mark45831 Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 about 3 years ago I bought one of these for a couple dollars, It didnt have a lens and the and some other shutter parts were missing so I thought I would just buy and keep just in case, now I was able to pick another up for just a couple dollars , had to swap the tops and meter and just for about $25 I got a nice camera , this is number 3rd one of this series for me , I like these Retina's , I have about 15 of various modes now. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted June 10, 2020 Share Posted June 10, 2020 Great looking! My Retina wasn't so sharp in any number of ways, but it was a great shooter when new. Here's a 'native' leaflet from Kodak on similar models 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark45831 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 Great looking! My Retina wasn't so sharp in any number of ways, but it was a great shooter when new. Here's a 'native' leaflet from Kodak on similar models [ATTACH=full]1345294[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1345295[/ATTACH] Have you used the 35mm and 80mm on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Vongries Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 These may have been the last great American film cameras. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conrad_hoffman Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 Properly cleaned and adjusted, the Retinas are sharp and oh so easy to carry. It isn't widely known, but the lens on the IIIc is radioactive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur_mcculloch2 Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 I have two IIIc's (small c) and a IIa. I think the schneider xenon is one of the sharpest, high contrast, lens I've ever used. I understand that both theMine were serviced by Mr Sherlock in NZ: 'retinarescue'. Highly recommended. And Sandy Vongries, I will take the demurrer: Kodak bought out Nagel Camerawerk, who made them. They were never American made, just owned. They are a wonderful camera, intuitive, ergonomic, and pocketable (barely). I carry one in my work bag for ad hoc photography. conrad_ hoffman, thanks for that information. Never knew that. Regards, Arthur (apiarist1) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodeo_joe1 Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 These may have been the last great American film cameras. Made in Germany? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur_mcculloch2 Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 (edited) rodeo_joe|1: yes, Stuttgart. I have a couple of IIc's, which I prefer to use. They are less bulky. I have been told, but cannot vouch safe for it, that the xenon f2.8 (which is on my IIc cameras, was a xenon f2, but with a stop on the openning of the aperture blades). None of my versions have matching numbers on the internal and external elements. Kodak had an unmistakable capacity to turn gold into dross at times. Kodak: 'moments lost in time, like tears lost in rain'. Regards, Arthur (apiarist1). Absolutely fabulous camera. Edited June 11, 2020 by arthur_mcculloch|2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 Have you used the 35mm The lens was fogged so I never actually did more than test shots with my Retina I. Someday maybe I'll try to clean it up? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark45831 Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share Posted June 11, 2020 This was taken with a llc another of these I like a lot, there just tons of fun 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donald Harpold Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Here is mine, a Retina I type 126. Has a light leak issue headed down below. Also have a IIIc 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
q.g._de_bakker Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 A bit of trivia: August Nagel, the man who made the Retinas, also invented the 135 35 mm film cartridge. Though not everyone has owned, used or even heard of Retinas, almost everyone who ever used film in a camera has used these cartridges. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles_stobbs3 Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 I notice Donald's has a Kodak Ektar lens. Mine (3) all with Schneider lenses. I think most told in Europe had Rodenstock lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_ Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 over the years i've used several retina's my favorite being the iia. But for a pocket camera there simply too heavy; I needed to wear suspenders AND and belt to keep my pants on... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 My personal favourite, the Retina II (Type 011) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark45831 Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 nice, here's my ll and llc 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julio Fernandez Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 The IIIc has a fantastic normal lens. I find the 35 and 80 mm lenses for the IIIc awkard to use. I have used a IIIc for travel because of its quality and portability 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katsone Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 I have a Retina ib that I picked up at a flea market a few years back. It just needed a little cleaning, I really had a wish come true wen I found this. I learned photography on my Dad's Retina that he picked up while in the Navy in the '50's. I've run 4 or 5 rolls of film through it and everything about the camera is perfect. A friend gave me a set of Auxiliary lenses 1-3 and I'm not sure exactly what they are for? Close up lenses? Can they be stacked? Since there's no through the lens focus, I am at a loss as to what their function is. Any light on this would be appreciated. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conrad_hoffman Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Those sound like close-up lenses and I don't know how to use them with a rangefinder. The Retina had a bayonet front element and there were two (I think) alternate lenses you could mount in its place for tele and wide angle, though they may have been awkward as well. Need photo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 When close up lenses are made for rangefinder use a viewfinder lens of same diopter as close up lens is part of the set. If the viewfinder attachment is missing or lens is made for an SLR you might try holding the lens in front of rangefinder to focus. If you position it correctly the image will shift and you can focus. Then attach the close up lens to the camera lens and give it a try. Not as precise as a dedicated RF close up attachment but if used at moderate to small aperture it might work. I successfully did this once with an Olympus XA. Tripod is highly recommended. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJG Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 I don't know what would have been made for your Retina, but other RF cameras did have dedicated close up accessories that included viewfinder correction or totally separate viewfinders like the Zeiss Contameter made in several versions for the Contax. Remember that parallax is an issue as well as focusing accurately, since most RF viewfinders are designed to be accurate at distances of 5' or more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmac Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 A quick search shows the Retina close-up kit included a separate clip-on rangefinder. There was 3 lenses for early Retinas', and 2 lenses for later Retinas' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark45831 Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 I have a Retina ib that I picked up at a flea market a few years back. It just needed a little cleaning, I really had a wish come true wen I found this. I learned photography on my Dad's Retina that he picked up while in the Navy in the '50's. I've run 4 or 5 rolls of film through it and everything about the camera is perfect. A friend gave me a set of Auxiliary lenses 1-3 and I'm not sure exactly what they are for? Close up lenses? Can they be stacked? Since there's no through the lens focus, I am at a loss as to what their function is. Any light on this would be appreciated.Gus's Kodak Retina collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katsone Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Above is the packaging for the lenses. Below is the lens screwed into the threads of the camera lens. I do not believe that my original camera lens is removable on this model. If this clear anything up, that would be great! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katsone Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Gus's Kodak Retina collection That's a really interesting collection. I do have the 50mm lens hood in the plastic case, but not the 3 filters. Thanks Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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