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

Very i mportant : the film speed
The speed rating of the film in your RETINA automatic III is a most important factor in
obtaining correctly exposed pictures. You must therefore set the film speed scale of the
shutter speed
ring with particular care . ASA speeds are engraved in red on this scale.
To set, press down the lever (0) and turn the shutter speed ring (d) until the red dot is
opposite the required ASA or DIN figure, as for instance 50 ASA.
The film i ndicator - a useful memory aid
The rewind knob is provided with an indicator to remind you of the type of film you have
loaded in your camera. To set the indicator dial turn the inner milled ring until the black
dot is opposite the symbol for the type of fi lm in the camera.
:oC>- black-and-white film
Color -J:;i- daylight colour film
Color -0:. artificial light colour film
The position of the film indicator has
no
effect on the exposure itself;
11

When your film reaches
the end
After the last exposure the film must be
rewound into its magazine . To do this, press
the clutch
button (p) in the camera base and
turn the rewind knob ( h) in the direction of the
arrow until the clutch button ceases to rotate .
(Watch the black dot on the clutch button.)
Then open the camera back in subdued light,
pullout the rewind knob, and remove the
magazine.
If you forgot to set the film counter, it may
happen that you reach a point where the rapid
wind le ver cannot be pulled all the way out.
This indicates that the film is now finished .
Press the clutch button to allow you to com-
plete the winding operation. Rewind the film
and unload as described above .
12

Films for colour
Kodacolor Film: Makes colour negatives, which are then printed on paper to provide
natural-colour prints . Faster than Kodachrome Film, it allows good pictures in lighting
hitherto considered unsuitable for co~our photography (ASA 32 - BS 26 ° ).
Kodachrome Film: There are two kinds - Daylight Type, and for Photoflood light, Type A.
Both give miniature colour slid es at no extra processing charge, from which prints and
enlargements in colour or black-and-white can be made subsequently . Can be used with
flash (ASA 10 - BS 21 °).
Ektachrome Film: Intermediate in speed, gives similar results to Kodachrome Film but can
be processed at home. It is sold at prices not includ ing processing . In Britain it is available
only as a daylight type film. Can be used for flash (ASA 32 - BS 26 °).
High-Speed Ektachrome: Very high speed reversal colour film for exposure in daylight,
especially useful for dull-light sports and action photography . Primarily for processing
by user (ASA 160 - BS 33 ° ).
Films for black-and-white
Itlus-X Pan Film: An excellent film for both daylight and artificial light photography. Fast
but fine-grain emu lsion ensures negatives from whic h big enlorgements can be made
(ASA 160 - BS 33 °).
Itanatomic-X Film: A high-definition panchromatic film giving exceptional image sharpness
by virtue of its thin cOating, very fine grain, and freedom from halation and light-scatter.
Ideal for negatives permitting a high degree of enla rgement , espec ially w hen developed
in Kodak High Definition Developer (ASA 40 - BS 27° ).
Tri-X Pan Film: A panchromatic film of very high speed. It is ideal for snapshots in very
poor light outdoors, for flash-snaps in large rooms, for taking pictures by Photoflood
light, and for "avai labl e-light" photography (ASA 400 - BS 37° ).
13

How to read the depth of field
The depth of field is indicated between the arrows engraved in the front of the shutter.
These arrows are the depth-of-field limits at a lens opening of f/ 4. The depth of field
increases beyond these arrows with every smaller lens opening down to f/22.
Aim
your camera at the subiect and look straight down on the needle of the exposure
meter (see i llustration above left ). The needle indicates the automatically set lens opening,
say fi ll .
With the distance set to 10 ft. you can read off about 6 ft . at the left and approx. info( 00 ) at
the right against the two figures 11 on the depth-of-field scale (r). Everything will be sharp
within this range.
14

If yo u want to shoot with an even
greater depth of field change the
automatically set lens openi ng by tur--
ning the shutter speed ring (a) until
the needle of the exposure meter
points at the figure 16, for instance.
The re l evant shutter speed is auto-
matically set at A. (T he divisions
without figures identify, from left to
right: f/2.S - f/S.6 - fill -f/22.)
Remember that pictures can only be
taken where the needle def l ection
remains inside the two red areas
which are the limits of the exposure
meter measuring range .
To
take full advantage of the existing
depth of field for snapshots turn the
focusing scale to the black dot near
10 ft. for subjects at close range or
to the red dot nea r 30 ft. for remote
subjects .
Taking pictures without
automatic exposure control
To the advanced amateur the RETINA
automatic
III offers still more picture-
tak i ng possibilities. For intentional
under
or over-exposures set the re-
quired lens opening by turning the
lens opening ring (c ). In the example
above we have set a shutter speed
of '/ .DD second and an aperture of f/ 4.
You can now take pictures without th e
auto-control.
15

