My New Everyday Camera! Kodak IIIC (Big C)

[@TeliportMe]

Love the retractable mechanism ! Old school mechanical stuff feels so pleasant - the craftsmanship is on a different level.

[@Ztiworoh]

I have been using a IIIc as my main camera for a while now and it is always a joy to use. The quality of the photos it produces is reliably astounding.

[@prizepictures1]

Really breath-taking photo quality here. There’s something magic about it. Thank you for sharing.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Thank you! I fell in love with it even before I saw the quality of the lens.

[@patrickrostker6693]

Incredible images and spectacular camera! So happy theres folks, at least one, that can service these cameras. Truly a gem! Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Thanks! It’s really a pleasure making photos with this camera. I have another Retina, a IIa that I am going to send in to get cla’d at some point. It’s smaller and has the film advance on the top and it is actually wrapped in real leather versus most cameras which are using leatherette (vinyl I think)

[@northwestdepressed]

Lovely camera and a great video! I've always wanted one of these Kodak rangefinders. Thank you for all the information on these cameras!

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

You can find them in great shape online but they tend to go for a few hundred+. My opinion, well worth it. I have a IIa I bought for $50 that I am going to send out for CLA soon.

[@Leleuta]

Very impressive images considering the age of camera. I’m waiting for my retina iiiC and this video make me more excited!😊😊

[@Leleuta]

The insert seeing you through viewfinder is brilliant!

[@bobjayp]

I have a IIIc and had it worked on by a guy who worked at Kodak in Rochester who serviced them when Kodak still existed and fixed their cameras. It is a nice camera in a tight little package. Slick design, seamless operation and heavy in a manner that makes me appreciative. I would say the praise for the photo results here for it is a bit overdone. There are a lot of vintage cameras that yield equal or better results for a lot less money. Like the Balda Baldessa you can find in perfect working order for $25. All the same features with a bigger viewfinder and also German. Not as mechanically nifty but same results.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

I can agree that there are other cameras that take just as or better. I never heard of the Baldessa now I think I am going to have to find one! Thanks for. the tip!

[@tuisitala9068]

I have the 1B (big finder but no rangefinder or frame lines) and a IIIc (small finder with no frame lines). These cameras are awesome. I love the mechanical perfection, the beautiful sound and feel of the action and the design of the lens retraction. This means that there is no messing around with lens caps and is super quick to use. I have many, many film cameras but these two are my go-to's. I would not bother with the 35mm and 80mm lenses. I had them and they were ridiculously awkward to use and completely took away the whole point of the retractable front as you cannot close the camera with either fitted.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Yeah the quality in the build of these cameras is impressive, the weight and feel just makes it even more enjoyable to use. I think this is part reason why I love my Nikomat FtN, it's a brass cinderblock but it just feels like I could use it to break through a door if I needed too. And yes the add on lenses are generally awkward to use, I have them for my TLRs and don't really enjoy them, but I just want the whole kit for this camera even if i do not use them.

[@chrisesparza1872]

Omg i meet you at art a whirl and I knew you looked familiar hahahaha. I’m glad I got to meet you.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Hey! Yes we did meet! How is it going?

[@chrisesparza1872]

It’s going good just took the day off and enjoying the rainy weather. How was the rest of your art a whirl weekend.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Sorry for not responding sooner, for some reason YT put your comment in the Held for Review section. It was good enjoyed it, I will be back out there next year for it. You ever find the camera meetup group was taking about?

[@thefineprint-masinomitchel5079]

What film were you using? The color and sharpness look great. Thanks!

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

Hmm not sure I remember, normally it is Ultramax of ColorPlus

[@9999chihao]

Hi would you mind to share the camera shop that you send in 3C fir service?? I would like to send mine in gir service.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

@@9999chihao Paul Barden at www.kodakretina.exposure.co he does amazing work but contact him first before sending a camera to make sure.

[@NickedOff]

Fantastic video Matt! I have the small c and am waiting for my first 2 rolls to come back from the lab! I managed to grab a 35mm lens on ebay awhile back so I'm super excited to see how those photos come back especially! Haven't seen too many photos with that lens on the web. Impressed by the quality of the images! What's been your favorite film to use? Subbed to your channel and hope to see more from the retina!

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

@@NickedOff thanks! My favorite 35mm color film has to be lomography 400 with Kodak Colorplus a close second. Black and white I have to say Fomo 400 and Ilford HP5 equally. Unfortunately the IIIC has been sold there was just way too good of an offer on it to refuse. However I have a IIa that I am planning to take out soon. Ultimately I loved that IIIC it took amazing photos the lens was incredible. But ergonomics was a big factor it just was not the most comfortable camera to use. The IIa is smaller but it has a top thumb film advance which I prefer over the bottom and feels better in my hands. So it will be getting sent off to be repaired and get a CLA. In the meantime check out my other videos with other cameras. Currently my go to 35mm is my Nikon F3 with a 50mm f/1.8 and my go to medium format is a Bronica ETRSI for 6x4.5 and a Bronica s2a for 6x6. My digital setup is a Sony a7c and lately it has been sporting the new Sony 70-200 f/4 Macro G OSS II lens (amazing lens) more videos coming soon with that lens.

[@NickedOff]

@@MattRyanPhoto55 Very cool, I can understand your preference with ergonomics. I'd be curious to see what other cameras accept the Schneider Retina-Xenar lenses (DKL mount correct?), because I heard the Voigtlander DKL is different adapter? Or if there is an adapter I would be curious to see these lenses on an e-mount apsc camera

[@Marvin19661]

The camera lens is tack sharp? I thought they came with different standard lenses Schnider or a Rodenstock.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

@@Marvin19661 yes it has a Rodenstock lens.

[@tmstone835]

The Rodenstock lenses aren't really rare. That's a myth driven by USA buyers. Kodak had both Schneider-Kreuznach and Rodenstock supplying lenses for them because of high demand. I own both and the lens quality is exactly the same.

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

@@tmstone835 I have it directly from Dr. David Jentz, a historian and author on the Retina cameras that 5% or less of this serial number IIIC had Rodenstock lenses.

[@superhussein]

this video insults islam and your light meter isnt even working

[@MattRyanPhoto55]

@@superhussein light meter works perfectly… and please explain how this video insults Islam?