Film cameras
Kodak Retina I User manual
User manual for Kodak Retina I. 33 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
33 pagesEnglish7.6 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Kodak
- Model / document
- Kodak Retina I
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 33
- File size
- 7.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 5 · Read text
www.butkus.us
For people in a hurry -
Select the shutter sPeed
Turn the shutter-speed setting-ring (o) until the
index (b) points to the desired shutter speed.
o a.a
Set the erposure
Look through the viewfinder. Turn the operture
setting ring (c) until the needle of the exposure
control system is centred in ihe a.View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
here are the easy steps Focus the camera Turn the knurled focusing ring (d) until the signol indicoting the desired distonce ronge oppeors in the viewf inder : a neor distonces, o o medium distonces, ooo for distonces. Take the picture Frome your subieci within ihe oreo of the brilliont frome of the viewfinder ond slowly press the shutter releose (e) oll the woy down. Operote the ropid wind-lever ot the bottom of lhe comero to wind on for the next exposure. Reod on for more detoiled informotion.View original page 6
Page 7 · Read text
www.butkus.us
world-fomousKODAK Colour Films KODACHROME II Film - The colour film for brilliont slides (ond olso
colour prints). Processing is included in the
price of the film ond slides ore returned
mounted reody for proiection. There ore
two types of KODACHROME II film:
o KODACHROME II film for doylight
(25 ASA) for use in doylight, with
electronic flosh or with blue flosh-bulbs
(20 ond 36 exposure cossettes ovoiloble).
o KODACHROME It film, Type A (40 ASA)-
for photoflood light (20exposure cossettes).
pro-Erperts Ghoose colourEKTACHROMEfilm forFilmslides(32 ASA)which- conon excellenlbe
floshbulbs (20 ond 36 exposures)'KODAK Film floshcessedor bybluethe user. For doylight, electronicView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
Hish-Speed EKTACHROME Film - the ideol KODAK
photogrophy poor lighting in for colour film Black-and-White Films high-speed work.conditions oction or for
Gives brilliont slides. Avoiloble in two types
20 exposures only): KODAK PANATOMIC-X Film (40 ASA)
o fine-groin film, copoble of o high
degree of enlorgement (36 exposures).
j Hish-Speed EKTACHROME Film, Doylisht KODAK PIUS-X PAN Film (16{l ASA)
Iype (lO ASA) - for doylight, electronic o fost fine-groin film of greot ex-
flosh or blue floshbulbs. posure lotitude (36 exposures).
I Hish-Speed EKTACHROME Film, Type B KODAK TRI-X PAN Film (400 ASA)
(125 ASA) - for tungsten lisht. o high-speed film for oction photo-
grophy with fost shutter speeds or for
use in poor lighting conditions (36 ex-
pos u res).
nesotiveKODACOTOR Film (32 ASA) - ocolour f ilm which gives sporkling colour
prints. KODACOLOR film con be used with- Note: Detoiled inslructions contoining fur-out o filter in doylight or with cleor flosh- lher exposure recommendotions ore pocked
bulbs (20 exposure cossettes ovoiloble). with oli KODAK films ,l
IIView original page 8Page 9 · Read text
www.butkus.us
subdued lishtLoading the film olwovs in
1. Turn the sofety lock (f) on the comero bose in the direction of the orrow. Press
the opening button (g) ond the comero bock will spring open'
2. Depress the rewind knob (h) slightly ond iurn it ogoinst the direction of the
orrow. lt will then spring up; pull it out qs for os it will go.
3. Turn the built-in toke-up spool (i) until the light-coloured slot foces upwords'
4. Insert the end of the film into the slot in the toke-up spool so thot the tooth
proiecting from one side of the slot engoges one of the perforotions of the film.
5. Pull the film over the film trock ond insert the cossette in the film chqmber (j).
Push bock the rewind knob so thot it fully engoges with the slot in the cossette'
6. Turn the toke-up spool until the teeth of the sprocket(k) engoge the perforoiions
on both sides of the film. Then turn the rewind knob (h) in the direction of the
orrow until o slight resistonce is felt. This tokes up the slock film inside the
cossette. Push the rewind knob down qs for os it will go ond lock it by giving
it o slight turn in the direction of the orrow. Close the comero bock by pressing
it ogoinst the comero body until you heor ii lock.View original page 9Page 11 · Read text
www.butkus.us g)
R ETI N,
IB:
Setting the counter
The counter operotes from No.36 bock to No.'1, ond thus it shows you ot ony time how
mony exposures you hove left on your film.
