I'm in love.

The Retina IIIC (big "C") is considered to be the ultimate Retina with its large viewfinder and framelines that eliminated the need for an accessory viewfinder when using the optional 35mm and 85mm front elements.

Also, the IIIC has the single-range meter, although some later IIIc models also had this feature.

It really is a nice camera, and when I was doing my Retina thing, it took me a while to find one that didn't cost an arm and a leg. The Retinas still command a decent price, which just goes to show how good they are.
 
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Love that IIIC!

Love that IIIC!

Cubastreet,

I know the feeling, what a great camera! To hold AND use. Share your IIIC shots with us, I'd love to see them. Post the film type and speed too, I want to compare them to my IIIC with Heligon lens. What lens is yours?

Bob
 
While I've never owned a Retina IIIC, I have owned enough old little unknown cameras to know exactly what you are refering to. Me and my Voightlander 50/3.5 color skopar have tried as hard as we could.

William
 
Try a IIIS

Try a IIIS

I to have a IIIC that I just got back from being overhauled by Chris Sherlock in new Zealand. It's fabulous. I also have a IIIS that I love. Fully interchangable lens instead of just the front element. I use the lenses from my Reflex IV and Reflex III. I took the IIIS to jamacia last year and shot 8 rolls of ecktachrome slides! Just like the 60's!🙂
 
I really tend to think that most of the folding '50's era pocket cameras were really quite under-rated, even around here.

I owned a Retina II for awhile and should have fixed it up rather than selling it. I loved the Zeiss Contessa I had and I have a really sweet Voitglander Vito IIa. Now I am paying Carol at Flutot's to fix the shutter on an Agfa Karat 36 because I was a fool & sold the one I had.

Any one of them is a capable little pocket rocket for someone who knows the basic skills & most of them are a delight to hold & view; art objects in and of themselves.

William
 
kodapak126 said:
I to have a IIIC that I just got back from being overhauled by Chris Sherlock in new Zealand. It's fabulous. I also have a IIIS that I love. Fully interchangable lens instead of just the front element. I use the lenses from my Reflex IV and Reflex III. I took the IIIS to jamacia last year and shot 8 rolls of ecktachrome slides! Just like the 60's!🙂
Click to expand...

How would you compare the IIIC with the IIIS?
How do they differ?
 
IIIC is a folding rangefinder. It uses an interchangable front lens element to give 35mm, 50mm, and 80mm lens. IIIS is a solid body rangefinder that has fully interchangable lenses used on the retina reflex series. IIIC has frame lines etched in viewfinder for different lenses, IIIS has automatically changing frame lines in viewfinder - really high tech for late 50's. IIIC has built in meter with EV values, IIIS has meter with standard exposure data. Both cool cameras that I love to shoot. I'd have to say the IIIS is still my favorite!
 
IIIC v. IIIS

IIIC v. IIIS

I own beautiful working examples of both of these cameras and have to say that I love them equally. The question should not be which camera is better; the question should be, which camera is best for how you plan to use it. The IIIC is a very high quality camera that performs well, feels great ,and has a wonderful lens, (with changeable lens front components) and it folds and fits in your pocket (although not with any lens other than the 50mm installed). In other words, no need for a camera case, strap or anything other than the camera in your pocket. You can't do that with a IIIS.

The IIIS, however, does offer some really nice features rarley found in rangefinders. The primary asset being fuly interghangeable lenses that span from 28 to 200mm. These same lenses work equally well on the Retina Reflex S, III, and IV SLR. In addition, the frame lines change in the viewfinder to match the lens installed AND it automaticaly adjusts to eliminate parrallax error, all this with no batteries. The exposure meter in either of these cameras though, require setting the exposure manually by matching the needles in the meter on the top of the camera, the meter is the same in both cameras, as is the film transport. Bob
 
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