Kodak Retina - opinions please

[nzeeman]

i would like to buy kodak retina for my wife. She saw that camera once and liked it very much. can you tell me your opinions about this camera and do you maybe have some photos made with it?
thanks in advance

 

[Finder]

It is a fun little camera. The lens is OK and it is very compact. Mine broke, but I enjoyed it while I had it. Kind of sorry I don't have one now.

 

[Ken Ford]

Which Retina? There were many.

 

[KoNickon]

Yes, there were a large number of these through the years. The main thing to be careful of with these is that the shutter cocking rack (i.e. the gearing) is fragile and parts are hard to find. When winding film, don't let the lever snap back to the resting position but guide it back with your thumb or finger. Otherwise, these are reliable cameras. But let us know the model number and we can give you some more specific tips.

 

[Solinar]

When winding film, don't let the lever snap back to the resting position but guide it back with your thumb or finger.

Sage advice.

 

[Bill K.]

I have a Retina IIIc that I got on the "Bay" a couple of years ago. This camera was built in the mid 50's and in nice condition.

I did have some issues with the rangefinder on it, but with information found on RFF, I was able to fix it. This is a very nice, well built, precision piece of equipment and probably a little more complex than other quality cameras from the same era. The f2.0 lens is quite good and I was quite pleased with the recent photos that I took with it of my grandchilren.

When folded-up, it's very compact but being solid metal, it is quite heavy.

I bought it because it was a piece of history and I believe that at it's time of production, it was considered to be second only to a Leica in terms of quality.

These are just my feelings on the Retina. I like mine and play with it frequently.

Best regards,

Bill K.

 

[colyn]

Go with the lever wind Retina IIa or the IIIc/C

 

[ZeissFan]

I believe there were 32 Retina models, and on top of that there were minor variations for certain models.

Also, There were folding, rigid-front, rangefinder, zone-focus, fixed lens, interchangeable lens and SLR Retinas.

Do you recall at all which model she saw? The IIa lever wind is a very nice camera. The big C (IIC and IIIC) are overpriced. Nearly all will need serviced unless you buy one that's already been serviced.

But you definitely need to find out what type of Retina she saw. (Sort of like saying you saw a Chevy and want to buy one. 🙂 )

 

[thawkins]

I have a Retina 1a and a 2a. Both are fine little cameras. The 1a is a scale focusing (you estimate the distance to the subject and set the camera accordingly) while the 2a is a true focusing rangefinder. The Retina 1a was my first (1968 - $82) 35mm camera. Three years ago I purchased an excellent 2a at a local camera show for $75. I have since added a leather Retina case and a couple of push-on filters. True the rangefinder is hard to use expecially with glasses but the F2 Schneider lens is superb especially with transparancies. It is heavy because there is no modern polycarbonate (read cheap plastic) in this camera. It is a well bulit precise instrument that I enjoy using whenever possible.