Kodak Retina automatic III User manual

Kodak
CAMERA
rJ-"-", ,", automatic m

Dear Photo Fan,
In your RETINA automatic III
you own a fully automatic miniature camera.
You can select any shutter speed you wish right
up to the top speed of 1/ 500 second.
You can take rapid action sports pictures
iust
as easi ly as lifelike snapshots.
The
fully automatic mechanism of your
RETINA automatic III will always select the correct
lens opening for the pre-set shutter speed.
Your RETINA automatic III iust wi ll not allow
you to make any mistake in exposure.
The exposure release "thinks"
for you and locks itself
when the light is too poor for taking a picture .
This is
indicated by a STOP signal in the finder .
Focusing
with the coupled rangefinder
of your RETINA automatic III is an easy matter
of seconds.
And what you own is not iust
" any " automatic camera. It is the RETINA automatic III
and this means all that is best in camera design
and
offers the utmost in precision,
reliability and beauty .

It is easy to take pictures with your
RETINA automatic 1111
Set th e shutte r spee d
Focu s
Si ght and shoot
Turn the shutter speed ring until the required
shutter speed is opposite the letter A and the
setting index .
Move the outlines of the double image in the
bright rangefinder field together to coincide.
Compose your subject inside the luminous view-
frame of the large-image viewfinder and slowly
depress the exposure release. (Turn to page 7
for details on the appearanc;e of the STOP
signal in the finder .)
3

4
Setting the shutter speed
For fully automatic picture-taking with your
RETINA automat ic III you can use all shutter
speeds from 'ho seco nd up to ' / 500 second_ The
figures 30, 60 , 125 , 250, and 500 on the shutter
speed ring (a) are fractions of a second. Turn
the shutter speed ring until the required shutter
speed, '/ 60 second, for instance, is opposite the
lett er " A" (a utomatic ) and the setting index (b).
Use
faster shutter speeds (1 h 50 or '/ 500 second)
for fast moving subiects as in spo rts events.
(B is the shutter setting for time exposures.)
If the letter " An should happen not to be
opposite the setting index, iust turn the lens
opening ring (c) until "An clicks in place oppo-
site the setting mark.

Focusing
look through the eyepiece of the large-image
finder and you will see the subject outlined by
the luminous view-frame. In the center of the
field of view you will also notice a round
rangefinder field. Until the camera is facused
for the correct distance, this field shaws a
double image of the subject. Turn the focusing
knab (d) until the outlines of the double image
move together and coincide. The lens is now
accurately set for the film plane-to-subject
distance .
Your RETINA automatic III also lets you use
the
two snapshot zone focus settings. See
details on page 15.
lower picture: Subject In sharp focus.
Middle picture: Subject still out of focus.
5

Sight and shoot
The reflected brilliant frame indicotes the field area and prevents
faulty view ing. You can hold the camera either horizontally or
vertically.
When sighting a picture take special care not to get your fingers
in front of the honeycomb cell window of the exposure meter .
When you have your subject nicely in the finder slowly press the
release key (e). Naturally, the shutler has to be set by means of
the rapid wind lever (f) before it can be released.
It
is advisable to operate the rapid wind lever (f) immediatly a
p
ictur e has been taken . Your camera will then al ways be ready
for action .
If you use the built-in exposure meter in the normal way when
photographing subjects which are strongly back-lit or which
include a very bright area such as a lamp, you may get a false
reading and an underexposed picture. For subjects such as these
you should aim the camera first at a dark part of the subject,
press the release
slowly until the first resistance is felt, and while
still holding down the release button, re-sight the camera on the
subject. Only then should the release button be fully depressed
to make the exposure.
6

Preventing under - exposure
If there is not enough light to take pidures at a selected shutter speed with the type of
film in the camera, your RETINA automatic III will indicate this by the appearance of a
STOP signal in the viewfinder and the body release will lock. If this happens you must
change the shutter speed to a slower one or, if 'ho is already set, you can take such a
photograph only with flashlight . See hints on page 16.
Large i mage vi ew fi nder
wi
th reflected brilliant
frame and
STOP signa l.

Loading the film
1. Always laad yaur RETINA automatic III in the shade_ or at
least in the shadow of your body.
2. To open the back of the camera, press the milled lever (g)
clockwise; the opposite end of the lever then uncovers the
opening button (h). Press this button and the back springs
open.
3. Pull the rewind knob (i) out os far os it will go .
4. Ins ert the magazine in the supply chamber with the protruding
end of the film pointing towards the bu ilt-in take-up spool (i ). "'---..: =
5. Turn the take-up spool by its flange until a slot points
upward.
6. With the lower edge of the film against the lower take-up
spool flange push the trimmed end of the film into this slot r---=--"- ~_ "' ''Iiii
so that the tooth at one side of the slot engages 0 perforotion
of the film.
7. Pull the film over the film track and turn the take-up spool
by its flange until the teeth of the sprocket (k) engoge the
perforations on both sides_
8. Close
the bock of the camera, by pressing the back agoinst
the body until you h ear it lock.
9. Push bock the rewind knob (i) to its normal position and turn
it in the direction of the arrow until a slight resistonce is felt.
This takes up the slack film inside the magazine .
8

Milled lever
Opening button
~ Rewind knob
~ Built-in take-up spool
Film transport sprocket

Having loaded the camera, remember to
• Set the film counter
• Set the film speed
• Set the film indicator
This is how to set the film counter
The film counter operates from No. 36 back to No.1 , and it thus shows you at any tim e
how many exposures you have left on your film.
Press and hold down the film release button (I); then, at th e same tim e, press the film
counter advance (m) in the direction of the arrow as many times as necessary to bring the
diamond-shaped +-mark (between 1 and 36) opposite the notch in the upper edge of the
film counter window (n) . When using a 20-exposure magazin e set to the diamond +-mark
near 23.
Operate the rapid wind lever now to the limit of its travel. Press the film release button (I );
then swing out and release the rapid wind lever again . Repeat this as often as required
to bring the film counter to 36 or 20, depending on the number of exposures in you r
magazine .
As you operate the rapid wind lever, the rewind knob should turn against the direction of
its arrow. This is your indication that the film is being correctly advanced.
10