Question about the Retina close-up rangefinder

[awilder]

Does anyone know if this device could be converted for use as a standard rangefinder? It looks like a beautiful instrument but I fear it's use is limited to use with the close-up lenses. If internally adjustable as a standard distance rf, that would be great.

 

[JPD]

Why not just buy a standard rangefinder?

 

[awilder]

Build quality is exceptionallonly good from what little I've read, but I'm afraid it's use is limited to close work with the the Retina and close-up lenses.

 

[JPD]

I use a Voigtländer accessory rangefinder.

 

[ZeissFan]

If this is the one that comes with three lenses, it's fixed to three distances that correspond to the lenses. You move the camera to and fro until your subject is aligned.

In the 1960s, Zeiss Ikon sold something called "Contameter," which shouldn't be confused with the other Contameters. It's an all-purpose rangefinder that can be used with the three close-up Proxars (although there were four available). Or it can be used as a regular rangefinder.

 

[awilder]

That's my understanding, three close-up lenses, three corresponding scales for those lenses on the rf focusing wheel to match the camera's focusing scale, but no scale without the close-up lenses. I was hoping to open up the unit and adjust the calibration for normal distance with the weakest close-up lens scale but don't know if possible.

 

[JPD]

I was hoping to open up the unit and adjust the calibration for normal distance with the weakest close-up lens scale but don't know if possible.

I don't think it's possible, and if it was you would have to make a new distance scale for it. Get a Voigtländer accessory rangefinder in good shape instead. They are common and the quality is excellent. There are many cheaper ones out there too, that work well. But no rangefinders are meant to be dropped on the ground!

 

[Luddite Frank]

Don't think it's possible ( or worthwhile ) to attempt to modify the close-up accesory RF for th Retina to use as a general 3 ft - Inf rangefinder.

In addition to this particular RF being designed for shooting subjects closer than 3 ft, it is parallax corrected on a pivoting foot for those close distances, so that's another aspect that would need to be tweaked.

I have used mine for close-up work with my Retina IIIc, and it worked well in that capacity.

 

[awilder]

Thanks all for the replies.