Retina meter cell swap

[farlymac]

I was thinking of replacing the meter cell in my IIIC with one from a Kodak Automatic 35B. Anyone here done such an operation before, and do you have any info on compatability issues (such as size, connections, etc.)? Or maybe know of another camera with a compatible selenium cell?

PF

 

[ZeissFan]

I think that it should work, provided you can remove the cell. The meters are sealed units and will require some disassembly for you to swap the cells.

However, I think that this should work, although I never tried it. You might want to see if it's possible to simply swap the units. Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn't.

 

[farlymac]

Mike,

I decided I'll just use a CdS hand-held meter with the Retina. I've got to do this with several other ones, it might as well join the fray. And I got to thinking that even if I was successful with the operation, how long will the 'new'cell last? I don't even think I will use my little BEWI Piccolo much anymore, because I suspect it's accuracy. Will know when I get the roll in the Retina finished and developed.

It's a beauty of a camera with ergonomic faults. But it just feels great to use. I'm glad I found it when I did.

PF

 

[Mr_Flibble]

If the selenium slabs are of the same size I think you'll be alright, otherwise you might want to replace the resistor in the circuit with a variable one and do a bit of fine-tuning that way.

Perhaps just cleaning the contacts will restore the meter in your Retina, before taking apart two cameras for nothing 😉

 

[farlymac]

I think I'll just stick with using a handheld meter. Found out the Auto 35B that I was going to use as a donor really does work. Like some other cameras, you have to have film in it for the shutter to trip. I did the sprocket rolling thing before, but thought that something wasn't catching, so the camera was done for.

But after messing with it this morning, I discovered that you have to have the sprocket gear in the right position before the shutter will release. Stuck a roll of test film in it, and whoopeee, it works! And someone else has informed me that the Retina meter is a sealed unit, so I would have to replace it with a like model. Not likely Kodak kept the same build for the Auto 35B as what went in the IIIC.

Got some good shots with the IIIC the other day, despite the ergonomic nightmare it is. Nothing but the shutter release seems to be in the right place.

PF

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The meters on the Kodak Retina's were designed to be replaced as a unit. I've transplanted the meter from a Retina Reflex-S to a Retina IIIS. Opening up the old one was "destructive". At least on my IIIc, the meter comes out as a unit, easy to take out.

My IIC does not have a meter, but is set up to operate with an F2 lens.