Push the setting knob (l) in fhe direction of the orrow until the diomond-shoped mork I
between 36 ond 1 oppeors in the film counter window. When using o 20-exposure cossette,
use the diomond mork between 20 ond 24. Now swing the ropid wind lever to the limit
of its trovel, releose it, ond press lhe shutter releose (see illustrotion on poge 5). Repeot
this operotion until the figure 36 (or 20) oppeors in the middle of the exposure counier
window.
As you operole the ropid-wind lever, see lhqt lhe rewind knob rolotes ogoinst the
direction of its orrow. This shows ftot the film is odvoncing properly.
10View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
Yery important: the fllm-speed inder To obtoin correct exposure, you musf set the film-speed index occurotely on the red ASA or DIN scole. To do this, first depress the locking lever (n) then rotote the shutter speed setting ring (o) until the red dot coincides with the desired ASA or DIN volue. The fllm indlcator - a useful reminder The film indicotor serves to remind you of the type of film looded in the comero. To set the indicotor, first ollow the rewind knob to spring up (do not pull it out), ond hold it. Then turn the inner knurled ring until the block dot points to the symbol for the type of film looded in the comero. C: block-ond-white film Colour # .- doylishl colour film Colour €r : ortificiol-light colour filmView original page 12
Page 13 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Selecting the shutter speed
Turn the shutter speed setting ring (o) until the desired shulter speed coincides with the
setting mork (b).
The block figures on the shutier speed setting ring should be reod os follows:
I = 'f second,2 = r/z seEdnd, 4 = 1/r second...,
60 = 1/eo second, 125 = r/us s€cond, 250 = r/zso socolld, 500 = t/soo seCond.
The letter "B" is the time exposure setting:
the shutter remoins open while you hold the releose button pressed down.
You will find thot o shutter speed of tleo or 1/rzs second is sufficient for most doylight
pictures. However, for fost-moving subiects, o foster shutter speed (1/2so or r/soo second)
will be necessory.
Digitally signed by Mike Butkus
DN: cn=Mike Butkus, o=Butkus camera manuals,
ou=butkus.org, email=mike@butkus.org, c=USMike Butkus Date: 2024.05.10 13:12:39 -04'00'
Exomples
for the correcl seleclion
of shulter speedView original page 13Page 15 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Exposure control setting
To set for correct exposure, first look through the
viewf inder ond sight your subiect. Then simply
rotote the operture ring (c) until the needle in the
brilliont frome is centred in the a mork.
lf you connot turn the operlure ring for enough
while setting the needle, the pre-sel shutter speed
must be voried until occuroie selting becomes
possible. Toke core, however, not to set lo ihe "B",
os in this position the exposure control system is
inoperotive.
Under exlreme lighting conditions it is possible
thot while lhe operture ring is turned the needle
connot be set to the centre of the a mork or it
ismoy iump post ii. This iumping of the needle
coused by o built-in sofety device which helps to
ovoid foulty exposures. The exposure control system
will only become operolive ogoin ofter the shutter
speed hos been chonged. Under very poor lighting
conditions, it is preferoble to moke time exposures
or use flosh.View original page 15Page 17 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Focusing
For ropid focusing, simply look through the view-
finder ond turn the knurled ring (d) until the signol
indicoting the desired distonce ronge oppeors.
o neor dislonces
o o medium distonces
oaa fsr distqnces
As you turn the knurled ring you will notice thot
eoch ronge of distonces "click-stops" into posiiion.
