Retina IIa

stark raving · Jun 14, 2006

The 50/2 Xenon on my Retinas (IIa and IIIc) make those go-to cameras for me. I just love that lens.

laudrup · Jul 11, 2006

Frame of mind tends to influence which camera I use.

I seem to be drawn to, what I perceive to be , my better cameras when I feel I should indulge in some "serious" photography.

When photography isn't my main agenda for the day I tend to carry a "fun" camera. I often use an olympus trip, a yashica minister III or even a Cosmic 35 from time to time!

I guess it's all relative really because photography is my hobby as opposed to my livelihood it's always fun!

bruce terry · Jul 20, 2006

Choices. Only two. Makes things easy.

Will it be the 8x10, 9 1/2" & 19" lenses, V-spot and O-serie Leica in the 30# backpack (plus the thousand# Ries), or just the 16oz toy along with my recall-challenged brain in place of the spot meter?

Right! Time to play! :)

DBP · Jul 20, 2006

The other day a photographer asked me when I was going to go digital. I told him it would happen when I could find one with the quality and handling of the Retina IIa I was carrying at an equal price. So I'm holding out for an 11MP rangefinder with a full frame sensor, 50/2, and no shutter lag, small enough to fit in my pocket for under $100. Might take a while.

donbga · Jul 20, 2006

roteague said:
As always, my choice is Velvia.

Why don't you loosen up once in a while Robert and shoot some B&W film?

Earl Dunbar · Jul 23, 2006

Roger: Isn't it interesting how sometimes we just pick up a camera by some sort of instinct? Today I was at Eastman House, and I had brought along a brace of Olympus 35 SPs, one with APX100, the other Tri-X.

For me, it's mostly "feel" or instinct, a type of camera zen. Other factors are type of photo I'm pursuing. For closer/macro work I'll pick up the OM-1n since not only is it SLR, but has mirror lock-up. In other situations I'll use the OM-2 for autoexposure. For quick and discrete shooting I'll use the XA or Konica C35.

Markok765 · Jul 23, 2006

The only problem with me is 105, 55 or 35mm

k_jupiter · Jul 25, 2006

Markok765 said:
The only problem with me is 105, 55 or 35mm

When you gonna get a real camera Marko?

Anyhow... The C220 usually goes on trips with me as I don't like dealing with sheet film away from home. I have taken my 4x5 speed on trips but after you go through your first batch of film holders, life gets complicated. I have expanded the lens selection so my Mamiya now fits the bill for most travel shooting. I usually take my FM2 with me because it is like a well worn glove, I don't need to think with it in my hand, and I don't need to worry about it failing. In the winter months, the Retina II (love that Ektar 50/2) usually fits into my field jacket pocket and the 517 or 518 Nettar is in another pocket. I would say most of my snap shots are zone focused through a Zeiss triplet!

For specific projects or looks, I break out the other stuff. The 3x4 Speed, the 2x3 Speed or Crown, the Kalart Press all have different looks to the film they expose. I do need to feel like I am in the mood for total processing when I get the sheet film out as I don't like having it sit around undeveloped, shot numbers getting mixed up in my notebooks etc. The cheap TLRs get pulled out when I want that sort of look to fun family days like frolicing in the park. And of course, when we go to Monterey, the 3x4 Graplex SLR is always the first (and usually last) camera I pull out in honor of Weston.

I have a few specific cameras that get used only occasionally when I want something specific like my screw mount Fujica with the Jupiter portrait lens, now that's sweet.

We be funny people, no?

tim in san jose

Papa Tango · Jul 25, 2006

Odd, isn't it? I have been thinking about and watching the bay for a IIa for some time. Never had one, but did handle one many years back and it made me wonder what happened to Kodak...

I thought that a Super Graphic would be just the thing. Great feel, big negs, but just could not get past the clunk... For years a sneer was had toward MF. A 124 cured that. Now, its a grab for either that one or the RB67. 35 is off the horizon, and the A-1's are gathering dust. Maybe, a little fun folder like the retina would add to that.

DBP · Jul 25, 2006

Pragmatist said:
Odd, isn't it? I have been thinking about and watching the bay for a IIa for some time. Never had one, but did handle one many years back and it made me wonder what happened to Kodak...

They hired market researchers.

Larry Dawson · Jul 25, 2006

which camera

So let me get this straight! You were going out and you grabbed only one camera? I can't get out of the house without at least 2, usually a 35mm Rf and a Digital. If I have time to think about it it will be 3 digitals and 2 35s.
Maybe that's why my shoulder slumps!

And If I have room in the backpack it will hold a 120 rollfilm folder from the 50s too.

