Re: Fuji better than Linhof? Not!? Final thoughts?

[Simon Nathan <simonwide@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

i am glad have your opinion. since i worked for
people where the pictures are what mattered i probably could have used
either camera and so i simply chose the one that i thought best for me.
still goes. simon nathan

YDegroot@xxxxxxx wrote:

Sorry Nathan, I disagree. I have done the side by side tests.

If you compare the older type Fuji (fixed lens camera) with the Linhof 617
fixed lens camera, the Fuji looses out big. I once did a test with a friend of
mine, who had the Linhof and I had the Fuji. We shot the same stuff on the
same emulsion numbers and processed it at the same time in the same machine.
The winner? Linhof!!!! Hands down. Put the Fuji to shame! Why? Linhof images
were much, much sharper! That's why! And that was an older body Linhof! One
may like the perspective of the 105mm of the Fuji a llittle tle better than
the wider Linhof-90mm, but the sharpness cannot be argued. You could see it
from a distance with the naked eye just having those transparencies side by
side on the light table. Contrast of the Linhof was much better as well.

I then sold my Fuji and bought a used Linhof, latest fixed model. Never
regretted the extra money I paid. Built like a tank. The door with the hinge
on one side of the Fuji is a very weak design, and one has be very careful not
to bend the hinges out of shape. The advance lever is handier than the Linhof,
but what the heck, if you shoot only either 4 with 120 rollfilm or 8 with 220
rollfilm who really cares?

In the Linhof, I can shoot 9 exposures on 220; that's not possible in the
Fuji. How? After the first shot, I release the little release button and turn
the frame counter back to one, then shoot 8 more. Trick is to line up the red
arrow of the film leader about 1/2 inch before the red arrow mark in the
camera when you load. You will be fine. Try it.

How much does one used Linhof cost?
The older models go for around 2000-2500 US dollars. make sure you get the
center flter with it. Buying one later is super pricey: $500 to $1,000!!!

The latest fixed lens model used will go for around $3,500 (or less if you're
lucky) to about $4,500, including center filter. New models will go for around
$5,500, sans filter.

The newest Fuji and Linhof models both have interchangeable lens systems. I
have seen the resutls of the 90mm Fuji and found it to be very good.  I am not
sure if they improved on the 105 lens, which I thought was not too good.

The German Schneider lenses I think are still better than the Fuji lenses. The
newest Linhof is all manual; the newest Fuji needs batteries to trip the
shutter!  Why they did that beats me.

Anyway, the price of the latest Linhofs a little more thna the latest Fuji,
but not by too much. the Linhofs are built like tanks, and can be passed on to
next generations with no loss in image quality. The Fuji's durabilty? Not that
sure about it.