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96-673: The Kodak Retina Reflex is a discontinued series of four single-lens reflex cameras made by Kodak in Germany between 1957 and 1974, as part of the Kodak Retina line of 35mm film cameras. The earliest Retina Reflex (Type 025, 1957) uses the convertible lens system introduced with the Kodak Retina IIc/IIIc in 1954. The successor cameras, starting with the Retina Reflex S (Type 034, 1959), use DKL-mount lenses, introduced with

192-597: A "T I/32" close-up lens, which brings the focusing distance range to 1.0 to 1.8 m (3.3 to 5.9 ft). List of Schneider-Kreuznach Retina DKL-mount lenses: List of Rodenstock Retina DKL-mount lenses: List of third-party Retina DKL-mount lenses: This article was originally based on " Kodak Retina Reflex " in Camerapedia, retrieved on 27 December 2012 under the GNU Free Documentation License . Single-lens reflex camera Until

288-473: A "double Gauss" design, albeit with indifferent photographic results. Current double Gauss lenses can be traced back to an 1895 improved design, when Paul Rudolph of Carl Zeiss Jena thickened the interior negative menisci and converted to them to cemented doublets of two elements of equal refraction but differing dispersion for the Zeiss Planar design of 1896 to correct for chromatic aberration . It

384-596: A DSLR model, the Contax N-Digital . This model was too late and too expensive to be competitive with other camera manufacturers. The Contax N-digital was the last Contax to use that maker's lens system, and the camera, while having impressive features such as a full-frame sensor, was expensive and lacked sufficient write-speed to the memory card for it to be seriously considered by some professional photographers. The digital single-lens reflex camera have largely replaced film SLRs design in convenience, sales and popularity at

480-482: A dedicated system, once the dedicated electronic flash is inserted into the camera's hot shoe and turned on, there is then communication between camera and flash. The camera's synchronization speed is set, along with the aperture. Many camera models measure the light that reflects off of the film plane, which controls the flash duration of the electronic flash. This is denoted TTL flash metering . Some electronic flash units can send out several short bursts of light to aid

576-457: A medium-format SLR with a between-the-lens leaf shutter system would be Hasselblad , with their 500C, 500 cm, 500 EL-M (a motorized Hasselblad) and other models (producing a 6 cm square negative). Hasselblads use an auxiliary shutter blind situated behind the lens mount and the mirror system to prevent the fogging of film. Other medium-format SLRs also using leaf shutters include the now discontinued Zenza-Bronica camera system lines such as

672-497: A middle or longer distance, but parallax causes framing errors in close-up shots. Moreover, it is not easy to focus the lens of a fast reflex camera when it is opened to wider apertures (such as in low light or while using low-speed film). Most SLR cameras permit upright and laterally correct viewing through use of a roof pentaprism situated in the optical path between the reflex mirror and viewfinder. Light, which comes both horizontally and vertically inverted after passing through

768-409: A narrower depth of field, which is useful for blurring the background behind the subject, making the subject more prominent. "Fast" lenses are commonly used in theater photography, portrait photography, surveillance photography, and all other photography requiring a large maximum aperture. The variety of lenses also allows for the camera to be used and adapted in many different situations. This provides

864-590: A photographer purchased one of these lenses, that lens included a leaf shutter in its lens mount. Because leaf shutters synchronized electronic flash at all shutter speeds especially at fast shutter speeds of 1 ⁄ 500 of a second or faster, cameras using leaf shutters were more desirable to studio photographers who used sophisticated studio electronic flash systems. Some manufacturers of medium-format 120 film SLR cameras also made leaf-shutter lenses for their focal-plane-shutter models. Rollei made at least two such lenses for their Rolleiflex SL-66 medium format which

960-589: A roof pentaprism or penta-mirror to direct the light to the eyepiece, first used on the 1948 Duflex constructed by Jenő Dulovits and patented August 1943 (Hungary). With this camera also appeared the first instant-return mirror . The first Japanese pentaprism SLR was the 1955 Miranda T , followed by the Asahi Pentax, Minolta SR-2, Zunow, Nikon F and the Yashica Pentamatic. Some SLRs offered removable pentaprisms with optional viewfinder capabilities, such as

1056-449: A set of three front elements that can be removed and a permanently-fixed set of three rear elements, set behind the aperture and shutter. In the Retina convertible lens system, which is used with the Retina Reflex and earlier Retina IIc , IIC , IIIc , and IIIC rangefinder cameras, the same set of three permanently-fixed rear elements are shared with the standard lens and the user exchanges

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1152-419: A viewing image that will be exposed onto the negative exactly as it is seen through the lens. There is no parallax error, and exact focus can be confirmed by eye—especially in macro photography and when photographing using long focus lenses . The depth of field may be seen by stopping down to the attached lens aperture , which is possible on most SLR cameras except for the least expensive models. Because of

