Kodak Retina Reflex

I found one in good working order today at the local flea market. Paid
$5 for it.

Anybody have any experience with this model.

It uses the same lens as the Retina IIIC as well as some of the same
accys.

 

Retina reflexes... I know them well, having owned several and had many
pass through my camera store. Intricate, beautiful, jewel-like. A
little fiddly to use, but take an excellent picture in most cases. The
lenses range from quite good to excellent.

The BIG question is, is it really in good working order? It's been a
long time since I've seen one that really worked right, unless it had
just been serviced at great expense. 40 years of dirt and gummed
lubricants on unusually narrow-tolerance parts will do that. Usually
the shutter is way out of whack; and as they're an absolute bear to
work on...

Where was I? Oh, yes. Unless you're rich, try it out with side film
under various conditions. If they come out OK, enjoy it (preferably in
warm weather) until it stops working.

If you're wealthy and eccentric, and the camera LOOKS alright, find a
Retina specialist in Shutterbug, and have it CLA'd. THEN enjoy it until
it stops working.

 

I've used Retinas for a number of years and have a Reflex in need of a
CLA which I just put on eBay. The S-K lens are excellent lens.
It's interesting how this camera works having to perform several tasks
when you advance and fire the shutter.

This one is in good working order. I gave it the ultimate test today
by shooting in the cold. Negs look good and the camera performed
without a hitch. I gave up while the camera was still going strong.
It appears to have had the selenium cell replaced recently and
probably a CLA based on a repair tag inside the film chamber. The
meter is dead on when compared to my recently rebuilt Weston Ranger 9.

 

Check the low speeds: They're usually a pretty good indication of the
state of the shutter. If 1 sec. is really 1 sec. without any hesitation,
you've got it made...

 

I checked the speeds including the 1 second on a shutter tester and
all speeds are within tolorances.

I suspect this camera was CLA'd 2 years ago based on a repair tag in
the film chamber. Meter is also accurate..