Retina IIc / Retina-Xenon f/2.8 50mm

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

The IIa is from '54 and has a f/2 Xenon, the RF patch is rectangular, and the film wind is on the top.

The IIc replaced the IIa apparently in late '54. This one's from near the end of the run, late '56 or early '57. The f/2.8 Xenon seems like a better lens in exchange for a little less speed. The RF patch is diamond shaped, and the film wind is on the bottom.

The IIc has replaceable front elements - a 35mm and an 80mm, but these are not RF coupled, and thus a pain to use. I believe the "big C" versions do have coupled RF. The Retinas are unique in that they share their lenses with the Retina SLR.

The IIc has a Retina yellow filter as I've got Plus-X in the camera. I found a nice yellow box with a Retina shade + two filters. The filters have to be thin to permit the camera to close, otherwise you have to remove the filter each time. The Retina filters permit closing the camera.

I find the lens is sharp and contrasty enough to support very large enlargements. I shot this around f/4 if I remember right, and focused on the broomstick nearer to the post - so the bottom of the broom is out of focus.

All photos with Kodak Gold ASA200 film.

(Larger scans available by clicking the picture through to flickr)

Both Retinas I find very quick to use, and extremely quiet. My main problem is my tendency to under-expose slightly when guess-estimating the exposure.

greg · Expire: 2012-12-03

Very nice. I tend to also underexpose.

poilu · Expire: 2019-08-29

impressive results, great 3D, contrast & colors
is this a lab scan?

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

Thanks --- these are CVS drug store minilab scans.

A G Photography · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 1480 Location: Bologna - Italy

I got a Xenon equipped Retina IIc too and it's a fantastic camera. Its only drawback is the very small and dim rangefinder.

Katastrofo · Expire: 2013-11-19

Great set, Jussi! That third shot (lady with red roller bag) is my fave and fabulous results with KG200!

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

Nesster - nice camera, nice pictures too! I have one and think they're great little cameras. Do you have the case for yours?

The f2.8 Xenon is either 5 or 6 elements (can't quite recall off the top of my head) and is - as you've discovered - great. The 35/80 conversion units are a pain to use. I had the 35 and never bothered to use it, so I sold it a while ago. The IIIc/IIIC use exactly the same system, no advantages apart from the built-in meter and the f2 lens. Viewfinder is a bit small, but my RF patch is good and contrasty so focus is easy even in poor light.

Guessing exposure is a bit of a problem, I carry a small Ikophot selenium cell meter from the 1960s, it's slim and takes no space in a pocket. The Kodalux shoe mounted meter, made by Gossen, is fine, if you can get one that's still working properly. The only shoe-mount meters now made are too big and too costly. Here in the UK there were "Jonan" brand shoe meters in the 80s, one selenium and one Cds, that were not too large, there must have been similar in the USA.

I am jealous of your drugstore scans - far better than we have here. And probably a lot cheaper. Lousy and expensive processing colour neg processing has been the norm here for decades. You must take advantage of your service and shoot away happily !

Laurence · Expire: 2016-06-19

GORGEOUS images, and gorgeous cameras! They look like jewels.

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

Lovely turnout - that street scene is fascinating.

Iirc, the IIIs is the one that uses the SLR lenses - Deckel mount almost shared with Voigtlander.
Even then, there's a caveat - The SLR lenses will fit the IIIs but don't have the RF coupling ramp, so have to be scale focused. The RF lenses will happily work on the SLR, iirc.

I've just checked - the carton on the 28mm Curtagon says IIIs, Reflex S and Reflex III. The 135 Tele-Xenar has no ramp, so that's an SLR-preferred fitment.

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

The IIIs have the light meter, the IIs don't, and there are further complications with the c vs C. At any rate, I've really got a kick out of this little camera.

(though today I did a bonehead move - as I was rewinding film, it felt like it let loose a bit soon, and stupidly I opened up the back... yeah, the film hadn't all rewound yet. bah.)

I like these Retinas better than the Fed 3 I have, even with its bulb-backed 35mm.

Thanks for the comments. It really is a silly-good lens.

--

Yes, I got the case, though it looks like it needs something to screw into the tripod socket to hold on securely.

Today, in re-checking the GE meter, I got a range of responses from my three light meters and Nikon FE - but overall the GE seems to be 1 stop too fast. I use the meters, but usually only sporadically, as mostly I can adjust... given a good starting point. I just remind myself that what I think may be 1 stop is really 2. Wink

Stevecanyon · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Denver, Colorado

Can I use a Retina Xenon f2.8 50mm lens on my Retina IIIc that now has a broken f2 50mm lens?

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Fascinating and beautiful cams.
Fascinating and beautiful photos.

For photographers it's a great advantage to live in (or near) a big city, isn't it?

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

You may be able to - or at least find a compatible front element. There are some rules and guidance as to which lens fronts go with which cameras... see these sites:

http://kodak.3106.net/index.php?p=301&cam=916

"THE RETINA IIc AND IIC of 1954 and 1958 respectively are fitted with a 2 in. (50mm) six-element Xenon C or Heligon C f2.8 lens. The lens system is convertible with a removable front component which can be replaced by alternative units to form a telephoto and wide-angle lens system. The IIc and IIC have a built-in rangefinder coupled to the lens and in one eyepiece with the bright-line reflector frame viewfinder. On the model IIC the viewfinder is extra large and also incorporates two additional frame lines which indicate the field covered by the alternative lenses.

THE RETINA IIIc (1954) and IIIC (1958) are fitted with a 2 in. (50 mm.) 6-element Xenon C or Heligon C f2 lens. This is convertible in the same way as the lens system of the IIc and IIC. In addition to the built-in rangefinder, the IIIc and IIIC have also a built-in photo-electric exposure meter. The early IIIc models have a dual-range meter, while the later models (since 1957) have a single-range meter. Model IIIc has a bright line frame for the standard lens only, while the Retina IIIC has three frame lines for the standard, wide-angle and tele lenses inside an enlarged viewfinder. "

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhiti/retinalist.html

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/%7ESrawhiti/retinaClensmounts.html
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/%7ESrawhiti/retinaaccessories.html
"The smallest of the interchangable front lens components for the IIc, IIIc, IIC, IIIC cameras was the 35mm f/5.6 . This lens, like the other accessory lenses was available in either a Rodenstock or Schneider version to suit the standard lens fitted to the camera. (The two flavours are not interchangable and the mounts are keyed to prevent a Schneider front component being fitted to the Rodenstock equipped camera and vice-versa.)"

The IIc front element does come off