Kodak Retina IIc Compact Folding 35mm Camera Review
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2018
- The Kodak Retina IIc is a superbly crafted 35mm folding camera from the late 1950s. It's super compact, especially when folded and has great optics!
Kodak Retina IIc on Flickr: flic.kr/s/aHskADHFbF
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I just inherited an IIc yesterday that mom found at her old house and it belonged to her late father. It is in such incredible shape, things built back in the '50s were truly built to last. I can't wait to shot!
It's one of the best cameras to put in your pocket, and it's beautiful. I have a IIIc with light meter (that seems to work "quite" well despite it's hage). Mine was made in 1956 and yet it's so smooth in it's mechanism. First grade German workmanship.
Absolutely. I'm amazed at the engineering that went into this camera every time I use it. Very smooth, precise and solidly built.
I have a set of three Retina cameras in my collection. And aal three are in A one condition. I have fully enjoyed using IIIC and IIB. All the three models are with different lences, xenar, schnider,and Rodenstock. 2.8 and f2. With wonderful performence, color sturation and sharpness, and Iam happy with it and grade them as Leicas of Kodak for their great performence. Iam frequently using them as they are antique treasure now. Thanks to KODAK for releasing such a marvel. S.K .Pareek. Bhawanimandi.Raj.India.
Hi Raj, thanks for posting. It sounds like you have a fine collection.
FYI: C-Lenses (Convertible) for the Retina IIc, IIC, IIIc, & IIIC cameras.
They all share a common set of three elements at the rear of the lens.
List of convertible Schneider-Kreuznach Retina lenses:
Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Curtar-Xenon C 35mm f/4
Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Curtar-Xenon C 35mm f/5.6 (6+3 elements in 6 groups)
Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenon C 50mm f/2 (3+3 elements in 4 groups)
Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenon C 50mm f/2.8
Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Longar-Xenon C 80mm f/4 (6+3 elements in 6 groups)
List of convertible Rodenstock Retina lenses:
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C 35mm f/4
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C 35mm f/5.6
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C 50mm f/2
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C 50mm f/2.8
Rodenstock Retina-Heligon C 80mm f/4
I've just bought one of these online for £42 and it arrived today. The quality and condition for the money is amazing. I can't stop playing with it!
It’s amazing how something this old can work so well. just like new. I love the convenience of being able to snap the lens shut after Taking a photo and instantly pocketing it. One of the most convenient camera designs that I’ve ever used.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Yes I agree, even though I haven't taken any photos with it yet. Lens caps are a bit fiddly, it's possible to not quite fit them properly and at best they will only protect the front element. This design is so quick and the cover protects the entire lens. Brilliant!
I was born in 1951 and my father bought a Kodak Retina iic. He used this model of camera for many years to take vacation pictures and family pictures. He had a flash that used large flash bulbs that he used with this camera. His favorite film was Kodachrome color slide film. I now have this camera, but have not used it.
I’d encourage you to try it out. I really enjoy mine especially how it folds away and is instantly pocketable after you take a picture. It makes the Retina very enjoyable in use.
Beautiful camera! I bought one on eBay. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for sharing this information. Very detailed. I just picked one of these gems today at a local Thrift store and it seems to work. Even has film loaded and not completely used. Looking to go out and test how it functions. Hopefully will get some great shots.
I have two of these, and after watching your video will start using!!!! Thanks Dave
Have fun! These are really fun little cameras to use. I love how they fold out of the way and into a pocket so easily.
Great walkthrough, I can't wait to pick up some film and shoot. I have my father's Retina IIc, German Rodenstock lens on it. The craftsmanship on it is fantastic.
Yep, I'm really in awe of the craftsmanship in some of these older cameras. They literally don't make them like this anymore.
