The most amazing Retina IIIS feature is cross-platform ability to use IIIS rangefinder lenses on Kodak Retina Reflex S, III, and IV SLRs! Kodak succeeded where Leica, Nikon, and Canon failed: to allow rangefinder shooters to use their lenses with full compatibility on an SLR!! Imagine switching your Leica M rangefinder lenses to your R SLR!!
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A later non-folding Retina from Kodak AG, factory type 027.Made from 1958 to 1961. The Retina IIIS rangefinder camera shares the same range of interchangeable Schneider and Rodenstock lenses as the contemporary Kodak Retina Reflex S single-lens reflex camera. The manual that came with my Kodak Retina Reflex IV camera. Kodak and Kodak Brownie user manuals from the collection.The books of the non-brownie cameras are mainly found elsewhere on the web. Kodak Retina Reflex III.
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Retina was the brand-name of a long-running series of German-built Kodak 35mmcameras, produced from 1934 until 1969. Kodak Retina cameras were manufactured in Stuttgart-Wangen by the Kodak AG Dr. Nagel Werk which Kodak had acquired in December 1931.
The Retina line included a variety of folding and non-folding models, including the Retina Reflexsingle lens reflex camera. Retina cameras were noted for their compact size, high quality, and low cost compared to competitors. These cameras retain a strong following today, of both photographers and collectors.
Kodak AG also offered a companion line of less-expensive Retinette cameras, with similar looks and function.
1History
1.1Folding Kodak Retina Cameras
2Models
History[edit]
August Nagel was a prolific camera designer and entrepreneur who was one of the founders of Zeiss Ikon, when he merged his company, Contessa-Nettel AG, with Zeiss and others to form that group in 1919. As well as being an owner he was an active designer of fine Zeiss cameras including miniatures. He left Zeiss in 1928 to form his own firm Nagel Camera Werks AG, and produced the Nagel line of cameras, including glass plate, sheet-film, and roll-film cameras. Some of his notable designs are the: Vollenda, Duo-620, Pupille, Ranca, and Recomar cameras.
After selling Dr. August Nagel – Fabrik fuer Feinmechanik Werk in Stuttgart-Wangen to Kodak AG in December 1931, the new firm was designated 'Kodak AG – Dr. Nagel Werk'. Nagel continued to innovate including developing the Retina folding cameras around the new Kodak 135 preloaded 35mm cartridge. Prior to this, most 35mm film was loaded by the user into proprietary cartridges in a darkroom or light-tight bag.
Folding Kodak Retina Cameras[edit]
In the early 1930s August Nagel was developing a 35mm camera and a preloaded disposable 35mm film cartridge, which would also fit in Leica and Contax cameras. Nagel was an expert in miniature cameras; his Vollenda miniature folder, along with the Ranca and Pupille collapsible cameras were smaller than the Leica and Contax cameras, but could use 50mm f:3.5 Elmar and other similar Tessar formula lenses in Compur shutters to create a larger 30mm x 40mm image on 127 rollfilm. The advantage of 35mm would be the elimination of the paper-backer allowing more images per roll of film.
All of the Kodak Retina cameras from the mid 1930s to the late 1950s were folding cameras with a short self-erecting bellows, lens board, and folding metal door/cover. These folding Kodak Retina cameras are listed below with their respective years of manufacture. While the previous photohistorical literature gave both a pre-war 3-digit 'Type' code for each Retina and Retinette model and a post-war 3 digit 'Type' code for each Retina or Retinette model, recent research indicates that the term 'Type' can only be found for the post-war Retina and Retinette cameras in the contemporary Kodak AG documents. In the pre-war times, a number ( nummer, Nr.) code was used for all Kodak AG cameras, not just the Retina and Retinette models. So, in the interest of historical accuracy, pre-war Retina and Retinette cameras have a 'Nr.' code and post-war Retina and Retinette cameras have a 'Type' code.
