Sir Edmund Hillary and his Retina (Page 2): The camera would have quite advanced for it's time. In 1953 my parents made a change in life resulting in a trip to Canada, USA and England...

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

The camera would have quite advanced for it's time. In 1953 my parents made a change in life resulting in a trip to Canada, USA and England and Europe. I was concieved in Venice, and cut the story short. Before leaving NZ Dad bought a new Agfa "Agfaflex" and it's a 120 roll 6x6 camera. In my posession still. I have a lot of photos from it, and used it myself as a teenager. Dad bought a Kodak Retinette about 1962 which I don't have anymore, that was 35mm. My point is to show that 35mm cameras were not the default format when Hilary bought that camera, I think it was considered "miniature format" even in the fifties. Interesting thinking about these things, Comments welcome. Andrew.

JD345 Loc: Wisconsin

alawry wrote:

Hi All interested, I've found the photos of what t... (show quote)

Thanks for posting your pictures alawry. This is the standard film advance lever on the Retina 118, so it's easy to see why Sir Hillary had his camera modified.

(Download)

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

Thanks for that image and information I will make an effort to check the Hillary camera. Maybe i will write to the museum citing worldwide interest, and hope for a favourable response.

pendennis

Kiron Kid wrote:

In my mountain climbing experience, altitude greatly affects exposures.

I read an article in Pop or Modern Photography years ago, that stated that film is more susceptible to the effects of UV radiation at altitude. I don't remember if Infrared was included or not.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

pendennis wrote:

I read an article in Pop or Modern Photography years ago, that stated that film is more susceptible to the effects of UV radiation at altitude. I don't remember if Infrared was included or not.

Not exactly. It is not the film. There is more UV in the light at high altitude. The UV is filtered out as it passes through the atmosphere.

JD345 Loc: Wisconsin

Jack 13088 wrote:

Not exactly. It is not the film. There is more UV in the light at high altitude. The UV is filtered out as it passes through the atmosphere.

Good thing then that Sir Hillary put his UV filter on the lens. I wonder if a change in exposure while gaining altitude mountaineering is due to the colder temperatures, slowing down the shutter.

Selene03

Thanks!!! Very interesting!!!

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

This morning I had an email from the Curator of Dunedin Museum, asking for an image of an original winder for the camera. I have sent that and wait developments.

JD345 Loc: Wisconsin

Thanks alawry

JPL

alawry wrote:

The camera would have quite advanced for it's time... (show quote)

Maybe 35 mm was not the default format at this time. But still a proven format favored by those who wanted quality in lightweigt and compact cameras. Leica invented the format more than 30 years before the Everest trip. I am sure the weight of the camera was a major factor in favor of the Retina for those guys.

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

Thanks for that info. Interesting how in this era, a "new" development rapidly replaces an older format.Not meaning in photography, thinking, Vinyln LP replacing 78, then compact cassette then CD over the space of about 30 years? A phone that isn't all glass, swipe screen is "archaic" after only 3 years. There will be other examples yet th3 5mmx 24 format took many years to dominate. and it still does to a degree in that "Full Frame" refers to that dimension, and a lot of lenses refered to as "35mm equivulent". DSLR users think in real numbers, ( 18-55 as standard zoom) but compacts with tiny sensors rarely called 6-30. All just interesting to think about for a mind that hasn't go enough to do. Best wishes.

JPL wrote:

Maybe 35 mm was not the default format at this time. But still a proven format favored by those who wanted quality in lightweigt and compact cameras. Leica invented the format more than 30 years before the Everest trip. I am sure the weight of the camera was a major factor in favor of the Retina for those guys.

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

Hi to all interested. today I received a photo of the back of the genuine camera and can confirm that it has an extension to the film advance lever. That's the good news. The not so good news is I have been asked not to publish the photo, without their permision and signing a (release) form. So I have asked for that permision, and sent a link to this UHH thread. The image I have from them is very high quality, and will be worth the wait. Cheers, Andrew.

alawry Loc: Timaru New Zealand

Well at last, I have an image of the rear of Sir ED Hillary's camera. Looks as though it stayed modified. I have had to sign an agreement with the Otago Museum crediting them with the image, so please be aware that this image is copyrighted. It should not be further used without their written permission.

(Download)

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

JD345 wrote:

That's an interesting concept. Was that with film and digital? Did a higher altitude make your photos more or less exposed with the same settings as lower altitude?

Film. Which I still shoot exclusively.

JD345 Loc: Wisconsin

alawry wrote:

Well at last, I have an image of the rear of Sir ED Hillary's camera. Looks as though it stayed modified. I have had to sign an agreement with the Otago Museum crediting them with the image, so please be aware that this image is copyrighted. It should not be further used without their written permission.

Thanks alawry. Interesting that with the Museum's concerns about copyright, the copyright field in the properties dialog box is blank. The properties also lists Photoshop, so the person who modified the picture likely has knowledge of metadata. The picture was shot at f13 with plus 3 exposure setting, I wasn't expecting that. Maybe a strong concern for depth of field and the white paper, but it lists spot metering mode. Probably needed Photoshop to tone it down. Whoever attached the extension did a good job, considering it didn't fall off with repeated use.

When holding a vintage camera it's fun to think about what the camera meant to the previous owner, and where they had been. Sir Hillary's camera was on top, literally.