Couple of clarifications: Regarding the button to release the frame counter, he mentioned that it counts down, not up like most. I'm not sure he mentioned that when it reaches "0", it locks the film advance and shutter. Many unfamiliar sellers (ebay) sell these Retinas cheap because they think the shutter is broken, when the counteronly needs to be reset. (All Retinas from the IIa on use this odd frame counter and locking system, maybe earlier models as well). There are two alternative lenses, a 35mm and a 80mm (several different versions of the 35mm). He mentioned that some cameras have Schneider and some Rodenstock lenses. When buying an accessory lens, note that if the camera has a 50mm lens by one maker, you can only use accessory lenses by the same maker. While it is possible to mount a Rodenstock accessory lens on a Schneider cameras, the two brands of lenses are not optically interchangeable; doing so will give poor photos. The IIc is the same as the IIIc without a meter, most of which don't work anymore. My personal favorite of the similar models is the IIC (big C), It's the next version of above, adding a bigger, brighter viewfinder.
Wow, very detailed and helpful information. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for those additional, very informative comments. They explained a lot in my particular case. I bought my 11c for $35.00 and I’m certain the seller thought the camera shutter was broken; I did. However, I bought it anyway in hopes I was over looking something. The lens information was also a great tip. Thanks to the two of you, I think I have a winner!
Randall Stewart Are you suggesting that some cameras sent in for repair, may not actually be damaged?
@@herbie.e Well, that certainly could happen. I hope that an honest repairman would recognize that the problem was in the user, not in the camera, and offer to send it back without a repair charge. On the other hand, the mechanism which connects all of those functions, particularly the film advance winder to the shutter cocking on the lens, which is both complex and relatively delicate. The folding /Retinas tend to be a regular source of income for repairmen who will work on them at all.
Super helpful!! Thank you!
The Retina line "branded" Kodak were made in Germany. Some of the finest manufacturing in the World! Any of these cameras are worth buying, fixing, using and "preserving"!
Great review!
Thanks so much. I agree 100%.
Thank you great job with this review.
New subscriber! This is a fantastic video. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks so much Kristi. More to come!
Really helpful review and sample images at the end. Never seen your channel before but came across it by looking up this camera. Off to go and check one out tomorrow now, because if your video. Really helpful man! Appreciate it! 🙂 gonna sub right now!
I’m glad you found it helpful. Please share my channel on your social media. Thanks!
Eric my GAS is flaring up now. My particular strand of GAS makes me buy few cameras but I need all the accessories. Thanks for another fine video.
That will be quite the search for accessories for this little camera. Like the camera itself, the cases are incredibly well made and very durable. Beyond that I’ve seen lenses and filters but becoming pretty rare. Good luck!
Btw, if you haven’t already seen it, my Nikon F3 video review is a testament to my own GAS, 😂
Thanks a million for this video!
You’re very welcome!
this video was very helpful. thanks a lot!
Your very welcome!
I have one like this. Excellent video and very informative. Pictures I take with that camera are also very good One the best cameras of my oldies. Great.and pleasant stuff to hold.
The Kodak Retinas are incredible. Really well made and fun to use.
LOVE my IIc, some of my favourite photos I've ever taken were on it.
It’s such a well built and fun camera to use. I took mine out a couple of days ago. Ha ent developed the roll just yet.
FYI, the IIIc/C was same size as the IIc/C and produced at the same time. The distinction is the meter rather than size or date.
I have a full series of Retina cameras in my collection, along with accessories, I enjoyed shooting witha Retina llc and lll c very much proffesionnnally as wel as shooting personal photos, All the three models are fitted with of differents make of lenses, in with xenar, iic with Rodenstock, iiic with schnieder f 2. Retinas are really Leicas of Kodak, with wonderful performance, sharpness,and color saturation,immaculate, uncompitable, with rigid body, I really keep them with utmost care as of very much antique value,great KODAK masterpieces. Thanks to KODAK. S.K.Pareek. Bhawanimandi.Raj.India
Great post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this wonderful little camera. The thing that impresses me the most about the Retinas (besides the great images they can produce) is the craftsmanship. They are so well made! They also have great ergonomics.
Oh... now I need to ebay-ing such piece of perfection!
