The Camera Site

Eastman Kodak Company, Kodak AG, Germany

Retina

Kodak Retina S 2

German made Kodak Retina cameras have acquired glory of their excellent quality. That was a long time before the birth of this Retina S2. It is quite ordinary plastic wonder of the late Sixties. It was manufactured in 1966-1969 and it was one of the last efforts to maintain some market share in the camera bussines. Nothing bad to say about the features. Reomar lens is, if not an eagles eye, a quite decent performer. An "adjustable" automatic exposure as it is explained in the instruction manual:

"The automatic exposure control on your RETINA S 2 Camera is adjusted for subjects of average contrast (light and dark portions equally divided). If you encounter unusual subjects, the following tips may help you to set the exposure correctly: Sometimes it îs a good plan to under-expose a picture slightly, e.g. to emphasize an "evening" atmosphere, or for silhouettes or fog pictures. To do this, set the pointer to the — 1 mark. For pictures "against the-light" it is advisable to increase the exposure by 1 stop. Set the pointer to the +  1 mark. The setting of + 1 is also recommended for the intense brightness of snow and beach scenes. Setting to + 1 or — 1 enables you to adjust the setting for unusual conditions very quickly. quick shooting."

As an excuse for my complaint I have to mention that it is also a good example how to lower the cost of production until it reaches the critical point and the customers are beginning to avoid the merchandise.
In Finland we use to say : It happened just like to the stallion of the gipsy .... Just when he learned to be without feed he went dead. Perhaps I am too critical. Retina S2, the last Retina was and even still is a decent camera for an occasional photographer and what else it is meant to be?

Some specifications

  • Film type 135 (35mm)
  • Picture size 24mm x 36mm
  • Weight ~450g
  • Lens Reomar 2,8/45mm
  • Shutter 1/30 - 1/250
  • Battery PX23 (for the flash)
 
Kodak Retina Ia
Kodak Retina Ia

As a heritage of the Dr. August Nagel Camerawerk, Kodak AG the German subsidiary of Kodak, started a production of Retina cameras in 1931. After the WW II Kodak started production again in 1945 and produced cameras until 1969. Retina Ia was introduced in January 1951 as a new version of the Retina I. It's new feature is the rapid winding lever and some minor cosmetic changes. Since June 1951 Retina was provided with Synchro - Compur B, 1 - 1/500 sec. shutter.
The lens is Schneider-Keruznach Retina-Xenar 50mm f/3,5 - f/16. Dimensions are 120 x 75 x 40mm (closed) and weight is about 500 g.

kodak Retinette IA

Kodak Retinette IA, type 035(1959)

Retinette cameras were a less expensive alternative to the Kodak Retina series. Still it is a distinguished member of the long line of traditionally excellent (especially the earlier models) Retina cameras.

  • Type: 35mn viefinder camera
  • Lens: Reomar f:3.5/50mm
  • Shutter: Vero, B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250sec. (simplified Prontor)
  • Production time: February 1959 to October 1959
  • Negative Size: 24x36 mm.
  • Flash: Built-in synchronization for class F and M bulbs
  • Viewfinder: Projected viewframe type.brightline in viewfinder
  • Focusing: Zone focusing (Close-Ups, Groups, and Scenes)
    and scale focusing (3.3 feet to infinity)
  • Rapid Wind Lever: : Advances film and sets shutter with one stroke.
    Double-exposure prevention.
  • Construction: Die cast aluminum alloy, chrome top and trim,
    tripod socket in camera base, weight ~470g.
 
A smal hole under the Close Up Lens is for the "exposure meter" fitted on a camera. Kodak copy stand Copier Kodak Instamatic Copier.
A very simple and basic Copy Stand. The stand itself has a Close Up Lens and when an ordinary Kodak Instamatic camera is attached it is ready to use.

The necessary light comes from a Flash Cube attached to the camera.

Kodachrome

Kodachrome was the first modern colour film, introduced in 1935. It used *complex control of processing to produce the right colours in the right layers by diffusion of the colour forming materials, but the film itself had a less complex structure than the later films (negative and transparency) based largely on Agfa technology which incorporated the colour couplers into the emulsion layers. There were only a few labs world-wide which offered the *K-14 process. From Finland you had to send a film to Germany.

For many years, Kodachrome was the unchallenged leader in colour film. However modern films from Fuji, Agfa and Kodak's own Ektachromes began to match its qualities while being capable of being processed in any lab using the relatively simple E6 process, and now only one Kodachrome film is available - and with little future prospects.

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©2009 Reijo Lauro