Wikia

Kodak Retina I No.126, c.1936 image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

Kodak Retina I is a 35mm film folding camera, manufactured by Kodak AG Stuttgart, Germany, and produced between 1936-41 and 1945-50.

Kodak Retina No.117 designed by Dr.August Nagel who was the founder of the Dr.Nagel-Werke in 1928, later he sold his firm to Eastman Kodak in 1932, and its name changed as Kodak AG. It was Kodak's first 35mm camera and the camera that introduced the 135 film in 35mm film cassette in 1934, still in use today.

Retina 117 and 118 were not called Retina I officially, 119 and 126 were the first Retina I. All pre-war Retina I produced between 1936-41 with models 119, 126, 141, 143, 148, 149, 167.

Kodak Retina I No.126 produced concurrently with the Retina I No.119 "Modell I schwarz", but being distinctive by it's chrome trim "Modell I verchromt", and was offered with the Kodak Ektar lens. But can be found with various lenses.

Between 1936-40, each model Retina I was available in two variants: Black Model I (schwarz), Chrome Model I (verchromt). Hence the types 119 and 126 are very similar, as are the 141 and 143, and the 148 and 149.

After WW2, production started again in 1945 as No.010. It was produced only for export until 1949 and the U.S. military. No.010 was almost identical to the pre-war model of the retina I No 148. First with the uncoated Retina-Xenar 50mm f/3,5 (Schneider-Kreuznach), from 1948 this lens coated, recognizable by the red triangle on it.

Kodak Retina No.118 image by Gian Ferreira (Image rights)

TypesEdit

Kodak Retina I No.119 image by Martin Taylor (Image rights)

No.117 Retina (1934-35)
No.118 Retina (1935-36)
No.119 Retina I (1936-38)
No.126 Retina I (1936-37)
No.141 Retina I (1937-39)
No.143 Retina I (1938-39)
No.148 Retina I (1939-40)
No.149 Retina I (1939-40)
No.167 Retina I (1940-41)
No.010 Retina I (1945-49)
No.013 Retina I (1949-50)

SpecificationsEdit

Kodak Retina I type 126 c.1936 Images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

This data belongs to No.126 Retina I.

Art deco lens-shutter barrel front plate
Lens: Kodak Anastigmat Ektar 50mm f/3.5 filter slip on
- Aperture: f/3.5-f/16
- Focus range: 1-10m +inf
Focusing: by a small handle and scale behind the lens-shutter barrel
- DOF scale: In German, on the bottom plate
Shutter: Compur Rapid leaf shutter, speeds: 1-1/500 + T&B
Cocking lever: on the lens-shutter barrel
Shutter release: on the lens-shutter barrel
Frame counter: on the top plate, additive type, manuel reset by small milled lever on the back of the top plate
Viewfinder: reverse telescopic optical finder, very small frame
Winding knob: with double exposure prevention, turns after picture taking, this feature works only after film loading
Re-wind knob: on the left of the top plate
Re-wind release: small lever on the back of the top plate
Flash PC socket: on the lens-shutter barrel
Cold-shoe: none (This model is often seen with an accessory shoe fitted, the screws for this option can be seen adjacent to the film rewind knob)
Front cover and bellows opening: self erecting, by a small silver knob on the bottom plate, closes by pressing the small knobs on the struts
Back cover: Hinged, opens by a latch on the left side of the camera
Others: Tripod socket: 3/8 inch; Embossing on the back cover: Retina; Sticker inside of the back cover: Kodak Film, Panatomic 135, SS Panchromatic 135; Serial no.inside the camera
Body: metal, Weight: 471g