Retina Reflex

Kodak Retina Reflex series

Retina Reflex III
Overview
Type	35mm SLR camera
Lens
Lens mount	model specific: Retina convertible or DKL-mount lens bayonet
Sensor/Medium
Film advance	manual
Film rewind	manual
Focusing
Focus	manual
Exposure/Metering
Exposure	manual
Flash
Flash	cold shoe
Released	April 1957

The Kodak Retina Reflex was a series of four single-lens reflex cameras made by Kodak, continuing the brand Kodak Retina.

The Kodak Type 025 Retina Reflex is an SLR camera with so called convertible lenses (German: Wechselobjektiv), interchangeable lens components made by Kodak AG Stuttgart, Germany. It was made between Spring 1957 and October 1958. Like many SLR cameras of German heritage it works with a leaf shutter instead of a focal plane shutter. It was named Type 025 Retina Reflex since it inherited several features from the viewfinder camera Type 021 Retina IIIc: The film advance and exposure counting system, the film channel, the selenium meter, and the focusing mechanics of the lenses. Even the Synchro-Compur shutter is very similar to that of the viewfinder camera. The Retina reflex is basically a fixed-lens camera rear except for one aspect - the front three elements are contained in a cell that bayonets into the front of the lens assembly. The standard front cell can be replaced with one of three Schneider components - an 80mm and two different 35mm components. The rear part of the lens (which is a permanent part of the camera body) contains the focusing apparatus, the entire Synchro-Compur shutter, the aperture, and the three rear elements, which are common to all 4 lenses. This interchangeable front component concept was introduced in 1954 with the Kodak Retina IIIc. Care must be exercised when using front components other than the standard (50mm) one, as it is possible to set the body mounted aperture wider than the maximum aperture of the lens (i.e. f/2 instead of f/4 or f/5.6).

A similar system was introduced in 1956 with the Zeiss-Ikon Contaflex III. The Retina Reflex is, on rare occasions, found with very similar lenses made by . As the Rodenstock front components are not compatible with the Schneider rear component (and vice versa), minor changes were made to the bayonet mount for each manufacturer. These interchangeable Retina lens components can also be used on the Retina IIc, IIC, IIIc, and IIIC rangefinder cameras.