It is, of course, olso possible to set the distonce
on the conventionol distonce scole to the I mork
(the block numbers indicote metres ond the red
numbers indicote feet).
l6View original page 17Page 19 · Read text
www.butkus.us Holdlng the camera Whether you toke o horizontol or o verticol picture depends upon the nolure of the subiect. The two illustroiions ore intended os o guide for holding the comero steody for horizontol (obove) ond verticol pictures (below). Try o few positions to see which suits you best. The index finger should be resled lightly on the shutter releose. Core should be token thot no port of the ever-reody cose gets in front of the lens. Also, moke sure thot you do not obscure the exposure meter window with your fingers. l8View original page 19
Page 20 · Read text
Viewing and releasing The brilliont frome in ihe finder of your comero shows you the exoct picture oreo ond mokes viewing eosier for you. When viewing, toke core to keep your fingers cleor of the honeycomb window of the ex- posure meter. After moking sure thot the exposure control needle is centred within the n mork, slowly depress the shutter releose (e). After toking o picture, operote the winding lever (m) os for os it will go. You ore then reody for the next exposure.View original page 20
Page 21 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Unloading the film in subdued tishr
When you hove token the lost exposure ("1" in the
frome counter), the film odvonce mechonism will lock.
The film must now be rewound into the cossette. To do
this, first ollow the rewind knob to spring up (do nol
pull it up). Then press the reversing bution (o) in the
bose of the comero ond of the some time turn the
rewind knob in the direction of the orrow until the
reversing button ceoses to rotote. Yo con wotch this
button turning by observing the block dot neor its rim.
Now open the comero ond remove the cossette.
lf the frome-counter hos not been set correctly, the
film tronsport lock moy operote too soon. lf this hop-
pens, push the frome-counter setting knob once in the
direction of ihe orrow. Then operote the ropid-wind
lever corefully, so os not to risk teoring the film oui
of the cossette. lf it connot be operoted to the limit
of iis trovel, then you hove come to the end of the
film.The ropid-wind lever will spring bock into position
if the frome-counter setting knob is pushed once more.
20View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
Depth of field
The lens reproduces shorply not only thot port of the subiect on which it is octuolly
focused, but olso o certoin zone in front of ond behind it. This zone is known os
the depth of field. lt vories occording to the operiure ond the distonce set. A high
operture number (e.g.22) yields greot depth of field, o low operture number (e.g.2.8)
yields little depth
The depth of field ot ony distonce ond operture con be reod from the depth-of-field
scole (p) on the shutier mount.
Exomple: The comero is set for the medium zone (o o ) ond f/ll hos been chosen. Then,
on the depth-of-field scole, Stlz teet will coincide with the number'll on ihe left ond
neorfy oo with the numberll on the right. Therefore, everything between 51/z feel ond -
will oppeor shorp in the picture. n--rlDepth of^3r,^rrfleld
On lhe depth-of-field scole, the zone of shorp
focus for f/4 ls shown by the block Indi-
coting line. The lwo dots inside this line
show lhe depth-of-field limils for f/2.8 ond
the dots outside show lhose for f/5.6.
You will find depth-of-field tobles on p. 3l .
21View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Flash pictures
t. Attoch o Flosholder (e.g. KODABLITZ Flosholder) to your comero by meons of
the occessory shoe (r). Then plug the leod into the flosh socket (s).
' *tt- t
Set the shuiter speed ond the distonce. Turn ihe shutter speed setting ring (r)
1/soo s€cond moy be used with electronic f losh 1/zo second (speeds up to lo
equipmeni). Set the knurled ring (d) to the distonce.
3. Set the operture. The correct operture moy be colculoted by using the following
formulo:
d guide number divided by distonce = operfure f/no.
Guide numbers will be found on the floshbulb pocking ond in the instructions
for electronic flosh equipment. Turn the operture setting ring (c) until the
required operture is opposite the setting mork (q).
Use cleqr floshbulbs for block-ond-white ond colour-negotive films ond blue
floshbulbs for doylight-type reversol colour films.
Note: When toking flosh pictures, do not use the exposure control system.View original page 23Page 25 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Delayed action shots
lf you wish io include yourself in ihe picture, push the
smoll lever (t) sidewoys os for os it will go. You must
set this lever only ofter operoting ihe ropid-wind lever.
lf you now press the shutter releose, the deloyed oction
mechonism stqris running down ond ihe shutter will
be releosed ofter o deloy of obout l0 seconds. You
moy olso moke flosh pictures with the deloyed oction
releqse. Once you hove set the deloyed oction mechq-
nism, you must moke thot porticulor exposure with it.
Time exposures
Turn ihe shutter speed setiing ring until the letter "8"
coincides wiih the setting mork. At this setting you
mqy keep the shutter open os long os you like by
keeping the shutier releose depressed. When the
comero is set io "B" ihe exposure conirol mechonism
is inoperotive. Deloyed oclior.r exposures connol be
nrode of ihis setiing. To prevent comero movemeni,
iime exposures should only be ioken with the comero
mounted on o tripod or other firm support.
