Retina 3C to stay!

re_visible · 03-26-2010

Just got myself a great Retina 3C (yeah, BIG C), and after giving up the 3c (the small c), and some 3 or 4 of the 2a and 2c model.

I have to say i'm very, very happy with this one!
It is mint, even the light meter seems to work and is kind of accurate in daylight.

But i have some questions abot the 3C:

-The front ellement (Xenon C 50mm f2) has a different serial number (5112902) than the mount part (5391257), can that be a problem? I didn't have the time to finish the first roll yet...

-The light meter is made by "Gossen", and sems to be made of plastic.
That can't be an original one, if the camera was built before 1960, as the serials made me belive?

-Is there an extra eyepiece that can be attached to the viewfinder, as it looks like it is built for that? Like there is for the most SLRs?

-Is there a way to date the "birth" of the camera more accurately, the serial on the top plate (behind the accessory mount) says 59891. Is there a list of these on the net?

Thanks everybody!

RichL · 03-26-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by re_visible

Just got myself a great Retina 3C (yeah, BIG C), and after giving up the 3c (the small c), and some 3 or 4 of the 2a and 2c model.

I have to say i'm very, very happy with this one!
It is mint, even the light meter seems to work and is kind of accurate in daylight.

But i have some questions abot the 3C:

-The front ellement (Xenon C 50mm f2) has a different serial number (5112902) than the mount part (5391257), can that be a problem? I didn't have the time to finish the first roll yet...

-The light meter is made by "Gossen", and sems to be made of plastic.
That can't be an original one, if the camera was built before 1960, as the serials made me belive?

-Is there an extra eyepiece that can be attached to the viewfinder, as it looks like it is built for that? Like there is for the most SLRs?

-Is there a way to date the "birth" of the camera more accurately, the serial on the top plate (behind the accessory mount) says 59891. Is there a list of these on the net?

Thanks everybody!

Different sn.'s can be a problem but it is not an absolute.
There is a right angle viewer that will slip over the eyepiece
Check Chris's site for S.N.'s and other interesting tidbits of kodak information.
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhiti/

Brian Sweeney · 03-26-2010

I mixed front elements on my IIC and IIIc, put the F2 Xenon front cell from my IIIc on it. The results were fine wide-open at F2. Try it and see, but chances are it is fine.

On the Gossen meter: Maybe a late run camera? Gossen appears on my Auto III and Reflex-IV.

retinahsrc · 03-31-2010

I can tell you that Typ 028 Retina IIIC No. 59891 was manufactured in 1958, but I can not tell you the exact month.

The camera originally had Retina Xenon C f:2,0/50mm lens No. 5391257 mounted on it.
Some repairman has replaced the exposure meter with a repair part ( This is why it says Gossen on the meter ) and has replaced the front lens element. If you look at the rear lens element, you will again find a lens serial number. You should pray that 5112902 is also engraved on the rear element. The front and rear elements were carefully matched and mounted into the Synchro-Compur shutter at the Schneider factory in Bad Kreuznach.

Now, the best birthdate I can give your camera is from the Retina Xenon C lens Nr. 5391257. This lens was manufactered after January of 1958.
It is one of a 6000 lens Retina Xenon C F:2,0/50mm series from serial number 5386652 to 5391651 with the serial number range for this series reserved on January 2, 1958.

Hope you enjoy this camera !

If you want to know why I know so much about Retina cameras and their manufacture, just read the section in McKeown's book that I wrote and illustrated on Kodak Retina and Retinette cameras.

That will give you some idea who "retinahsrc" is.

kitaanat · 03-31-2010

After I got IIIC and later I got IIIc. I already swap the front lens for testing.
Although, the sn of lens piece and the sn on the lens mount are different
but they can work perfectly on both camera.

Congrat, you got one of the most sought after folding camera.

crawdiddy · 07-05-2010

Seems like as good a place as any to ask-- what are the differences between Retina IIIc and IIIC ? The BIG C commands a much higher price, and I have wondered why?

JPD · 07-05-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawdiddy

Seems like as good a place as any to ask-- what are the differences between Retina IIIc and IIIC ? The BIG C commands a much higher price, and I have wondered why?

The IIC and IIIC have the larger finder and brightlines for the 35mm, 50mm and 80mm lenses so you don't have to use the accessory viewfinder for the wide and tele.

The IB also has the larger finder, and a separate window to illuminate the brightlines (for 50mm only).

JPD · 07-05-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by re_visible

-Is there an extra eyepiece that can be attached to the viewfinder, as it looks like it is built for that? Like there is for the most SLRs?!

There's the Right Angle Finder, "A great accessory for shooting at ground level or when using the camera on one of the copying devices."

http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/Reti...ccessories.htm

murpograph · 07-05-2010

Compared to the III (small) c the III (big) C has gor furthermore a one-range exposure-meter which doesnt request a slotted blind in bright light. O.k. I know that there were some III (small) c cameras having this improved exposure-meter, but most of them don't.

All in all a phantastic camera. Keep it and use it.

Regards