[Leica] Off-topic: Retina differences

[BBAIN@imnet.com (BBAIN)]

               Danny asks about the differences between the Retina IIIC, 
               IIIc, and IIc. the were all folding 35mm cameras make by 
               Kodak.  The IIIc ("small c") had a built-in selenium meter 
               and could accept interchangable front elements for 35 amd 
               80mm. It typically came with a 50mm f2 Xenon or Heligon.  
               Later models had a high/low range on the meter instead of 
               the typical little door that flipped down to partially cover 
               the cell for the high range.  The IIc was the same, without 
               the meter and typically came with a 50mm f2.8 lens that was 
               supposedly somewhat better than its f2 counterpart.  Either 
               could accept a clip on finder for the 35mm or 80mm lenses.
               
               The IIIC ("big C") added built-in bright-line frames for the 
               35mm, 50mm and 80mm, and in its final form, increased the 
               film speeds the meter could handle from 1600 to 3200 ASA.  
               The larger finder makes them more usable -- the II/IIIc 
               finder is somewhat small and the IIIC's is just better.  I 
               can't recall if the frames were parallax-corrected or not.  
               There was also a IIC, which was the same, without the meter 
               and a f2.8 lens.
               
               All the Retinas are nice cameras.  There is supposedly a 
               cord or cable in the meter that can break and is expensive 
               to repair when it does, and even though the IIIC finder is 
               not as bright as an M3, they can be a lot of fun.
               
               Another LUGger make be able to shed more specifics on them. 
               This is what I remember fron using them in the '60s.
               
               Bill