Alwoys use q coble releose for time exposures lt
screws into the socket (u).
,h)
RETINA
IBSView original page 25Page 26 · Read text
Changing partly exPosed films
lf you hove to chonge o film thot you hove only portly exposed, first rewind tlrot film
os described on poge 20. Toke core, however, to leove the trimmed film leoder outsidc
the cossette (keep rewinding only os long os the reversing button rototes). Note on the
fllm leoder the number of the lost exposur-e reod off the film counter. When relooding
the portly exposed film proceed os described on poge 9. After closing the comero bock,
press the setting knob downwords ond hold it in this position. Now you con swing
the ropid wind lever os mony times os you wont. When lhe number you hove noted on
the film oppeors in ihe counter window you con continue toking pictures.
Glose-ups between
3 and 8 feet
Look through the brilliont-frome view-
finder ond note lhe two morks on the
sides ond neqr the top. For obiects be-
tween 39 ins. ond 8'/, fl. the imoginory
line (shown os o broken line in the illu:-
trotion) ioining ihese two morks, indi-
cotes the upper limit of the field of view.
By moking this ollowonce you con be
sure thot o subieci of less thon B1lu ft. is
fully included in the finol picture ond hos
not been cut off ot the toP.
25View original page 26Page 27 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Tips for using the exposure control system
The exposure control system of your RETINA IBS is bolonced for subiects of overoge
brightness ronge. Under conditions other ihon ihese, the following tips will help you to
obtoin correci exposures:
When toking pictures of scenes with excessive brightness ronge or where the colour
controst is high (e.9. people on the beoch), you must expose for the moin subiect of your
picture. To do this, opprooch your subiect so thot it fills the field of view ond then set
the exposure control system. This ensures correct exposure for the subiect of your picture.
With pictures "ogoinst the light" it is odvisoble to expose for the shodows.
For scenes which contoin lorge exponses of strongly-lit snow, the exposure conirol system
used conventionolly would give under-exposure for detoil in people, trees or onimols
in the foreground. To obtoin correct exposure, point the comero towords the cleor blue
sky while setting the exposure control system.
The evening otmosphere of sunset pictures is often improved by slight under-exposure.
Provided the sun is close to the horizon, point the comero towords it ond set the exposure
control system.
26View original page 27Page 28 · Read text
Using filters
Your RETINA I BS tokes oll KODAK Filters, size 32 mm diometer. lnformoiion on
the use of the vorious filters ovoiloble moy be obtoined from your Kodok deoler.
Most filters hove whot is colled o filter foctor. This is o foctor by which the exposure
must be increosed to compensote for the light obsorbed by the filter. With the
RETINA I BS, this is best ollowed for by reducing the ASA film speed setting os
Follows:
Reduce the film speed setling by the following number of divisions*)
KODAK filters for black-and-white films
V2
Medium yellow (F ll), yellow-green (F lll) I
Oronge (F lV) .. lVz
Red (F V) 3
Blue (F Vl) I
KODAK filters for Golour films
Sky|ightFi|ter(hozefi||erfordoy|ightcolourfilm). 0
Doylight Filters 85, 85 B, 85 C (for doylighl exposures with ortificiol-light colour films) . Y2
Photoflood Filrer 80 B (for ortificiol-light exposures with doylighl colour film;) . I
') One film speed division corresponds lo o doubing or holving of theASA speed, e.g. from 25ro50ASA.View original page 28Page 29 · Read text
www.butkus.us
The lens hood prevents flore Close-ups ot less ihon 38 in. ore o foscinoting field of
when shooting ogoinst the phoiogrophy. The close-up focusing device used wifh the
light, ond olso protects lhe close-up lenses N l, N ll ond N lllo (left) will enoble yor.'
lens from roin ond snow. A to toke pictures between 38 in. ond 12 in. For even closer
leother cose is ovoiloble work, use tlre close-up odopter (right) with the three "R"
which will ocommodote three lenses (l I in. to 7 in.).
filters in oddition to your
lens hood.
{t!
G F-r'*-View original page 29Related documents and language editions
From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.