Kodak Retina Ia Video Manual

[@enyape]

I am 92 years old. Had one of the first retina 1a,s in mid 1950's.it was smuggled from Germany. Probably the first one in this country. Cost me £12.I was offered £80 by the local camera retailor.didn't sell it. Lovely little camera. Did a couple of weddings with it. Customers were delighted.

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! That sounds like a fantastically storied camera!

[@Segatari]

Hi Eddie! That’s an awesome camera with a cool back story. I’d buy it if you want to get rid of it :)

[@aidanhowgate5437]

@@Segatari I have a German one with the distance scale in metres and 2.8 lens, I bought it from a clearance sale auction, I've just put some delta 100 in it 😀

[@erchata]

buen video, solo una aclaracion el fuelle de la camara hay que ponerla en infinito y cerrarla ya que si no podriamos romperla, un saludo desde BARCELONA ESPAÑA

[@DavidHancock]

Muchas gracias!

[@vinniegrosso3521]

David, great video! -- bought one of these at a flee market this morning. It was in the junk pile because it wouldn't close and the film advance. The trick to closing it -- which I found by accident -- is you have to put the lens on infinity ( smallest extension of the lens ) so it will fit and close. Also the film advance was jammed because someone had rotated the film counter the wrong way ( you mentioned it in the video ). Just got it working and learning about these small folders. Seems like most of the time that a camera is out in the open, someone will screw it up.

[@DavidHancock]

Nice find! These are a ton of fun to use and they take great photos. Any time a little tinkering makes something work is a great day.

[@vinniegrosso3521]

Thanks to you ! I watched your video when I found it in the junk bin LOL! and thought it was a good bet !

[@macbookdieter]

I might be wrong, but I believe the focus scale was printed on a thin metal strip. Two small screws held it down. The ends tucked into the knobs that you hold to turn the lens.

[@danienelphoto]

I just bough a 1a this morning. With the 50mm 2.8. I also have a 119. Very informative video.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and nice buy!

[@CasaBlanca92nian]

Hi, I just found a Kodak retina Ia. It belonged to my grandfather, thank you very much for your video.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you, too!

[@1977Lazlo]

i have a Retina 1a in excellent condition with serial number 888294. I just used one roll of Ilford pan 400 and getting it developed now. cant wait to see how the pictures will look :0)

[@DavidHancock]

Nice!

[@1977Lazlo]

@@maisiemcausland6381 Hi, yes the film (Kodak TriX) is ok as the camera is functioning well. One thing to note is this camera can only be used with zone focusing so when the aperture set to below 5.6 most of the picture would be out of focus:). Also the view finder is a bit offset so you should aim lower than what you see. 70 years old camera functions well is pretty amazing.

[@DFermain]

I have one on these. It's like a jewel. It sits well beside a Leica of similar vintage. This retina is a beautiful camera.

[@DavidHancock]

Definitely yes!

[@MrMarkpoole]

Love the folding Retinas.So far my only one is a Retina I.I think it's a type 148 which puts it right before WWII.There are several small differences,but the main features are very close.Mine is in working condition and I have run a roll of film through it.

[@DavidHancock]

M Poole These are the camera that changed my opinion about Kodak cameras.

[@MrMarkpoole]

Yeah,I love the style and build quality of these.I hope to get some more in the future.At the last swap meet a guy had a Retina IIIc in the original box with all the papers and manuals.It was probably worth what he was asking but I didn't have that much money so I had to pass.Maybe I should see everything before I buy anything.

[@charlesdavidson4815]

Cool. I've got a Retina IIIc that was my dad's. I used it through high school and college. After college I got a Pentax K1000. The Retina is currently being repaired for a broken cocking rack...

[@DavidHancock]

+Charles Davidson Good choice in cameras! Both the Retina and K1000 are fantastic. Who is doing your Retina repair?

[@noname-i2t3o]

I got one for Christmas in like new condition! I can't wait to use it!

[@DavidHancock]

Fantastic!

[@BNProducers]

nice job! just picked up the 1a with a 2.8 lens...this was real helpful!

[@DavidHancock]

Nice and thank you!

[@davidbalducci4312]

I have a Retina 1A and it has a printed (or inked) focusing scale maybe it's a later model. I don't have the serial # handy.

[@DavidHancock]

Nice!

[@AlAl-lr1os]

i bought retina before one hour and i hope will came in good contition... and i like your video✌

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and nice buy!

[@like2view]

Sorry to hear that this one is now not working. ... there are sufficient examples out there that you will likely find a working one. Mine is in a poor condition but does work Ok. The viewfinder though is badly fogged, but pointing and guessing distance is getting to be habit with me now since I have a passion for old cameras. I too was blown away by the build quality of these Nagel cameras. The local dealer that sold this circa 153 model is still in business. I have the successor 1b model too! In better condition.

[@DavidHancock]

Taken decent care of these are great cameras that will last an exceedingly long time. I ended up selling mine. I don't use viewfinders all that often, so it's better that it be in the hands of either a repairman or a more avid collector who can display it properly. They're as attractive to look as as they are well built.

[@neilpiper9889]

I have a 1a with a 2.8 schneider xenar lens. Awesome.

[@DavidHancock]

Nice!

[@achoelmurciano]

What type is? Cause that frame advancer never see before in retia Ia.