Folding Kodak Retina I cameras by Model (pre-war – viewfinder only):
Nr. 117 Retina – 1934 to 1935
Nr. 118 Retina – 1935 to 1936
Nr. 119 Retina (I) – 1936 to 1938
Nr. 126 Retina (I) – 1936 to 1937
Nr. 141 Retina I – 1937 to 1939
Nr. 143 Retina I – 1938 to 1939
Nr. 148 Retina I – 1939 to 1941
Nr. 149 Retina I – 1939 to 1941
Nr. 167 Retina I – 1941
Folding Kodak Retina II cameras by Model (pre-war – with rangefinder):
Nr. 122 Retina II – 1936 to 1937
Nr. 142 Retina II – 1937 to 1939
Nr. 150 Retina IIa – 1939 to 1941
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Folding Kodak Retina I cameras by Model (post-war – viewfinder only):
Folding Kodak Retina II cameras by Model (post-war – with rangefinder):
Type 011 Retina II – 1946 to 1949
Type 014 Retina II – 1949 to 1950
Type 016 Retina IIa – 1951 to 1954
Type 020 Retina IIc – 1954 to 1957
Type 029 Retina IIC – 1957 to 1958
Folding Kodak Retina III cameras by Model (post-war – with rangefinder and exposure meter):
Type 021 Ausf. I Retina IIIc – 1954 to 1957
Type 021 Ausf. II Retina IIIc – 1957
Type 028 Retina IIIC – 1957 to 1960
1930s[edit]
The first Retina, Nr. 117, was introduced in late July 1934. The successive model: Nr 118 Retina followed in 1935 with minor modifications to the Nr. 117. The Nr. 119 Retina (I) and the more expensive Nr. 126 Retina (I) follow in 1936. Nr. 117, Nr. 118 and Nr. 119 Retina cameras all had black lacquered top housings, black lacquered body edges and nickel-plated control surfaces. Nr. 126 Retina (I) was the first with a chrome-plated finish to the top housing, chrome-plated top deck below the rewind knob and chrome-plated control surfaces with the body edges being polished aluminum alloy with a clear lacquer coat. Nr. 122 Retina II was introduced in 1936 with a separate coupled rangefinder and viewfinder and at this point, Nr. 119 and Nr. 126 Retina cameras were designated as 'Retina I' cameras. The Nr. 122 Retina II had a problematic film advance lever and was replaced in June 1937 by the Nr. 142 Retina II with a return to the knob advance. Nr. 141 Retina I is a chrome finished model with a shutter release on the top body which was introduced in late 1937. Nr. 143 Retina I was the black lacquer/nickel-plated version of the Nr. 141 Retina I introduced in early 1938. The identification of Retina I cameras is based on the finish and configuration of the top housings of each camera and should NOT be based on lens/shutter or serial number, as lenses, shutters and back doors can be easily interchanged by repairman. In 1939 a Nr. 150 Retina IIa was introduced to replace the Nr. 142 Retina II, but it was unrelated to the flash capable Type 016 Retina IIa series of the early 1950s. Also in 1939, the Nr. 148 Retina I and the Nr. 149 Retina I with double exposure prevention are introduced. Late versions of the Type 148 Retina I have a black lacquer finish to the body edges. The last pre-war Retina I is the Nr. 167 Retina I which was manufactured in July 1941 and was for export only.
HSRC Retina I identification diagram
Prewar lens/shutter combinations[edit]
These lens/shutter combinations were available on the following pre-war Kodak Retina cameras:
Retina I lens/shutter combinations:
Schneider Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR
Schneider Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider 'Retina-Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR
Schneider Retina-Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Kodak-Anastigmat f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR
Kodak-Anastigmat f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Kodak-Anastigmat f:4,5 F=5 cm / AGC K4S
KODAK ANASTIGMAT 1:3.5 f=5 cm (French-made lens) / COMPUR-RAPID
Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar f3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR
Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar f3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Kodak-Anastigmat EKTAR f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3,5 f=5 cm / COMPUR
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3,5 f=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Retina II lens/shutter combinations:
Schneider Xenon f2,8 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider Retina-Xenon f:2,8 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider Xenon f2 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider Retina-Xenon f:2 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Kodak-Ektar f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Pre-war lens descriptions:
The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3.5 f=5 cm lens was offered only on export pre-war Retina I models.
The Schneider Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm and the Schneider Retina-Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm lenses were made with 4 elements in three groups and had 'Tessar-like' lens formulas. Retina-Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm represented an improved lens formula over the previous Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm lens.
There were pre-war lenses labeled as 'Kodak-Ektar', 'Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar' and 'Kodak-Anastigmat EKTAR' and all were manufactured by Schneider. All are 4 elements in 3 groups and all had the identical lens formula of Retina-Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm lenses.
Schneider Retina-Xenon f:2,8 F=5 cm lenses on pre-war Retina II cameras are actually 5 element 'Xenar' lens formulas.
WWII and 1940s[edit]
WWII began in September 1939. In late 1941, all camera production stopped at Kodak A.G. At war's end, Stuttgart was in the American sector of West Germany and the US Military Government took control of the Kodak AG plant in Stuttgart at the end of the war. During this time, the vast majority of Retina cameras (Type 010(early) Retina I, Type 010 Retina I and Type 011 Retina II) were manufactured for the US Military Post-Exchange system (PX system) and sold to US Military Personnel. Eastman Kodak Co. regains control of Kodak AG in 1948 and this explains why the Type 010 Retina I and Type 011 Retina II cameras are not imported in the USA until early 1949. Post-war production resumed in 1945 with the first production Type 010 (early)Retina I cameras coming off the final assembly line in November 1945. Standard Type 010 Retina I cameras begin production in early 1946. Type 011Retina II beginning production followed in the autumn of 1946. In late summer of 1949, the Type 013 Retina I and Type 014 Retina II were introduced. These were substantially similar to the prior Retinas I and II cameras, but with flash synchronized COMPUR-RAPID shutters on the majority of cameras and a film type indicator dial at the base of the rewind knob. The depth of field scale was moved to the outside of the shutter housing opposite the actual focusing ring.
