Retina 1b with removable front element?

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Don C.

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Back in the 80's, I had a Retina 1b that was probably sold in Europe (it had the metric focusing scale and German-language film reminder dial). It had the standard 2.8 50mm Xenar lens. However, the front element would remove just like those on the IIc and IIIc. I was able to mount the 35mm wide angle lens from my IIIc. However, it never seemed to form a viable image.

Does anyone know if the removable front element was standard on the 1b or if I had some kind of oddball model or perhaps a repaired 1b that had a shutter from another model? The latter doesn't seem likely since it didn't have the wide angle and telephoto auxilliary focusing scales like the IIc and IIIc.

Sadly, I don't have the camera now, so I can't provide a serial number or any other info.

Thanks!
 
Kodak re-used the shutter and lens mount from the IIc on the 1b. However: the Xenar rear group is not compatible with the Xenon rear group optically. I'm betting that you could replace the rear group of the 1b Xenar with a rear module from the Xenon and make it work. I need to buy a 1b to find out.
 
Interchangeable lenses on Ib-IB

Interchangeable lenses on Ib-IB

Interesting question and thread. A couple of years ago I exchanged emails with an eBay seller that had a large Retina collection he was parting with. He indicated in his ad that the aux lens components 35mm and 80mm, would fit a Ib and IB. I challeged him on that point, and he emailed me back the photo below. I have since aquired a Ib and cannot see how the front component could be changed as the standard 50mm component is not removeable, at least not without tools of some sort, and I won't try any further without fear of damaging something. I believe the camera pictured was modified somehow, but he insisted it wasn't. It's a mystery to me!
 

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A look at my Ib's Xenar front element and mount reveals a tab that prevents the removal of the front element. The Xenon has a registration tab on the rim of the lens element, not the lens mount rim, in the same position.

yours
FPJ
 
I have a Ib with a Xenar. I could take another look at it.

This camera was thrown in a river on three river trips, as my canoe would tip over with me and the Ib. Finally, the "baptized" Ib was cleaned and repaired by Eddy Smolov. It works like new again.
 
The front of the 50mm lens is easily removed without any special tools on my Retina Ib. Now I need a 35 or 80 part to be mounted on the Ib.
 
raid said:
The front of the 50mm lens is easily removed without any special tools on my Retina Ib. Now I need a 35 or 80 part to be mounted on the Ib.
Click to expand...

Hello Raid:

So there is more than one version of the mount. IB or Ib? Is your Retina a Euro, as per the OP, or North American marketed camera?


yours
FPJ
 
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I need to check the distance scale. I am assuming that this will tell us whether it is for the European market or not? Right?
 
It has feet on the distance scale, so it was meant for the US market.
Is there anything else you want me to inspect on this camera?
 
As I recall, it wasn't that difficult to remove the front element of the Ib/B.

But as Brian pointed out, the Ib/B has a Xenar and the IIc/C and IIIc/C have a Xenon, which is a different lens formula.

And obviously a zone-focus 85mm lens doesn't cut it, as if using the auxiliary lenses with the rangefinder-equipped cameras isn't difficult enough already.
 
Ib lens component removed!

Ib lens component removed!

I just retreived my Ib from its original box and took another look at the front of the lens. Wrapping my thumb and forefinger firmly around the front lens knurling, I gave it a twist counterclockwise and bingo! It came right off.

Now, my IIC and IIIC both are Rodenstock Heligon varieties, so I only have the Rodenstock Heligon 35 and 80mm components, and could not get them to twist and lock on the Ib, but they DO fit the mount. After realizing this, I'm convinced the Xenon components would fit and lock. It would be a fun experiment to mount them up and see what happens with film. Bob

Ib serial number 167089
 
The serial number on my Ib is 62467. It must be an earlier model.

I am very impressed by the first quality craftmanship seen in the camera built and finish. The chrome is still shining beautifully, and the engraving on the front of the lens is crisp and clear like it were a new lens.
 
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It's not supposed to be removable. But if you twist sharply, you can remove it (as I recall).

I would guess that Kodak, for economy of scale, used the same mounting ring for the three models I, II and III, rather than have separate mounting rings.
 
I don't think so; my Ib has a low number but has removable front element.

How many Ib were built?
rpjasin has 167089 and I have 62467.
 
raid said:
The serial number on my Ib is 62467. It must be an earlier model.

I am very impressed by the first quality craftmanship seen in the camera built and finish. The chrome is still shining beautifully, and the engraving on the front of the lens is crisp and clear like it were a new lens.
Click to expand...

They are beautiful, gemlike, in some ways more appealing then a Barnack.

yours
FPJ
 
ZeissFan said:
It's not supposed to be removable. But if you twist sharply, you can remove it (as I recall).

I would guess that Kodak, for economy of scale, used the same mounting ring for the three models I, II and III, rather than have separate mounting rings.
Click to expand...

I would agree with you that the lens element was most likely not meant to be removed.
 
Xenar has no serial nos matched with the mount. Perhaps because there is no expectation that it is to be removed.

Xenon has mount and front element with matched serial numbers. The expectation is that it can be removed and the serial nos ensure no confusion pairing lens and mount?
yours
FPJ
 
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