On this page you'll mostly find the later Retinas with the curved front covers and interchangeable front lens elements. Following this particular path, many possibillities will be open to you. At the same time the Retina IIc, IIC, IIIc and IIIC are rather sought after by collectors and/or users, so be prepared to pay more for these Retinas than for the older models and types. But they're worth spending both some money and attention on. They are good quality, looks damned nice and are a lot of fun to use !.

Retina I B  (019) - (1958 -1960) VF Serial no.: 81122 Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135) Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:2,8  50mm Shutter: Synchro Compur B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec. Misc.:  Rapid advance lever, brightline in viewfinder                  Lightmeter with external match-needle read-out One thing about these Retinas are, that you'll have be aware of the difference between a small "b" and a capitol "B". To Kodak that meant a lot !. As you can clearly see, the Retina I B are very different from the I b above. In this case the differences are all related to the top cover; a bigger and brighter viewfinder with brightline and of course the Gossen lightmeter with match needle metering on the top. Read-out are in those ever so (non) popular EV-values. Especially the corners of the top cover still show the curved lines so typical of the earlier model Retina I b.

Retina IIc mounted with the Retina Longar-Xenon 1:4,0  80mm lens   Retina II c  (020) - (June 1956) RF Serial no.: 595836 Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135) Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon C 1:2,8  50mm Shutter: Compur B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec. Misc.:  Rapid advance lever, coupled rangefinder interchangeable lenses (front lens element) Accs.: Retina Curtar-Xenon C 1:5,6  35 mm          Retina Longar-Xenon C 1:4  80 mm     As I have mentioned elsewhere, this Retina IIc are one of my absolute favourite folding Retinas. First of all I actually prefer classic cameras without lightmeters if i've got the choice. These old selenium lightmeters will eventually burn out and cease to function, and IF they still work they are often unprecise after all those years. To me it's a pain to own a camera with a non-functioning lightmeter, and it's generally a thorn in my eye because it leaves the particular camera partly defect. So I will without any doubt prefer a camera like the Retina IIc, and stick with a handheld lightmeter which can always be replaced. Apart from that, the IIc is a true beauty I think. Wonderful curved lines, excellent build quality, a rangefinder and the possibility of changing lenses to either the wideangle Curtar-Xenon or the short tele lens Longar-Xenon . What a nice little outfit !. I still need that original Kodak add-on viewfinder !. Also you can get all kinds of more or less useable gadgets, such as f.e. close-up devices and close-up rangefinders. To be honest I own 3 Retina IIc's and one should think I was afraid of living in a world without them. Well maybe I am !. The fact is, that this is one of the folding Retina models that I can recommend with all my heart because I am dead sure that you will find it just as wonderful as I do.     Rapid wind lever and rewind release button Bottom view of lens with sync socket and focussing knob

 

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Retina III c  (021 I) - (August 1956) RF Serial no.: 612970 Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135) Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenon 1:2,0  50mm Shutter: Synchro Compur B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec. Misc.:  Rapid advance lever, coupled rangefinder Interchangeable lenses (front lens element) Accs.: Retina Curtar-Xenon C 1:5,6  35 mm          Retina Longar-Xenon C 1:4  80 mm There are only a few differences between the II c described above and this Retina III c. Of course one of which is the uncoupled lightmeter with external match-needle metering, and the other being the faster Xenon 2,0 standard lens. The earlier versions of the III c had the lightmeter cover that have to be flipped open, and the later version didn't. Actually I think it's an advantage to have the cover as it will prolong the life of the selenium cell because it is less exposed. These Retina III c and III C are very sought after by collectors and users, and also more than it is the case with the IIc model, so be prepared to pay quite a lot more for the built-in lightmeter. That is, if you really want it ;-). But the Retina III c are one of the top of the line folding Retinas, no doubt about that.   Need help dating and identifying Your Retina ? Contact: Mr. David L. Jentz from the "Historical Society for Retina Cameras" Go to pages: