Wallace-Heaton Zodel and Kodak Retina IIIc (X-3D)

© Sonny☼, on January 22, 2008, said:

Oh my, the Retina I've got too! Are both still working?

Jessica G., on January 22, 2008, said:

Nice cameras! The one on the right (the Retina?) reminds me a little of my grandpa's Canon.

Matthew Winn, on January 23, 2008, said:

Yes, both are still working, and I use them from time to time. The Zodel (on the left) doesn't have a very good lens; here is an example taken with it, and even on this reduced-size image you can see the chromatic aberration on the railings on the left. It's still a fun camera to use, if you don't mind that taking a picture means locking the shutter open, focusing on the ground glass screen, closing the shutter, swapping the screen for the film holder, taking out the dark slide, setting the shutter, cocking the shutter, tripping the shutter, replacing the dark slide, removing the film holder, replacing the ground glass, and finally winding on the film so you can start getting ready for the next shot. It's one of my favourite cameras because it makes me feel really involved in the process. There's another view of it here.

The Retina is a wonderful camera too, though I think the earlier IIa is even better. German engineering at its finest.

© LordBart, on January 29, 2008, said:

Thanks, Matthew, for the memory. My father had an 8 x 10 view camera and a heavy wooden tripod that we used to lug around. Went through all the same exercises (in addition to loading the film holders by touch in the darkroom the night before). But the 8x10 negatives that we developed ourselves were magnificent.

I can't get that quality shooting BW with any of my digital cameras. But, frankly, who cares. I don't want to go through all that rigamarole again.

Matthew Winn, on January 30, 2008, said:

Yes, it is a bit of a bind having to load and unload film between shots. Still, it's better than the old wet collodion process, where photographers had to coat their own glass plates just before taking the picture and then develop them immediately afterwards because the picture would be ruined if the plate dried out. Imagine having to carry a complete darkroom with chemicals as well as the tripod!

© Sonny☼, on January 30, 2008, said:

LOL - how lucky are we today, aren't we? I even struggle with the tripod!LOL But on the other hand - the few guys then were heroes and well acclaimed when coming around! ;-)

andy m b, on June 10, 2008, said:

dear matt,i,m just about to collect my new zodel,well new to me,what would you say would be a good film speed wise to use in this camera? i,m also using 2 super ikonta,s one 532/16 post war coated lens and a 530/2 uncoated all veiws good or bad would be appreciated

Matthew Winn, on June 10, 2008, said:

I'd recommend the slowest film you can get and no faster than ISO100, which will mean an exposure of about 1/250s at f/11 to f/16 in sunlight. Any faster than that and it may be impossible to get a proper exposure in bright light.

andy m b, on June 12, 2008, said:

thanks I,ll let you know in a couple of weeks andy...