Kodak RETINA IIIC User manual

• You have purchased a truly fine camera . Utmost precision is com-
bined with unsurpassed performance; the Retina tradition of qua lity
and versatility is carried to new photographic heights.
The Retina IIIC
Camero features - auxiliary interchangeab le
lenses - a
coupled rangefinder combined with luminous, projected
multiple-frame finder showing
fields covered by 35, 50, and
80mm lenses- a built-in ex po-
sure meter -the Synchro-Com-
pur shutter with exposure-value
(light-value) settings and full
KODAK RETINA IIIC CAMERA
I
flash synchronization -plus many other refinements that se t a new
standard for photography.
Before on important picture assignment, a trip, or any speci al
event, shoot a roll or two of film and make a few flash pictures. This
will give you pract ice and provide a check on your equipment.
Read the first section of these instructions (pages 3 to 13 ) care-
fully and practice the operations described without film in the cam-
ero-the controls work equally well with or without film. When you
are familiar with this basic operation , then load your camero with
film and take your first pictures ; the sections which follow will give
you further important information for successful pictures .
T. M. REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

EXPOSURE METER
INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES
COUPLED RANGEFINDER and
VIEW-FRAME FINDER
SYNCHRO-COMPUR SHUTTER

OPENING BUno
N
COVER

•
Hold the camero in your hand
and press the OPENING BUTTO N to-
w ard the word "Kodak " ; at the
some time pull
open the protec-
tive COVER carefully until the
shutter
panel locks in position.
Move
the fOCUSING KNOB down
as for as it will go to set the
focusing
scale to "inf." The clos-
ing buttons cannot be depressed
until this is done. Simultaneously
press the two CLOSING BUTTONS on
each side of the shutter panel ;
then close the cover .
CLOSING BUTTON
CLOSING BUTTON
FOCUSING KNOB

Grip the camera with both hands and look through
the eyepiece. Hold the camera at that distance
from the eye which allows you to frame the sub-
ject in that view frame of the finder which corre -
sponds
to the lens mounted on the camera. Frame
the subject in the middle (bold) frame with the
standard (50mm) l ens; in the center (sma ll est)
frame with the telephoto (80mm) lens; and in the
outside (largest) frame with the wide - ang le
(35mm) lens.
The horizontal indicators near the top and on
both sides of each view frame provide for para ll ax
The illustrations at the right, showing
the positions for horizontal
and verti-
cal pictures, are intended as a guide
for holding the camero steady; other
positions, of course, are possible. Try
a few positions to
see which is best.
4

correction at close distances. Therefore, when the
camera is focused for distances from 6 feet to the
minimum focusing distance, the indicators show
the upper edge of the picture when the camera is
held
horizontally. The part thus eliminated at the
top of the frame is added to the bottom.'+
Hold the camera in the picturetaking position
and look through the eyepiece. You will see the
subject outlined by one of the luminous view
frame s. In the center of the field of view you will
also
notice the rangefinder field in the form of a
round spot. Until the camera is focused for the
correct distance, this field shows a double image of
the s ubject. To set the distance correctly turn the
focus ing knob ( shown on page 3) until the outline s
of the double image move together and coincide,
so
that only one image is visible. The lens is now
set for the film planet-to-subject distance. 5
"'The four vertical pointers, two on the bose and two on the top of the
50mm frome, indicate the boundaries for pictures with the Stereo Attach-
ment.
tThe film plane location corresponds to the rear top edge of the comero.

d t rlTllnlng xposur
PHOTOCEll
POINTER SETTING RING
INCIDENT LIGHT MASK
INDEX
Set Film Index in ASA
window by turning the
inner disc by means of
t he button as described
on page 20 .

