Kodak Retina Ia - My first Retina

DcAnalogue · Mar 3, 2016

Hi folks!

I've become interested recently about Kodak Retinas and Retinettes (Btw, my father's camera was a Retinette Ia). I saw many nice images shot with ... so I decide to buy some model and the first one was the Retina Ia.
Not bad for a first test....

Check more about on my Film Blog

Kevin Caulfield · Mar 3, 2016

Nice photo and a great looking camera.

GregW · Mar 3, 2016

Was my first Retina as well. I have the Ektar version. At the close of your blog you expressed a little disappointment with sharpness. I think if you can find a hood for yours, you'll be happy with the improvement in the contrast, which will give it, in my opinion, a slightly sharper look. More pop. A yellow filter will take it a step further. A great little camera.

DcAnalogue · Mar 3, 2016

GregW said:
Was my first Retina as well. I have the Ektar version. At the close of your blog you expressed a little disappointment with sharpness. I think if you can find a hood for yours, you'll be happy with the improvement in the contrast, which will give it, in my opinion, a slightly sharper look. More pop. A yellow filter will take it a step further. A great little camera.

Thanks for the hint. I've already got a yellow/green filter but wasn't at home yet when I made this roll. And gonna find the hood (which often is more expensive than the camera itself)

MattKing · Mar 3, 2016

As you can tell from my avatar, I'm a fan of Retinas/Retinettes too.

DcAnalogue · Mar 3, 2016

MattKing said:
As you can tell from my avatar, I'm a fan of Retinas/Retinettes too.

Yep..... there's a lot of Retina/Retinette fans around....! Especially when I want to buy one on the 'bay...
Think I'm in two FB groups dealing exclusively with these cameras.

cooltouch · Mar 3, 2016

I've always considered the Retinas to be works of industrial art. Even their cases are beautiful. I've owned a couple of IIc's on and off over the past 25 years. I love 'em. Currently I have one IIc in my collection. It has the Schneider 50mm f/2.8 lens.

Have fun with yours!

frank · Mar 3, 2016

One Retina frequently leads to more.

Marvin · Mar 3, 2016

My first 35mm camera was a Retinette. Many great pics with that camera. Just used the exposure info packed with the film which was f16 rule.

blockend · Mar 3, 2016

I had a 1a, it's a beautifully designed camera. I sold mine because even though the lens looked flawless, I didn't find it particularly sharp.

frank · Mar 3, 2016

The Xenon 50f2 and Heligon 50f2 are stellar performers.

HiHoSilver · Mar 3, 2016

Are there particular places/vendors that carry hoods, filters for these little gems?

DcAnalogue · Mar 4, 2016

frank said:
One Retina frequently leads to more.

In fact... 4 other Retinas and one Retinette followed shortly....

Marvin said:
My first 35mm camera was a Retinette. Many great pics with that camera. Just used the exposure info packed with the film which was f16 rule.

Yep, as I said in my blog, my father took all the family photos during early '60s with a Retinette Ia and used the same rule, as he wasn't particularly interested in photography.... I still remember him reading the infos before shooting...

blockend said:
I had a 1a, it's a beautifully designed camera. I sold mine because even though the lens looked flawless, I didn't find it particularly sharp.

Before considering mine (about sharpness) I'll have to test more and print something... but I won't sell it...

frank said:
The Xenon 50f2 and Heligon 50f2 are stellar performers.

Yep... can't wait to test my Retina II with the Xenon. In my case, it's a particular version with white triangle....

Ricardo Miranda · Mar 4, 2016

Ciao!

Very nice Retina.
Hope you enjoy that and a nice Retinette.
I'm partial to Retinettes and even run a Flickr group for them.

DcAnalogue · Mar 4, 2016

Ricardo Miranda said:
Ciao!

Very nice Retina.
Hope you enjoy that and a nice Retinette.
I'm partial to Retinettes and even run a Flickr group for them.

Ciao!

Maybe I've already joined your group...... I've just a Retinette IB on the run...

Ricardo Miranda · Mar 4, 2016

Yes, you have: https://www.flickr.com/groups/retinette
For the time being I'm accepting Retinas as well, especially the I as they are closer to the Retinette.

GregW · Mar 4, 2016

HiHoSilver, Look for a series push on hood, easier to pop on off when you're out and want to put it in a pocket. The hood will hold drop in filters.

frank · Mar 4, 2016

On my lllc Retina, there is a metal tab that interferes with a push on hood. What's up with that?

R.Gould · Mar 4, 2016

frank said:
On my lllc Retina, there is a metal tab that interferes with a push on hood. What's up with that?

Same on both of my Retinas, 1b and IIIc, I have an old Zeiss hood that has a cut out so it fits around the tab, I like Retinas a lot and have the above 2 + a a II and a IIc, lovely images

jcofer · Mar 5, 2016

frank said:
On my lllc Retina, there is a metal tab that interferes with a push on hood. What's up with that?

The IIc/IIIc (and probably the IIC/IIIC as well) have a bayonet-style plastic lens hood that attaches in the recess just outside the lens rim.

Kodak Retina Ia - My first Retina

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