View source for Linhof Color 4x5

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The '''Linhof Color 4x5''' is a [[monorail bellows camera]] made by [[Linhof]] since 1959. The camera has the same lens-boards and rotating, tilting back as the Technika series. Unlike the later [[Linhof Kardan Color]] there is no rise adjustment for the back. Special metal alloys were used so that its weight was kept as low as 4 1/2 lbs. The front standard permits full lens-board tilt and shift. It was advertised as precision camera for professional applications. 

Linhof also built a "baby" Color for 6x9 format, a model which stayed in the lineup even after the Kardan-Color was introduced.

The camera can use lenses from 90mm to 360mm on flat lens-boards with the standard bellows. It is compact enough to be used as a field camera. Movements of the rear standard are done in a somewhat unusual manner; four knurled, chrome-plated locking knobs are unscrewed and four long metal "posts" are pressed with your fingers to move each of the four corners of the camera, each of which can be independently moved and adjusted. If the top two locking screws are loosened, it's easy enough to pull the rear standard back, and then lock the screws once you've adjusted the back. An alternate method is to unscrew all four locks and pull the entire back and all four corners fully out, and then press forward to adjust the back as needed. Since all four corners can be adjusted independently, it is possible to set the camera back up "out of whack" or "off-kilter". The security and ease of locking with the thumb screws is surprising; the quality of materials, design,and assembly is quite high.

<!--This camera uses what I believe are the Technica IV lens boards; all of my lensboards say "Technica" on them.-->The front standard has rise, shift, swing,and tilt; the degree of movement of the front standard is not as wide as on many more-sophisticated monorail cameras and the rear standard does not offer rise and fall or lateral shifting. The monorail can accept an extension rail that locks in using a hex-key or Allen wrench. <!--I've used mine most with an old, convertible Kodak 110mm Wide Field Ektar, and a Fujinon-W 150mm lens.-->The camera uses the standard "international" back, which revolves. The beige-colored metal is finished in a crinkle-finished paint commonly called baked enamel,and is surprisingly durable.<!--It's my understanding from internet sources that this camera was made from 1958 to 1964.

A vintage camera advertisement showing the camera is can be found on the web or on eBay by searching for Linhof Color. Interestingly, the ad copy sells it as a studio camera, a field camera, AND the ad copy notes that, "it converts to an enlarger." -->

[[Category:German 4x5in]]
[[Category:4x5in monorail]]
[[Category:Linhof|Color]]