Retina IIC (029) clean up

[Godfrey]

Great, thanks! It's a better option than sending it to NZ: the cost of shipping there and back is pretty high nowadays, never mind the delays in the process.

--- addendum ---
I used the tool on their website in the Repair section to request an on-line estimate. 🙂

It's 1.5 miles from my house so they have gotten a lot of repair work over the years. All the shops are really busy with the resurgence interest in film and fixing the dropped digitals.

I hadn't received a response from the online estimate tool, so I called today. Had a nice conversation with the guy answering the phone (Will). Ended with shipping the Retina IIc (020) to them this afternoon for evaluation and the CLA it needs. He said the timeline to complete the job is about 12 weeks at present because of all the work they have queued up.

I decided not to try running film through it before being serviced because the shutter is way too dirty (speeds around 1/15 second and down struggle, and the self timer would likely freeze it up) ... I didn't want it to jam up and damage something. The camera is too beautiful to have things break like that; I really like it.

So I'll be shooting with it sometime in November. I can wait... 🙂

G

 

[moggi1964]

Well she arrived today and looks to be in decent condition. Small dent on the back right corner from a drop. I'll spend a bit of time at the weekend giving her the once over and then decide the next step.

The 80mm lens has a small scratch on the front element but otherwise looks fine. The 50mm looks fine.

Lovely little thing

 

[moggi1964]

Didn't happen. Hopefully this weekend.

 

[Godfrey]

My Retina IIc is at Advance Camera for a thorough CLA service. In the meanwhile, I found a Retina IIIc that looked to be in useable shape at a decent price. Meter is dead, as usual, but the lens is very clean, the shutter works at all speeds, self timer works, etc. I took it out with me on my cycle today and it does what I hoped one of these would do, that is, prove easy to carry and not damage due to the folding front door.

It's a lovely camera to shoot with.

Now, this IIIc has an issue with the top cover. It was bashed by the accessory shoe and has a 'oilcan' ding, deep enough that the accessory shoe points upwards about 10-20°. Makes it useless for accessory finders or flash unit.

I wonder... The meter is dead and likely beyond resurrection (who needs it anyway, if you have an iPhone and a meter app handy?). I see that IIc models sell for much less than IIIc models, often in "for parts" condition. I could pick one up with an undamaged top cover for $15-$20. I wonder if the top cover from a IIc would fit the IIIc? The dimensions look about the same ... Anyone know? The point to the IIIc is the f/2 lens, rather than f/2.8, and I have this one that has a good rangefinder and shutter, clean lens, etc. I don't need the meter, and I don't need it to be "original"...

Fun fun fun...

G

 

[madNbad]

The only real difference between the two is the f2.0 lens and the meter. Chris Sherlock responds to email quickly and he would be the one to ask. If you wear glasses, Sugru is a good way of covering the metal eyepiece. There are a lot of Retinas for sale, so no loss in value. It’s not like you’re trying to put a motor drive on Oskar Barnacks original O series.

 

[Godfrey]

The only real difference between the two is the f2.0 lens and the meter. Chris Sherlock responds to email quickly and he would be the one to ask. If you wear glasses, Sugru is a good way of covering the metal eyepiece. There are a lot of Retinas for sale, so no loss in value. It’s not like you’re trying to put a motor drive on Oskar Barnacks original O series.

Chris responded and suggested that it isn't too hard, but there are some more things needed from the IIc to do the job. I'm hunting up a parts camera now. Fun stuff... 🙂

G

 

[madNbad]

Should be a fun project and a camera that can stay in the bike bag when you’re finished!

 

[moggi1964]

Turns out it has a roll of film in it already, partially used and now partially exposed !! 😱

I'll finish the film, get it developed and then make a decision on whether to send it and the 80mm lens to Chris right now.

Thanks to Chris for so promptly responding to my questions via email.

I'll be back when the film has been finished and developed.

 

[Doug]

...Now, this IIIc has an issue with the top cover. It was bashed by the accessory shoe and has a 'oilcan' ding, deep enough that the accessory shoe points upwards about 10-20°. Makes it useless for accessory finders or flash unit....

G

An idea... Take the top cover to your local autobody shop and have them hammer out the dent. I did that with a dented pentaprism on a Pentax MX, and the chief dent-basher took it on as a fun challenge, came out very nice. Black paint, though, so no problem messing up a brushed aluminum texture... Hey, maybe an opportunity to end up with a black-finish Kodak!

 

[Godfrey]

An idea... Take the top cover to your local autobody shop and have them hammer out the dent. I did that with a dented pentaprism on a Pentax MX, and the chief dent-basher took it on as a fun challenge, came out very nice. Black paint, though, so no problem messing up a brushed aluminum texture... Hey, maybe an opportunity to end up with a black-finish Kodak!

I had that thought as well, could likely do it myself in fact. But it does leave the non-functional meter in place. Somehow, having a non-functional meter sitting there just bothers me: I like the simpler, cleaner look of the IIc top cover without the meter cluttering it up. To me, the whole point of wanting the IIIc is the Schneider Xenon 50mm f/2 lens vs the f/2.8 version of the IIc. 😉

Now a black paint top cover with white-filled engraving... That will take a bit more disassembly and then re-assembly work. Hmm hmm hmm. Would look nice with the otherwise black leather and chrome trim of the body. :angel:

I took the IIIc out for a ride then a walk yesterday (takes a while to consume a 36 shot roll, I've gotten very used the 8 to 12 shots of Polaroid and 6x6!) to test the camera out and see how it feels for my purposes. And .. Wow! It's lovely! Having the slim profile when folded and the lens protection makes it a doddle to stuff in my biking bag and carry on a strap without worry. And even though I was setting the exposure manually, it opens and makes a shot very very quickly. The shape and weight of the camera is just right, the controls are all positioned in the right places, everything feels precise, quality fitted, deliberate without being fussy.

What a lovely camera these Retinas are! It reminds me so much of the Perkeo II but is faster to operate with the combined film wind/shutter cocking. I always wanted the one my mom had, it's only taken sixty years to acquire it... LOL!

😀

G