Retina II exercise

Talk about rangefinder cameras, lenses and accessories.
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Julio1fer
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Retina II exercise

Post by Julio1fer »

Back in 1962, my late father gave us (my twin brother and me) a used but well kept Retina II. It was the first serious camera that I ever used extensively, after a few rolls in a Brownie Hawkeye. I still remember loading it for the first time, with great care and Plus-X, while my father kept watching and making the point that it was a delicate precision instrument.

We shot a lot of bulk-loaded Plus-X in that little camera. Some years later, the Retina II went on a trade for my first SLR.

Just a few years ago I found the exact same model offered locally, and got a Retina II for the second time.

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To me, this model is the top of the Retina series. Although probably the III types are better cameras in a technical sense, they are also larger and heavier; the often-preferred IIa is less reliable, because of a more delicate film transport mechanism.

I had not used my new Retina II very much, because with a deteriorating eyesight it was becoming difficult to focus and operate. But after cataract surgery, I was elated to find that the difficulties were gone. Therefore I loaded a roll of FP4+ from bulk and went to exercise the little camera. Here are a few results.

Central crop, about 1/4 of area

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A group doing a coreography, probably for some birthday video

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Trees with a family pattern

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Tones and textures, in an old bus that has been fashioned as a mobile home

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The bliss of line fishing

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Cars coming up an exit

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Thanks for looking!


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PFMcFarland
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Re: Retina II exercise

Post by PFMcFarland »

Yes, those are nice cameras, and it's great you can use it again, Julio.

PF
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alexvaras
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Re: Retina II exercise

Post by alexvaras »

That’s is a nice camera! You are right about the film transport of a IIa, mine had problems with counting frames.

Nice photos, Phil, happy you eyesight is back :)
titrisol
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Re: Retina II exercise

Post by titrisol »

Maravilla!!! Congrats!
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Julio1fer
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Re: Retina II exercise

Post by Julio1fer »

Thanks for the comments! Any Retina fan in the membership?
alexvaras
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Re: Retina II exercise

Post by alexvaras »

Now I have one Retina type 118, the second in the line, still need to work with it since I’m not 100% sure I collimated it correctly, few time now for camera repairs.
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PFMcFarland
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Re: Retina II exercise

Post by PFMcFarland »

I have about ten of them in different variations. But like most of my cameras they haven't gotten much use lately.

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