My Dad is the one who got me hooked on photography. His favorite camera was his Kodak Retina Reflex S. He started me out with a Sears SLR with a Pentax K mount, but I always remembered his Retina Reflex. Years later, as a professional photographer I had amassed a small collection of cameras- 4x5, medium format, and modern 35mm Nikons- but when I came across this Retina Reflex III in a small camera shop while out of town on a shoot I just had to have it. It came with the Schneider 50mm f1.9 and I also bought the 28mm f4 and 135mm f4 that were in the display case with it.
I have 2 requirements before I add a camera to my collection: I have to be able to shoot with it and I have to want to shoot with it. This 35mm film camera has a wonderful feel and action, the shutter release in on the front of the body instead of the top plate and the film winding lever is on the bottom of the body. It takes some getting used to, but with a little practice it becomes second nature. The lenses have leaf shutters built in, which gives it a lovely quiet click. Unfortunately the top half of the "ever-ready" case was in awful condition, and I've never made an effort to find a replacement. The bottom half is still in great condition and gives the camera a great look and a bit of an extra grip.
I remember bringing my find over to my parents' house and showing it to my Dad. Once again we were just a couple of camera geeks playing with our toys, and he got his Reflex S out of the closet so we could compare them. Sadly my Dad has passed and I've inherited his Retina Reflex as well, but shooting with these cameras always makes me think of him.