Make sure that the haney·
comb cells of the exposure
meter are not obstructed
by fingers, strop, or any
other object when making
a reading.
The Retina lIIC has a built-in photoelectric expo-
sure meter which, when the camera is pointed to-
ward the subje~t, measures light reflected from
the subject. This provides a guide to the correct
exposure-value (light-value) settings. The expo-
sure value is a number correspond i ng to the
amount of light required for correct exposure.
Determine the exposure value from the expo-
sure meter as follows:
L For readings taken from the camera position,
remove the white Incident Light Mask ' from
the front of the PHOTOCELL by sliding the mask
upward and lifting it off. (Repla ce the mask
for Incident Light readings. This method is
described on page 38.)
2. Point the camera at the subject, directing it
slightly downward; the white NEEDLE will move
in the window.
3.
Turn the meter SETTING RING to move the yel-
low
POINTER directly over the white needle.
4. Read the exposure-value number on the setting
ring opposite the INDEX.
7

EXPOSURE-VALUE LEVER LENS OPENI NG SCALE
SPEED RING
SH UTTER SPEED SCALE

On the shutter SPEED RING you will find the same
scale of exposure values, from 2 to 18, that is en-
graved in red on the exposure meter setting ring.
Now transfer the exposure value read off the set-
ting ring of the exposure meter to the shutter
speed ring. To do this, pull the EXPOSURE-VALUE
LEVER slightly outward and move it until the
pointer is at the appropriate number on the scale
of the ring. If you cannot move the lever to the
desired number because the lever reaches the
limits of its travel, turn the shutter speed ring
until the appropriate exposure value
is available. You
can set in-between
exposure values if the meter setting
ring gives an intermediate reading.
9
INDEX

The shutter speed and lens opening (coupled by
the exposure-value setting) can now be read oppo-
site the white dot I~DEX. For example: with an
exposure value of 12 the camera may be set for a
combination of lens opening f /8 and 1/60 second.
Suppose
this combination is not suitable for your
subject because you need a faster shutter speed,
such
as 1 /5 00 second, for a sports shot. In that
case, turn the shutter speed ring, from 1/60 to
1/500 second. This automatically adjusts the lens
opening to f/2.8 and thus compensates for the
faster shutter speed time.
On the other hand, if you intend to take a picture
which calls for good depth of field, for example,
needing a lens opening such as fl 16, you must
rotate the speed ring in the same manner until the
figure 16 on the LENS OPENING SCALE is opposite
the white dot index. This changes the shutter speed
to 1/15 second. Such an exposure should, however,
only be
made from a firm support, for there is risk
of camera movement at exposure times of 1/30
second or longer .
10

1
UITI
r 0
eps
After setting the film index in the ASA window,
as described on page 20,
1. Point the exposure meter at the subject.
2. Tu rn the meter setting ring to make the yellow
pointer coincide with the white needle of the meter .
3.
Read the exposure value.
4.
Set the exposure va lue on the shutter speed
ring by means of the exposure - value lever.
5.
If necessary, al ter the lens opening- s hutter
speed combination by simply turning the speed
setting ring.
Make sure the exposure-value lever ;s n ot acciden-
tally shift ed from the set exposure value . 11
2 3 4 5

EXPOSURE RELEASE
Look through tl1e finder eyepiece; sig ht the sub-
ject, and press the EXPOSURE RELEASE. If the shut -
ter is not set, you ca nnot press the button.
To se t the shutter, with the right thumb swing
out the RAPID WIND LEVER in one movement as jar
as it will go,. then l et it return to its original
position. If it does not return, you did not swing
it out far enough . Winding this lever, at
the same time sets the shutter and-if you
have film in the camera-advances the film
by one frame and advances the film count-
er (page 18 ). Now you can pre ss the expo-
sure release. You will notice how smoothly
the relea se operates; this is important to
avoid camera move ment.
12
CAUTION: Make s ure that you pre ss the
larg er button pointed out in the illustration .

If during this practice operation, the
rapid wind l ever becomes locked, this
RAPID WIND LEVER means either that the exposure release
h- as not been pressed, or that the film
counter is at "1" and must be reset to the
nearest diamond-shaped mark as de-
scribed on page 18.
13
You are, by now, familiar with the "feel"
of your camera and the most important
points of camera operation. So, let's se-
lect a film from the following pages, load
the camera, and take a roll of pictures. If
you wish to start off with black-and-white
pictures, you might choose a general-
purpose film such as Kodak Plus-X; how-
ever, inasmuch as your camera is so per-
fectly suited as a "color camera," you
may wish to load immediately with Koda-
chrome or Kodak Ektachrome Film for
pictures in full color.

