Kodak Retina IB (Typ 019 - Ausf II)
- Thread starter Dcanalogue
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xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Nice photo.
I have yet to run into a Retina camera that is not broken.
They seem to be very delicately made instruments.
I have yet to run into a Retina camera that is not broken.
They seem to be very delicately made instruments.
shawn
Veteran
Nice, I just finished working on the shutter on a 1b to get it up and running properly. I like the folding mechanism of these better than the earlier cameras (smoother and quicker) but the film winding is a little more delicate. The 1b has a bit nicer viewfinder than the earlier models but not as large as the 1B.
Shawn
Shawn
Dcanalogue
Established
Maybe some parts were a little bit dellicate respect the whole construction (e.g. cocking rack) but we must think about the fact that these cameras have almost all more than 60 years... and often have been unused, closed in a cabinet or who knows where..... so, the most of actual issues depends on poor management or storage and hardening of lubrificants....
Generally speaking, good cameras (i.e. Retina, Zeiss Ikon, Leica or Voigtlander) built until the '60s, are all well made to last.... and still deliver good results... often after a good CLA.... and, if well used... will work well for other 60 years 🙂
shawn
Veteran
True, they are well built. I have Retina's that are 20years older than the 1b and they all were working as found. As they got more complex the potential for more issues rose.
Shawn
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
I understand that they are old cameras, but I have run into old Barnack Leicas and copies of these types made in various different countries and even early 1960s 35mm SLRS and they all more or less are operational. I have yet to find a Retina in pawn shops or garage sales and even at camera shows that is remotely what I call "operational". I though it was due to my bad luck but after years and years of checking them out, they all look to be in need of repair of varying degrees to make them even passably usable.
I was thinking that maybe the Retina was a camera that was notorious for breaking down and their owners never took them in for repair for some undisclosed reason, but that does not make sense, as these cameras were known to be expensive and finely made cameras.
The Spastic Image
Established
My Retina 1b has given me over 23 years of reliable and excellent service. Without even 1 trip to the repair shop.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
What I've seen is a lot of poorly maintained and abused Retina RF cameras, not any specific weakness in the cameras' design or build. Most I've come across are just terribly dirty and full of coagulated lubricant. Send any of those out for a full CLA ... and don't store them in a lint-filled sock drawer! ... and they seem to work beautifully nearly forever.
Of course, like any folder, they don't stand being used as hammers well. 😶
G
Of course, like any folder, they don't stand being used as hammers well. 😶
G
Sonnar Brian
Established
The cocking rack used with the lever-wind Retina RF is subject to stripping. That is the weak link. Replacing it- not as easy as it should be. Getting the shutter and advance in phase took about an hour of trial and error, requiring moving the gear in the shutter housing by minute amounts. When taking the Retina apart- "German Over-Engineering" comes to mind. Remove the top of the IIa, be sure to Tape the film counter in place. When trying to get it back on, use Dental Floss to hold back the Clutch mechanism. If you do not know what I'm talking about, you are lucky... I've been sent a box of five Retina II and IIa cameras with none working, asked to make one good one to return- and keep the rest. I bought a big box of Retina parts 20 years ago from a closing camera shop for $75. I have a lot of working Retinas. But- it took some work.
Retina Reflex-S, the prism from a Minolta XG series camera is a perfect fit. Solve the desilvering problem, and much brighter.
Retina Reflex-S, the prism from a Minolta XG series camera is a perfect fit. Solve the desilvering problem, and much brighter.
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Muggins
Proprietor of Orphanage for Lost Cameras
It doesn't help that Chris Sherlock, the No 1 Retina repairer, has retired (though his video channel on YouTube is still live, and he still does the odd camera for fun on there) and his nominated successor Paul Barden (Burden?) is apparently swamped.
There is a Retina and Retinette fans group on F***book, which is a fun and friendly place, and Chris drops in occasionally, so there is still expertise around.
There is a Retina and Retinette fans group on F***book, which is a fun and friendly place, and Chris drops in occasionally, so there is still expertise around.