[@DavidHancock]

This is a 35mm rangefinder camera. The film advance should only work after taking a photo, I believe. It's been years since I sold this camera and I don't recall exactly how it works.

[@achoelmurciano]

@@DavidHancock thanx for your answer, i saw my retine Ia was a 1934 version :) thanx anyway

[@tiansili]

Hi, whats the classical music around 6:30?

[@DavidHancock]

Not sure. It's one of the KZbin free music library tracks but I don't have a way of going back to find out which one.

[@BrianCattellePhoto]

Just found your video, great stuff, thanks! I was wondering if I need to be at all concerned about the film speed? I could also use some clarification on how focusing works, fortunately mine has the measurements on the ring but I didn't understand how that works with different apertures .

[@DavidHancock]

Wit this, slower films work better because the shutter isn't very fast. But you can use a faster film if you're indoors, for instance. Here's my video on hyperfocal distance and depth of field scales. The process on this camera is exactly the same. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKrRcpSceaxsmJY

[@yourstrulyraqb]

Hi, just stumbled across your video. I picked up thus camera and your vid is super helpful with operation. There is no mention of setting ASA? What film speed would be best suited for this camera?

[@DavidHancock]

This camera pre-dates film speeds as we would recognize them. That said, it would be geared toward slow films, like 25-100 ISO. I would not go faster than the ISO that's closest to these old cameras' fastest shutter speed.

[@yourstrulyraqb]

@@DavidHancock oh great 👍 thank you for the advice!

[@mamiyapress]

I have about 200 cameras so I went through the bunch and yes there was a Kodak Retina 1a in great condition so I have just loaded a roll of FP4+ to see how it handles. Thanks for posting and getting me interested in this camera again. What do you think of the Kodak Retinette series of cameras? I have about 20 of them

[@DavidHancock]

mamiyapress I've used one Retinette -- the 1A, I think. It's a fun camera and the lens is stunningly good for a camera that was at its price point back in the day. My Retinette does not advance film well, and sometimes not at all. I would guess that they had a lot of plastic internal components that have not held up well with use.

[@Monica-hl8mn]

hi! i just found a retina 1a a few days ago and used it today for the first time. i did not know about the film realising botton so i just loaded up the film, advanced it (without pressing the film realising botton) and took a picture. then i advanced it again for taking the next pictures. what happened to the film in this case? did it not advanced at all since i did not pushed the film realising botton? do i still have 36 exposures to go or did i take some pictures? thanks for your video!! it was very informative☺️ (sorry if i made some english mistakes😅 i’m from spain)

[@DavidHancock]

Hmm. Good question. I would have thought it wouldn't work at all. So I'm not sure what will happen.

[@sachableicher4370]

Could you give me a direct link to the website in wich w can find the year of production with the serial number. I have a retina Ia with a synchro-compur and a retina xenar 50mm f3.5 and it is the german version with meters instead of feets

[@DavidHancock]

The video's description includes references and one of those will be that link if I called it out in the video.

[@shox1963]

I just purchased a Retina IIa. I put in film but it is not counting down as I am taking pictures. I've taken about 4 without the counter moving. How do I know if it's hung up inside or if it is actually taking pictures?

[@DavidHancock]

+shox1963 Try loading it and watching a few shots with the film back open. If it advances, then you're in good shape. If not, then you can at least see if the mechanisms are working correctly or if the film isn't taking hold of the advance mechanism and is falling off the take-up spool when you start to advance it the first time.

[@francescolanteri40]

Bonsoir je débute en photographie argentique je possède un Kodak retina 2a mais je ne sais pas comment régler les asa de ma pellicule sur l’appareil si vous pouvez me renseigner je vous saurais très reconnaissant merci

[@DavidHancock]

Pour cette caméra, la molette ASA (identique à ISO) n'affecte rien de la caméra et est simplement un rappel. J'oublie exactement comment l'ajuster (j'ai vendu cet appareil il y a des années), mais il devrait y avoir un cadran rotatif. Si le cadran ne fonctionne pas, un ruban de masquage avec vos données de film collées au bas de l'appareil photo (car le ruban peut endommager le cuir) sera un bon rappel.

[@francescolanteri40]

@@DavidHancock merci beaucoup David 👍

[@Badlard]

What film is best for this model?

[@DavidHancock]

Any 35mm will work but a slower film, like a 100 ISO or slower, will work the best.

[@patrickrainey305]

Hey I can’t move the focus ring at all it won’t move, anyone know what’s wrong

[@DavidHancock]

It's likely frozen. That could be either old grease (most likely) or corrosion. If the latter, there's no repair. If the issue is grease, it can be fixed with patience, gentle working back and forth, and some running alcohol applied with cotton swabs to areas around the focus ring. The Fix Old Cameras channel may be a good resource for this, too.

[@patrickrainey305]

David Hancock thank you!

[@cirebyte7588]

@@patrickrainey305 Another great place is Chris sherlock videos and retina rescue.

[@marcrodri1030]

do you use light meter??

[@DavidHancock]

Back when I made this video, usually yes.

[@marcrodri1030]

so you would recomend to use a light meter app??

[@kierbarnett]

Hi there. Just bought one of these. Do you know which film to use?

[@DavidHancock]

Any 35mm film will it, but with older cameras, a slower (like 50 to 100 ISO film) will work the best.