Desmolicious wrote:
Ok, that is weird. I've only had it at the beginning w Cinestill. And the fact that your camera was fine with other films rules out the camera. Which means Cinestill is at fault in the mfg OR your lab messed up by not taking enough care while developing.
They processed my Cinestill rolls with my rolls of Ektar and Portra 400, all of which turned out fine so I doubt it was the lab. I also noticed Bastian had lots of light leaks the one time he tried Cinestill 800T (https://phillipreeve.net/blog/analogue-adventures-part-7-cinestill-800t/), but it does sound like I might have just had a bad batch of 400D as that's supposed to be better. In any case, i don't think I'll shoot Cinestill again as nothing about it particularly impressed me.
bjhurley wrote:
They processed my Cinestill rolls with my rolls of Ektar and Portra 400, all of which turned out fine so I doubt it was the lab. I also noticed Bastian had lots of light leaks the one time he tried Cinestill 800T (https://phillipreeve.net/blog/analogue-adventures-part-7-cinestill-800t/), but it does sound like I might have just had a bad batch of 400D as that's supposed to be better. In any case, i don't think I'll shoot Cinestill again as nothing about it particularly impressed me.
I stopped using Cinestill because of the light leaks.
I picked up an excellent condition Kodak Retina IIc today. Very intersting and cool camera. The film advance lever is on the bottom of the camera! The camera fits in my pocket when the lens is retracted. It has what it calls "Synchro Compur" which locks aperture/shutter speed once exposure is set meaning if I turn the aperture ring, the shutter changes with it, if I choose.
Loaded it with a roll of Kodak 200 to see what I would get. Rangefinder appears to be calibrated. The Schneider-Kreuznach 50/2 seems sharp and colors are nice too.
rji2goleez wrote:
I picked up an excellent condition Kodak Retina IIc today. Very intersting and cool camera. The film advance lever is on the bottom of the camera! The camera fits in my pocket when the lens is retracted. It has what it calls "Synchro Compur" which locks aperture/shutter speed once exposure is set meaning if I turn the aperture ring, the shutter changes with it, if I choose.
Loaded it with a roll of Kodak 200 to see what I would get. Rangefinder appears to be calibrated. The Schneider-Kreuznach 50/2 seems sharp and colors are nice too.
Here's a couple of tips:
Advance the film in a single motion. The bottom winders have a cocking rack that can be problematic if not used correctly. Replacement racks are getting hard to find. Always set the lens to infinity before closing the camera. If you're really adventurous, these cameras will take interchangeable lenses. Kodak made both a 35 and a 80.
Paul Barden in Corvallis, Oregon is the go to Retina repair since Chris Sherlock retired.
They're great cameras with good lenses. As you found, they fit in a pocket. Have fun!
madNbad wrote:
Here's a couple of tips:
Advance the film in a single motion. The bottom winders have a cocking rack that can be problematic if not used correctly. Replacement racks are getting hard to find. Always set the lens to infinity before closing the camera. If you're really adventurous, these cameras will take interchangeable lenses. Kodak made both a 35 and a 80.
Paul Barden in Corvallis, Oregon is the go to Retina repair since Chris Sherlock retired.
They're great cameras with good lenses. As you found, they fit in a pocket. Have fun!
Thanks for this! I bought this camera and stock lens only. I've heard the that 35/80 lenses are somewhat finicky to install and change but for now, I'm happy with the 50/2. I quickly realized that you have to set the lens to infinity in order close the camera. The store also had a Retinia IIIc but the focus mechanism was sticking and not focusing to infinity. Otherwise, it was also a beautiful cam. I had also read about Paul Barden as probably the ONLY expert in servicing these cameras. Hopefully, mine will continue to operate like this for a long time.
The first Kodak Retina I owned was a IIIc and the meter worked! Had a couple of IIc's. One with the 2.8 Schneider, the other had the Rodenstock Heligon. Moved on to the IIa and had two of those but decided I wanted even more of a challenge:
Kodak Retina 1 (Type 013)
An image from it: Tri-X @ ISO 200, Film Photography Project FPP-76 1+1
Decided I wanted something a little ore modern, like with an advance lever that not only advances the film but even cocks the shutter!
madNbad wrote:
Good work getting such well focused images in low light with a fast lens! Not to mention a constantly moving subject.
Thanks. It's probably the wrong tool for the job but I am still learning how things look on film and enjoying it. Outside stopped down is much easier for sure! MP + 28 Lux + Portra 400.
madNbad wrote:
The first Kodak Retina I owned was a IIIc and the meter worked! Had a couple of IIc's. One with the 2.8 Schneider, the other had the Rodenstock Heligon. Moved on to the IIa and had two of those but decided I wanted even more of a challenge:
Good stuff. I'm noticing that all descriptions of the Retina IIc describe it with the Schneider Retina Xenon 50mm f/2.8. The camera I just picked up has the 50mm f/2.0 lens but I cannot find any site that lists the faster lens as an option on the IIc. The faster f/2.0 lens was used on the Retina II (type 014). I'm glad to have the faster lens but curious whether the lens was switched out for the faster f/2.0 version.
rji2goleez wrote:
Good stuff. I'm noticing that all descriptions of the Retina IIc describe it with the Schneider Retina Xenon 50mm f/2.8. The camera I just picked up has the 50mm f/2.0 lens but I cannot find any site that lists the faster lens as an option on the IIc. The faster f/2.0 lens was used on the Retina II (type 014). I'm glad to have the faster lens but curious whether the lens was switched out for the faster f/2.0 version.
The IIIc was designed to be the top of the line model and has the faster 2.0 Schneider Retina-Xenon lens. The meterless IIc was considered a more budget model has the slightly slower 2.8 Schneider. It was only the European cameras that had the Rodenstock Heligon. These were expensive cameras when they were new with Leica and Contax being the competition.
FWIW, I think the IIc is the best looking of the bottom winders.
madNbad wrote:
The IIIc was designed to be the top of the line model and has the faster 2.0 Schneider Retina-Xenon lens. The meterless IIc was considered a more budget model has the slightly slower 2.8 Schneider. It was only the European cameras that had the Rodenstock Heligon. These were expensive cameras when they were new with Leica and Contax being the competition.
FWIW, I think the IIc is the best looking of the bottom winders.
One day I'll actually be able to take pictures of other things. MP + 28 Lux + Portra 400.
