If you're into the oldies and goldies, this one is right up your alley: the Kodak Retinette 1A, a rigid-bodied, fully manual 35mm viewfinder film camera with an integrated shutter. The camera, developed by Kodak to capture everyday 'Kodak moments' that would populate family photo albums, is part of a broader Retina series with the Retinette 1A itself seen with slight variations in appearance and components. The series was manufactured by Kodak AG in Germany from 1959 to 1966.
Series variations includes Type 022 (1954-1958), Type 035 early-VERO (February to October 1959), Type 035 late-PRONTO (October 1959 to February 1961), Type 035/7 French Model, Type 042 (January 1961 to February 1963), and Type 044 (January 1963 to 1966), with serial numbers ranging from 50000 to over 870000 across the production run.
Basic Camera Features
The camera has an aluminum cast body with black leatherette skin, with a chrome top plate and trims. It features a Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar 45mm f/2.8 lens, a Proctor 250 leaf shutter system with a maximum speed of 1/250s, often praised for its ability to produce high-quality images. The unit I had for this quick look, worthy of its German heritage, is still in absolutely gorgeous condition, mint, looking hardly used, with little or no indication that its age might be well into its sixties. And, just as well, all mechanicals are equally clockwork smooth.
A compact body measuring close to 121 x 79 x 41mm, and a body weight of around 500 grams. From the front, a simple squareish profile with smooth rounded edges, with the lens an integrated shutter assembly up front, and the viewfinder window aligned to its apex.
On the top plane, from the left, a pull up rewind knob with a film canister retainer, and a film indicator type selector on its top. To set the film type, hold the rewind knob and turn the inner serrated disk until the black dot point to the film type: Black and White, Daylight Color, or Artificial-Light Color. Next to the knob is the Hot Shoe, while to the right of the top plane is the Shutter Release button, and the Film Counter window.
The Retinette 1A has a plain hinged film back, with only the viewfinder eyepiece populating the back of the top plane.
On the left of the bottom plane is the film forward crank, with the film release clutch located within the curve of the lever. Please note that the clutch button rotates while the film is being rewound, and it will only stop when the end of the film roll is reached. To the right is the tripod socket and film back release button, almost on the edge of the plate.
The film box is a straightforward arrangement as seen on most cameras from that era, with the film canister chamber on the left, and the film window, sprocket gear, and film take-up spool lined to the right.
Lens and Shutter Assembly
The lens and shutter assembly is a three-layered construction with the focusing ring frontmost, adjustable by rotating a serrated edge. Focusing distances are etched in both Imperial and Metric, and enhanced with graphic icons for portraits, group, and landscape shooting distances.
The focusing assembly is rested against another serrated ring, the shutter speed dial, with settings for shutter speeds from B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, to 1/250 seconds.
The shutter-speed dial is flush to the aperture ring dial (the third ring), adjustable by a push-down and turn lever to adjust the lens aperture opening from f/2.8 to f/22. The lens, on the review unit, as mentioned earlier, is a Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar 45mm f/2.8, while the leaf-shutter system is Proctor 250.
Viewfinder Readout
The viewfinder on the Retinette 1A is a simple, projected viewframe type with etched frame lines, with a pair of additional parallax tabs to indicate close-up frame lines.
Film Loading and Rewinding
Film loading is quick and easy. Open the film back, pull the rewind knob up, insert the film canister into the chamber, push the rewind knob back down to secure the canister in it location, pull the film tab across the film box and slit its end into the light colored slot of the take-up spool, and anchor one of the film perforations over the pin in the slot.
Next, turn the take-up spool until the film engages both sides of the sprocket gear. Close the film back, reset the film counter to the diamond-shaped icon, do the 2-blank shot sequence to bring the unexposed part of the film to frame 1, and you are ready to go. The film counter will display the number 36 to indicate that there are 36 frames available on the film roll. Adjust the number to 24 if you are using a 24-frame film roll, or to 12 if you are on a 12-frame film roll.
To rewind, press the film release clutch on the bottom plate of the camera, and turn the rewind knob (on top of the camera) clockwise until the film is wound completely into its canister before removing it from the camera and sent for processing.
Exposure Controls
All Retinette 1A models were built without a light meter. Being a fully manual 35mm film camera, the recommended reference for getting correct exposures is the Sunny 16 Rule, which states that 'on a sunny day, with the aperture set to f/16, the shutter speed should be the reciprocal of the ISO setting. For example, if the ISO is 100, the shutter speed would be 1/100 of a second.'
The rule can be easily adjusted for settings with variations in film ISO speed, especially if you're using long-expired negative or slide films.
Shooting with Flash: The shutter speed for shooting with flash on the Kodak Retinette 1A is limited to 1/30 seconds.
Self-Timer: The Retinette 1A also features an approximately 10-second self-timer mechanism, activated by a lever located on the lower part of the lens and shutter assembly. To operate it, push the lever back in the clockwise direction as far as it will go before releasing the shutter. The action cannot be canceled, and the self-timer can also be used for flash shots.
Double Exposure: Setting the Retinette 1A up for double exposure shots is a constraint that is not available on the camera, as dictated by the use of the one-stroke rapid wind lever.
Ease of Use
Contrary to the myth that classics and legacies are hard to handle and difficult to learn, using the Retinette 1A, noted for its compact size, is easier and more fun than expected. With a camera designed for efficiency and ease of use, all the main controls for setting the focus distance, shutter speed, and aperture opening are integrated into the lens assembly, adjustable with the fingers as the camera is cupped in your hand.
Focusing is a long-throw zone system with strong and clear markings. The shutter speed ring is equally accessible and is easily manipulated with the thumb and index finger. The aperture ring is clicked stopped and fitted with a metal tab for control with just the thumb.
A quick flick of the rapid wind lever with your pinky finger and thumb to advance the film forward, with your other hand, and you are ready to shoot again.
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