Restoring smooth opening on a Retina II?

[scott]

Okay, thanks guys. Maybe my expecations are too high. Here's a video of the Retina opening, compared with the Fujica, Super Regent, And Speedex. Maybe these all open as nicely as they do based more on packing of the bellows? Dunno. The Retina seems golden beyond that (I'm scanning the first roll as I post this). Just want it as good-to-go as possible.



Will be posting images from this (and the Fujica, and the Brownie Reflex) hopefully later today. Stay tuned!

[titrisol]

I' dont own one but it seems like one of the springs that pushes the door is faulty.
I think those should be flat springs?

At least it opens and closes smoothly

[Julio1fer]

My two Retina II’s have never snapped out, either the first one that I used as a boy, or the one I have now. They just open a bit when the bottom button is pressed. I found no spring linked to any part of the bellows or the folding mechanism. On the other hand, every 6x6 folder that I can remember has snapped open, as Scott mentioned.

Maybe the Retina II was not designed to snap, just to release the front door for a careful amateur to open fully until the mechanism clicks. From the instructions in the manual It looks that is the case (thanks Butkus!!)

[scott]

Well, hell - that seems pretty conclusive. Exactly how mine works. I feel better - thank you for posting this!

[titrisol]

You are a bad bad influence!
i've never had a Retina; but you pushed me to buy one at evilB for peanuts (type011 with 2.0 Xenon)
Nice camera, solid and will have to check the film transport and frame counter after my vacation
The front barely opens when the button is pressed but shutter seems to be within tolerance and RF patch is not bad

[Brazile]

Just had a Retina Reflex S with the Xenon 50/2 land in my lap. It's raining Retinas!

[titrisol]

Update: The Retina II like Julio said is a nice camera, solid silent and the RF is nice.
I think it's a bit better than the Silette (same ballpark)
I'll develop the pics sometime soon.

[titrisol]

Hi, all -

Getting close to finishing the inaugural roll in the Retina II (14) I got last August. The one thing I couldn't sort was the door. Doesn't open freely. Should just mostly pop open when the release is pressed. This one, the latch opens, the door, well, don't. I end up tilting it forward, get a nail under it, and pull it open. Other than that and a few small Zeiss bumps, the camera's in amazing shape, easily the best of any Retina I've owned. Chris Sherlock has a video about this (well, buried in a video) and after watching it, it didn't really apply to my situation. Have tried cleaning and lubing all contact points, to no avail. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!
Scott

Sorry for chiming so late.
Heres a picture it pops-open about 5mm, I have to pull the rest of the way.

Retina II(011)

It seems to me that the whole front unit is spring loaded but cant figure out where

[scott]

Interesting. Now that’s what I was expecting. I could never cypher out a spring like cation though. Lived hell out of everything but no go. I’m satisfied with mine as-is. Yours is a fine looking camera! Waiting to see the results.