rangefinder/viewfinder - retina IIa / Zeiss Nettar

Hello - I reviewed the various rangefinder/viewfinder accessories available for Leica and Bessa T productions. Pretty intriguing gadgets to a guy who prefers to wear glasses these days and has problems using his lovely Retina IIa because of the small view/rangefinder size and will soon be receiving a Zeiss Nettar MF Folder. So I wondered if anyone has discovered an attachment to the existing Retina IIa viewfinder that would magnify the view and rangefinder functionality to make it easier to see? Thanks!

I've not heard of any such device. I think the downside of all of the earlier cameras is the small eyepiece that many of them have.

If you like the Retina, you could consider moving up to a Retina IIC/IIIC (big "C" models), as they have larger eyepieces and viewfinders.

Regarding the Zeiss Ikon Nettar, that's a zone focus camera. Some have popup Galilean viewfinders while the final models have the viewfinder built into the satin chrome top deck, and those tend to be on the small side.

Most accessory rangefinders from that period have very small eyepieces.

Yes. Have seen many external devices, most seem to be for close up work. I know such items existing for DSLR's. I even thought about adapting old viewfinder glass from another 120 folder of Kodak origin. Just seems like should be able to come up with something like this since there is an 'edge' to the viewfinder. http://tinyurl.com/yz243rz But what concerns me with my non-existent knowledge of optics is that if I hold up a magnifying type lens to the viewfinder/rangefinder, it magnifies the surface of the glass in the rangefinder itself, not the actual image desired to be viewed through the lens (and boy, does it need a cleaning). So am thinking it will require two lenses to correct for this? Just guessing.

Regarding the Nettar: if it is one of the late ones, the finder window is really small, with a maybe 3mm square eyepiece. I sold mine, but not for that reason. However, I have a Voigtlander Perkeo now which also has a small viewfinder window. I got a Voigtlander Kontur accessory finder for it, and it works great for me. They do not work for everyone, though.

sharris said:

Hello - I reviewed the various rangefinder/viewfinder accessories available for Leica and Bessa T productions. Pretty intriguing gadgets to a guy who prefers to wear glasses these days and has problems using his lovely Retina IIa because of the small view/rangefinder size and will soon be receiving a Zeiss Nettar MF Folder. So I wondered if anyone has discovered an attachment to the existing Retina IIa viewfinder that would magnify the view and rangefinder functionality to make it easier to see? Thanks!

Click to expand...

There are many clip-on viewfinders made by various mfrs including Kodak. Of
course, you'd have to focus using the camera's viewfinder and then switch
to the clip-on for framing which wouldn't be too convenient.

Or, as elekm said, move up to one of the "big C" models. I have the same
complaint about the earlier Retinas but I found a good deal on a IIIC and
I love its big, bright viewfinder with framelines for 3 lenses. Works fine
for me while wearing glasses.

elekm said:

Regarding the Zeiss Ikon Nettar, that's a zone focus camera. Some have popup Galilean viewfinders while the final models have the viewfinder built into the satin chrome top deck, and those tend to be on the small side.

Click to expand...

I think for those of us with glasses, the pop-up viewfinders (which ended with the Nettar 516, I believe) are preferable; you can put the lens of your glasses *between* the two panels of the viewfinder, allowing your eye to get right up against the back panel. It sounds bizarre, but I got used to doing it pretty quickly.

-NT