Kodak Reflex II

Absinthe · Mar 20, 2008

I have a fairly mint kodak reflex ii that a friend gave me a few years back. I kind of just stuck it on a shelf because I figured 620 was a tough find. I have seen some talk about the quality of this particular beast, and wondered if other than re-rolling 120 there might be a way to mod it to take normal film?

Also, does anyone here like these? Is it really all that worth it a camera to mess with?

Whiteymorange · Mar 20, 2008

It all has to do with how much fun you have messing with questionable cameras... .
Here's a link with info about the REFLEX II. I've had luck with trimmed 120 rolls in the supply side as long as I used a 620 take-up roll in all of the 620 cameras I've tried, though you have to watch for light leaks after Dead Link Removed. You can expose the ends of the roll if you've been in the least aggressive in the trimming process. Try the camera! You'll never know what you have until you do and it will bug you (or at least it would bug me.) It could be a winner.

Absinthe · Mar 20, 2008

Well, I have heard of people modifying Tourists and Medalists and stuff so that they can just use 120 so I wondered if this was one that could be modded?

Absinthe · Mar 20, 2008

Ok, the modifications have begun.

I can now fit a 120 reel on both sides, takeup and source.

Next step modify the takeup so that it will actually turn the 120 reel.

Wish me luck!!!

Absinthe · Mar 20, 2008

Actually, it is looking like the mod will be pretty straight forward.

I do, however, see some oil on the leaves of the shutter ... How hard are these to take apart to get at the shutter?

Anyone have a pointer for any service info on this model at all?

Nathan Smith · Mar 21, 2008

Here are some repair links for the Reflex II:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-83.html
http://flickr.com/photos/wakingsky/sets/72157603592699066/
http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00K7RQ

Tell us more about what you did for the 120 modification: did you have to remove any material to make room for the larger film roll, or was it simply to the spindles which hold the film spools?

Nathan

Absinthe · Mar 21, 2008

There is a registration pin in the back door, that apparently keeps the reel from falling out of pressure contact with the turning bit. The back will not close with a full sized 120 reel in there. I yanked it out, it is a rivet. I will fill the little hole with some jbweld, and either come up with a spring to add below the reel, or just a piece that can be wedged under it before the back is closed. The reels fit without modificatio nin both the supply side and the takeup side. But until I am able to either modify the takeup bit to rotate the reel, or put somethign in the reel to allow that little bitty bit to turn, I doubt it will be usable. But certainly even if I have to mfg a new takeup bit, that will make the complete modification for this camera a very inexpensive proposition, and with the quality and quantity of them available this is a good thing... Keeping my fingers crossed

I should have though of this earlier, but I will post photos later.

Nathan Smith · Mar 21, 2008

I don't know if it'll help, but here's another of Rick Oleson's pages in which he shows how he converted a 620 Kodak Monitor to 120: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-67.html

For this one he had to modify the spindles as you're thinking of.

Nathan

Dan Fromm · Mar 21, 2008

Someone or other used to offer little metal clips that slipped into the ends of 120 spools so that wind shafts made to grab 620 spools would work with 120 spools. I haven't seen 'em on offer for a while, but then I haven't been looking.

So there's a hint and something to look for.

Absinthe · Mar 22, 2008

Ok, so I took out the takeup to replace the driver. In the process of getting the old driver out, I of course opened the whole thing and dropped the pins and springs from within the clutch. ::sigh::

So I am a locksmith and small springs are not hard to find for me. However, these pins are smaller than ones I use in locks, so if I can't find the 3rd one, I will have to mfg one. I do so hate to make parts that small but whatever, gotta do what you gotta do right?

I have already build the driver for the takeup, not too hard started with a piece of a brass keyblank. Once I get this all back together, I will work on getting the shutter out and ACL'ed. This is exciting, if the upgrade is this easy, then there will be a lot of very inexpensive very usable 120 cameras around.

Absinthe · Mar 24, 2008

Well, thanks to the power of magnets I have found all the parts. I think I have put the clutch back together correctly, and now, the camera appears to be able to use 120 film!!!

Of course, it doesn't seem to operate like I would expect it to, and since I had to assemble that clutch mechanism by guesswork, I am not certain that it is correct. Of course the camera may not have been working before I started either So many factors...

If anyone has a Reflex II laying around that an describe a few behaviors would be greatly appreciated.

Absinthe · Mar 24, 2008

Here are a couple photos on flickr to see how it went.

http://flickr.com/photos/24966864@N07/sets/72157604234691929/

Kodak Reflex II

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