Kodak Retinette IA

Kodak Retinette 1A type 035 early model w.Vero shutter image by Martin Taylor (Image rights)

The Kodak Retinette 1A is a 35mm film viewfinder camera made by Kodak AG and produced between 1959-66. It was a development in the series of Retinettes.

The Retinette IA was produced in several versions:

Type 035 (early with VERO)

• Production time: February 1959 to October 1959
• Lens: Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar f:3.5/50mm
• Shutter: Vero
• Cold-shoe

Type 035 (late with PRONTO)

Retinette IA type 035 late model w.Pronto shutter

• Production time: October 1959 to February 1961
• Lens: Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar f:3.5/50mm
• Shutter: Pronto
• Cold-shoe

Type 035/7 (French model)

Retinette IA type 035/7

• Production time: 1959 to 1961
• Lens: KODAK ANASTIGMAT F:2.8 ANGENIEUX 50mm
• Shutter: Kodak Angen. OBK2

Type 042

images by Süleyman Demir

• Production time: January 1961 to February 1963

Specifications

• Retinette IA is engraved with lowercases
• Lens: Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar, three elements, 45mmf/2.8
  • Aperture: up to f/22, setting ring and scale on the lens-shutter barrel
  • Focus range: 1-10m +inf.
• Focusing: front element focusing, calibrated scale with zone stops (1-2-3 dots from portrait to landscape), w/DOF scale
• Shutter: Pronto leaf shutter, speeds: 1/30-1/250 +B, setting: scale and ring on the lens-shutter barrel
• Cocking lever: rapid, also winds the film, double exposure prevention, on the right of the bottom plate
• Shutter release: on the top plate, left, w/ cable release socket
• Viewfinder: bright frame, w/ parallax correction frames
• Frame counter: decreasing type, manual setting, window on right of the top plate
• Re-wind knob: on the top plate, left
• Re-wind release: a small knob, beside the cocking lever
• Memory dial: coupled with the re-vind knob
• Flash PC socket: on the front plate, all speeds with electronic flash, only 1/30 for bulbs
• Self timer: lever on the lens-shutter barrel
• Back cover: hinged, small opening buton on the bottom plate, left
• Cold-shoe
• Tripod screw 1/4"
• Body: die cast aluminum alloy; Weight:
• Serial no. on the top plate

Type 044

Retinette IA type 044 early model image by Shuggy™ (Image rights)

Kodak Retinette IA type 044 late model c.1966 image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

• Produced: January 1963 - 1966
• Produced: Serial number ranges below:
• P250S shutter or P300S shutter
• Lens: Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar 1:2.8/45mm
• Shutter: Prontor 250S (1/30-1/250 +B), then later Prontor 300S with speeds up to 1/300
• Both with hot shoe
• Retinette IA is engraved in uppercases
• Serial no: on the hot-shoe
• Focusing: front element focusing, gues the distance, also there are symbols for portrait, group and landscape on distance scale, w/DOF scale

Links

In English:

• in Kodak Classics by Mischa Koning
• Kodak Publication #AA-13, "History of Kodak Cameras" (March 1999) (PDF file)

In German:

• in bruesehaber website
• in glangl1

• Kodak Retinette IA (Typ 42) at Kamera- und Fotomuseum: Die Sammlung Kurt Tauber

In French :

• Kodak Retinette IA (type 035/7), Kodak Retinette IA (type 042), Kodak Retinette IA (type 044) and Kodak Retinette IA (type 044) on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand