Re: [Leica] Hillary's Camera

[D Khong <dkhong@pacific.net.sg>]

>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
>

Go for the IIc with the 2.8 Xenon lens.  This camera seem to have a better
feel compared to the earlier models and mine takes beautiful pictures
reminiscent of that era.

Dan K.
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