Title
Kodak Retina I Type 119 Pre War Folding Camera Xenar 50mm f3.5 Very Good
Description
The Kodak Retina I (Type 119) is an iconic pre-WWII 35mm folding viewfinder camera manufactured in Stuttgart, Germany by Kodak AG (formerly Nagel). Produced between 1936 and 1938, this historic pre-war Retina model is celebrated as the first variant to feature the angular, streamlined metal top housing over the optical viewfinder. Fitted with a sharp Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenar 5cm (50mm) f/3.5 lens in a precision Compur leaf shutter, it delivers classic pre-war West German craftsmanship in a compact drop-bed folding bellows body.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very Good
Optics show minor haze with possible minor dust, free from fungus. Leatherette and chrome trim show light, age-appropriate cosmetic surface wear. Drop-bed mechanism folds smoothly and locks securely. Bellows are light-tight and intact. Shutter speeds and light meter vary appropriately, though shutter sticks below 1/5s.
Included
Kodak Retina I Type 119 Camera Body
Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenar 50mm f/3.5 Lens
Key Features
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Historic pre-WWII design featuring the distinct angular metal top-housing cover
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Pre-war Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenar 50mm f/3.5 prime optics
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German Compur leaf shutter system
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Compact drop-bed folding bellows structure
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Built-in direct-vision optical viewfinder and top-mounted frame counter
Collector's Notes
Produced in Stuttgart for only two years (1936–1938), the Type 119 established the streamlined top-plate aesthetic that defined the entire 35mm Retina series leading up to World War II. Well-preserved, Very Good examples remain highly sought after by collectors of early 35mm German photographic history.
Keywords
Kodak Retina I Type 119, Pre War 35mm Film Camera, Pre-WWII Kodak Retina, Schneider Xenar 50mm f35, German Folding Camera, Antique Bellows Camera, Compur Shutter Retina, Kodak AG Stuttgart