With all my TLR's, folding 6x4.5, 'modern' 645NII, trusty Pentax LX, etc. just can't resist to buy this beauty 8^)
My man I love this camera. My digital Panasonic it's all plastic and feels like a toy, the only time I pick it up is when I need to use it but I never admire it. This is one of the reasons I got back into Old cameras is industrial design and the feel of the knobs and buttons. I would really like to get one of these if they have the same thing in medium format
Hah! This is the medium format version of the Retina IMO. Take a look: ua-cam.com/video/SQj_9km3MsM/v-deo.html
Everytime I watch your videos I have to go buy whatever you are showing. 😊 This past week I found 3- IIc's. Cheap. Like $29 ! I have been watching Chris Sherlock from RetinaRescue.com & have rebuilt all of them already. I'm running my first roll through the one I just did a rebuild on. Beautiful camera you have. :)
Thanks. I enjoy it. I’ll check out the website too.
I would love to have one of them but a good working one is real hard to find. All the camera's on ebay that i have bought from them are not working right or i have to try and fix them. Yours looks nice.
i currently own 3 retina 11c's the 3 lenses , close up viewfinder. retinette acessory lightmeter and the wire frame sports/zone finder. For 30 years this was my go to daily hack between large/medium format and slr's. would i part with them ? never. not even after converting to digital
Amen to that. The Retina has the true nostalgic rendering that gives a classic look which is what film photography is all about! They try hard to replicate that look with instagrams filters, etc but they can never replicate the feel of a camera like the retina and the immediacy of shooting film. You have to actually pay attention to what you’re doing when shooting film. You have to think.
Thanks for this very useful video. I just picked up one today from a bin at an antique store for $12. Because the leatherette was gone which I guess made the seller think it did not work. But the lens is clear, and all the other mechanics work perfectly. It came with a 80 mm Schneider-Kreznach Xenon lens. I was wondering if you had any experience using it?
That’s awesome! I love running into those unexpected deals. It’s a fun camera to use. Enjoy!
Yeah I just bought one today at an antique shop for $50
Nice review. I like that camera. I think the name Retina spellling is German, because Kodak AG which is the German Stuttgart- Wangen Nagel Werk. Not as you speaks Retna. Phonatic spelling of Re-ti-na is: re sounds like ray - ti sounds like me - na sounds like papa or mama. Together sounds raytena -> Retina. I hope it will helps you better.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
I grew up with this (my dad's) camera. Actually, I made my very first shot ever with this camera. Unfortunately, it doesn't work anymore; some parts of advancing mechanism are worn out what makes it stuck. Yeah, my dad made thousands of pictures with that camera so no wonder. It's the problem I'm working on. In the meantime, I just might buy another one...
This is a wonderful line of cameras that I enjoy using a lot especially because of it's compact size and how quickly it can be folded away and put in your pocket.
@Howard Black I've been searching for parts or donor body in my and neighbouring countries for 3 to 4 years now but all I found was Retina IA and IIIC, both of them just once. There's a shop in one neighbouring country that has several of IIc's, but all of them are in working condition. So the only way I could salvage my dad's camera is to get another camera and to get parts copied by a blacksmith i now...
@Howard Black Thank you, thank you, thank you... I can't recall when someone gave me so in-depth replay. And especially for that brass / steel thing, would never cross my mind...
As I said, here (SE Europe) there not too many Retinas at all, even dead ones, thus no spare parts. In fact, my dad was quite unusual appearance with the IIc around his neck back then. And the out of many mechanics that operated in my city there's literarily only one left. Without spare parts.
Moreover, even when I find something on local crags list or at the photo fair that something is usually overpriced - our folks realised quite quickly that there's a money in those old junk and glass so prices are overblown. So overblown in fact, that sometimes it makes more sense to me to jump on a train and go to Austria or Germany and buy there what I need.
@Howard Black 👍
Mine comes in tomorrow! I found one a year ago at an antique store and bought it. Found a guy online who restores them and the one I found couldn’t be restored. But! He had another one he was working on so he patched it up and let me buy it! So excited!! Any film recommendations?
I always like to use Kodak Ektar 100 with my retina. Also Fuji Superia Reala but that’s become very rare and expensive.
Take a look at retinarescue.com. 'Chris's Camera Page' which specialises in all the Retinas