Kodak Retina Automatic I PDF
version of this manual

Sighting the camera Hold the camera in the picture-taking position and look through the eyepiece of the large image viewfinder. You will see the subject outlined by the bright line frame. Depending on the subject you may sight the picture with the camera held in either the horizontal or vertical position. The two illustrations on this page are meant as examples. When sighting a picture take special care not to get your fingers in front of the honeycomb cell window of the exposure meter. The index finger should be lightly rested on the release button without, however, depressing the button. Hold the camera steady when sighting a picture. Also make sure that part of your ever-ready case gets in front of the lens.

Checking the distance in the finder

The close, medium and far ranges are in the RETINA automatic I indicated by light signals in the large-image viewfinder. Hold the camera in front of your eye, look through the finder eyepiece, and turn the lens focusing ring (a) until the required light signal appears:  signal identification: •   close range • • medium range • • • far range

The individual zones are indicated by click stops when the lens focusing ring is turned. The arrows engraved in the front of the shutter are the limits to the individual zones. In the illustration below, the camera is, for instance, set to the medium range (• • ) - from 8 ft. to 16 ft. - The snapshot zone for each lens setting is at the same time automatically indicated in the finder by a light signal (dots). You are thus always able to check the focusing You can, of course, also focus your subject on the usual distance scale engraved in black zone in use. This is a special advantage for snapshots.
or red and set opposite the I mark.

Releasing the shutter

When you have your subject nicely framed in the finder, slowly press the release button (b). (Naturally, the rapid wind lever has to be operated before the shutter can be released).

Be ready for action

It is advisable to operate the rapid wind' lever (c) immediately a picture has been taken. Your RETINA automatic will then always be ready for action. It will not harm the shutter if it remains set for even an extended period of time.

Preventing under exposure

If, for instance, the light is too poor for automatic exposure, the release button is automatically locked, i. e. it cannot be pressed down to release and a STOP signal appears in the finder. You will have to use flash is you still want to take the picture.

Automatic exposure control
For taking pictures with fully automatic exposure control, the word AUTO (automatic) on the shutter ring should always be opposite the setting mark. If it is not just turn the shutter ring until the word AUTO clicks in place opposite the setting mark.
For strongly back-lighted subjects aim the camera first at the dark portion of the subject and depress the release button just far enough until the first resistance is felt. Only then should the camera be aimed at the subject and the release button be fully depressed. This will assure correct exposure of shots into the light.

Loading the camera with film

l. Always load your RETINA automatic I in the shade or at least in the shadow of your body. 2. Turn the safety lever (d) on the camera base, press the opening button and the camera back will spring open. 3. Pull out the rewind knob (f) as far as it will go.

4. Drop the cassette of film into the film chamber, with the tongue of the film pointing towards the built-in take-up spool (g).
5. Turn the take-up spool with your thumb until one of the slots faces upwards.
6. Insert the end of the film into the slot in the take-up spool so that the tooth projecting from one side of the slot engages one of the perforations of the film. Make sure that the perforated edge of the film is parallel with the bottom edge of the camera.
7. With your thumb turn the take-up spool until the teeth of the film transport sprocket are engaged in BOTH rows of film perforations.
8. Close the camera back and make certain you hear the catch engage.
9. Push back the rewind knob (f) to its normal position and turn it in the direction of the engraved arrow until a slight resistance is felt. This takes up the slack film inside the cassette.

d. Safety lever e. Opening button f. Rewind knob g. Built-in take-up spool h. film transport socket

Having loaded the camera remember to •   Set the film counter •   Set the film speed •   Set the film type indicator

This is how to set the film counter
The film counter operates from No. 36 back to No. 1 and thus shows you at any time how many exposures you have left on your film.
Press and hold down the film transport release button (i); then, at the same time, press the film counter setting button (k) in the direction of the arrow as many times as necessary to bring the diamond-shaped $ mark between 1 and 36 opposite the notch in the upper edge of the film counter window (I). When using a 20-exposure cassette set to the diamond $ mark at No. 23.
Operate the rapid wind lever now to the limit of its travel. Press the film transport release button (i); then swing out and release the rapid wind lever again. Repeat this as often as required to bring the film counter to 36 or 20, depending on the number of exposures in your cassette.

As you operate the rapid-wind lever, the rewind knob should turn against the direction of its arrow. This is your guarantee that the film is being correctly advanced.

Very important: the film speed

Correct exposure depends on the right film speed setting. Film speeds are usually rated in ASA indices or (in some European countries) in DIN degrees. Press the button (m) and, at the same time, turn it until the ASA or DIN exposure index (as for instance 18- DIN) is opposite the V mark in the adjacent window.

The film type indicator -a useful memory aid
The rewind knob is provided with an indicator to remind you of the type of film you have loaded in your camera. To set the indicator dial, hold the rewind knob and turn the inner serrated ring until the black dot is opposite the symbol for the type of film in the camera.
The position of the film type indicator has no effect on the exposure itself.

 

When your film comes to an end

After the last exposure the film must be rewound into its cassette. To do this, press the reversing button (n) in the camera base and turn the rewind knob (f) in the direction of the arrow until the reversing button ceases to rotate. (Watch the black dot on the reversing button.) Then open the camera back in subdued light, pull out the rewind knob, and remove the cassette.
If you forgot to set the film counter, it may happen that you reach a point where the rapid wind lever cannot be fully wound. This indicates that the film is finished. In this case press the reversing button to allow you to complete the winding operation. Rewind the film and unload as described above.
 

Films for colour
Kodacolor Film: Makes colour negatives, which are then printed on paper to provide natural-colour prints. Faster than Kodachrome Film, it allows good pictures in lighting hitherto considered unsuitable for colour photography 
(ASA 32 • BS 26 ).

