Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/07/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 7/26/99 1:03:20 AM, you wrote: >> Does anyone know whether it was a Kodak Retina IIa or a IIc? I have been >> wondering for a long time.... >> >> BTW, these Retinas are not some cheap folders from Kodak. Their Xenon >> lenses take some of the most beautiful pictures that I have ever seen. >> >> Dan K. The Retina Manual, by Edward s, Bomback, Fountain Press, London, 1956 (First Edition), only says that Hillary took a Retina to the top of Everest, not which model. However, the Ib, IIc and IIIc were introduced, it says, at Photokina in 1954, and Hillary did his thing on the big rock in 1953. Models extant then were the Ia and IIa, introduced in 1951 and would have been found in camera stores new when he was out buying ice picks and so forth. Of course, there were plenty of models issued before then that would have been equally up to the task. The Ia and IIa, however, had a rapid wind lever which might have been useful if one was wearing gloves. The IIa is the rangefinder model. pardon the word "cheap" to describe the Retina -- it was only "cheap" compared to the Leica, and was intended to be so, to fill that niche of moderate cost high quality cameras. Amen to those who say the lens is first rate -- the Xenon series is top notch. And I hope someday to find one of those older models with a working film counter. charlie trentelman Ogden, Utah