normally goes, under the ground glass. Unsurprisingly the mount doesn't place the film at the same plane as the ground glass so this piece pushes the glass back a couple millimeters to match. At least that is what I assume, since there are no instruction on using that piece. I expect I will be able to run a roll through this weekend. I'll make sure that one or two of the shots are focus tests.

One small issue I already discovered is that it doesn't fit the TK23S (and presumably the earlier TK23) in landscape orientation because of where they placed the button to release the Bronica filmholder from the back. To do landscape, you need to mount it upside down. Not difficult just slightly unexpected. I'll post of aphoto of this when I get a chance. My cell camera is dead at the moment so I'll dig up a camera to take pictures of the parts, but it might take a few days.

 

[abruzzi]

A quick point to add--the landscape issue I suspect is only a problem for the Technikardan because of its L shaped standards. I checked my Technika and it fits fine. Mine is a Technika III so I can't guarantee other models won't have an issue, but I don't expect that they will.

 

[mpirie]

So Unicorns do exist?

Did you get the adapter from Linhof or from the auction site?

How did you find out the adapter existed? Old Linhof documentation?

Mike

 

[abruzzi]

So Unicorns do exist?

Did you get the adapter from Linhof or from the auction site?

How did you find out the adapter existed? Old Linhof documentation?

Mike

I initially found out about the adapter from a Technikardan bruchure that had an array of the all the TK accessories in one large picture. There was no info except that photo plus a caption I found that two years ago, afterwards I spent some time looking and found almost nothing. (I did find a listing on KEH, suggesting that they had one for sale once.) My initial search did include a few emails to Linhof dealers, who didn't even know the item existed. I gave up, added some search notification to eBay in case one ever popped up.

A few weeks ago there was a discussion here about roll film backs for the baby technikas (which take the same backs the Technikardan 23 uses) so in a response I mentioned the GS back. That caused me to do a search to add some info to my post, but in the search I found a page from a dealer in Hong Kong that was clearencing out some Linhof stuff they had. They listed this item with some pitctures that suggeted they actually hade one. I emailed them and they actually had it for clearance proce of HK$680 (about US$90). So I wired them money and it arrived yesterday.

 

[mpirie]

Fantastic, your patience and persistence paid off, well done!

Mike

 

[reddesert]

Neat. I suspect that as a temporary-permanent hack, you could just stick a small handle onto the top of the Bronica back wind knob, using double sided foam tape, to make it easier to turn.

The larger Linhof knob may foul the Bronica GS prism if you try to then move the back over to a GS. I'm not sure of that, it's just something to consider.