which close range and viewfinder kit for IIa?

Have you tried the Google?


From Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest article on the Retina IIa:


"Close-Up Rangefinder, auxiliary RF in the accessory shoe, for use with NI and NII close up lenses, for a range between 18" to 11 1/2" from the film plane. Since there are at least 4 different Retina Close-up Rangefinders, make sure you have the one marked 2/50. The N series of close-up lenses are identified by the number of rings on them, 1 = NRI, 2 = NRII, 3 = NRIII. Originally all 3 were manufactured, then the NRIII was discontinued as the NRI+NRII offered essentially the same degree of correction. The NRIII is not designed to be used with the IIa close-up rangefinder, so it is not missing when you eventually locate the IIa close-up set."
 
thanks! I've seen that, but it doesn't tell me if I'm looking for a "Type C" or if the first one had no designation ("Type A?"). I'm sure Kodak called them something, not just look for "2/50" *somewhere*

thanks.
 
mh2000 said:
thanks! I've seen that, but it doesn't tell me if I'm looking for a "Type C" or if the first one had no designation ("Type A?"). I'm sure Kodak called them something, not just look for "2/50" *somewhere*
Click to expand...

I have two of these and one is in the old yellow Kodak sleeve box, as opposed to the later two-piece yellow/black box. There are no model numbers on this box--just "The Retina Close-Up Rangefinder with 2 supplementary N-lenses" --in German, English, and French.

The manual in the box mentions the 1b, IIc, IIIc, and Retinette.

A circa 1960 Kodak sales brochure that I have lists the Retina Close-Up Range and View Finder Kit--Model B for the Retina IIIS, IIIC, and IIc with 50mm lens, and the Model C for the Retina Automatic III with 45mm lens. So for a 50mm lens, you should be looking for an early kit like mine or a Model B later kit.

Neither of the ones I have say "2/50." Instead, they have F=50 on the black dial on the top of the viewfinder. You can just make it out in this eBay picture, directly above the red Kodak label:

http://cgi.ebay.com/KODAK-RETINA-CL...ryZ98923QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There are at least 2 Model B kits on eBay right now.
 
>>So for a 50mm lens, you should be looking for an early kit like mine or a Model B later kit.

Thanks! Since I just bought one of the "Model B's" I hope you are right.
 
hmmm... after purchasing on your advice, I'm wondering if the distance from the lens to the accessory shoe is really the same for the IIa and the IIc? If they are not then the Model B close up kit would give incorrect framing on my IIa, wouldn't it?
 
If both lenses have the same actual focal length, there shouldn't be any reason that you couldn't use the same close-up lenses. The variable would be the viewfinder and where it sits relative to the lens on each camera.

If it's slightly offset, you might run into parallax issues, which of course would be exacerbated in these situations.
 
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mh2000 said:
hmmm... after purchasing on your advice, I'm wondering if the distance from the lens to the accessory shoe is really the same for the IIa and the IIc? If they are not then the Model B close up kit would give incorrect framing on my IIa, wouldn't it?
Click to expand...

According to the quote posted earlier, Gandy seems to think it will work, as long as you get the kit that matches the focal length of your lens.

Kodak seems to have standardized the major dimensions of most of its Nagel cameras--e.g., the Retina Reflex S and the IIIS rangefinder share the same body and use many of the same accessories. I don't know, but suspect that all the II series folders probably share the same basic frame. That would just be intelligent manufacturing and business practices--and those were things that Kodak was good at.

I don't own any of the Retina folders, so this is purely speculation--perhaps someone more knowledgeable will chime in.
 
It's hard to tell from photos, but the IIc sure *looks* a little taller.

There used to be a very loyal group of Retina users... anyone know where they hang out?

thanks!
 
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