Retina III Reflex lens and the Retina IIIS RF

[River Dog]

I am awaiting delivery of Retina Reflex III in Exc++ condition with ER case, manual and original box for my collection. It has the 1.9 50mm Xenon.

Did I read somewhere that the lenses are interchangeable with the Retina IIIS RF?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The lenses up to the release of the Kodak Instamatic Reflex have the RF cam for the IIIS. I suspect yours does, but the later version of the 50/1.9 Xenon that takes 52mm filters and will focus to 2ft does not.

If the lens has the moving DOF indicators, it very most likely has the RF Cam.

 

[River Dog]

The lenses up to the release of the Kodak Instamatic Reflex have the RF cam for the IIIS. I suspect yours does, but the later version of the 50/1.9 Xenon that takes 52mm filters and will focus to 2ft does not.

If the lens has the moving DOF indicators, it very most likely has the RF Cam.

Thanks, is this a decent lens? I run film through all my cameras.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I love the 50/1.9 Xenon and will not rest until I figure out how to make one into Leica Mount.

BTW: if the prism on the Reflex III is desilvering, the prism from a Minolta XG-M is a good replacement. I use my Reflex-S more than the Reflex-IV, put a new prism in it and it is very bright.

Other lenses to look for: 35/2.8 Curtagon, 85/4 Tele-Arton. The 90/4 Tele-Arton is just as good, but lacks RF coupling.

The 135/4 only gets to 13ft for close-focus, but very cheap. The 28/4 is "so-So". 200/4.8 gets to 28ft, no RF coupling.

 

[ravid905]

Looking at the picture you posted, yes, your lens should be compatible with the IIIS. The only way to know for sure is to see the back of the lens; those compatible with the IIIS have a rangefinder cam.

Also, another way you can usually know they are compatible, is it is called a Retina-XXXXXX. (Retina-Xenon, Retina-Tele-Arton, etc.) However, the Retina-Tele-Xenar 200mm F4.8 does not have the cam.

Here are a couple of links for you:
http://www.cameraquest.com/ret3s.htm
http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/Retina/Retina Lenses.htm

The cam can be seen in the rear view pictures posted on this auction (no connection to the seller):
http://buyeng.ebay.com.hk/buying/hk..._Kodak-SchneiderKreuznach-RetinaXenon-f1950mm

If the lens does not have this cam, it won't rangefinder couple to the IIIS.

 

[River Dog]

Thanks so much for this information. Unfortunately, the camera arrived broken and has to go back. I am really annoyed as the box included the original sales material and a handwritten guarantee from a dealer in Paris, in 1964.

It might be worth keeping back the lens if I acquire a IIIS one day.

1. What would a 1.9 be worth approx?
2. Is this one compatible with the RF mount? It appears to have a cam and moving DOF indicators.
3. What does DKL mean and is it relevant here?

View attachment 84915

Edit: on closer inspection the lens has a visible chip, so it has to go back too - such a shame. It has been in its case and original box all these years then someone had to go and drop it.
​

 

[Brian Legge]

A LTM Xenon would be a thing of beauty.

 

[gdreyer]

Thanks so much for this information. Unfortunately, the camera arrived broken and has to go back. I am really annoyed as the box included the original sales material and a handwritten guarantee from a dealer in Paris, in 1964.

It might be worth keeping back the lens if I acquire a IIIS one day.

1. What would a 1.9 be worth approx?
2. Is this one compatible with the RF mount? It appears to have a cam and moving DOF indicators.
3. What does DKL mean and is it relevant here?

View attachment 84915

Edit: on closer inspection the lens has a visible chip, so it has to go back too - such a shame. It has been in its case and original box all these years then someone had to go and drop it.
​

If you are interested, this Retina IIIS is in great condition with three lenses in their original containers. These are great cameras although not the quickest to operate. Would be a great addition to your collection!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300541408301&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT