Kodak Retina Reflex

There were four models of the 35mm Retina Reflex and one instamatic reflex; they included, from left to right, the Reflex, the instamatic reflex, the Reflex S, the Reflex III, and the Reflex IV. In the late 60s an Instamatic Reflex was introduced that used 126 film and the same lenses. These cameras were manufactured at the Nagel Camera Works in Stuttgart Germany from 1957 through 1966. The Reflex was the first model and had only interchangeable front components, the same components used in the folding IIIC. With the Reflex S and the IIIS rangefinder camera, Kodak introduced fully interchangeable lenses with a behind the lens leaf shutter. This was the same arrangement used by Voigtlander with their Bessamatic Reflex. Lenses included a 28mm, a 35mm, two different 50mm lenses, an 85mm, a 135mm and a 200mm lens. Most of these were Schneider lenses, but there were also a few Rodenstock lenses that were not imported into the U.S. In addition, lenses for the Bessamatic could be adapted to fit the Retinas including the 36 to 82mm Voigtlander Zoomar lens. I believe that the Voigtlander Zoomar was the first commercially available zoom lens produced for 35mm cameras.

The image above shows an interesting feature of the lenses for the Retinas. The lens had two small red depth of field guides that moved as the lens aperture was adjusted. This is shown on the 50mm F1.9 Schneider Xenon lens.

50mm F1.9 Schneider Xexon Lens

Retina Reflex IV

The Retina instamatic reflex was one of a few single reflex cameras using 126 film. The only other one that I am aware of was a Zeiss Contaflex. This Retina uses all of the same lenses as the other Retinas with behind the lens shutters. This camera was fully automatic using aperature priority, but of course did not have autofocus.

photographs by bernard

Kodak Retina Reflex

Automatic Depth of field indicators

Instamatic Reflex

My brother and I purchased a Retina Reflex S in the summer of 1960 while I was in high school. We had numerous problems with the failure prone Synchro-compur behind the lens shutter. After three or four attempts at repairing the shutter, Kodak finally provided us with a new Reflex III. In addition to the standard 50mm Schneider Xenar F2.8 lens, we later purchased a 135mm F4 Schneider Tele-Xenar. In 1965, the shutter of the III failed and my brother and I gave up on the camera. Since all of the newer single-lens reflex cameras had instant return mirrors, it made more sense to buy a new camera than have the Retina repaired.

Of all the Retina Reflex cameras that I currently own, this is the only one that is operational. It works with both the Xenon lens and the Xenar lens shown on the Reflex S.

All 35mm Retina Reflex Models

photographs by bernard Kodak Retina Reflex		Automatic Depth of field indicators	Instamatic Reflex


	My brother and I purchased a Retina Reflex S in the summer of 1960 while I was in high school. We had numerous problems with the failure prone Synchro-compur behind the lens shutter. After three or four attempts at repairing the shutter, Kodak finally provided us with a new Reflex III. In addition to the standard 50mm Schneider Xenar F2.8 lens, we later purchased a 135mm F4 Schneider Tele-Xenar. In 1965, the shutter of the III failed and my brother and I gave up on the camera. Since all of the newer single-lens reflex cameras had instant return mirrors, it made more sense to buy a new camera than have the Retina repaired.