Kodak Retina IIIS (1958–1960)

Name: Kodak Retina IIIS
Brand: Kodak

A non-folding 35mm rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses and a coupled selenium meter, produced by Eastman Kodak Company from 1958 to 1960.

Overview

The Kodak Retina IIIS is a leaf shutter 35mm rangefinder made by the Eastman Kodak Company between 1958 and 1960. It was sold as a low-priced rangefinder with interchangeable lenses, part of the non-folding Retina rangefinder line. Approximately 45,000 were produced. The shutter is a behind-the-lens Compur, and the lens mount takes Schneider and Rodenstock lenses from 28mm to 200mm. The cross-coupled selenium meter is tied to the outdated LVS (Light Value System). LVS couples aperture and shutter speed for equivalent exposure unless you lock it.

Specifications

Production years	produced 1958-1960
Total produced	about 45,000 Retina IIIS were produced
Weight	weighing in at a not so petite 1 3/4 lbs with the 50/2.8 lens
Shutter	behind the lens Compur shutter with electronic flash sync at all speeds from 1 to 1/500
Lens lineup	Schneider and Rodenstock lenses from 28mm to 200
Minimum aperture	All IIIS lenses have a f/22 minimum aperture
Viewfinder frameline combinations	35/50, 35/85, and 35/135
Frameline behavior	The 35mm frameline appears alone, and remains visible as other lenses are mounted. The 50, 85, and 135 lenses are automatically added to the 35 frame, one at a time.
200mm lens	The 200/4.5 also brings up the 135 frameline, at the infinity setting with no coupled RF or parallax compensation.
28mm lens	you do need an accessory 28 finder for the 28 lens
Film counter	manually set by 1st pushing down on that little button besides the film counter, and then moving the nearby chromed button on the back side of the top plate in the direction indicated by the arrow. Each push resets counter 3 frames at a time. ... The frame counter shows how many exposures are left on the roll, counting DOWN to 1. It then LOCKS, forcing you to stop and either reload the film, or re-set the film counter to get that extra shot on the roll.
Meter	cross coupled selenium meter
ISO setting	IF the meter is still working and reasonably accurate, change the film speed by 1st pushing down on the button atop the ASA dial, and then turning the aperture control wheel on the bottom of the lens mount.
LVS system	unfortunate[ly], they are connected to the outdated and awkward LVS exposure system. With LVS, when you change an f/stop, you automatically change the shutter speed to keep the same equivalent exposure.
LVS lock	Turn LVS lock to change f/stops -- the shutter speed will stay the same.
Lens mount release	Lens mount release

Design

The Retina IIIS has a behind-the-lens Compur shutter and a cross-coupled selenium meter. The lens mount takes interchangeable Schneider and Rodenstock lenses from 28mm to 200mm, all with a minimum aperture of f/22. The viewfinder shows framelines for 35/50, 35/85, and 35/135 combinations. The 35mm frameline is always visible, and the others are added automatically depending on the mounted lens. The 200mm lens brings up the 135 frameline at infinity, with no coupled rangefinder and no parallax compensation. The 28mm lens needs an accessory finder. The film counter is reset manually with two buttons on the top plate. It counts down to 1, then locks until reset. The LVS system links aperture and shutter speed changes unless the LVS lock is engaged.

Market

Approximately 45,000 Retina IIIS cameras were produced between 1958 and 1960, which makes it a relatively rare model. The LVS exposure system works, but it is considered outdated and awkward by modern standards. The selenium meter may no longer be reliable in surviving units. The accessory finder needed for the 28mm lens and the locking film counter are the other operational quirks. All of this affects collector interest and value.