Retina I type 117
from 1934 to 1935
production: aprox. 60,000
The very first Kodak Retina and one of my favourites
Historically important, as it was the first camera to use the new 35mm daylight loading cassette that we know today
Retina I type 118
from 1935 to 1936
production: 9144
Less common then the 117. As most black models, finding one in excellent condition is hard, and you have to be prepared to pay a bit more.
Retina I type 119
from 1936 to 1938
production: 39,111
Retina I type 126
from 1936 to 1937
production: 39,100
Same as the 119 but in chrome instead of black paint with nickel plating.
Retina I type 141
from 1937 to 1939
production: 39,471
First Retina with a body shutter release
Retina I type 143
from 1938 to 1939
production: 21,476
The same as the 141 but in black paint and nickel plating instead of chrome plating.
Retina I type 148
from 1939 to 1941
production: 14,957
Very similar to the postwar 010, the most visible difference is the frame counter arrow, in the 148 its positioned at 3 O'Clock
in the 010 at 1 O'Clock
Retina I type 149
from 1939 to 1940
production: 10,403
Very similar to the 148 but with leather under the rewind knob
Retina I type 167
from 1941
production: aprox. 2,000
The last prewar Retina I, which seems to have been made from both Retina and Retinette left over parts before the factory went into war production of time fuses.
A low production run makes this a hard camera to find.
The only thing that qualifies this as a Retina and not a Retinette, is the leather covering with Retina stamped on the back, and a little bit more metal work on the top under the rewind knob.
It was available with an inferior Kodak Anastigmat f4.5 or f3.5 front focusing lens and an AGC 4 speed or Compur shutter