Roger Hicks said:
This afternoon I went to a music and rural crafts festival in the village where I live. On the way I grabbed a 1953 Kodak Retina IIa, despite having many 'better' cameras to choose from.

I'm not even sure about my own motivation. When the film ran out I came back and picked up a Leica MP (the festival was in the park 100 yards from my house). Same film though.

What governs which camera you pick up?

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

Markok765 · Jul 25, 2006

If I going somewhere good, i take the 350D with the 50 1.8 and the pentax sp500 55 1.8. I love 50s!

mcgrattan · Jul 26, 2006

If I'm not going out specifically to take photos, I usually chuck a compact or fixed lens leaf-shutter rangefinder in my bag. That means my Mju II, an XA2 or a little Chinon 35EEII.

The Mju seems to have an amazing affinity for Delta 3200 and the spot metering is wonderful.

Otherwise, if I know I am just going to be using a 50mm normal lens (on 35mm) I usually take my Fed-4 with Industar 61L/D, which, hands down, is the camera that gives me the most consistently good results.

Other than that, if I know I want to use a longer lens, or do some closeups then it's almost always my EOS650 -- although 99 times out of a hundred it has an old M42 lens on it with an adapter.

I've just put 2 or 3 rolls through a Pentax P50 and have been very happy with the small size and ergonomics so that may replace the EOS for some everyday shooting. I use the same screwmount lenses with that that I use with the EOS.

I rarely if ever feel the need for autofocus and aperture-priority autoexposure -- which both cameras can do with the old screwmount lenses -- is all I need.

I really like the usability of the EOS and the meter is good but it's a fair bit bigger than the P50.

I haven't shot a lot of medium format recently for some reason. I'm going through a 35mm phase.

Leon · Jul 26, 2006

the expectations of the location determine what camera/s I take. a LF/mf a tripod doent necessarilly lend itself to sharp shooting grab shots, whilst I find the opposite for dramatic landscapes and country trecks. that said, some of the best results come from rule-breaking.

polaski · Jul 26, 2006

Portability. And that usually means Retina II or IIa. I recently acquired a Perkeo II whch will fit in that same hip pocket.

Unfortunately, a full-time job seriously interferes with my photography.

(My first post on this forum -- I think this will be fun.)

Papa Tango · Jul 26, 2006

Welcome polaski. It usually is a great place to be for fotophiles... Ocassionally, Tommy the Turdwhacker comes along and posts something snidely, or Bobo the Troll King goes a courtin, but otherwise...

Kobin · Jul 27, 2006

For serious stuff, the C330. For color, the K1000. For fun, the ZI Nettar 517/16 folder. I'm hoping to get an old 35mm rf or compact slr soon. I'm begining to like light.

K.

firecracker · Jul 30, 2006

I have a Retinette Ia, which I use for taking random street shots without framing. For framing, I choose serious cameras.

This Retinette Ia doesn't weigh as much as any of the Retina bodies, and that's what I like about. It's just like using a disposable lens-camera or a cheap P&S camera body but an option of with a few actual F-stop settings, shutter speeds, and a focusing dial. The camera body is a bit bulky but still compact enough to fit in my hand nicely.

And my Gossen Bix3 hand-held light meter, which is made out of plastic and so light, goes so good with it.

Mark Layne · Jul 30, 2006

Roger
I normally take a Contax 111a. maybe with some of those lenses ' which can't stand comparison with modern lenses.' Like the 85f2 Stuttgart Sonnar and the 35f3.5 Planar.
I've had a lot of ruined exposures from tapering Leica shutters, with a vertical travel shutter tapering isn't much of a problem.
Mark

Ole · Jul 30, 2006

Roger Hicks said:
...What governs which camera you pick up?
...

It all depends...

If I were to go out to shoot people, It's quite likely I would choose an old MF (or 35mm) folder. Have you noticed how differently people react when you point an "antique" at them, compared to a SLR with a big fat zoom lens?

If I go out with a camera just because I feel like it, it's far more likely to be LF - probably 5x7".

If I think the light's going to be good, I'll take 18x24cm or 24x30cm, and the 4x5" with colour film.

Today I've just been out with a Bessa-L and the 21mm lens, because that's the only camera I brought with me to work. It works great without a battery, which is a great advantage on an oil rig.

polaski · Aug 8, 2006

People absolutely do react differently when I use a folder (Retina or Perkeo). They really reacted differently when I took the Graphic 2x3 (120 rollback) down Arch Street into Philadelphia Chinatown. Lots of smiles from older folks. Bewildered looks on people with earplugs in their ears. (But maybe those looks are normal for them.

The Minox 35ML folds out and down, and folks don't seem to think it's a camera. I thought that with the new small digitals, that would end, but most people use small digitals at arms length, so I think the illusion still works.

Retina IIa

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