Kodak RETINA REFLEX III User manual

KODAK RETINA REFLEX III CAMERA
World-famous Retina quality is carried to new heights in this new single-
lens reflex
camera which provides brilliant focusing and viewing at the
widest lens opening
and an automatic "s top-down" to a previously se-
lected lens opening.
Its
many unique features add greatly to picture-taking ease and scope:
• Focusing and viewing directly through taking lens -you see what
will be recorded on the film.
• Interchangeable lenses available from
28mm (wide-angle) to 135mm
(telephoto).
•
Automatic dual exposure control-centering exposure control nee-
dle, either on the
top of the camera or in the finder, automatically
sets exposure.
• Automatic depth-of-field indicator -adjusts automatically for all
distances and lens openings.
Before an important picture assignment, a trip, or any special event,
expose a magazine
of film and make a few flash pictures. This will give
y~ : )U practice and provide a check on your equipment.

CONTENTS
Page
Films 4
Loading
6
Unloading
10
Setting Film Speed
10
Shutter Controls 11
Exposure Control
12
Viewing and Focusing
16
Taking the Picture 18
Flash 19
Hints on Exposure Control 26
Photo Aids 28

FILMS-use Kodak 135 Fihn
color fUnts
Kodachrome Film-For color transparencies for projection or from
which prints
or enlargements can be made . 20 or 36 exposures.
Two types are available: (1) The Kodachrome Film which has been
supplied for many years -(2) Kodachrome II Film which is faster with
improved sharpness and image quality.
• Use
Kodachrome Film for Daylight for daylight pictures.
• Use Kodachrome Film, Type F, for flash pictures with clear flash.
• Use Kodachrome II Film for Daylight
-
for daylight pictures
- and for flash pictures with blue bulbs.
Kodak Ektachrome Film-For color transparencies for projection or
from which color prints and enlargements can be made. The speed of
this film
is faster than that of Kodachrome Film. Available in Daylight
Type and Type F. 20 exposures.
Kodak High Speed Ektachrome Film-With this new, extremely fast
color film you can stop action in low illumination and, at the same time,
get faithful color rendition with excellent definition. Available in Day-
light Type and Type B.
Kodacolor Film-The color film for color prints and transparencies.
Expose the same roll of film by sunlight or clear flash. 20 exposures.
4
How to get your film processed-by Kodak or ather laboratory offer-I
ing such service -is described in the instructions packed with the film .

black-and-white fil:m.s
Kodak Panatomic-X 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 Pan Film - An ex-
cellent high-speed panchromatic
film for general
outdoor and interior
use.
The low graininess and high
resolving power permit high-quality
enlargements, 20
or 36 exposures.
Kodak Tri-X Pan Film -An ex-
tremely fast panchromatic film
of
moderate contrast, wide exposure
and development latitude, and color
sensitivity suitable
for all types of
illumination. 20 or 36 exposures.
5

LOADING-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. Pr ess this
button and the back springs open.
2. Pull out the REWIND KNOB.
3. Pl ace the film magazine in the recess next to the
rewind knob. Push the rewind knob a ll the way in ,
turning it slight
ly if necessary.
4. Turn the built-in TAKE-UP SPOOL by one of its
toothed flanges until a slot points upward. With the
lower edge
of the film against the lower take-up
spool flange, push the film end protruding from the
magazine far
enough into this slot to anchor a per-
foration over the small pin.
5.
Turn the take-up spool by one of its flanges until
the
SPROCKET TE E TH engage the perfor ations on
both si,des of the film, as shown in the illustration.
6

6. After making sure that the sprocket teeth en-
gage the film perforations
on both sides, 'close the
back
of the camera, by pressing the back against
the body until it locks.
7

SETTING THE FILM COUNTER
The film counter is located on the bottom of the
camera. Slide the film
COUNTER ADVANCE in the di-
rection of the arrow as many times as necessary to
bring the diamond-shaped mark near 36 on the
FILM COUNTER opposite the triangular pointer,
when using a 36-exposure magazine. 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 fully and re-
lease the RAPID WIND LEVER. Do this 2 more times
to bring the film
counter to 36 or 20, depending on
the number of exposures in your magazine. The
film
counter indicates the number of exposures still
available.
Important: After making exposure 1, a tr ansport
lock comes into operation; neither the rapid wind
lever
nor the exposure release will then operate.
This prevents the film
end from being pulled from
the magazine.
8

THE FILM INDICATOR
Set the type of film (black-and-white; color, day-
light; color, artificial light) loaded in the camera on
the film indicator located on top
of the rewind
knob.
Grip the rewind knob with two fingers and
turn the inner ring with the thumb of the other
hand until the dot index points to the type of film
loaded in the
camera . The film indica tor has no
effect
on the camera mechanism; it is used as a
reminder only.
()~~~~~~
9

