Help with Retinette lens stuck

cheapo · Feb 3, 2022

I just inherited a Kodak Retinette, and everything seems to be working except the focus. I can't make any change to i. The lens is a Schneider Kreuznach Reomar 1:3.5/45mm The same lens as in this image on Chsis's Camer Pages, https://retinarescue.com/retinette1type0309.html
I don't know if the front most ring should turn or not. But it doesn't move.

Thanking you guys in advance for any help.

cheapo

albada · Feb 3, 2022

Welcome to Photrio!
The grease in old cameras often hardens with age, making the focus helical stiff or even frozen.
Around the ring, you will see three tiny holes, and a grub screw is hiding in each one. Loosen those, and the focus ring will come off, revealing the focus helical. Then you need to somehow unscrew the helical and clean the threads with a solvent (I use naphtha). But carefully mark the positions of everything as you remove parts so that the focus-calibration will still be correct after re-assembly.

Mark Overton

cmacd123 · Feb 5, 2022

on the "learn camera repair" web site their is a camera repair course, lesson 7 covers the PRONTO shutter which is similar to the one on that camera. I am not sure if one can make 100% sense of the lesson without at least reviewing the previous 6 lessons.

cheapo · Feb 5, 2022

Thanx Albada and cmacd123. I'll either have to get some proper small screwdrivers, or find a local camera repair person.

cmacd123 · Feb 5, 2022

a lot of folks start with https://www.amazon.ca/VESSEL-precision-screwdriver-TD-56-japan/dp/B000CED236 and the smaller blade version https://www.amazon.ca/Precision-Screwdriver-TD-56S-Vessel-Japan/dp/B07BYV6PF6.

I have no doubt that you can find these in the UK without going through amazon.

the vessel cross point drivers have the right profile to work the screws on most Japanese made cameras, (a small philips will ruin the heads on a Japan Standard cross point screw. Although for your needs, you only need the straight blade ones for now.

cheapo · Feb 6, 2022

Thanx. The screws I see in the lens are flat blade type. But I'll wait a day or two till I get a reply from the local repair shop, as they may charge less that the cost of those.

maybe2day · Feb 6, 2022

FROZEN YES. The best thing for a stuck lens is the icebox. Make it really cold and use a bike tyre to grippe and you lens will be easy to unfreeze.
Maybe

cheapo · Feb 7, 2022

A bike tire???

Help with Retinette lens stuck

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