Retinette vs Retina

[lotech]

I've a couple vintage RFs, some Soviet and one Japanese, and I am looking for a Retinette as it is cheaper than the Retina. As far as I know the Retina is very complicated in design and hard to service, I am not sure about the Retinette. There are different models of the Retinette, the one that caught my eyes is the Retinette IIB, it looked pretty with 'modern' features like hotshoe and 1-1/500s shutter speed, also I like the slightly wider lens for everyday use. One thing I am not sure about is, I don't know if it is a Viewerfinder or Rangefinder model. I want a RF of course, usually RFs have 3 windows and only 2 on the IIB. On the Camera Wiki it said "The camera has a bright-line reverse-Galilean viewfinder, with parallax-correction marks", but no mention about RF or not. The other thing is, the film winder on the Retinettes are black and look like plastic unlike the Retina, wonder if it is easy to break ?

 

[KoNickon]

I've a couple vintage RFs, some Soviet and one Japanese, and I am looking for a Retinette as it is cheaper than the Retina. As far as I know the Retina is very complicated in design and hard to service, I am not sure about the Retinette. There are different models of the Retinette, the one that caught my eyes is the Retinette IIB, it looked pretty with 'modern' features like hotshoe and 1-1/500s shutter speed, also I like the slightly wider lens for everyday use. One thing I am not sure about is, I don't know if it is a Viewerfinder or Rangefinder model. I want a RF of course, usually RFs have 3 windows and only 2 on the IIB. On the Camera Wiki it said "The camera has a bright-line reverse-Galilean viewfinder, with parallax-correction marks", but no mention about RF or not. The other thing is, the film winder on the Retinettes are black and look like plastic unlike the Retina, wonder if it is easy to break ?

For what it's worth, here is the instruction manual (in German) for the Retinette IIB:https://cameramanuals.org/kodak_pdf/kodak_retinette_iib-german.pdf (from Mike Butkus's invaluable site). The Retinettes are all viewfinder cameras, not rangefinders. The instructions do speak in terms of using hyperfocal distance to focus, and this model has the very handy moving DOF indicators, which helps you quickly ascertain depth of field.

Can't tell you about the winder, since I've never held one of these, but the pictures in the manual look like the winder is the same as for contemporaneous Retinas.

 

[lotech]

For what it's worth, here is the instruction manual (in German) for the Retinette IIB:https://cameramanuals.org/kodak_pdf/kodak_retinette_iib-german.pdf (from Mike Butkus's invaluable site). The Retinettes are all viewfinder cameras, not rangefinders. The instructions do speak in terms of using hyperfocal distance to focus, and this model has the very handy moving DOF indicators, which helps you quickly ascertain depth of field.

Can't tell you about the winder, since I've never held one of these, but the pictures in the manual look like the winder is the same as for contemporaneous Retinas.

Thanks, and I will pass then.

 

[lotech]

What about the Retina Automatic III, they are plentiful and cheap, but I worry about the electronics, can I work full manual without restriction with it ?

 

[Godfrey]

What about the Retina Automatic III, they are plentiful and cheap, but I worry about the electronics, can I work full manual without restriction with it ?

If you're going to do that, why not just get a Retina IIc? They're reasonably plentiful and not too expensive to have serviced if you don't care to learn how to do it yourself. Two of the ones I have cost me $20-$25 apiece, and I paid Advance Camera about $140 each to do a complete CLA on them. For $160, it's the highest quality camera you can buy.

Kodak Retina Miscellany

Equipment beauty shots, maybe some photographs made with the Kodak Retina IIIc and Retina IIc cameras I've gotten a little nutty over. — 03 SEP 2021

flic.kr

G

 

[lotech]

I am hesitant to get a folding camera, I worry about the focusing accuracy and the bellow reliability. As far as I know Kodak used no bellows on these models, but still worry about the focusing after opening and closing the cover many times over the years.