SETTING THE FILM SPEED
The film speed of the film loaded in the camera
(found on page 5
or in instructions packed with
film) must be set on the EXPOSURE CONTROL DIAL of
your camera.
To do this, press down, firmly, the LOCK BUTTON
on the top of the camera and, at the same time,
rotate the SETTING WHEEL, underneath the shutter
housing, until the notch in the window, marked
ASA,
is opposite the film speed number of the film
loaded in the camera. The illustration shows a film
speed of 10, which should be set if Kodachrome
Film for Daylight were loaded in the camera. The
window marked DIN applies to films rated by a
different method.
NOTE : Resistance may be encountered in setting the film
speed. Continue to turn the setting wheel if possible; this
changes the shutter speed setting automatically. However, if
the shutter speed and lens opening scale have both reached
the limit of their travel, it will be necessary to release the lock
button, rotate the setting wheel until the lens opening scale is
at its opposite extreme; then, again press down the lock button
and rotate the setting wheel to reach the desired film speed.
10

SHUTTER OPERATING CONTROLS
The SETTING WHEEL is used to set the film ~peed, to
set the correct exposure as described on the next
page, and to preselect a
shutter speed. Do not set
between
marked shutter speeds.
The SPEED RING is used to select Shutter Speed -
Lens Opening combinations
from those available,
for picture-taking situations.
Turn the speed ring
gently, by its black
hand les, and do not set between
marked speeds or rotate past shutter speed at which
the triangular
INDEX indicates 1/22 or maximum
aperture of lens in use (J /4, fl2.8 or fl1.9). Do
not lorce.
The black figures on
the shutter speed ring
indicate fractions
of a
second - 1
= 1 second.
2= 1Iz second, etc. Use
of the letter "B" (Brief
Time Exposure) and the
green figures will be
found on page 22.
11
I
IN DE X

~
(NEEDLE I
12
AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL
When the camera is pointed toward the subject, the
exposure control measures light reflected by the
subject.
NOTE: Make sure that the white Incident Light Mask, packed
with the camera, is nat over the PHOTOCELL. Also, that the
honeycomb surface of the photocell is not obstructed by
fingers, strap, etc.
Use the automatic exposure control as follows:
After selecting an appropriate shutter speed (for
general purposes 1/60 or 1/ 125), point the camera
at the subject.
Rotate the SETTING WHEEL to center
the NEEDLE exactly between the two pointers-
either
•
in the viewfinder, as shown in the top illustra-
tion,
or
• in the round window, as shown in the lower
illustration. Look straight down into the win-
dow.

For correct exposure the needle must be centered
precisely within the pointer gap. '
An uncontrolled or jumping action of the needle
past the pointer gap indicates
that the shutter speed
selected
is outside of the exposure-control limits as
your camera is presently set. If the speed of the
film loaded in the
camera (set in ASA window) is
sufficient for the prevailing light conditions, you
can still set the exposure. To do this, change shut-
ter speeds (in full click-stops) by rotating the set-
ting wheel past a slight resistance point which
occurs
at the limits of the lens opening range':'. This
will allow precise centering
of the needle.
In centering the needle, the LENS OP E NING SCALE
is automatically set so that the correct lens opening
number is opposite the index mark and shutter
speed.
*The camera is designed to accept lenses with a maximum lens opening
of
1/1.9 , and the lens opening scale is marked accordingly. When
lenses with other maximum lens openings such as f/ 2.8 or 1/ 4 are
used, the lens opening scale comes to a stop at the maximum opening
of the lens used.
13

Piduretaldng-Wh en you set the lens opening, shutter speed (in frac-
tions
of a second) and lens opening (in I/ numbers) are automatically
coupled and can be read opposite the black triangular index. Lens open-
ings and shutter speeds, then,
can be changed, within the framework of a
particular exposure requirement, by rotating the shutter speed ring by
its black notched handles. A change in
one means that a simultaneous
compensating change
is made in the other. For example: the camera may
be set
for a combination of lens opening 1/8 and 1/60 second. Suppose
this combination
is not suitable for your subject because you need a fast-
er shutter speed such as 1/500 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 1/2.8 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 1/ 16, you
must rotate the shutter speed ring in the same
manner until the figure 16
on the lens opening scale is opposite the index mark. This changes the
shutter speed to
1/15 second. Such an exposure should, however, only
be made with the
camera on a firm support, for there is risk of camera
movement
at exposure times longer than 1/30 second.
*Depth of field is described on page 17 .
14

SETTING AND RELEASING SHUTTER
If the shutter is not set, pressing the EXPOSURE RELEASE will not trip the
shutter.
To set the shutter, with the right thumb swing out the RAPID
WIND LEVER in one movement as far as it will go ; then let it return to
its original position.
If it does not return, you did not swing it out far
enough. Swinging out this lever, at the same time sets the shutter and
advances the film.
If you have film in the camera it is advanced by one
frame. Press down the exposure release, by its black safety-c atch insert,
all the way with a slow, squeezing action.
.,,- -- -.....
If the rapid wind lever becomes locked, this ~M'f s either that the "
exposure release has not been pressed,
or that t ~ ' f ilm counter is at "1."
/

VIEWING AND FOCUSING
Grip the camera with both hands and look through
the eyepiece.
The finder image is visible only after
operating the
RAPID WIND LEVER. With the right
thumb, swing
out the lever as far as it will go; then
let it
return to its original position. Hold the camera
at that distance from the eye which allows you to
see all
of the ground glass.
In the center of the ground glass screen, you will
see in a bright circular area a smaller circle divided
by a horizontal line; this
is the split-image range-
finder.
There are two methods of focusing the picture
correctly -with the aid
of the rangefinder or by
means
of the ground glass. The nature of the subject
indicates largely which method
is more suitable.
Subjects without
prominent horizontal or verti-
cal lines are more easily focused
on the ground
glass screen.
But if the subject has such lines, the
rangefinder
is probably more suitable for focusing.
16 The illustration shows
one pasi.
tian for horizontal piclures; ather
positions, of course, are possible.

