Kodak Retina IIIS

[colyn]

Found this wayward Retina yesterday in a resale shop. Had to shell out $19.95 + tax to get it..

For those who don't know the Retina IIIS takes interchangible lens from 28mm-135mm. I now have a 28 and 35mm on the way...

 

[farlymac]

A beautiful find, Colyn.

PF

 

[rbelyell]

yes these arelovely, congrats! i had one, but could not get used to top only meter, so i moved on to the retina iv, which while not a RF, takes the same lenses and has meter and aperture in vf, which is much more suited to me personally.

i love these cams, and imo the lenses are very underrated. they also translate nicely via adapter to mirrorless. i use mine often on my ep2 and really love the results.

hope you post some pictures!

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Very nice. This is a camera that feels very solid, very well-made, in the hands. How is the exposure setting mechanism on yours (the control wheel on the bottom, and aperture/shutter interconnect)? Mine was a bit sticky.

I'm curious, is there a bayonet hood? Or what are the obvious bayonet fittings on the front of the lens?

Congrats on a nice camera.

 

[colyn]

Thanks..

I found an adapter to mount the lens to my Nikon digital and hope to find one for my Olympus E-300 and E-620.

I just picked up a Retina Reflex IV with 50mm f/1.9 yesterday on eBay. The lens even has the rangefinder coupling so I'll be able to use it with the IIIS..

 

[colyn]

Very nice. This is a camera that feels very solid, very well-made, in the hands. How is the exposure setting mechanism on yours (the control wheel on the bottom, and aperture/shutter interconnect)? Mine was a bit sticky.

Thanks

This one is silky smooth with positive click-stops.

I'm curious, is there a bayonet hood? Or what are the obvious bayonet fittings on the front of the lens?

Congrats on a nice camera.

There is a 35/50mm bayonet hood that attaches to the lens bayonet. You can also use the same screw-in filters used with the Retina IIa-IIc/C-IIIc/C..

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

I just picked up a Retina Reflex IV with 50mm f/1.9 yesterday on eBay. The lens even has the rangefinder coupling so I'll be able to use it with the IIIS..

This is dangerous! Your post made me think about doing the same thing. Do you think these are shooters?

 

[rbelyell]

colonel, these are definitely shooters! i use mine often and have had one or another model for years. obviously one must be careful in purchase vecause no one fixes these anymore and there are often shutter and/or transport problems. but lately ive seen some sellers offering guarantees etc. but a working one is great fun!
tony

 

[colyn]

This is dangerous! Your post made me think about doing the same thing. Do you think these are shooters?

I've used the Reflex S and once owned the IV and they are excellent shooters. Getting one fixed if it quits working would be difficult but not impossible...

I would however ask for a guarantee before purchase..

For the price I paid for the IV the lens alone is worth it since it will also work on my IIIS..

 

[btgc]

As now shipping from US costs more and I'd inevitably have to pay VAT, I'm saved from GAS attack and can just say - hey, looks to be a great camera 🙂