Kodak Retina IIF
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| Kodak Retina IIF image by Casual Camera Collector (Image rights) |
The Retina IIF, made by Kodak AG between 1964 and 1967[1] in Germany, is a 35mm rangefinder camera. It is similar in design to the cheaper Retinette models from around the same time. While not as full-featured as main line Retina cameras, the IIF is a fairly full-featured and compact model, especially compared to the Retinettes, with the particularly deluxe feature of an AG-1-sized flashholder built in to the top plate. There is also a PC socket for external flash, as well as a cold shoe for a flash or other accessory. It has a coupled rangefinder and a selenium cell light meter.
The lens is a Schneider-Kreuznach "Retina-Xenar" f:2.8 45mm. This is a wider lens than is often used as a "normal" lens for 35mm, but in fact it is mathematically closer to a true "normal" lens for the frame size, as it is closer to the field of view of the human eye.
The camera has both speed and aperture controls on the lens body, as well as a ring connected to the shutter-speed selector to set the film speed (ASA and DIN are given separately.) The film advance is single stroke, mounted (as on many German and Japanese cameras of the time) on the bottom plate. The manually-set exposure counter and the catch for the camera back are also on the bottom. The camera features a bright frame in the viewfinder, with marks to correct for closeup parallax error. The rangefinder and meter are also lit by the same window: the rangefinder is a coincident image design, and the meter needle is coupled to the aperture, film speed and shutter speed, so that when the exposure is correctly set for the light level, the needle will hover between two marks in the bottom of the viewfinder frame. The current shutter speed can also be read directly off the selector through the viewfinder, though it is unknown whether this was intentional.
The shutter release is on the front near the lens, just above the socket for the cable release and the self-timer. A depth-of-field scale is displayed around the focusing ring on the front of the lens body. The rewind knob doubles as a film-type reminder (with settings for black and white, daylight color and indoor color), and is recessed into the top plate of the camera. It is accessed by holding the camera upside-down and allowing it to fall out. The flashholder is covered by the camera's nameplate when not in use, but a catch on the back of the camera allows it to spring up. It features mirrored sheet-metal springs that double as reflectors for the miniature flashbulb. A PX-13 battery was fitted in the base to fire the bulb.
The camera serial number is located in front of the cold shoe on top of the camera, and the lens serial number is found on the front of the lens body. On the reverse of the camera, the words "Kodak Retina Camera" are elaborately embossed.
The Retina IIF had the designation type 047.
Specifications
- Type: 35mm rangefinder camera
- Lens: Retina-Xenar 45mm f/2.8
- Shutter: Compur, 1-1/500 + B, with flash sync and self-timer
- Film speed range: 12-1250 ASA
- Diaphragm: f/2.8 continuously adjustable to f/22, one stop markings
- Focusing: Coincident image coupled rangefinder focusing, 1 meter to infinity.
- Viewfinder: Eye level finder, bright frame
- Film Loading: Manual
- Film Transport: Single stroke lever advance
- Flash: AG-1 miniature flashbulb in integrated flashholder, PC socket
- Tripod Socket: Standard socket
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| Kodak Retina IIF image by Casual Camera Collector (Image rights) |
Notes
- ↑ Kodak's list of cameras (archived)