 

[Godfrey]

I am hesitant to get a folding camera, I worry about the focusing accuracy and the bellow reliability. As far as I know Kodak used no bellows on these models, but still worry about the focusing after opening and closing the cover many times over the years.

The Retina models have a bellows inside the very sturdy lens surround and folding mechanism. As long as the camera has not been dropped onto the open lens, and the door and extension mechanism has not been bent (easy to tell as it will neither close nor open correctly in that case), they're very very robust. The focusing helicoid is, again, extremely robust, as is the rangefinder.

None of mine (I have four of them) needed anything more than a thorough cleaning and proper adjustment of the shutter. They're all good, sturdy cameras with great lenses, and work extremely well. A brilliant design by Dr. August Nagel ... Kodak acquired him and his company in 1931 and continued producing the Retina line cameras until 1969! 😀

G

 

[lotech]

The Retina models have a bellows inside the very sturdy lens surround and folding mechanism. As long as the camera has not been dropped onto the open lens, and the door and extension mechanism has not been bent (easy to tell as it will neither close nor open correctly in that case), they're very very robust. The focusing helicoid is, again, extremely robust, as is the rangefinder.

None of mine (I have four of them) needed anything more than a thorough cleaning and proper adjustment of the shutter. They're all good, sturdy cameras with great lenses, and work extremely well. A brilliant design by Dr. August Nagel ... Kodak acquired him and his company in 1931 and continued producing the Retina line cameras until 1969! 😀

G

OIC, I will give it a try then, thanks for the info. !

 

[Muggins]

There's a fairly active Retina and Retinette Lovers page on Facebook, if you do FB. Plenty of knowledgeable advice there, including dating cameras. Drop in when you've got one!

 

[BillBingham2]

There's a fairly active Retina and Retinette Lovers page on Facebook, if you do FB. Plenty of knowledgeable advice there, including dating cameras. Drop in when you've got one!

Perhaps we should get them to join RFF, no?

 

[Muggins]

Very true!

 

[farlymac]

The Retinette 1A Type 044 is an excellent camera even without a rangefinder. It doesn't take much time to get used to figuring focus distances and the rest of the camera will not let you down. Here is a roll of Plus-X I ran through mine a few Christmas seasons ago (2011). Fincastle, VA


Kodak Retinette 1A Type 044 Front by P F McFarland, on Flickr

For a rangefinder non-folding model, the Retina IIF is a decent choice. If the meter is off or non-functioning it is still a fully manual camera, and you can use AG1-B bulbs with it.

Kodak Retina IIF Test at Ben Salem Wayside

Along US-60 between Lexington and Buena Vista, VA lies the Ben Salem Wayside. It’s a picnic area from an era before the Interstates and their rest stops. Besides being a picturesque spot by the Maury River, it is also where one of the 9 locks from the old 29 mile long North River Navigation...

flic.kr

Kodak Retina IIF Front by P F McFarland, on Flickr

PF

 

[farlymac]

Or, you could go all the way and get the Retina IIIS which gives you lens interchangeability in a non-folding body. The only one of those I ever had was a parts donor and has been passed on to someone who needed the parts.

PF

 

[lotech]

Or, you could go all the way and get the Retina IIIS which gives you lens interchangeability in a non-folding body. The only one of those I ever had was a parts donor and has been passed on to someone who needed the parts.

PF

Thanks but no, I want a simple to use RF for street and casual shoot, and I want one with a slightly wider lens that's why I bought the Aires IIIC with a 45mm lens. Now I want one with better clearer RF design from the other side of the globe. Btw what about the Retina Automatic III ? does it work full manual ? as far as I understand shutter priority is easier to design, doesn't need an accurate timing circuit to adjust the exposure, but some mechanics from the meter to limit the aperture.

