Kodak Retina IIIc - First test

DcAnalogue · Jul 28, 2016

Hi guys!
This time I finally got a very nice Retina IIIc in pristine conditions.
To test it I loaded a roll of Delta 100 and went for a stroll in the center of Rome..... then developed the Delta with Ars-Imago Fd with very good results!

More on my Film Blog.

Mark Tate · Jul 28, 2016

They were very good cameras and IMO one of the best looking cameras ever made, even by todays standards they still are very good, I think the models with the Schneider Xenar lenses were about the sharpest 35mm camera ever made, been thinking of getting one my self to use with Adox CMS 20 film.

That is a very nice clean looking camera.

HiHoSilver · Jul 28, 2016

I don't know about sharpest, but I wouldn't be qualified to say. Some of the CZ stuff delivered well also, but truthfully, I haven't seen anything that puts them ahead of the schneider images I've seen.
'Got a lovely IIIc about Christmas time & I have loved it. It certainly performs better than I do.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 28, 2016

Nice photo of the dome interior - exposure seems perfect.

cooltouch · Jul 29, 2016

I have a IIc and I'm pretty much in agreement with Mark's comments. I love mine. I look at my camera and its fit, finish, and craftsmanship, and I figure that, if I were to buy one new today, I'd probably have to pay well north of $1,000 for it.

DcAnalogue · Jul 30, 2016

Mark Tate said:
They were very good cameras and IMO one of the best looking cameras ever made, even by todays standards they still are very good, I think the models with the Schneider Xenar lenses were about the sharpest 35mm camera ever made, been thinking of getting one my self to use with Adox CMS 20 film.

That is a very nice clean looking camera.

Yep, these cameras seems to match well even with today's standards. Btw. I've used Adox CMS 20 but only in MF. Not so easy to manage... the best results I got were with FX39....

HiHoSilver said:
I don't know about sharpest, but I wouldn't be qualified to say. Some of the CZ stuff delivered well also, but truthfully, I haven't seen anything that puts them ahead of the schneider images I've seen.
'Got a lovely IIIc about Christmas time & I have loved it. It certainly performs better than I do.

CZ, Leitz, Voigtlander, Schneider and Rodenstock.... made the history of photography!

Theo Sulphate said:
Nice photo of the dome interior - exposure seems perfect.

Thanks! If I remember well, in this case I metered with the Android App in Spot mode, to get the best possible results....

cooltouch said:
I have a IIc and I'm pretty much in agreement with Mark's comments. I love mine. I look at my camera and its fit, finish, and craftsmanship, and I figure that, if I were to buy one new today, I'd probably have to pay well north of $1,000 for it.

The IIc is the only one I miss in Retina folding series.... but I have the Xenar f/2,8 on my Ib (just testing)... and on Ia.... and didn't seems too bad....

R.Gould · Jul 30, 2016

I have both a 1b and a IIIc and I love using both oh them, the results are certainly up to Leica standards and so easy to pocket and handle, certainly by todays standard's they would be amomgs't the more expensive cameras around.

JPD · Aug 1, 2016

Nice camera! I have a couple of Retinas, and my favourites are the IIc (Heligon) and Ib (Xenar).

I have tested a prewar Retina II (type 150) with 2,8 Xenon (actually a five element Xenar design) and it's superb. I have yet to test the type 150 with 2,0 Xenon (real Xenon).

DcAnalogue · Aug 1, 2016

R.Gould said:
I have both a 1b and a IIIc and I love using both oh them, the results are certainly up to Leica standards and so easy to pocket and handle, certainly by todays standard's they would be amomgs't the more expensive cameras around.

I agree. In fact these cameras were expensive at their times...

JPD said:
Nice camera! I have a couple of Retinas, and my favourites are the IIc (Heligon) and Ib (Xenar).

I have tested a prewar Retina II (type 150) with 2,8 Xenon (actually a five element Xenar design) and it's superb. I have yet to test the type 150 with 2,0 Xenon (real Xenon).

I tested a Retina II with uncoated Xenon 2,0 and was not bad...
Still to test the coated Xenon of my IIa and the Xenar 2,8 of my Ib (don't know if it performs the same of Ia's Xenar...)

Paul Howell · Aug 1, 2016

I have a Ward's Photographic Catalog from 1952, Wards was like Sears a department store that had a large Catalog as well. The Retina 2b is listed for $162.10 which is now $1497.62. I have a IIIc big, it was my first 35mm camera, given to me by my aunts in 1965, still works although the meter is a little wonky. The 50mm F2 lens is very good, the 80 and 35mm lens are sharp, just slow and not coupled to the rangefinder just more of pain than work and not worth the trouble. On my wish list for years is a IIIs, does not fold up, uses the same lens as the Retina Reflex, 28, 35, 80 and 135 couples to the rangefinder while the 200 is scale focus.

DcAnalogue · Aug 1, 2016

Btw guys..... as you all are Retina lovers..... here's a very nice and friendly Facebook Group all for you....

Kodak Retina IIIc - First test

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