Rangefinder cleaning and adjustment on a Kodak Retina IIIc camera.

[@nicoherrerai]

For a IIc is the same process (the prism-rangefinder-visor part)? I know the dissassembly is different having seen some of your IIc videos. Thanks for your time and knowledge put in this videos, really, you're keeping analog photography alive.

[@driline]

After watching Chris clean the rangefinder, the only thing I would feel comfortable doing would be removing the top ONLY and cleaning the front glass surfaces. I'm wondering if that would be enough to be noticeable in the viewfinder.

[@byoungsu-dn6ib]

THANK YOU very much for sharing your knowlege!! I have found my inner viewfinder window is located a little bit lower position when I see it through the external viewfinder window from the front side. I have searched many images of other retina iiic but none of them looks like mine. Do I need to put some washer under my viewfinder system before I reassemble it on the camera? I want to show the image of my viewfinder to you, but I cannot do it here.

[@ChrisSherlock]

Send a picture to [e-mail] and I will see what the problem is.

[@byoungsu-dn6ib]

Thank you sir! I have sent email!

[@patrickmccoy4496]

Hey Chris can I give you a tip? TV performers put a tape mark on the floor so they stay in the middle of the camera shot...you can put a small dot on your mat and then stick down some tape strips just outside the edges of your frame on all 4 sides. Bingo! You're always in frame. Sorry mate, I had to say it. However can I send you a dead lllc meter to bring back to life? You definitely know what you are doing. I'm serious about the meter fix. Stay safe and Stay well brother.

[@ChrisSherlock]

Yeah, but then I'd need to remember to use it. I get carried away with the repair!

[@patrickmccoy4496]

@@ChrisSherlock You rock!!

[@ChrisSherlock]

Someone was asking about that hole in the accessory shoe, but their question disappeared before i could post an answer, just one of the mysteries of KZbin. Well, that hole had been drilled into the shoe, all the way through the shoe and just into the top cover itself. I thought about this and decided that someone needed, or at least thought they needed, to prevent the hot-shoe contact on an electronic flash from touching the shoe. Most electronic flashes I have used disconnect the shoe contact from the circuit when a flash-synch lead is used instead. Perhaps that was not the case for the person drilling into their Retina. Very ugly anyhow, and the shoe has now been replaced with a better example.

[@328Jayd]

How does the front glass go center bubble out or in?

[@ChrisSherlock]

Flat surface to the front.

[@vodenbog]

@@ChrisSherlock I have problem with my Retina IIIc. When I look trhrough viewfinder the image is very blurry and unsharp, I clean every part well, and the same problem apears. The only way things go better was when I mount front element with flat surface look back toward eyecup, then image is noticably sharper but I have somekind of fisheye deformation in the image I see. I do not konow where the problem is and how to fix this. Thanks for response. Alek

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

These rangefinders. I have a IIc Do these rangefinders "yellow" naturally or is it because of external things like being in a house with a smoking owner. I just got my camera in the mail yesterday (has not been CLA yet ) its driving me crazy. Took the top off and cleaned what I could clean. Will be sending it in soon. :)

[@ChrisSherlock]

Yes, this is normal and intended. It helps show the clear rangefinder patch. The common problem with these finders is haze, there are about twenty glass-air surfaces to gather grime.

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

@@ChrisSherlock I cleaned it. I didnt take out the front elements. I'm out of acetone. But I did take out the center element. Cleaned everything. I even cleaned the front element from the back. Got the crud off of it. Then cleaned the end prism. I just thought those were set screws. Lol. Found out from your website they are the vertical adjustment. Everything is fine now. All back together. I bought a second parts camera to fiddle with.

[@donandchrissychubb2450]

@@GreyGhost-r4z I just got my first Retina IIIc and am learning. I absolutely love it so far but my rangefinder is very yellow and probably grimey also. I am very nervous to take it apart, so I want to try what you did and not mess with the front elements. Did that clear up the view enough for you? Thanks

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

@@donandchrissychubb2450 YES !

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

@@donandchrissychubb2450 IT IS most likely dirty,but also the "yellow" is normal. It is required to be there because the white diamond in the middle is not colored so it forms part of the focusing mechanism. The best thing to do, is to buy a second junk camera and practice..

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

So when reassembling the front elements what do you use to lock them in place ? Any special precautions in doing that ? Dont the elements suck up the glue/laquer ?

[@ChrisSherlock]

Just a drop of lacquer applied with the end of a tooth pick is all that is required.

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

@@ChrisSherlock thanks !!

[@328Jayd]

As Chris says don't remove the semi silver mirror! I did and cant tell which side is which.

[@ChrisSherlock]

Hold the glass flat towards the light and flip it a couple of times, you'll probably be able to tell which side the silver is on. Good luck Jay!