Defeating LVS in the Retina IIIc/IIc/Ib

Mark A. Overton, Oct 22, 2017 Return to main page

These folding Retinas are delightful and are a pleasure to use, except for one misfeature: They have LVS (light value system), which means that the shutter-speed and aperture controls are linked. When you change speed, the aperture changes also to maintain same exposure. Most of us find this feature annoying, because we often want to change the speed due to a change in light while keeping the aperture unchanged. Changing speed means you must change the aperture back to its correct setting. Annoying.

This page shows a simple modification that removes this linkage while having no other effect on the camera.

Here’s the problem:
This dimple in the aperture pointer engages the teeth on the speed ring.
To defeat this linkage, first focus the camera to its closest distance, revealing two screws supporting the aperture pointer. Carefully remove both screws and the pointer. To ensure that these screws don’t fall into the camera, I suggest unscrewing them with the camera facing lens-down, causing the screws to fall onto your work-surface.
Here’s a rear view of the pointer. The dimple is a bump when viewed from this side. You need to remove this bump.
Put a cutting wheel on a Dremel, and carefully grind off the bump. Although this pointer looks large in this picture, it’s actually tiny, so it can be hard to see where you are grinding, even when wearing close-up glasses. So don’t rush this step.
Reinstall the pointer, and your camera will no longer have LVS. Consider putting a dab of Locktite on the threads before fastening the screws, ensuring that they won’t loosen. Shooting with your Retina will now be more enjoyable.

	Here’s the problem: This dimple in the aperture pointer engages the teeth on the speed ring. To defeat this linkage, first focus the camera to its closest distance, revealing two screws supporting the aperture pointer. Carefully remove both screws and the pointer. To ensure that these screws don’t fall into the camera, I suggest unscrewing them with the camera facing lens-down, causing the screws to fall onto your work-surface.
	Here’s a rear view of the pointer. The dimple is a bump when viewed from this side. You need to remove this bump.
	Put a cutting wheel on a Dremel, and carefully grind off the bump. Although this pointer looks large in this picture, it’s actually tiny, so it can be hard to see where you are grinding, even when wearing close-up glasses. So don’t rush this step. Reinstall the pointer, and your camera will no longer have LVS. Consider putting a dab of Locktite on the threads before fastening the screws, ensuring that they won’t loosen. Shooting with your Retina will now be more enjoyable.