On the short list of any classic camera collector is the Kodak Retina folder camera. I recently acquired a Retina IIIc (1954-1957). So let's get this out the way first: Kodak made crappy cameras. Period. But Kodak didn't make this one, technically. In 1931, Kodak bought a little old camera maker in Stuttgart, Germany called Nagel Camerawerk. They actually wanted them for their unique film cartridge. This cartridge would go on to become the familiar 35mm film cartridge we still use today. Evidently Nagel made this to fit their own fine cameras. After all, they were in a country long valued for making precision engineered cameras like Leica, Zeiss, and Voigtlander, among many others. So Kodak kept the line going, choosing to rebadge the cameras as Kodak. After WWII, Kodak started the factories back up and over the next decade or so, succeeded to produce some of the best folding 35mm cameras ever made. As the 1950's ended , folders fell out of favor and rigid fixed lens cameras were flooding the market. Finally, automation, simplicity, and Japanese ingenuity closed the books on the Retina.
The Retina's fame is its lens. Although you can interchange the front element for wide angle or telephoto, the standard 50mm lens is heralded for its unbelievable sharpness. Look at these pictures, and you'll see almost every detail. With the right film and digital scanner, these shots, at the very least, equal a lot of my medium format shots. I believe the lens is single-coated, so I did have some flare issue with some shots. I didn't use a lens shade, but I did shade the lens with my hand a few times.
Here are some of my observations from using this camera for the first time:
The camera is extremely compact. I could stick it in my front pocket of my shorts, but not my back jeans pocket. In the winter, it will travel in my coat pocket just as easy as my Zeiss-Ikon Contessa.
Mine has an accurate meter that works. Most shots were determined with the Retina's 50+-year-old selenium meter - not bad for an old gal. It is an uncoupled meter, which means you read the needle on top of the camera, then transfer the value to the lens. When I say value, I mean the dreaded "light value" system. If the meter reads a "12," then you set the lens value to "12." You then decide what shutter speed OR aperture you want. They interlock, but can be separated for creative control beyond the meter reading. I'm guessing some marketing department came up with the light value system so that Mom or Dad can use the camera without thinking. The LVS already existed in professional lighting, and is still used today. However, it's very confining to anyone that wants a little control. I guess you can think of it as a precursor to auto-everything-point-and-shoot.
My rangefinder's internal glass is very dirty, so I had difficulty focusing. I took the top off and cleaned what I could, but there's a part that requires microsurgery to get at the dirty part. That will come later, as I wanted to find out if the camera at least worked before this grueling task. The viewfinder is extremely small no matter what. I wear contacts, but the few times I forgot and left my sunglasses on, I had to remove them just to see inside. I imagine those of you that wear eyeglasses will have a difficult time.
Shutter speeds are dead on. I bought if from its original owner at a yard sale who bought it in Iceland while in the service. He claimed it still worked, and it did. The glass was immaculate. There is nothing mechanically wrong with this camera, it's just like new. I wish it were cosmetically like new. This is a beater camera at best. The man had etched his name and SSN on the back. Before the sale, he looked at it and noticed the SSN still on it. He took it over to his work bench and etched out the numbers. Well, I guess it was already damaged goods. It was in its leather case when I bought it, so I didn't notice that the leather was missing from the front door until I got home. My options are to take the leather off a nonfunctional Retina IIc that I have, or buy some really cool colored camera leather and resurface it myself.
This being a compact camera, the markings are very small. I have trouble seeing them, even with reading glasses, which I never have out in the field. The dials are also small. I don't have particularly large hands, but I had trouble with some controls.
The rapid advance lever is on the bottom of the camera, an unusual place. But, I found it easy to get used to. I have another camera with the same feature, so I wasn't surprised by it. and adapted to that one easily.
The focusing ring/knob is hard to get used to. I'm sure that after a few more rolls, I will find it without looking for it.
Rewinding is a pain, but all these old cameras without a lever are. That's part of the joy of using old stuff, like driving an old car.
The meter reads a little slow and is confusing at times. I expect old selenium meters to take a while to wake up, so that's okay, I have my iPhone meter app. However, I wasn't sure when flip up the meter cover for low light. Sometimes there wasn't enough light for the meter to be covered, but too much when I flipped it up. I wound up metering by hand or guessing when that happened.
Overall, a fine little piece of machinery. It wreaks of classic German engineering with the solid build, thoughtful controls, and outstanding glass. When you look at what it offered in 1954, it was a standout camera. I know I would be drooling and lusting after it in 1954, much like I did in 2012. Though it has its quirks, the silent leaf shuttered camera feels good in your hands. You just know it loves being a part of a great picture. I look forward to many more rolls through this little gem.
Photo © by Jeff Dean