IIIC Meter Cover

1750Shooter · 04-22-2012

Just got a IIIC & it doesn't have the cover over the selenium cell. It came with an opaque plastic cover that is supposed to be snapped over the cell. When do I use it? Is there an automatic compensation built in? I'm liking this little guy right off the bat. Thanks for any help.
Bruce

Livesteamer · 04-22-2012

I think the plastic cover is for making ambient light readings instead of reflected light readings. I suspect it's a hard to find part. Some of the Retinas did have a metal cover for Hi/Lo meter readings but I'm unsure about this model. Joe

colyn · 04-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1750Shooter

Just got a IIIC & it doesn't have the cover over the selenium cell. It came with an opaque plastic cover that is supposed to be snapped over the cell. When do I use it? Is there an automatic compensation built in? I'm liking this little guy right off the bat. Thanks for any help.
Bruce

Is it broken off or is it the second version with a single scale?

The cover is used to convert the meter to an incident light meter as opposed to reflected light..

1750Shooter · 04-22-2012

It's not broken off, it never had the hinged cover. This cover is stored in a small pouch in the top of the camera case. Thanks for your input, I kinda thought that is what it was for.
B

colyn · 04-22-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1750Shooter

It's not broken off, it never had the hinged cover. This cover is stored in a small pouch in the top of the camera case. Thanks for your input, I kinda thought that is what it was for.
B

You have what is known as the 021 Ausf. II version. Check out the below link for more information on the Retina IIIc

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhit...3cchanges.html

nparsons13 · 04-26-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by colyn

You have what is known as the 021 Ausf. II version. Check out the below link for more information on the Retina IIIc

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhit...3cchanges.html

No, the OP wrote IIIC (big C), which is type 028. The III Big C Retina never had a door over the light sensor cell.

You are correct about the two versions of the IIIc (small c, type 021). I have one of each. Version II, without the door over the light cell, was built only in 1957, just before the IIIC was produced.

colyn · 04-26-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by nparsons13

No, the OP wrote IIIC (big C), which is type 028. The III Big C Retina never had a door over the light sensor cell.

Most people type the large "C" when in fact they have a small "c". He did not indicate that it was a big "C". Had he given more info then it would have been clear what he has..but he said it did not have the door over the meter cell so the assumption can be he has the small "c"..

This is obvious on eBay when the seller types IIIC when the images show a small "c"

Quote:

Originally Posted by nparsons13

You are correct about the two versions of the IIIc (small c, type 021). I have one of each. Version II, without the door over the light cell, was built only in 1957, just before the IIIC was produced.

The 021 Ausf. II version uses the same single scale meter used in the IIIC while the first version uses a dual scale meter..

nparsons13 · 04-26-2012

Colyn, you're right. Many people don't know the difference and type big C when they have a little C. Also, many copies of the 021 Ausf. I seen for sale are missing the door. It must have broken off easily. I assume that makes the meter (if it's working) unusable in bright light.

colyn · 04-26-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by nparsons13

Colyn, you're right. Many people don't know the difference and type big C when they have a little C. Also, many copies of the 021 Ausf. I seen for sale are missing the door. It must have broken off easily. I assume that makes the meter (if it's working) unusable in bright light.

I've seen people break off this door because in their words it is in the way. Another way it gets broke off is by trying to install the wrong incident cover. The IIIc had 2 different sizes in addition to the one for the 021 Ausf. II

Without the door on the dual scale 021 Ausf. I the meter will be useless in bright light. I make it a point not to buy one that is missing the door unless it is a parts body..

I saw a 021 Ausf. I on eBay a few weeks ago with a S-K 50mm f/2.8 front lens unit. Obviously a swap out which makes it useless but he was asking nearly $200 for it..

nparsons13 · 04-26-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by colyn

I saw a 021 Ausf. I on eBay a few weeks ago with a S-K 50mm f/2.8 front lens unit. Obviously a swap out which makes it useless but he was asking nearly $200 for it..

That's a travesty. I've moved the light meter of an Ausf. II with a bad shutter to an Ausf. I with a bad meter but working shutter, but that's totally reversible, and I did it because I wanted to use a fully functional camera, not for resale.

Out of curiosity I googled Ausführung, the German word Ausf. stands for. It means "version," "design," "execution," or "production."