Kodachrome Film: There are two kinds - Daylight Type, and for Photoflood light, Type A. Both give miniature colour slides at no extra processing charge, from which prints and enlargements in colour or black-and-white can be made subsequently. Can be use with flash (ASA 10 . BS 21 ').

Ektachrome Film: (ASA 32 BS 26 ').

High-Speed Ektachrome: Very high speed reversal colour film for exposure in daylight especially useful for dull-light sports and action photography. Primarily for processing by user (ASA 160 • BS 33 ').

Films for black-and-white
Plus-X Pan Film: An excellent film for both daylight and artificial light photography. Fast but fine-grain emulsion ensures negatives from which big enlargements can be made (ASA 80 . BS 30 °).

Panatomic-X Film: A high-definition panchromatic film giving exceptional image sharpness by virtue of its thin coating, very fine grain, and freedom from halation and light-scatter. Ideal for negatives permitting a high degree of enlargement, especially when developed in Kodak High Definition Developer (ASA 25 . BS 25 ").

Tri-X Pan Film: A panchromatic film of very high speed. It is ideal for snapshots in very poor light outdoors, flash snaps in large rooms, for taking pictures by Photo flood light, and for "available-light" photography (ASA 200 • BS 34 ").

Flash shots with the RETINA automatic I

Slide your flashgun, for instance the KODABLITZ, into the accessory shoe of your camera, plug the flash cable into the flash socket (o), and set the required distance. Disconnect the automatic exposure control and set the aperture (F/no.) as required. The aperture is dependent on the guide number of the flash bulb or electronic flash unit used and the distance set.

The guide number is specified on the packages of flash bulbs and in the operating instructions for electronic flash units. The following rule applies:
Guide number divided by distance aperture

If, for instance, your guide number is 72 and your distance 6.5 ft., 72 6.5 = approximately 11.

This means that you have to turn the shutter ring (p) until the red aperture figure 11 of the flash scale (marked in red) is opposite the setting mark (q). The shutter speed in the flash range is always 1/30 second. You are now ready to take a flash shot.

Time exposures are possible too

For time exposures turn the shutter ring (p) until the required aperture is opposite the setting mark (q) on the green scale for time exposures. The automatic control is now disengaged. The shutter remains open for as long as you keep the release button pressed. You are thus able to expose your pictures as long as you want.
For time exposures the camera should be mounted on a tripod. A cable release - which screws into the socket (r) - should also be used.

Close-ups between 3 and 8 feet

When taking pictures of subjects closer than 8 feet you must watch for parallax error. This is caused by the viewfinder being about an inch or so above the camera lens, so that at close distances the viewfinder will not show exactly what will appear on the film. To indicate the amount of parallax error at 3 feet, the "bright line" of the finder has a small mark on each side near the top. You must imagine a line running across the finder joining these two marks (the broken line in the illustration), and keep the top of your subject below it. Of course there will be a little more of the subject included at the bottom of the picture to compensate for the loss at the top. With subjects farther away than 3 feet the error decreases, and beyond 8 feet you don't need to worry at all.

Changing partly exposed films
If you want to change a film that you have only partly exposed, first rewind that film into the cassette (page 12). Rewind only as long as the reversing button rotates then stop. This will leave the trimmed film leader outside the cassette. Remove the film from the camera and mark on the cassette the number read off the film counter. When reloading the partly exposed film at a later date, first load it in the usual way and set the film counter to the diamond, then operate the rapid-wind lever with the film release button depressed until the number that you have marked on the film cassette reappears in the film counter window.

Eyesight correction
If you use spectacles but do not wear them while taking pictures and so cannot see the finder image clearly, you can order a special correction lens from your photo dealer. This lens screws into the finder eyepieces mount. When ordering please state the exact power required in dioptres + or -. No correction lenses can be supplied for correcting astigmatism.

Care of the camera
Protect your lens against damage and avoid finger prints on the lens surface and the finder windows. For cleaning outer glass surfaces preferably use a soft sable brush or special lens tissues. From time to time also dust the film track and cassette chamber with a brush.

Filters
Filters are used with black-and-white films to obtain correct tone rendering and for special effects. With colour films, used in a camera such as the RETINA automatic, filters are used to change the colour of the light to suit the particular colour film in use.
Most filters have what is called a filter factor. This is the factor by which the exposure must be increased to compensate for the light absorbed by the filter. With the RETINA automatic I, this is best allowed for by reducing the film speed setting
as follows:

Reduce the film speed setting by the following number of divisions
Kodak Filters for Black-and-White Films
Light yellow (F 1)  -   2
Medium yellow IF II), yellow-green IF 111) -    3
Blue (F VI)   -  4
Orange IF IV)  -   5
Red (F V)  -   4 
The above filters must NEVER be used with colour films.

Kodak Wratten Filters for Colour Films
Wratten No. 1 A Skylight (ultra-violet)     0
Wratten No. 85 (amber) for using Kodachrome Film TypeA for daylight exposures     2
Wratten No. 85 B (amber) for using Ektachrome Film Type B for daylight exposures         2 Wratten Nr. 85C (amber) for using Ektachrome Film Type F and Kodachrome Film Type F
for daylight exposures     2 Wratten No. 80B (light blue) for using Kodachrome and Ektachrome Films,
Daylight Type for Photoflood exposures     3
Kodak Polo Screen for reflection control and sky darkening with colour film     4

Example You want to use a yellow-green filter (F III) for a shot on black-and-white film. On the film speed scale you have set, for instance, 50 ASA (graduation before 64). The opposite table indicates that the film speed setting must be reduced by 3 divisions if a yellow-green filter is used. Your new setting on the ASA scale therefore becomes 25 ASA (see illustration). When the filter is removed again, remember also to reset the film speed accordingly - in our example - back to 50 ASA.