Am I astute or should I wear donkey's ears?

[skida]

Went back to the market to have another look at the Tessar Retina. As I was looking at it, I realised it was a 2.8 Tessar and not the early 3.5 one. Then I noticed Retina II on the top plate, so I put it down and walked away. I have searched in vane on the net for info on the Tessar Retina II. Is it a botch job or is a very rare thing?

I am guessing it is a type 142 as it has separate RF and VF windows plus knob film winder.


http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Kodak_Retina_II


edit: it looks exactly like this except the lens in a 2.8 Tessar:

http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=497

[philslizzy]

I've seen Kodak folders with Tessars before so It may be a rare model. If its priced right and the shutter works - get it.

[skida]

During the brief look at the camera, I couldn't work out how to cock the shutter, though there is the possibility that the shutter is jammed as the button wouldn't move. I will go back and ask the price tomorrow - if it is cheap I may buy it anyway. I have not found any mentions anywhere of a Retina II with a Tessar lens, so it could be a definite rarity!

[Nesster]

worth getting...

Retina Type119 by skagman, on Flickr

http://retinarescue.com/retina1type119.html
There are a few Tessar variants on this page (one of the better Retina pages I've found)
http://retinarescue.com/retinalist.html

[luisalegria]

If the camera being discussed had separate viewfinder/rangefinder, the shutter needed to be cocked manually with a lever on the side.
Cocking the shutter was a separate action from winding film.
This is a good thing, from the aspect of reliability, as the biggest weakness of the later ones is the cocking linkage.

[skida]

We had blustery rain yesterday and the market was almost totally devoid of traders. I will try again Monday.

[skida]

Well I may be wearing donkey's ears, as I went back today and it was gone. I am beginning to think it was possibly one of very few produced as I can't find any other example anywhere on the internet. If I had bought it I would have just put it on ebay, laying it on thick about how rare, possibly unique it was and sold it for hundreds of pounds.

[Farside]

Perhaps the trader tumbled to it. Would have been good to score it, just for rarity value.