The folding Retina's come with or without rangefinders, some have rapid advance levers, some have rangefinders and others built in lightmeters. Some have Schneider-Kreuznach optics, either Xenars or Xenons and others have Kodak Ektar or Rodenstock lenses or even Tessars..  The later models also came with interchangeable lenses (front lens replacement), but they all have a few things in common. The high quality, and some funny little quirks. For example you can't close the front cover unless the distance setting are set at infinity. Also all the square bodied Retinas have double exposure prevention linked to the film transport cock wheels, which means that you can only fire the shutter if the camera are loaded with film, or if you turn the cock wheels by hand when f.e. testing the shutter action.  On this page I you'll only find the older Retinas with the square edged bodies, and please note that many of them were made during the II World War. It isn't always easy to date a Retina at first glance, but luckily there are som great internet ressources which can be of help to you. The most prominent and capable resource are Mr. David L. Jentz from the "Historical Society for Retina Cameras". He will help you identify Your precious Retina. All folding Retinas take ordinary 135 film cartridges and have hinged back covers, so you'll just have to select the one that suits you personally and that meet your demands. Don't worry about the build quality; it's superb.

Retina I (149) - (1939 -1940) VF
Serial no.: 301680
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3,5  50mm
Shutter:  Compur B + 1 sec. => 1/300 sec.
Misc.:  Depth-of-field scale on bottom plate

Retina I (010) - (1949) VF
Serial no.: 213399
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3,5  50mm
Shutter:  Compur Rapid B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec.*
Misc.: Depth-of-field scale on bottom plate

Retina I (013) - (August 1950) VF
Serial no.: 336201
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3,5  50mm
Shutter:  Compur Rapid B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Misc.:

Retina IIa (150) - (1939 -1941) RF
Serial no.: 5987666
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 1:2,0  50mm
Shutter:  Compur Rapid B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Misc.: Coupled rangefinder
Depth-of-field scale on bottom plate
Sample pic here
 

This is my own personal favourite among the older Retinas. The Xenon lens are marvellous. The sample pic was take by available light at 1/2 sec and f5,6. Less than 5000 pcs. were made during the II World War, and the type 150 are easily identified by the viewfinder front plate which are fixed with tiny screws. I know for sure that this particular camera have been in Denmark since the war, and maybe it was brought here by a German soldier or officer during the occupation. Who knows?.

Retina IIa (150) - (1939 -1941) RF
Serial no.: 312181 K
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Kodak Ektar 1:3,5  50mm
Shutter:  Compur Rapid B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Misc.: Coupled rangefinder
Depth-of-field scale on bottom plate

Retina II (011) - (summer 1948) RF
Serial no.: 125196
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Rodenstock Heligon 1,2,0   50mm
Shutter:  Compur Rapid B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Misc.: Coupled rangefinder
Depth-of-field scale on bottom plate
 

As it appears from above, the Retina II type 011 was produced from 1946, just after the war, and it is almost identical with the type 150 except for the new top cover without the added front plate. It's amazing that Kodak were able to manufacture such a beautiful camera immediately after the II World War, and furthermore with the superb Rodenstock Heligon lens.

Retina Ia  (015) - (1951 -1954) VF
Serial no.: 654749 (December 1952)
            843139 (January 1954)
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:3,5  50mm
Shutter:  Synchro Compur B + 1 sec. => 1/250 (1/500) sec.
Misc.:  Rapid advance lever.

Retina IIa  (016) - (September 1953) RF Serial no.: 78075x Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135) Optics: Rodenstock Heligon 1:2,0  50mm Shutter:  Synchro Compur B + 1 sec. => 1/250 sec. Misc.:  Rapid advance lever            Coupled rangefinder My Retina IIa was probably manufactured in late 1953 or 1954 judging by the serialnumber, and this classic beauty is my absolute favourite model among the "older" types. To be honest, I find it even more chaming and beautiful than my other favourite, the Retina IIc, although the latter offers interchangeable front lens element which the IIa dont.  Yeah I know my IIa shows some wear on the leatherette, and so what ?.  It's still very beautiful, a genuine pleasure to use and just oozes of quality and true German craftmanship. And if the looks, finish and build quality aren't enough to tempt You to get one Yourself, then take a look at the lens; -a fast Rodenstock Heligon 1:2,0. It shares all the wellknown and characterictic "Retina quirks" with other models. Yes the focusing scale still have to be set at infinity before You can close the frontcover. Back in the 50's, this was a very expensive camera, and thats probably why many IIa's today are quite well kept and well maintained. All the same, this baby is one of the classics that are worth having CLA'ed, repaired and/or restored. In top condition it will most likely last your lifetime (too).  Please take caution when clicking on he thumbnails below. You are at high risk to fall in love !!     The IIa with closed cover Note release for the hinged back cover. Superb design !   Bottom view. Note release knob for front cover to the right and rewind release to the left   Top view, closed The most beautiful rapid advance lever in the world Another bottom view Ohh tattoo's !

Need help dating and identifying Your Retina ?

Contact:

Mr. David L. Jentz from the "Historical Society for Retina Cameras"

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