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Kodak Retina Reflex
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Kodak Retina Reflex
The Kodak Retina Reflex is a discontinued series of four single-lens reflex cameras made by Kodak in Germany between 1957 and 1974, as part of the Kodak Retina line of 35mm film cameras.
The earliest Retina Reflex (Type 025, 1957) uses the convertible lens system introduced with the Kodak Retina IIc/IIIc in 1954. The successor cameras, starting with the Retina Reflex S (Type 034, 1959), use DKL-mount lenses, introduced with the Retina IIIS of 1958. The Retina Reflex brand was discontinued in 1966, then revived as the Instamatic Reflex in 1968, using the same DKL-mount lenses with the easy-loading Kodapak line of 126 film cartridges. The Instamatic Reflex was discontinued in 1974.
The Kodak Type 025 Retina Reflex is an SLR camera that uses convertible lenses (German: Wechselobjektiv), made by Kodak Stuttgart, Germany. It was made between Spring 1957 and October 1958. Like many 35 mm SLR cameras of West German heritage it is equipped with a leaf shutter instead of a focal plane shutter. It was named Type 025 Retina Reflex since it inherited several features from the contemporary Retina rangefinder cameras, like the Retina IIIc: The film advance and exposure counting system, the film channel, the selenium meter, and the focusing mechanics of the lenses. Even the Synchro-Compur shutter is very similar to the earlier designs.
The convertible lenses of early Retina reflex models are equipped with interchangeable front elements and a fixed set of elements that remain on the body. Later models had fully interchangeable lenses. In these first models, the front three elements are contained in a cell that bayonets into the front of the lens assembly. The standard front cell can be replaced with one of three Schneider components - an 80mm and two different 35mm components. The rear part of the lens (which is a permanent part of the camera body) contains the focusing apparatus, the entire Synchro-Compur shutter, the aperture, and the three rear elements, which are common to all 4 lenses. This interchangeable front component concept was introduced in 1954 with the folding Retina IIc and IIIc models. Care must be exercised when using front components other than the standard (50mm) one, as it is possible to set the body mounted aperture wider than the maximum aperture of the lens (i.e. f/2 instead of f/4 or f/5.6).
A similar system was introduced in 1953 with the Contaflex (SLR). The Retina Reflex is, on rare occasions, found with very similar lenses made by Rodenstock. As the Rodenstock front components are not compatible with the Schneider rear component (and vice versa), minor changes were made to the bayonet mount for each manufacturer. These interchangeable Retina lens components can also be used on the Retina IIc, IIC, IIIc, and IIIC rangefinder cameras.
The camera offers the convenience of image composition with wide open aperture. The aperture is stopped down to the selected value after the shutter is released. After exposure the mirror stays up until the bottom-mounted single-stroke film advance lever is again wound. Focusing is via a ground glass screen with a central split-image rangefinder.
The camera's top plate has the manually set frame counter, the shutter release, the film rewind knob with film reminder dial, the exposure needle window, meter adjustment knob with EV and ASA/DIN scales, the film (advance) release button, the frame (counter) advance slider, and the accessory shoe. The bottom plate contains the tripod socket, the film advance lever, the back release latch, and the film rewind release button.
In use, the Retina Reflex frame counter works down from 35 (or 20) to 0, at which point the film advance locks. While this is convenient for the user and does prevent torn film sprockets at the end of a roll, setting the counter up properly at the beginning of a roll is complex, awkward, and time-consuming. This is a typical example of much of Retina engineering[citation needed] - complex and ingenious, but perhaps over-done.
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Kodak Retina Reflex AI simulator
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Kodak Retina Reflex
The Kodak Retina Reflex is a discontinued series of four single-lens reflex cameras made by Kodak in Germany between 1957 and 1974, as part of the Kodak Retina line of 35mm film cameras.
The earliest Retina Reflex (Type 025, 1957) uses the convertible lens system introduced with the Kodak Retina IIc/IIIc in 1954. The successor cameras, starting with the Retina Reflex S (Type 034, 1959), use DKL-mount lenses, introduced with the Retina IIIS of 1958. The Retina Reflex brand was discontinued in 1966, then revived as the Instamatic Reflex in 1968, using the same DKL-mount lenses with the easy-loading Kodapak line of 126 film cartridges. The Instamatic Reflex was discontinued in 1974.
The Kodak Type 025 Retina Reflex is an SLR camera that uses convertible lenses (German: Wechselobjektiv), made by Kodak Stuttgart, Germany. It was made between Spring 1957 and October 1958. Like many 35 mm SLR cameras of West German heritage it is equipped with a leaf shutter instead of a focal plane shutter. It was named Type 025 Retina Reflex since it inherited several features from the contemporary Retina rangefinder cameras, like the Retina IIIc: The film advance and exposure counting system, the film channel, the selenium meter, and the focusing mechanics of the lenses. Even the Synchro-Compur shutter is very similar to the earlier designs.
The convertible lenses of early Retina reflex models are equipped with interchangeable front elements and a fixed set of elements that remain on the body. Later models had fully interchangeable lenses. In these first models, the front three elements are contained in a cell that bayonets into the front of the lens assembly. The standard front cell can be replaced with one of three Schneider components - an 80mm and two different 35mm components. The rear part of the lens (which is a permanent part of the camera body) contains the focusing apparatus, the entire Synchro-Compur shutter, the aperture, and the three rear elements, which are common to all 4 lenses. This interchangeable front component concept was introduced in 1954 with the folding Retina IIc and IIIc models. Care must be exercised when using front components other than the standard (50mm) one, as it is possible to set the body mounted aperture wider than the maximum aperture of the lens (i.e. f/2 instead of f/4 or f/5.6).
A similar system was introduced in 1953 with the Contaflex (SLR). The Retina Reflex is, on rare occasions, found with very similar lenses made by Rodenstock. As the Rodenstock front components are not compatible with the Schneider rear component (and vice versa), minor changes were made to the bayonet mount for each manufacturer. These interchangeable Retina lens components can also be used on the Retina IIc, IIC, IIIc, and IIIC rangefinder cameras.
The camera offers the convenience of image composition with wide open aperture. The aperture is stopped down to the selected value after the shutter is released. After exposure the mirror stays up until the bottom-mounted single-stroke film advance lever is again wound. Focusing is via a ground glass screen with a central split-image rangefinder.
The camera's top plate has the manually set frame counter, the shutter release, the film rewind knob with film reminder dial, the exposure needle window, meter adjustment knob with EV and ASA/DIN scales, the film (advance) release button, the frame (counter) advance slider, and the accessory shoe. The bottom plate contains the tripod socket, the film advance lever, the back release latch, and the film rewind release button.
In use, the Retina Reflex frame counter works down from 35 (or 20) to 0, at which point the film advance locks. While this is convenient for the user and does prevent torn film sprockets at the end of a roll, setting the counter up properly at the beginning of a roll is complex, awkward, and time-consuming. This is a typical example of much of Retina engineering[citation needed] - complex and ingenious, but perhaps over-done.
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