Sonnar Brian
Established
The Capital Gang. IIIC: was missing the front element, replaced with one from a parts IIIc. IIC- replaced cocking rack. 1B- CLA shutter blades.
The IIC: the Aperture opens up to F2 on this one. The rear group is the same as the 50/2 Xenon. SO- mine is now an F2 Xenon. Works perfectly.
Muggins
Proprietor of Orphanage for Lost Cameras
And a Kodalux meter too! Surprisingly usable given how tiny they are.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
A couple of years ago, for reasons that are too crazy to mention, I bid on and won four Kodak Retina IIc cameras that were being auctioned as "not functional, for parts only". When they arrived, what I found was that *all* of them were reasonably functional, despite being full of dirt and dust from sitting in someone's sock drawer for thirty years, and even though two of them had been dropped and bashed several times. I had two of them serviced and cleaned: they're like new now. A third of them was my donor camera for the slightly crazy project I acquired them for. The fourth is sitting in a box waiting for me to decide whether to give it to the repair shop (either for refurbishment and sale, or for use as a donor camera) or have it refurbished for my own use (even sillier because I now have four of these cameras in perfect working order...).
I've never seen one that wasn't working at some level even though I've seen quite a few that were seriously abused and bashed about. No folder is ever as robust as a non-folder like a Leica Barnak ... there are simply too many moving parts on a folder for that to be the case.
G
Muggins
Proprietor of Orphanage for Lost Cameras
So what was the crazy project?
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My guess is that the rear elements across the II and III series are the same?
Hope all is well and you are enjoying retirement.
B2 (;->
Sonnar Brian
Established
@BillBingham2
Yes- the rear group is the same across the IIc, IIC, IIIc, and IIIC- based on use of Xenon or Heligon. The Xenon vs Heligon also requires use of different front sections. I have thr 35/5.6, 35/4, and 80/f for the Xenon equipped Retinas.
Yes- the rear group is the same across the IIc, IIC, IIIc, and IIIC- based on use of Xenon or Heligon. The Xenon vs Heligon also requires use of different front sections. I have thr 35/5.6, 35/4, and 80/f for the Xenon equipped Retinas.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I bought an accessory viewfinder (the optical 35/85 one) from a guy on Ebay. I sent him a thank you for quick delivery ... it arrived 22 hours after I paid the auction... and he sends me a note back.
"Would you like a Retina IIIc? I have one that no one wants to buy."
"Hmm, what's wrong with it?"
"The top cover is dented and the meter doesn't work. I've been offering it for months and no one bids on it."
"Does the rest of it work?"
"Yeah, it works fine ... just can't use the hot shoe or meter."
"How much?"
"Is a tenner too much...?"
"That's fine."
"I'll pay for the shipping..."
It arrived the next day. Did a few rolls of film with it, no functional problems other than the meter and the dented top.
... Thinking to myself: 'Hmm. The IIc and IIIc are virtually the same other than the top cover, the meter, and a couple of supporting bits for the shutter release and such. I wonder if I can find a IIc with a good top cover and transfer the bits to the IIIc and get the f/2 lens ...?'
And it went from there. What's crazy about it is all that work and expense to create another IIc when I have three others, but this one with the f/2 lens.
G
Muggins
Proprietor of Orphanage for Lost Cameras
TBH, Godfrey, that sound pretty un-crazy to me, just creating a "special" and keeping another old Kodak in use. Looks great!
Muggins
Proprietor of Orphanage for Lost Cameras
Besides, as documented elsewhere here, I ended up with three identical 620 folders, that's crazier if you ask me.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I have the same collection of accessory lenses for the Xenon originals. All the lens numbers on the 50mm lenses match on all my bodies. There's one IIc body (early serial number) with a ten-leaf iris vs all the others with five-leaf irises. The ten-leaf iris body has a couple of other minor deviations from all the others as well (design of the aperture/EV ring and indicating pointer).
G
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