 

[Muggins]

The Retinette 1A Type 044 is an excellent camera even without a rangefinder. It doesn't take much time to get used to figuring focus distances and the rest of the camera will not let you down. Here is a roll of Plus-X I ran through mine a few Christmas seasons ago (2011). Fincastle, VA


Kodak Retinette 1A Type 044 Front by P F McFarland, on Flickr

For a rangefinder non-folding model, the Retina IIF is a decent choice. If the meter is off or non-functioning it is still a fully manual camera, and you can use AG1-B bulbs with it.

Kodak Retina IIF Test at Ben Salem Wayside

Along US-60 between Lexington and Buena Vista, VA lies the Ben Salem Wayside. It’s a picnic area from an era before the Interstates and their rest stops. Besides being a picturesque spot by the Maury River, it is also where one of the 9 locks from the old 29 mile long North River Navigation...

flic.kr

Kodak Retina IIF Front by P F McFarland, on Flickr

PF

D'oh! Retinette 1A, what am I thinking? I was sent one earlier in the year, and it's a really nice little camera. How did I forget?

They were built to a decent standard - my 1960-61 Blue Book gives prices of £15/1/1 and £24/16/5 for the IA and 1B compared with £54/12/9 for the Retina IIS. Those prices are on a par with 35mm offerings from Zeiss Ikon, Voigtlander, Balda, Braun etc, and the 3-element Reomar is no slouch.

Here's the one roll I've shot so far. Kodak Color Plus 200, so seaside holiday "cheap" stuff. Kodak Retinette 1A

The out of focus one is because I snagged the self timer taking out out of the bag. No strap lugs so you'd need a half-case (beware the originals, the leather loops holding the ring that holds the strap are usually worn out) or a wrist strap in the tripod socket.

Yes, the plastic winder is more fragile than a metal one as you do come across cracked ones, but I've never worked out how they got cracked, can only assume someone was being hamfisted.

 

[Muggins]

D'oh! Retinette 1A, what am I thinking? I was sent one earlier in the year, and it's a really nice little camera. How did I forget?

They were built to a decent standard - my 1960-61 Blue Book gives prices of £15/1/1 and £24/16/5 for the IA and 1B compared with £54/12/9 for the Retina IIS. Those prices are on a par with 35mm offerings from Zeiss Ikon, Voigtlander, Balda, Braun etc, and the 3-element Reomar is no slouch.

Here's the one roll I've shot so far. Kodak Color Plus 200, so seaside holiday "cheap" stuff. Kodak Retinette 1A

The out of focus one is because I snagged the self timer taking out out of the bag. No strap lugs so you'd need a half-case (beware the originals, the leather loops holding the ring that holds the strap are usually worn out) or a wrist strap in the tripod socket.

Yes, the plastic winder is more fragile than a metal one as you do come across cracked ones, but I've never worked out how they got cracked, can only assume someone was being hamfisted.

Oh well, that was worth writing! I'll leave it as someone else might find it useful another day.

 

[Dralowid]

I am a Retinette fan, simple, well built and robust cameras with a good viewfinder. There is also the Kodalux L light meter that is small and seems to survive the tests of time.

The family up to 1958:

 

[Muggins]

I have six, so I guess I'm a fan too!

 

[farlymac]

Thanks but no, I want a simple to use RF for street and casual shoot, and I want one with a slightly wider lens that's why I bought the Aires IIIC with a 45mm lens. Now I want one with better clearer RF design from the other side of the globe. Btw what about the Retina Automatic III ? does it work full manual ? as far as I understand shutter priority is easier to design, doesn't need an accurate timing circuit to adjust the exposure, but some mechanics from the meter to limit the aperture.

If you want to explore all the possible choices for 45mm lensed rangefinders then you can peruse the 45mm Group on Flickr at 45mm

For a good review about the Retina Automatic III see Kodak Retina Automatic III - Down the Road
And yes, it will work in full manual.

The Ricoh 300 is also a good choice for a 45mm lens rangefinder.

PF