Jerry, I still use those old cameras, these included. I'll be shooting some with the Retina over the upcoming weekend.
--Bob
jerryc41 wrote:
Very nice. There's something to be said for those old, mechanical cameras. I went on eBay and bought models of cameras that I had owned in the past. I don't shoot film with them, but they're nice reminders of earlier days.
Bob we will just have to get together so my lllf can meet your lllf. Great story by the way.
loosecanon wrote:
Wasn't the Retina made in Germany?
I just researched it; it was made in Germany. I used that one and the Retina 3c (w. Lenses) when I was a kid learning photography. Loved them. My brother still has them. He was bigger than I was.
I had one of the first A-1's in Evansville, I remember getting a lot of attention over it. I ended up selling it because the only thing it offered was all the different auto exposure settings that we are familiar with today and for me who by then had been taking pictures and winning competitions for years I found I really didn't use the auto features that much and I kept burning through batteries because it would either get left on or the switch was getting bumped on and that camera was dead with out a battery, my other two Canons a ftb and EF still worked without a battery, I just had to set the exposure by guessing. A dead or possible dead camera was of no use to me. I've been caught in the digital age with a dead battery and no pictures, no way to get around it except to carry extra batteries, which I didn't have on me that day.
rmalarz wrote:
A follow up from a post made yesterday.
In 1953 my mom worked in a Kodak retail sales store in Hawaii. I was 5 years old at the time. A gentleman came in and wanted to trade a Leica in and negotiate a deal on a Kodak Retina camera. Kodak made some really good cameras at the time. The reason the gentleman wanted to trade in the Leica was that he wanted an American camera.
My mom knowing that I was both interested in taking photographs and very careful with my stuff negotiated with the store manager and purchased the Leica from the store. Mom and dad gave me the Leica IIIf for either Christmas or my birthday. I don't remember which.
Friday, I was in Tempe Camera to purchase some battery holders and strolled by their used department. There sat a Kodak Retina IIa camera in almost pristine condition. I thought it would make a nice complimentary team with the Leica I've had since I was 5. So, here's the two of them together for the "family" portrait.
Incidentally, I used two pieces of equipment I purchased from UHH members over the last few months. And, yes, I will be shooting some film with the 'new' camera in the very near future.
--Bob
A follow up from a post made yesterday. br br In ... (
show quote)
Very nice story, beautiful cameras!
Steve
rmalarz wrote:
A follow up from a post made yesterday.
In 1953 my mom worked in a Kodak retail sales store in Hawaii. I was 5 years old at the time. A gentleman came in and wanted to trade a Leica in and negotiate a deal on a Kodak Retina camera. Kodak made some really good cameras at the time. The reason the gentleman wanted to trade in the Leica was that he wanted an American camera.
My mom knowing that I was both interested in taking photographs and very careful with my stuff negotiated with the store manager and purchased the Leica from the store. Mom and dad gave me the Leica IIIf for either Christmas or my birthday. I don't remember which.
Friday, I was in Tempe Camera to purchase some battery holders and strolled by their used department. There sat a Kodak Retina IIa camera in almost pristine condition. I thought it would make a nice complimentary team with the Leica I've had since I was 5. So, here's the two of them together for the "family" portrait.
Incidentally, I used two pieces of equipment I purchased from UHH members over the last few months. And, yes, I will be shooting some film with the 'new' camera in the very near future.
--Bob
A follow up from a post made yesterday. br br In ... (
show quote)
That's a great story! I hope they both work well.
rmalarz wrote:
John, for me it was 65 years ago. It seems that from a very early age, something shy of 3-perhaps earlier, I seemed to think everything was important. I pretty much still do. I was also very careful with things that were mine.
I appreciate your stopping by and sharing a bit of yourself.
--Bob
I'm sure life in Hawaii was a little different than growing up in a tenement neighborhood in The South Bronx. It good that you have those cameras
CLF
Loc: Raleigh, NC
rmalarz wrote:
A follow up from a post made yesterday.
In 1953 my mom worked in a Kodak retail sales store in Hawaii. I was 5 years old at the time. A gentleman came in and wanted to trade a Leica in and negotiate a deal on a Kodak Retina camera. Kodak made some really good cameras at the time. The reason the gentleman wanted to trade in the Leica was that he wanted an American camera.
My mom knowing that I was both interested in taking photographs and very careful with my stuff negotiated with the store manager and purchased the Leica from the store. Mom and dad gave me the Leica IIIf for either Christmas or my birthday. I don't remember which.
Friday, I was in Tempe Camera to purchase some battery holders and strolled by their used department. There sat a Kodak Retina IIa camera in almost pristine condition. I thought it would make a nice complimentary team with the Leica I've had since I was 5. So, here's the two of them together for the "family" portrait.
Incidentally, I used two pieces of equipment I purchased from UHH members over the last few months. And, yes, I will be shooting some film with the 'new' camera in the very near future.
--Bob
A follow up from a post made yesterday. br br In ... (
show quote)
Bob, excellent looking pair and taking care of the Leica since you were 5 shows how good your parents were.
Greg
It looks like your Mom made a great deal on the Leica, Bob. How was the lens?
rmalarz wrote:
A follow up from a post made yesterday.
In 1953 my mom worked in a Kodak retail sales store in Hawaii. I was 5 years old at the time. A gentleman came in and wanted to trade a Leica in and negotiate a deal on a Kodak Retina camera. Kodak made some really good cameras at the time. The reason the gentleman wanted to trade in the Leica was that he wanted an American camera.
My mom knowing that I was both interested in taking photographs and very careful with my stuff negotiated with the store manager and purchased the Leica from the store. Mom and dad gave me the Leica IIIf for either Christmas or my birthday. I don't remember which.
Friday, I was in Tempe Camera to purchase some battery holders and strolled by their used department. There sat a Kodak Retina IIa camera in almost pristine condition. I thought it would make a nice complimentary team with the Leica I've had since I was 5. So, here's the two of them together for the "family" portrait.
Incidentally, I used two pieces of equipment I purchased from UHH members over the last few months. And, yes, I will be shooting some film with the 'new' camera in the very near future.
--Bob
A follow up from a post made yesterday. br br In ... (
show quote)
Although we may not often get the opportunity, sometimes a little serendipity hits and it feels pretty good to "come full circle" on something that remains at the forefront of our memories from early in life. Congratulations! Nice catch.
Last summer I was at a Civil War reactment I was using a Retina Reflex IV, had people coming up to me asking what the camera was. A few people knew what it was. I have a Retina IIc with 35/50/80mm Sheiper & Ktwuzanch lens. My Leica IIIb with Ernstleitz Simmar 1:2 50mm lens. The lens came from the factory with the camera body.
I have never had either camera Bob, but I can remember drooling over a Leica when I was young. I don't remember the model. Congrats on a great catch.
AndyT
Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire
SpyderJan wrote:
I have never had either camera Bob, but I can remember drooling over a Leica when I was young. I don't remember the model. Congrats on a great catch.
I just recently bought this Retina IIc beautifully engineered in Germany in 1957. When you open the lens cover the lens unit slides out. The Darkroom scans my negs to digital files.
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