Retina IIIC shutter won't fire

[Gerry M]

Any suggestions on who services Retina IIIC's? The shutter is stuck in the closed position.

 

[bdial]

Zack's did a nice job on my Retina II

 

[Gerry M]

Maybe a link to Zack's?

 

[removed account4]

hi gerry
http://zackscamerarepair.com

john

 

[BrianShaw]

Chris Sherlock in New Zealand too.

 

[Gerry M]

Thanks guys. Because of Int'l shipping, I will try Zack's first. If that doesn't work out, I will contact Chris Sherlock.

 

[BrianShaw]

I don’t want to be rude but... you know about how the frame counter works, right?

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I don’t want to be rude but... you know about how the frame counter works, right?

I don't think its rude at all.

Got two Retinas (II and IIIc) that where supposed to be non working. Played a little with the button behind the shutter release and eventually shutter got unstuck. No problem since then.


Seems Kodak knew about this and put that button to unstuck just in case


Best regards

Marcelo

 

[Gerry M]

I know the frame counter is a count down and must be on a value above 0. I will exercise everything a bit more. I got it from the original owner and it has been unused for years. Cosmetically, it is a beauty.

 

[bdial]

If it’s been sitting around unused, it likely needs to be serviced. That’s been my experience anyway.

 

[shutterfinger]

According to this instruction manual http://www.cameramanuals.org/kodak_pdf/kodak_retina_iiic.pdf the camera has a Synchro Compur shutter.
While the shutter is covered in the Compur Shutter repair manual https://www.scribd.com/doc/44503560/Compur-Shutter-Repair-Manual CN-1110-000 the special shutter CN-1110-343 is not. Its likely in some Kodak repair manual.
The shutter is modified from standard large format camera version in that the release is via a plunger from the rear of the shutter in place of the standard side of the case trip lever.
It is designed to Not Operate unless the lockouts of the other camera functions are set correctly to prevent unwanted exposures or accidental exposures. The shutter release button not being fully returned to nominal position is enough to lock up the shutter.
A Synchro Compur 00 shutter is not an easy to learn repair on shutter. An unused for years camera likely has sticky levers and gears but the shutter itself will likely operate once the other camera functions are freed up but the speeds may not be accurate.
Play with all the controls and levers but don't force anything.

 

[Gerry M]

In my original description, I should have said that the shutter always stays closed. The EV system seems to be correct and the aperture opens & closes when changing the EV. The film advance lever feels some resistance towards the end of the stroke, like it was cocking the shutter.

 

[shutterfinger]

And the shutter speed dial likely moves from B to 1/500 second. all normal. The jam is film winding, shutter release levers inside the body, back closed lever and the like. The shutter release is transferred from the downward motion of the button 90° to the rear of the shutter with an in/out motion. Although I have not touched a Retina I have worked on other Kodak folders that use a release button and levers to trip the shutter. I have dealt with Synchro Compur shutters that were adapted to similar cameras. There were 4 or 5 base shutters that were adapted to almost every make and model of camera on the market in the day.
Get an estimate on the CLA first. I won't touch it as I'm not familiar with that camera and do not have any service information for the body. Its likely not going to be difficult to get it functioning correctly.

Edit:
I see it has a self timmer/ flash sync (M-X-V), what is it set to?
If its between V and X push it to X. You will likely hear gears running. You may need to put downward pressure on the shutter release button while pushing the lever from V to X. If it is at M or X then the self timer is not holding up the train.

 

[cooltouch]

Since you've received only one link to a US-based camera repair service, I thought I'd add a link to the repair service I use. They are local to me, but they do mail order. I like them because they are thorough, fast, and relatively inexpensive. They are vastly experienced with both film and digital cameras and lenses.

http://professionalcamerarepair.com/

 

[Gerry M]

cooltouch/Michael, Thanks for your help. The self timer/flash synch moves to all 3 positions. Only intermittently will there be gear train noise, and that seems to move from M to X to V. I am going to contact your repair shop this morning.

 

[R.Gould]

It is possible that if you have used the V self timer you could have jammed the Compur shutter, It has happend to me in my early days of collecting and using these lovely old camera's A lot of repair people over here will warn against it, if that has happened then a CLA should sort the shutter out, also, Retinas omly take 24/36 shots, the shutter will lock after the 36 and you need to press a button on the top of the camera and advance the counter to free the shutter, Retinas can be quirky, it took me a while to get used to them,but they can take lovely photographers, the only other thing is that the cocking racks are a weak point on the retinas with the winding below the camera, and if the rack is worn they can wind without cocking the shutter, again, something that has happened, again, a fairly easy repair, as long as the winding is very smooth and light the rack should be fine,well worth getting the camera sorted

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

In my original description, I should have said that the shutter always stays closed. The EV system seems to be correct and the aperture opens & closes when changing the EV. The film advance lever feels some resistance towards the end of the stroke, like it was cocking the shutter.

I think that resistance is normal. At least it is on the advance lever Retinas I have.

Marcelo

 

[Gerry M]

Thanks to all for your input. I have tried all suggestions to eliminate "operator error" and I think it is cla time. I have contacted both suggested service centers and was very satisfied with their response. Now have to choose one of them.

Thanks again,

Gerry

 

[BrianShaw]

In my original description, I should have said that the shutter always stays closed. The EV system seems to be correct and the aperture opens & closes when changing the EV. The film advance lever feels some resistance towards the end of the stroke, like it was cocking the shutter.

That could be one of a couple of issues. The cocking of the shutter, as you indicate. That is generally resolved by a good servicing. But the cocking linkage can also get out of whack too, which can be adjusted if it isn't fully cocking-and-locking the shutter because it got out-of-adjustment. This is less likely if the shutter or its cocking ring has never been removed from your camera because it is a geared connection - both cocking rack and the gear connecting body to shutter cocking ring (unlike the shutter release which is a lever that can become bent).

I've overhauled a couple of Retina IIIc's, both body and shutter. They are a very complicated and fidgety system but a dream to work with when all is working as originally intended.

As you say, Gerry... it's probably time for a servicing.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Thanks to all for your input. I have tried all suggestions to eliminate "operator error" and I think it is cla time. I have contacted both suggested service centers and was very satisfied with their response. Now have to choose one of them.

Thanks again,

Gerry

WIsh you best of luck. Retinas are great cameras.

Best regards

Marcelo

 

[Gerry M]

Thanks to all!

 

[shutterfinger]

Self timers in Compur shutters will get sticky and fail to run long before the speed timing fails.