Holding The Retinette - Kodak retinette User Manual

To make the blind exposures, first make sure the lever at the rear of the film winding knob is set to "A" (advance).
Open the front of the camera by pressing the button in the bottom. Wind the knob until it locks, tension the shutter
(page 9) and press the release button. Repeat this operation, and wind the film once more.
To set the film counter (after the blind exposures) turn the counter disc in the top of the body (by means of its two
studs) to bring No. 1 opposite the arrowhead. The counter advances from 1 to 36. There is no film indicator.

Holding the Retinette

It is obvious that the camera should be held as steady as possible, as the slightest shake, even if not seen in the
original negative, will become visible on enlargement.
A particularly steady hold of the camera is necessary when working with speeds below 1/60 sec.
Always stand with your legs apart.
For horizontal photographs: Rest camera horizontally against the nose while the eye looks through the finder. Keep
both elbows close to the body, the right thumb being pressed against the camera back, right index finger stretching
over the film counter to the body release while the right middle finger, bent downwards, presses on camera front.
The left hand grasps the camera body on its left side. After every exposure move the right thumb to the bottom of
the camera and pull out the rapid winder to advance the film.
For vertical photographs: Rest camera upright against forehead and nose, holding the top of the camera with the left
hand. Keep the left thumb pressed against camera back. The right hand holds the camera from below, right thumb
on the body release, the camera resting in the palm of the right hand. Work the rapid winder with the second or
third finger of your right hand.
To release, use finger pressure only, keep the hand and its grip on the camera steady. The actual pressing down
must be done slowly and smoothly.
For slow exposures in the hand rest the elbows or at least lean the body against some support in order to avoid
shake. In this way 1/8 sec. and with a very steady hand 1/4 sec. can be exposed without noticeable camera shake.
Use of a tripod is necessary when taking time exposures and it is also recommended for speeds from 1/15 to 1 sec.A
rigid tripod with ball-and-socket head should be employed to allow the changing from horizontal to vertical position.
The tripod or ball-and-socket head top screw has to be screwed into the tripod bush in the bottom of the Retinettes.
HOLDING
Left: Holding the camera for horizontal shots.
Right: Holding the Retinette for vertical shots. See
also page 18.