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Created 13 May 2009 ... Updated 13 May 2009




Kodak Retina S1

Kodak Retina S1 Kodak once bought the Nagel factories in order to be able to build and sell quality line of cameras. This idea brought us the Retina, Volenda and Duo 620 series. The last Retina in this line was produced during the 1960s and was also the last 35mm Kodak had ever made, until the mid 1980s.

The Retina S1 has some nifty features. For instance the clever use of rings in order to show the sunny-16 exposure rule and the nice way of rewinding film which I haven't yet seen in another camera. Also the dual support for flash ubes and standard hot shoe flash is pretty nifty. This combined with the good quality Schneider-Kreuznach lens makes it a very nice camera indeed.


Specifications
Manufactured by  :  Kodak Germany
Model  :  Retina S1
Type  :  35mm compact camera
Produced  :  1966 - 1969
K.D. Müller Reference  :  K 97899
Film  :  35mm, Type 135
Picture size  :  24 x 36 mm
Made in  :  Germany
Quantity Made  :  140,000+
Original List Price  :  USD 59.50
Material  :  Plastic and Metal top
Lens  :  Schneider-Kreuznach Reomar f:2.8 / 45 mm. Fixed lens
Filter size  : 
Focusing  :  Manual with pictograms and distance settings in meters
Focus range  :  1 meter - infinity
Viewfinder  :  simple view finder
Shutter  :  Manual 30 - 250, Bulb and Flash
Aperture  :  2,8 - 22
Self timer  :  none
Exposure  :  exposure setting is pretty nifty. It's a full manual camera but the film speed can be set using the ring at the bottom (press the button) and the aperture and shutter speed rings can be turned and set to the correct weather pictogram. The system is based on the sunny-16 rule, but in a simple and easily understandable way. Pretty clever!
Exposure meter  :  none
Battery  :  for flash
Flash  :  Flash Cube connector on top and a fash setting on the shutter ring.
Flash Contact  :  Flash Cube connector on top plus standard flash hot shoe.
Film Advance  :  single stroke on the back of the camera.
The film rewinding mechanism is coupled with the film winding lever in a clever way. When you press the button on the left hand side of the camera then slide the slider downwards, the camera is set in "Rewind mode". The winding lever is then used for rewinding the film. Rewinding is done pretty quickly this way.
Open the camera by pressing the small button on the bottom-left of the camera body.
Other  :  Even though this is the simplest of Retina camera and clearly made for the photographing masses it's really well thought out. Plenty of nifty features which make the camera a pleasure to use, and not only because of its Schneider Kreuznach lens.
A cable release socket is fitted in the underside of the front mounted shutter release.
Dimensions  :  125 x 70 x 80 (l x w x h)
Weight  : 
Body serial number  :  098693
Collection status  :  to be sold
Kodak Retina S1


All photos copyright of M. Koning 1997 - 2009

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