Title
Kodak Retina I Type 141 Folding Camera Ektar 50mm f3.5 Lens Very Good
Description
The Kodak Retina I (Type 141) is a classic pre-WWII 35mm folding viewfinder camera manufactured in Stuttgart, Germany by Kodak AG (formerly Nagel). Produced between 1937 and 1939, the Type 141 is historically significant as the first Retina model to feature the shutter release button integrated onto the top housing plate rather than on the shutter barrel itself. Fitted with a sharp Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar 5cm (50mm) f/3.5 lens set in a Compur-Rapid leaf shutter, it combines elegant pre-war German precision engineering with a compact, pocketable folding bellows design.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very Good
Bellows fold smoothly and remain light-tight. Shutter speeds and light meter vary appropriately. Film advance and body-mounted shutter release mechanism function smoothly. Lens shows minor haze.
Included
Kodak Retina I Type 141 Camera Body
Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar 50mm f/3.5 Lens
Key Features
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Milestone pre-war design with top-plate mounted shutter release button
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Sharp Kodak-Anastigmat Ektar 50mm f/3.5 prime lens
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German Compur-Rapid leaf shutter with speeds up to 1/500s plus B and T
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Compact drop-bed folding bellows structure
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Optical direct-vision viewfinder and top-mounted film frame counter
Collector's Notes
Manufactured only from 1937 to 1939, the Type 141 marked a major ergonomic leap in the Retina series by placing the shutter button on the top plate, establishing the blueprint for subsequent 35mm folding cameras. Pre-war examples fitted with the highly respected Ektar optical glass are particularly prized by vintage Kodak collectors and historians.
Keywords
Kodak Retina I Type 141, Pre War Vintage 35mm Camera, Kodak Ektar 50mm f35, German Folding Camera, Compur Rapid Retina, Kodak AG Stuttgart, Antique 35mm Film Camera