16
Flash pictures with the RETI NA
automatic III
Slide your flash gun, the KODAB LlTZ, for instance, into
the accessory shoe of your camero, plug the flash coble
into the flash socket (s), and set the required distance.
For flash shots with flashbulbs turn the shutter speed
ring (0) to ' ho second. In conjunction with electronic flash
any shutter speed from 'ho up to ' / 500 sec. may be used.
Your RETINA automatic III always operates in the X
sy
nchronizer position. The lens opening is dependent en
the guide number of the flash bulb or electron ic flash
unit used and also upon the distance. The guide number
is specified on the packages of the flash bulbs and in the
operating instructions of electronic flash units. Th e follo-
wing rule applies:
guide number divided by distance = lens opening.
If, for instance, your guide number is 96 and your distance
12 ft., 96 divided by 12 is 8. This means that you have
to turn the lens opening ring (c) until the figure 8 on the
lens opening ring is opposite the setting mark . The
automatic control is now disengaged and you are ready
to shoot.

Time exposures are possible too
For time exposures turn the shutter speed ring
until the letter B is opposite the setting mark (b).
You will
feel a slight resistance between ' 13 0sec.
and B. The automatic exposure control is now
disengoged. Then set the required lens opening
by turning the lens opening ring (c). Th e shutter
will remain open for as long as the expos ure
release is depressed. Such pictures should be
taken on a tripod and with a cable release
which screws into the socket (t).
17

18
Close - ups between 3 and 8 feet
When taking pictures of subjects between
3 and 8 feet the field of view outlined by the
luminous frame in the large-image view-
finder does not show what will actually
appear in the final picture because the finder
and lens are spaced an inch or so apart, and
this is called parallox. To compensate for
such parallax at a distance of 3 ft. the sub-
ject must be seen within imaginary lines,
drawn between the two opposite pointers
near the top of the view-frame and the
opposite side of the view-frame (dotted in
the il lustration). With subjects farther away
than 3 feet the error decreases, and beyond
8 feet you don 't need to worry at all.

Changing partly exposed films
If you have to change a film that you have only partly exposed, first rewind that film into
the magazine (page 12). Rewind o.nly as long as the clutch button rotates, then stop. This
will leave the trimmed film leader outside the magazine . Remove the film from the
camera and mark on the magazine the number read off the film counter. When reloading
the partly exposed film at a later date , first load it in the usual way and set the film
counter to the diamond, then operate the rapid wi nd lever with the film release button
depressed until the number that you have marked on the film magazine reappears in the
film counter window .
Eyesight correction
If you use spectacles but do not wear them while taking pictures and so cannot see the
finder image clearly, you can order a special correction lens for your photo dealer . This
lens screws into the finder eyepiece mount. When ordering please state the exact power
required in dioptres + or - . No correction lenses can be supplied for correcting
astigmatism.
Care of the camera
Protect your lens against damage and avoid finger prints on the lens surface and the
finder wi ndows . For clean ing the outer glass surfaces preferably use a soft sable brush
or special lens tissues. From time to time also dust the film track and supply chamber
with a brush.
19

Use filters for better pictures
Filters are used wi th block-and- w hit e film to obtain correct tone rendering and for special
effects.
With colour films , used in a camero as the RETINA automatic, filters are u se d to ch ange
the
colour of the light to suit the particular colour film in use.
Most filters have w hat is called a filter factor. This is the factor by which the exposure
must be increased to compensate for the light absorbed by the filter.
With the RETINA automatic III, this is best allowed for by reducing the film speed setting
as follows :
Kodak filters for black-and-white film
Reduce the film speed setting by the
following number of divisions *)
Light yellow (f I) ... . ........... . .............. . .. . .. . ..... . ....... . .. . .. . .. . ......... . ...... . ..... '12
Medium ye llow (f II ), yellow-green (f III ) . ..... . ... . . .. ........... • .. • .. • ..... • ............... . .. 1
~~r(~:ll~ ' ~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: r~:
Th e above filters must NEVER be used with colour films.
Kodak Wratten filters for colour films
Wratten No . 1 A Skylight ( ultra-violet ) ............... . .................. ..... .............. . ...... 0
Wratten No .8 5 ( amber ) f or use with Kodachrome Film Type A for daylight ex po sures . .. . ... ... '12
Wratten No. 85 B ( amber ) for use with Ektachrome Film Type B for daylight exposures .... ........ '12
Wratten No . 85 C ( amber ) for u se with Ektachrome Film Type F and Kodachrome film Type F
for daylight exposures . . . . ........ ...... ................................................ '12
Wratten No. 80 B (l ight blue ) for use with Kodachrome and Ektachrome Films, Da ylight Type
for Photoflood exposures ... ... .. . ..... . ........... . ................. . . .. .. . ...... .. ..... 1
Kodak Pola Screen for reflection control and sky darkening wit h colour film .. . .......... . ...... pj,
*) On e film speed division corresponds to a doubling or halving of the ASA s peed , e. g . from
25 to 50 ASA.
20