*The Collection
*Kodak - Nagel
*Folding Retinas I
*Folding Retinas II
*Retina III S
*Retina Reflex
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Kodak Retinette
1939 - 1967
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Introduced for the first time in 1939 the
Retinettes are much
more of a consumer-level camera than the Retinas and allthough quite capable of taking
marvellous pictures, they are generally not of the same quality as the
Retinas with a few exceptions. The first 3 pre-war models and the 4 first
post-war models until 1954 were folders. From 1954 and to the last model in
1967, all Retinette models were solid body cameras. To be honest I don't find the Retinettes very
interesting, allthough they do deserve some attention though, and they
certaily were a commercial succes at least in this country. Primarely they
have more inexpensive shutters and triplet lenses than the Retinas. Later models were partly made
using some plastic parts which you can see below, and even film transport
cockwheels etc were often made of plastic. Me don't like plastic ! ;-).
Mainly I got these few Retinettes as acts of mercy when I have stumbled
across one at a garagesale or a fleamarket where the sellers practically
gave them away. I often use them as loaners for newcomers, or even give them
away to beginners as a "trainer" or student camera. None of the Retinette
models have interchangeable lenses or rangefinders, a few got lightmeters,
but they do offer the basics, and are fairly reliable, and they are
rather easy to find in good condition. A common fault are a weak or
non-funtioning return spring for the rapid advance lever, and broken of
plastic. Below I have chosen to show 3 different Retinettes as
representatives of the many models. Some of the 20 different models are more
desirable than others and lets be fair; I have encountered more functioning
Retinettes that Agfa Silettes and I still find the Retinettes to be fair
quality for very little money. |
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Retina
I A (035)
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(1960 - 1963) VF
Serial no.: 232935
Format:
24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach
Reomar 1:3,5 50mm
Shutter: Pronto B + 1/30
- 1/60 - 1/125 - 1/250 sec. +selftimer
Misc.: Rapid advance lever, brightline in viewfinder
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This Retinette IA I found at a fleamarket, and the price was less
than that for a disposable camera !. The shutter have it's
limitations, but the few speed settings there are works. That's
worth something too I guess. The aperture settings goes down to f22,
and set to f16 the Reomar triplet lens offers a depth-of-field range
from 1,7 mtrs to infinity. Rapid wind lever, back cover opening
latch, rewind axel and film transport cockwheels + spools are made
of plastic. Too bad really. And where are the strap lugs ?
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Retinette
II B (031)
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(1958 -1959) VF
Serial no.: 54732
Format:
24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach
Reomar 1:2,8 50mm
Shutter: Compur
Rapid B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Misc.: Rapid advance lever, brightline in viewfinder,
match-needle metering
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The Retinette II B are
without any doubt my personal favourite of the Retinettes. The
camera body are quite similar to the sleek III S body, and just
about evrything are better made on this shortlived model than on
most of the Retinettes. The Gossen lightmeter are scaled in EV
(exposure value numbers), and are a manual match-needle type with
read out on the top plate. The EV's must be transferred to the lens
by hand, and these EV's are the only annoying thing about the II B.
The viewfinder is big and bright and with brigthline. Just like on
the Retina III S and Retina Reflex the Schneider-Kreuznach lens has
moving depth-of-field indicators that changes with the selected
aperture setting. The Compur Rapid shutter offers the whole range of
speed setting from B and 1 sec. to 1/500 sec. No of the vital parts
on the II B are made of plastic. Neither the rapid wind lever,
tripod socket, rewind axel or film transport cockwheels are made of
plastic but are metal parts. The specifications, performance and
general quality of the Retinette II B actually makes it a very
capable streetshooter, and a very nice camera to carry and use for
evryday purposes. |
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Top view. Match needle
metering with EV (e-values), release button and the
(in)famous manual reset framecounter. Note the wiiiide strap lugs !
Bottom view. No vital
parts on the II B, neither rapid wind lever or tripod mount/back
cover opening latch are made of plastic. The center plastic socket are
only the
alignment fixpoint for the Kodak close-up device bracket.
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Retinette
I B (045)
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(1963 -1966) VF
Serial no.: 467984
Format:
24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Rodenstock
Reomar 1:3,5 50mm
Shutter: Prontor
500 LK B + 1/15 => 1/500 sec. +selftimer
Misc.: Brightline + lightmeter / match needle in viewfinder &
hotshoe
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The Retinette I B has
got plastic rapid wind lever, plastic tripod socket, plastic rewind
axel and plastic film transport cockwheels and parts. Plastic,
plastic arrghh !. And if this is not enough, it has also got those
little symbols and picturegrams on the distance setting scale. You
know a picturegram of mountains, a group of people holding hands and
an ugly face symbolizing close-ups. I hate being treated by any lady
as if I were a total idiot. Some Retinettes even got click-stops at
these picturegrams !. Klaus-Eckard Riess tells a story on his
homepage about a workshop manager at the Zeiss factory that didn't
like the Zeiss Symbolica for the same reasons, and shouted "Why
don't you call it Idiotica !". On the positive side the Retinette IB
has got a hot-shoe and the match-needle metering are reflected in
the viewfinder. Thats about it. Strap lugs ? Hah ! |
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Bottom view. The rapid
advance lever and the tripod socket are made
of plastic. Identical with Retinette IA on top of page. |
Even the axel for the rewind
knob are made of plactic. Yuk !
Identical with the Retinette IA on top of page.
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Need help dating and
identifying Your Retina ?
Contact:
Mr. David L. Jentz from the "Historical Society
for Retina Cameras"
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