Retina Reflex lenses...can you identify and how to use?

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

A friend of mine inherited this lens and I have no idea what it is. Can anyone tell me?

patrickh

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

No idea, you can use for macro shoots if you fixed on camera with glued tape.

bob955i · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 2495

I think it's for a Kodak Retina camera:

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/KodakRetinaReflex.html

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

Retina lens, you can focus to infinite with this one on a Canon EOS.

_

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

rick_oleson · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:01 am Post subject:

Retina Reflex lenses were designed to work with a behind-the-lens leaf shutter, which is well forward of the film plane and has a very small opening. This resulted in some compromises in lens design, such as a 135mm that won't focus closer than 14 feet. The normal lenses aren't much affected by these issues, but the limitations of the range as a whole would seem to me to make the investment in an adapter less rewarding than in more conventional systems. On top of that, the adapter is very complex as it has to include the aperture control system, which was part of the camera body rather than the lens.

Besides the Retina Reflex, the lenses can be used on the Retina IIIS rangefinder, the Instamatic Reflex (126 film) and, with very slight modification, the Voigtlander Bessamatic.... none of which really makes the whole thing much more attractive.

Ballu · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:34 am Post subject:

Mounting this lens to EOS cameras will be tricky. The register distance for Retina camera is 44.7mm and for Canon EOS is 44mm. You really need to take the Retina lens mount out, fix the EOS mount to lens (like M42-EOS adapter).
Never thought of this.. worth trying...

rick_oleson · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:03 am Post subject:

Just remember, you have no aperture ring and the lens defaults to f/22 when it's not mounted on the Retina Reflex. Great depth of field for macro, but focusing might be a little dim.....

Super Tak · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 103

Is there absolutely no way to work the aperture?

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

I think I will advise him to give it away Very Happy

Thanks for the learned input guys

patrickh

rick_oleson · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:49 am Post subject:

there is the coupling lever on the back, if you can figure out a way to operate it from the outside once the lens is mounted. might be a good candidate for using on a reversing ring, then you could reach the lever.

if you do operate the coupling lever, there is no way to tell what aperture you are using.... the aperture scale is on the body, not the lens.

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27