Contemporaries from 1963: Petri 7S - Kodak Retinette 1b

Brichma

Brichma

Member
Local time
11:18 PM
Joined
Aug 26, 2008
Messages
45
Although not the best of both worlds, it's great fun to compare these cameras from the sixties, the fragile built Petri 7S from Japan against the cheaper alternative for the Retina, the Kodak Retinette 1b from Germany. The Retinette in fact is not a rangefinder, but is often seen with accessory rangefinder (Watameter), being the big difference between those two. And be mindful: It is the era of the rise of the Japanese and the downturn of the German camera industry.
I myself own these cameras in great and full working condition, both with their characteristic accessoiries, but love makes really blind...
So proudly owners and RF-lovers, may I invite you? Your mins and plusses please!


Greetings, Brichma


More on these cameras: http://cees.geldersnetwerk.nl > Mijn camera's (sorry it's in Dutch...)


"Time flies, and I? ...I fly along..."

Kodak Retina IIIc - Kodak Retinette Ib/Wata Combimeter - Voigtlaender Vitomatic IIIB - Olympus-35 ECR - Canonet QL17 GIII - Minolta Hi-Matic9 - Yashica Electro 35 GSN - Petri 7 S
 
Last edited:
Lovely site Brichma. Either it's not finished yet, or you like your Kodaks best, and I can't say as I blame you. Though usually a lesser brand, they put out cameras that filled a need, and usually marketed them well. I have a Retina IIIC, a Signet 40, and an Automatic 35B all in working order. I like the Signet best of these three, but will shoot any one of them without trepidation. They all have their quirks, but that is what endears them to me.

PF
 
My Petri 7s is not as fragile as say my Konica 35c or my Olympus 35RC, but that cell meter has lost a stop since 1963 (easily fixed, by ASA or now ISO change) and I also occasionally have trouble loading the beast. If you don't get the slot cogs fixed perfectly, it is back in the changing bag.
 
I've got the Petri 7s.

Wonderful camera. No batteries, accurate meter, buttery soft shutter button, very quiet except for that pleasantly reassuring thwack at the end of the wind advance. And a very sharp 45mm 1.8 lens.

Oh, and the needle meter on the top of the camera is great for shooting f8...
 
The Retina Auto III has a Xenar lens, Gossen light meter, and auto-parallax corrected framelines. The same basic viewfinder found in the Retina IIIS. These days- run about $25 or so. And the counterpart- the Kodak Motormatic 35. Lens is quite good, but zone focus. Much bigger, but with a clockwork motor. A "fun" camera, but the Retina just feels better. I would say the Retina has it beat hands-down for build quality- but they BOTH still work after 50 years. So the Motormatic was built to last.
 
I have a Petri 7S. It doesn't seem fragile to me. It's a bit heavy and metallic and still working after so many years (not that it is used much). The quality out of it is pretty good. (It's probably limited at the moment by the cheap film I use!) I keep forgetting to use it...

I agree, not needing a battery is fun. Never have to worry about extended power outages or two week trips through the wilderness. ;-)

But if I'm to use this camera, it's for the nice quality of the captured photos. Perhaps it's the bokeh I like? The camera seems much better than the $20 or so it cost me. :-D I think it's a bit of a sleeper.
 
I finally got a Retinette 1A, but am considering getting the 1B also. I like the lighter weight, as opposed to the Retina IIIC, even if it lacks a rangefinder. I still get excellent results from it, and it can use the filters from the Retina. I did have to break down and find an original push-on hood, as you can't use a screw-on hood if there is a filter mounted.

Some shots on my last roll of Plus-X 125:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157628126285611/

PF
 
Here is a couple taken with my 1958 Kodak Retinette...

KodakRetinette007-1.jpg



KodakRetinette019-1.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom