jt991

Its been a very long time since I had a llC, and have just bought a near mint lllC ,but would welcome clarification regarding the handbook loading instructions, specifically about the use of the rapid-wind lever and film release button, viz:: "If you are using a 20-exposure cassette, set to the index mark between No. 20 and 25. Now work the rapid-winding lever and press the film release button (8). Repeat this until the film counter indicates No. 36 or 20 respectively. At the same time the rewind knob (20)…..etc etc" Presumably this technique is followed with the lens retracted, as the usual "wind & fire" to reach the first frame will only work when the Retina's lens is extended ???

The combined weight of it on my 500C has pretty much restricted their use to when driving my car, so my only hope lies - perhaps - carrying them in a recently ordered LoweproTopload Zoom shoulder bag when walking.My age (83 )may have something to do with this... but I'll get along as best as I can, for I sure love that 800 gram beauty !

You're right... I am talking about about my 80mm f2.8 Planar ..... all the years using 35mm cameras mostly with a "standard" (50mm) lens probably the reason for my mistake. And thank-you for your much appreciated explanation.

I am mystified by the three un-numbered distance markers on the focusing ring of my (Hasselblad) 50mm Planar; viz between those for 3 & 3.5 ft, 3.5 & 4ft, as well as between the 4 & 5ft markers. In each case there is ample room for a distance to be engraved, but all there is is a blackened line at right angles to the ring's edge exactly like the numbered distances have. Surely not one that got past final inspection o_O

I have found the most convenient way to carry my newly acquired 1971 500C & attached '68 80/2.8 Planar in the shoulder bag is nose down ,(viz body uppermost) to leave room in the remaining space for a film magazine etc. A spare divider lies uunderneath the lens as a cushion in view of their combined weight, perhaps unnecessarily, as no doubt your replies will confirm no harm will come to either the lens and or camera mount components, probably from users who have been carrying theirs this way for years.

Hi Rick, From Koh's web site today: "Sorry, We are no longer repair camera, Jimmy Retired For Repair. But If you need any Bronica, Rollei parts or repair questions, just e-mail us For Bronica Repair Please contact Camera Wiz, Mr. Frank Marshman at 1495 Needmore Lane, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 540-867-9671, E-Mail: camerawiz@msn.com" ...But as the $99 SQ-B Body due Monday from KEH was specifically bought to cannibalise parts for my good SQ-B as may be required, the levers will be coming off it.

Many apologies for any offence caused by that obvious and unintended misspelling ----- I hesitated too long until the time for editing ran out !

KEH had a SQ-B body which is already on its way to me. Firstly the multi exposure and mirror controller levers will be transferred, then the rest put to one side for other parts (if and when needed) to keep my SQ-B going for as long as possible. (The mirror control lever on my camera was loose, and a closer look revealed that it was cracked right across the centre ....then attempting to tighten it by rotating the central button-like cap using a finger tip caused tit to break in half and fall off :oops:

A closer look at the whole of the mirror lever revealed that it was cracked across the middle, subsequently coming off in two pieces. Fortunately it was set at 'N', thankfully confirmed as I expose each frame of my first film in this SQ-B. The multi exposure lever was in a similar condition (subject of my separate thread), so I plan to cannibalise the SQ-B body which I expect to buy a.s.a.p; other parts from it may - in due course - keep mine going.:-)

I have new-to-me SQB and am just going through my first film with it. Although I have read a copy of the "proper" User Manual, cannot find whether the mirror is designed to stay up after an exposure has been made (which it does). Although when I wind on to the next frame, the shutter cocks and the mirror goes back down simultaneously. (The mirror control lever is set to N but seems a bit loose , i.e no clicks when turning it between the N -S-C markings.

N.B Please note that the camera in question is an SQ-B. Also thanks for the link to Frank Marshman ! It may turn out that the lever from any of the SQ series will do.

Due to my carelessness this lever broke off my newly acquired SQ as I pulled the camera out of a tight-fitting shoulder bag I was using until an already ordered larger one arrives. Unrepairable and so deriving me of all that the lost facility allows, help in finding a replacement will be very gratefully appreciated. Finding a non-working discarded SQ body for its lever seems very unlikely, I guess - but "hope spring eternal". Although - from photos - the SQ-A lever looks different (evidently incorporating a chrome ring), maybe one of those would do ?

<p>Earlier in this thread I thought I might go for a KMZ turret finder, but noting that Ffordes have a couple in stock - I phoned today to see if they could tell me its compatibility with eyeglasses. The person who took my call (coincidentally wearing eyeglasses) took one of the shelf to try out, and confirmed my suspicions that getting one for myself would not be a good idea after all. He also pointed out that its metal eyepiece could could potentially scratch eyeglasses.</p>

<p>I might well go for that KMZ Universal Turret Finder (28/35/50/85/135mm) as they seem to be fairly common, once I have established that it has enough eye relief, i.e. easy to use with eyeglasses. In keeping with my strong liking for the Leica lll series, there remains the other option, namely getting a lllg - for the sake its 'built in' 50 mm viewfinder frame. This move would of course permit the Voigtlander 28mm finder to stay in the lllc accessory shoe undisturbed. </p>

<p>for lllc in that last line, please read lllg (For some my Mac's spell check always tries to change it back)</p>