-I
The Kodak Retina IIIC Camera uses Kodak 135 Film
R
Kodachrome film - For full-color transparencies
which can be projected on a screen or from which
prints or enlargements can be m ade .
Use Kodachrome Film for Da y light for day-
light pictures, and Kodac hrome Type F for flash
or flood-lighted pictures. 20 or 36 exposures.
Kodak Ektachrome film-Like Kod ac hrome, Ekta-
chrome Film produces lif e-like color tran s paren-
cies for projection or from which color prints and
en larg e ment s can be mad e. The speed of this film,
however, is
faster than that of Kodachrome Film .
You
can process this film yourself or have it proc-
essed
by your photofinisher.
Use Kodak Ektachrome Film for Daylight for
exposure in daylight, and Kod ak Ekta c hrome
Film Type F for picture s with clear flash lamp s.
20 exposures.
14

Kodak Pana t omic -X Panchro-
matic film -The film to use for
big enlargements when high
film speed is not a factor. - It
combines exceptionally fine
grain and the ability to record
extremely fine detail. 20 or 36
exposures.
Kodak Plus-X Panchromatic
film -An excellent high -speed
film
for genera l outdoor and
interior use. The low graini -
ness and high resol ving power
permit high-quality enlarge -
ments. 20 or 36 exposures.
Kodak Tri -X Film -An extreme-
ly fast panchromatic film of
moderate contrast, wide expo-
sure and development latitude,
and color sensitivity suitable
for all types of indoor and out-
door
illumination . 20 or 36
exposures. 15
KODAK FILMS
FILM INDEX
Daylight PhotoReed
Kodochrome (Daylight)
10
5'
10"
lOt
32
12'
20"
16t
25
20
80 64
Tri-X 200 160
'With Kodak Photoftood Filter No. 808 (for Kodak Day-
light Type Color Films)
"With Kodak Daylight Filter for Type F Color Films (85C)
tWith photographic flood lamps and Kodak Wratten Filter
No. 82A
NOTE: Film index numbers are intended as a guide for
setting correct exposure values.

BUTTON
MILLED
LEVER
o ding
in subdued light
1 To open the back of the camera, press the
MILLED LEVER clockwise; the opposite end of the
lever then uncovers the opening BUTTON. Press
this button and the back springs open.
2 Pull the REWIND KNOB out to the second stop.
a Turn the built-in TAKE-UP SPOOL by its flange
until a slot points upward.
4 With the lower edge of the film against the
lower take-up spool flange, push the trimmed
end of the film protruding from the magazine
far enough into this slot to anchor a perforation
over the small pin of the slot.
s Pull the film over the film track and insert the
magazine in the SUPPLY CHAMBER. Push in the
rewind knob ( turn slig htly if necessary). Then
TAKE·UP SPOOL

REWIND KNOB
SPROCKET TEETH
SPROCKET TEETH
17

THE fiLM INDICATOR: Set
the typ e of film load ed in
the camera on the film ind i-
cotor lacated an top of th e
rewind k nob . G ri p the rewind
knob with two fing ers ond
turn the inner ring with the
thumb of the other hand un-
til the triangular index point s
to
the type of film loaded in
the camera .
turn the take-up spool by its flange un til
the
SPROCKET TEETH en gage the perfora-
tions on botl~ sides (show n on previous
page).
6 After m ak ing s ur e that the sprocket teeth
engage the film perforations on both sides,
close the
back of the camera, by pressing
the back against the body until it lo cks.
t - 9 e
,- In 0 nt
Depress fully and hold down the FILM RELEASE
button (within the curved guard) ; then, at the
s ame time, pre ss the film COUNTER ADVANCE in the
direct ion of the arrow as many times as necessary
to bring the diamond- sh aped m ark near 36 on the
FILM COUNTER opposite the notc h. If you are using
a 20-exposure magazine, set to the diamond-shaped
mark between 20 and 25. Press and release the
film release button; then swing out a nd release
the rapid wind lev er. Do thi s 2 mor e tim es to bring
18