1950s[edit]
In January 1951 the Type 015Retina Ia and Type 016Retina IIa Type 016 are introduced with COMPUR-RAPID flash synch. shutters. Synchro-Compur shutters with MX flash synch shutters are introduced on the Type 016 Retina IIa in early spring of 1951 and on the Type 015 Retina Ia in June 1951. Production of these two camera continues until spring of 1954.
The Type 018Retina Ib, Type 020Retina IIc and Type 021 Ausf I.Retina IIIc are introduced in the spring of 1954 at Photokina in Cologne, Germany. Both the Retina IIc and Retina IIIc had interchangeable front lens elements with f:5,6 35mm and f:4 80mm front lens components available; however, the cameras could not be folded closed with the accessory lenses. Both Retina-Xenon C orRetina-Heligon C lenses were offered on the Type 020 and Type 021 Ausf I. Type 021 Ausf II Retina IIIc was introduced in summer of 1957 with a single range exposure meter. Type 019 Ausf. I Retina IB was also introduced at this time.
The fifth and final generation of folding Retina cameras (with capital-letter B or C suffix) was introduced in 1957, the same year as the Type 025 Retina Reflex system. These last Retina folders included the Type 019 Ausf IIRetina IB, Type 029Retina IIC, and Type 028 Retina IIIC. This group had slightly taller top housings, with upgraded single range exposure meters and the addition of a larger, bright-line viewfinder. The fixed-lens Type 019 Ausf I / Ausf II Retina IB featured an exposure meter, which was not included on the Type 018 Retina Ib. The Type 029 Retina IIC had a rangefinder but no meter though it was also taller housing than the Retina IIc; it was of limited production from 1957 to 1958 and not imported to the USA by Eastman Kodak Co.
Postwar lens/shutter combinations[edit]
These lens/shutter combinations were available on the following postwar folding Retina I Models:
Rodenstock Ysar 1:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR
Rodenstock Ysar 1:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Kodak-Anastigmat f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR
Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR
Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar f:3,5 F=5 cm / COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider Retina-Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm (uncoated) / COMPUR
Schneider Retina-Xenar f:3,5 F=5 cm (uncoated) / COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider Retina-Xenar f;3,5 F=5 cm (coated) / COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider Retina-Xenar 3,5/5 cm (uncoated) COMPUR-RAPID
Schneider Retina-Xenar 3,5/5 cm (coated) / COMPUR-RAPID
Kodak Ektar F:3.5 50mm 'Made in USA' / COMPUR
Kodak Ektar F:3.5 50mm 'Made in USA' / COMPUR-RAPID
/
Schneider Retina-Xenar 3,5/5 cm (coated) / COMPUR-RAPID (flash sync)
Schneider Retina-Xenar 1:3,5/50mm / COMPUR-RAPID (no flash sync)
Schneider Retina-Xenon C F:2,8/50mm / SYNCHRO-COMPUR
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C F:2,8/50mm / SYNCHRO-COMPUR
These lens/shutter combinations were available on the following postwar folding Retina III Models:
Schneider Retina-Xenon C F:2,0/50mm / SYNCHRO-COMPUR
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C F:2,0/50mm / SYNCHRO-COMPUR
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C F:2,8/50mm / SYNCHRO-COMPUR
Retina Reflex (SLR)[edit]
The Retina Reflex SLR camera systems were introduced in 1957 and produced in several iterations to 1966. The first model, Type 025 Retina Reflex, shared the 'C' series interchangeable front element lenses with the interchangeable Type 020 Retina IIc and Type 021 Ausf I Retina IIIc (35mm, 50mm, and 80mm). Type 025 Retina Reflex had the same uncoupled single range exposure meter of the Type 019 Ausf I Retina IB and the Type 021 Ausf. II Retina IIc, which is later mounted on the Type 019 Ausf. II Retina IB and Type 028 Retina IIIC.
The second generation Type 034 Retina Reflex S of 1959 shared 'S' type lenses with the Type 027 Retina IIIS (below), and offered fully coupled metering. With these the entire lens detached allowing for a wider range of focal lengths, 28mm to 200mm. At this point economical Japanese SLRs were becoming available and the Nikon F of 1959 would set the standard for future camera system.
