First pics!

[Double N]

Well I decided that I could deal with the yellowish view through the rangefinder and couldn't wait any longer to try some pics. So I bought some cheap CVS Pharmacy 200 speed color film and, using my Metraphot light meter that came with the camera, I just snapped a roll of film. Nothing artistic about any of them I just wanted to see if things worked.

Turns out that the shutter appears to be dead on, the light meter actually seems to work well, and the glass is clean. SHE'S ALIVE!!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5051905...th/5277993858/

[BillBingham2]

Congrats. Retinas are one of those wonderful family of cameras that is very under the radar. They have wonderful glass and are built like a tank.

Not sure I would us the old Metraphot as it messes up the beautiful lines of the Retina, but that is me.

B2 (;->

[JPD]

Looks good! I'm going to load a Retina Ib or IIc with Fuji Superia X-tra 400 for Christmas. The IIa is beautiful, but I have sold mine and most of the others with the tiny rangefinder, because they were difficult to use wearing glasses. I still have the pre-war IIa though. It's a rare model.

[Double N]

Originally Posted by BillBingham2

Congrats. Retinas are one of those wonderful family of cameras that is very under the radar. They have wonderful glass and are built like a tank.

Not sure I would us the old Metraphot as it messes up the beautiful lines of the Retina, but that is me.

B2 (;->

Yes it does mess up the lines and it is a pain to access the film winder/shutter cocking lever with it attached, but I love it for the whole "vintage" experience.

Originally Posted by JPD

Looks good! I'm going to load a Retina Ib or IIc with Fuji Superia X-tra 400 for Christmas. The IIa is beautiful, but I have sold mine and most of the others with the tiny rangefinder, because they were difficult to use wearing glasses. I still have the pre-war IIa though. It's a rare model.

It is hard to use the IIa viewfinder with glasses...I agree. I just saw a pre-war IIa for sale somewhere....ebay maybe?

[JPD]

Originally Posted by Double N

I just saw a pre-war IIa for sale somewhere....ebay maybe?

Yeah, for 295 Euro. Geez, I paid 50 Euro for mine. The pre-war 2,8/50 Xenon is actually a five element Xenar. Sharp lens.

I find the Retinas without rangefinder faster to use. I just estimate the distance with my eyes and shoot. I can easily see the whole frame in the Ib finder. The finder in my IB is even larger.

I was thinking about using my IIc (w. Heligon) during Christmas, and use the wide angle lens. But it's cumbersome. First I have to use the rangefinder, turn the camera around and transfer the distance reading to the wide angle scale, then set the distance on the accessory 35 mm finder to adjust for parallax. Then use that finder and shoot.

[Double N]

Originally Posted by JPD

Yeah, for 295 Euro. Geez, I paid 50 Euro for mine. The pre-war 2,8/50 Xenon is actually a five element Xenar. Sharp lens.

I find the Retinas without rangefinder faster to use. I just estimate the distance with my eyes and shoot. I can easily see the whole frame in the Ib finder. The finder in my IB is even larger.

I was thinking about using my IIc (w. Heligon) during Christmas, and use the wide angle lens. But it's cumbersome. First I have to use the rangefinder, turn the camera around and transfer the distance reading to the wide angle scale, then set the distance on the accessory 35 mm finder to adjust for parallax. Then use that finder and shoot.

By the time you do all that all the presents will be opened and you'll get a picture of wrapping paper laying crumpled on the floor around a deserted tree. Actually that might work and be very artistic....you could call it "The Moment After".

Of course if you do that and become famous - I want a cut.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by Double N

By the time you do all that all the presents will be opened and you'll get a picture of wrapping paper laying crumpled on the floor around a deserted tree. Actually that might work and be very artistic....you could call it "The Moment After".

Of course if you do that and become famous - I want a cut.

Photographing left-overs from the dinner...

Nah, I'll take the Ib instead, which force me to use the normal lens.

Have you looked at Chris Sherlocks homepage, if you need to adjust the rangefinder? You can clean the finder glass at the same time.

[Brian Sweeney]

Popping the top plate of the IIa is not hard: getting the advance lever with film counter back on is a trick. It has a paw underneath used for the advance lock when the counter goes to zero.

Use dental floss to tie the paw back while you put the advance lever back into place. "trust me" on that one.

The viewfinder is easy to clean, but do not clean the beamsplitter: the gold plate comes off easily.