Retina Ib
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| Style, film format | Folding fixed-lens zone-focus 35mm |
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| Lens, shutter | Coated 50mm f/2.8 Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenar, Synchro-Compur |
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| Photo quality | Very good to excellent |
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| Ergonomics | Very nice, no meter or rangefinder |
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This is a very pleasant camera that demands the full attention of the photographer.
Here's why: The camera has neither a rangefinder nor a meter, so the photographer should carry a handheld meter or rangefinder, or both.
Depth of field when shooting the f/2.8 50mm Xenar lens is rather shallow, especially for closeups. The photographer must be extremely accurate when setting lens distance. An external rangefinder is recommended with this camera.
In use, it's a nice little camera, as were all of the later Retinas. The viewfinder is located directly above the lens, so there isn't a huge parallax problem. The photographer would have to make a small vertical adjustment for closeups.
The Synchro-Compur shutter is its usual reliable sturdy mechanism, so the only concern the photographer has is to ensure focus and exposure are correct.
The newly designed Retina featured a bottom-mounted film advance and a round shape that is visually nice and also easy to hold.