The Reflex III of 1961 and Reflex IV of 1964 brought minor improvements with the former offering a metering needle visible in the finder, and the latter allowing shutter and aperture settings to be visible in the finder. The Reflex IV was produced until 1967. From 1968 to 1974 Kodak AG produced an Instamatic Reflex (SLR) based on the Retina Reflex, accepting the S series lenses, but using instamatic 126 film cartridges and instamatic style flash cubes.
Non-folding Retinas[edit]
Kodak produced a series of non-folding (rangefinder and viewfinder) cameras under the Retina label between 1958 and 1966. The initial models were very similar to the last folding Retinas, 5th generation (capital letters series). The IIIS Type 27 had interchangeable lenses; however these used the S-Type series lenses of the Retina later Reflex SLRs rather than the more limited C series used by the later folders. The IIS was slightly smaller (Retinette frame) with similar features but did not have interchangeable lenses.
Several models of 'Automatic' Retinas followed, on the IIS frame, without interchangeable lenses, but with coupled (automatic)metering, where in auto-mode the meter adjusted the aperture. The Automatic II and Automatic III had an upgraded lens and shutter from the Automatic I. The Automatic I and Automatic II did not have a rangefinder, but the Automatic III had a coupled rangefinder.
The last cameras labeled as Retinas were the plastic-bodied viewfinder Type 060 Retina S1 and Type 061 Retina S2, produced from 1966 to 1969. These were reasonable amateur cameras but not of the quality of prior Retina cameras. The fixed lens/shutters are adjustable for speed, aperture, and focus. Neither offers a rangefinder, though the S2 offers coupled metering.
Retinettes[edit]
Kodak also manufactured the Retinette series of lesser-featured cameras from 1939 to 1960 in a variety of folding and rigid models.
Models[edit]
Images of Folding Retina cameras[edit]
Type 015 Kodak Retina Ia,
Type 018 Kodak Retina Ib and rangefinder
Type 016 Kodak Retina IIa
German language version Kodak IIc type 020 with accessories
Type 021 Ausf. I Kodak Retina IIIc
Non-folding Kodak Retina cameras[edit]
Type 027 Retina IIIS (1958–1960), (accepted interchangeable Retina S-Type lenses)
Type 024 Retina IIS (1959–1960)
Type 038 Retina Automatic I (1960–1962)
Type 032 Retina Automatic II (1960–1962)
Type 039 Retina Automatic III (1960–1963)
Type 040 Retina I BS (1962–1963)
Type 046 Retina IF (1963–1964)
Type 047 Retina IIF (1963–1964)
Type 060 Retina S1 (1966–1969)
Type 061 Retina S2 (1966–1969)
Type 060 Retina S1 (1966-1969)
SLR[edit]
Type 025 Retina Reflex (1957–1958), with convertible lenses from Schneider-Kreuznach or Rodenstock
Type 034 Retina Reflex S (1959–1961), with a DISTINCT RETINA-TYPE DKL-mount lenses from Schneider-Kreuznach and Rodenstock
Type 041 Retina Reflex III (1961–1964), with a DISTINCT RETINA-TYPE DKL-mount lenses from Schneider-Kreuznach and Rodenstock
Type 051 Retina Reflex IV (1964–1966), with a DISTINCT RETINA-TYPE DKL-mount lenses from Schneider-Kreuznach and Rodenstock
See also[edit]
Retina IIa Type 016 by luis triguez
References[edit]
Bibliography[edit]
Dr. David L. Jentz, Retina Collector's Guide Fascicle 1: Retina and Retinette Cameras 1934 – 1941 (October 2018) ISBN978-1-51-845163-8
Dr. David L. Jentz, Retina Collector's Guide Fascicle 2: Resumption of Retina camera production at Kodak A.G. in 1945, (December 2018) ISBN978-1-38-811428-2
Kalton C. Lahue, Joseph A. Bailey, Glass, Brass, and Chrome: The American 35mm Miniature Camera, University of Oklahoma Press (April 15, 2002) ISBN0806134348
Brian Coe, Kodak Cameras: The First Hundred Years, Steyning Photo Books LLP; 2nd edition (August 11, 2003) ISBN1874707375
Douglas Collins, The Story of Kodak, Harry N Abrams; First edition (October 1990), ISBN0810912228
Mina Fisher Hammer, History of the Kodak, and its continuations .., The House of Little Books (1940), ASIN: B0013AOG9M
Mike Levy and Michael Levy, Selecting and Using Classic Cameras: A User's Guide to Evaluating Features, Condition & Usability of Classic Cameras, Amherst Media (July 1, 2001), ISBN1584280549
Kodak Retina Reflex Iii Value
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