Using Ground Glass Screen - Turn the distance
scale ring until the subject you are picturing appears
at its sharpest
on the ground glass. The camera is
then correctly focused.
Using Rangefinder - Direct the camera so the
circular area in the center
of the screen covers a
vertical line (pole, face, shoulder, etc.)
of the sub-
ject. Turn the distance scale ring-the image in the
upper half
of the inner circle will move re lative to
that in the lower half. When th e two halves line up
exactly, the camera is correctly focused.
NOTE : Hold the c amera horizontally for checking v er t ic al
lines, and vertically for checking horizontal lines.
Exposure Setting -Also visible at the lower left
side
of the viewfinder, is the companion exposure
control needle. This serves for exposure-setting as
described on pages 12 and 13.
DEPTH OF FIELD
Upper: Out of focus
Lower : In focus
After you have properly focused on your subject, the subject will be
sharp in the picture. However, other objects in the picture area, both
in front of and behind the subject, will also be in focus. This range of
17

6781) 152550
sh ar pness is known as "dept h of field." The larger the f!
number (sma ll er lens opening), the greater the depth of field
at the same distance setting.
18
I .l
The two red POINTERS of the automatic depth-of-field in-
di
cator show, at a glance, the correct depth of field for any
distance
or lens opening set on the camera. For example, as
in the illustration, if the distance setting
is 10 feet and the
lens opening setting
is t /8, the red pointers indicate a depth
of field from about 7Y2 feet to 15 feet.
TAKING THE PICTURE
1. Set the shutter speed opposite the black triangular index.
2. Set the lens opening automatically by turning the setting wheel to
center the needle between the exposure control pointers .
3. Focus the camera by the rangefinder, ground glass, or by setting the
camera-to-subject distance opposite the focusing index.
4. Compose the picture in the reflex finder.
5. Hold the camera steady and press the exposure release all the way
down with a slow, squeezing action to take the picture.
IMPORTANT : For good pictures, keep the lens and viewfi nd er eyepiece cleon . Blow off cny dust or
gri t; then wipe the su rfa ce gent ly with Kodak len s Cleaning P oper or Kodak l ens Cleaner and a soft,
lintles$ cloth.

Connect the flasholder to
the camera by inserting the
bracket cord tip in the FLASH
SOCKET
of the camera.
FLASH PICTURES
Kodak f1asholders, such as the Kodalite Super-M
40 Flasholder, Kodak Supermite Flasholder or the
Kodak Rotary Flasholder, Type 1, with Kodak
Retina Flasholder Bracket are recommended for
use with your camera.
The comp a ct Kodalite Super-M 40 Flasholder,
shown,
is supplied with interchangeable 3-inch and
4-inch reflectors for greatest efficiency with M-2,
M-5, or M-25 lamps, and No.5 or No . 25 lamps.
The Kodak Supermite Flasholder gives full flash
power with the extra-small AG-1 flash lamps.
The Kod ak Rotary Flasholder, Type 1 features
rapid sequence lamp firing. Six M-2, M-5 or M-25
lamps are preloaded in the magazine
and advanced
to firing position by rotating
the turret.
Recommended for use with wide-angle lenses are
f1asholders with shallow reflectors, such as the
Kodak Generator Flasholder, Type 1. ':'
Disreg ar d the exposure control needle with flash.
·With these flasholders, give 1112 stops more exposure than indicated
by the table on page 21.
19

SYNCHRONIZATION' Speed Settings
There are three letters engraved on the side of the
shutter housing; M and X are synchronizer settings
for flash, V
is the self-timer setting. These settings
are adjusted by moving the
SELECTOR lever (illus-
trated)
after first depressing the VXM LOCK.
M·2, M·25 or AG·l Lamps-Set the synchronizer
selector at X. Set the shutter at from 1 to 1/30 sec-
ond. Consult the exposure calculator on the flash-
older
or the table on page 21 for exposure informa-
tion.
Lamps such as M·5, No.5 or No. 25-With the
synchronizer selector set
at M, exposures can be
made from 1 second to 1/500 second. See the table
on page
21 for exposure information.
Electronic flash-Set the synchronized selector at
X. With electronic flash equipment having no lag
in the trip circuit, set the shutter
at any speed from
1 second to 1/
500 second.
NOTE : Do not use units flashed by means of heavy-duty re-
lays or solenoids. Such units may destroy the shutter contacts.
20