Retinette f - help needed

[Joao]

Hello
I've just rescued a Retinette f from a junkstore. It looks like this
http://www.wctatel.net/web/crye/ret0307.htm
but not in such a good shape. It seems to be working but I have a few questions:
1- The DOF dial does not exist in my camera. Is the lettering in the original DOF dial engraved or painted ? This will let me know if the numbers in my camera were erased or if the dial was removed.
2 - Speeds go from 1/250 to B and from B to 60 sec . I'm not able to turn the shutter speed dial beyond the B mark, so I cannot use the slower speeds. Is this normal ? I must say that I'm quite surprised to find shutter speeds of 4 sec, 8 sec, 15 sec, 30 sec and 60 secs in a low range scale finder from the fifties...
3- The ground-glass window near the viewfinder is just cosmetic, isn't it?
Thank you for your opinions
Regards
Joao

 

[FrankS]

Hi! The ground glass is to collect light to illuminate the framelines.

The long time shutter speeds are for you to time yourself using the B setting, they just indicate what the shutter speed should be.

I'll look at my camera a bit later to let you know about the DOF markings.

 

[Joao]

Thanks Frank
here is a picture of the camera

As you can see the dial with the DOF marks was removed or the lettering was erased. I favour the fist possibility, as there is some sort of glue (or oxyde ?) all around the ring. Erased numbers would have left some of the numbers, or parts of them, I guess.
Another question: the indicator mark for the distance scale dial should have been placed at 12 o'clock position, can you please confirm ?
Best regards
Joao

 

[kitaanat]

I don't have Retinette f but very interesting that the camera have Angenieux lens.

 

[former member]

The numbers were painted on, and come off too easily. If someone cleaned it with alchohol, they will come off.

 

[FrankS]

Joao, my Retinette is a model IA and it has a Schneider Reomar lens. It is different from yours, and on mine, the DOF indicators are engraved.

 

[Joao]

Kitaanat - Camera body has an inscription "made in Germany" and the ERC has a different "Fabrication Française"!!! It was made in Germany and assembled / finished in France (it was aimed at the French market, obviously a French lens had to be used)

Brian - Thank you for the information. I will have to put some marks there (maybe some red decalc numbers?).

Frank - I also have a Retinette 1a but there are some differences in the dials. iI've found a good picture of this cameraat camerapedia, I will use it as a guide.

Thanks for the input

Joao