Kodak Retina Automatic I II III

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Kodak AG's three Retina Automatic models were the first Retinas to have automatic exposure control.

Built on the same common chassis, they differed purely in regard to lens & shutter configuration. They are clear developments of the earlier IIS and have a very similar top molding including the counter release button that gives so many problems to the unitiated! (The camera locks at 36 exposures and this needs to be reset to get things functioning again.)

The meters of the Automatic II & III give indication of the correct aperture for manual speed selection if the camera is not set to automatic.

A note for collectors. Most of the Automatics suffer from one fault - the demise of the meter. This renders the automatic setting inoperative, though the camera can still function on the manually set shutter speeds.


The Models

Typ 038 Retina Automatic I

  • Production time: May 1960 to July 1963
  • Early version, small exposure meter — serial number range: 50079 to 96740
  • Late version, larger exposure meter — serial number range: 150724 to 163954
  • Lens: Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Reomar 1:2,8/45mm ( 3 element )
  • Shutter: Prontormat-S
  • Exposure: Shutter Priority Fully Automatic - Sets both Aperture & Speed - No Manual Settings
  • No rangefinder - clicked stop settings at 35' 10' & 6.5'
  • Viewfinder: Bright Line + parallax correction marks + zone focus indication
  • Dimensions Width -125mm Height - 95mm Depth - 62mm
  • Price: £54.12.9 (June 1962)

Typ 032 Retina Automatic II

  • Production time: October 1960 to 1963
  • Small exposure meter — serial number range: 50036 to 91019
  • Large exposure meter — serial number range: 150949 to 161446
  • Lens: Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenar f:2,8/45mm( 4 element )
  • Shutter: Compur 1/30 1/60 1/250 1/500
  • Exposure: Shutter Priority Automatic + Manual
  • Meter: Gossen Selenium - Needle visible top housing window
  • No rangefinder - clicked stop settings at 35' 10' & 6.5'
  • Viewfinder: Bright Line + parallax correction marks + zone focus indication
  • Dimensions Width -125mm Height - 95mm Depth - 62mm
  • Price: £65.2.0 (June 1962)

Typ 039 Retina Automatic III

  • Production time: January 1961 to September 1963
  • Small exposure meter — serial number ranges: 50005 to 62482, EK 800027 to EK 815346
  • Large exposure meter — serial number ranges: 150639 to 171529, EK 820126 to EK 848590
  • Lens: Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenar f:2,8/45mm ( 4 element )
  • Shutter: Compur 1/30 1/60 1/250 1/500
  • Exposure: Shutter Priority Automatic + Manual
  • Meter: Gossen Selenium - Needle visible top housing window
  • Rangefinder
  • Viewfinder: Bright Line + parallax correction marks
  • Dimensions Width -125mm Height - 95mm Depth - 62mm
  • Price: £75.11.3 (June 1962)

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