1248-425: Is a two-element achromatic lens with a positive meniscus lens on the object side and a negative meniscus lens on the image side. In Clark's symmetric arrangement, this makes four elements in four groups: two positive meniscus lenses on the outside with two negative meniscus lenses inside them. The symmetry of the system and the splitting of the optical power into many elements reduces the optical aberrations within

1344-402: Is available that slips onto the eyepiece of most SLRs and D-SLRs and allows viewing through a waist-level viewfinder. There is also a finder that provides EVF remote capability. Almost all contemporary SLRs use a focal-plane shutter located in front of the film plane, which prevents the light from reaching the film even if the lens is removed, except when the shutter is actually released during

1440-523: Is now at a 45 degree angle. The Retina Reflex IV originally sold in 1964 for US$ 277 (equivalent to $ 2,720 in 2023). Over 524,000 were made. The shutter speeds on the Instamatic Reflex, billed as the camera which "does simply everything, and everything simply", range from 1 ⁄ 500 to 20 seconds, with flashcube sync at 1 ⁄ 30 and 1 ⁄ 300 with an electronic flash. Two PX825 button cell batteries are used to power

1536-648: Is presently used in inexpensive-but-high-quality fast lenses such as the Sony FE 50mm f / 1.8 , the Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 and the Nikon 50 mm f / 1.8D AF Nikkor . It is also used as the basis for faster designs, with elements added, such as a seventh element as in both Canon and Nikon's 50 mm f / 1.4 offerings or an aspherical seventh element in Canon's 50 mm f / 1.2 L . The design appears in other applications where

1632-412: Is pressed. Needless to say this can be confusing to those unfamiliar with the camera. All the Retina Reflex cameras are remarkably complex instruments and quite heavy for their size. The Retina Reflex originally sold in 1958 for US$ 215 (equivalent to $ 2,270 in 2023). Approximately 65,000 were made. The standard Retina-Xenon lens is a 50 mm lens with a different maximum aperture, depending on

1728-413: Is rarely enough room above and below the frame for a one-piece shutter. Vertical shutters became very common in the 1980s (though Konica , Mamiya , and Copal first pioneered their use in the 1950s and 1960s, and are almost exclusively used for new cameras. Nikon used Copal-made vertical plane shutters in their Nikomat/Nikkormat -range, enabling x-sync speeds from 1 ⁄ 30 to 1 ⁄ 125 while

1824-512: Is rated for 200,000 shutter cycles and the Nikon D3 is rated for 300,000 with its exotic carbon fiber/kevlar shutter. Because many SLRs have interchangeable lenses, there is a tendency for dust, sand and dirt to get into the main body of the camera through the mirror box when the lens is removed, thus dirtying or even jamming the mirror movement mechanism or the shutter curtain mechanism itself. In addition, these particles can also jam or otherwise hinder

1920-785: Is required. A small number of SLRs were built for APS such as the Canon IX series and the Nikon Pronea cameras. SLRs were also introduced for film formats as small as Kodak's 110 , such as the Pentax Auto 110 , which had interchangeable lenses. The Narciss camera is an all-metal 16 mm subminiature single lens reflex camera made by Russian optic firm Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod (KMZ) Narciss (Soviet Union; Нарцисс) between 1961 and 1965. Other features found on many SLR cameras include through-the-lens (TTL) metering and sophisticated flash control referred to as "dedicated electronic flash". In

2016-512: Is the leaf shutter , whereby the shutter is constructed of diaphragm-like blades and can be situated either between the lens or behind the lens. If the shutter is part of a lens assembly some other mechanism is required to ensure that no light reaches the film between exposures. An example of a behind-the-lens leaf shutter is found in the 35 mm SLRs produced by Kodak , with their Retina Reflex camera line; Topcon, with their Auto 100; and Kowa with their SE-R and SET-R reflexes. A primary example of

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2112-554: The CdS exposure meter, flashcubes, and shutter speed control; without batteries, the 1 ⁄ 500  second shutter speed was still available. For the Xenar 45 mm lens included with most kits, the aperture could be linked to the focus to provide the correct exposure when using flashcubes. The Instamatic Reflex was sold from 1968 until 1974; when it was introduced, the list price ranged from US$ 157 (equivalent to $ 1,380 in 2023) for

2208-413: The 35 mm format as, this film format offers a variety of emulsions and film sensitivity speeds, usable image quality and a good market cost. 35 mm film comes in a variety of exposure lengths: 20 exposure, 24 exposure and 36 exposure rolls. Medium format SLRs provide a higher-quality image with a negative that can be more easily retouched than the smaller 35 mm negative, when this capability

2304-611: The Nikon F , F2 , and F3 . Other focal-plane shutter designs, such as the Copal Square, travelled vertically — the shorter travelling distance of 24 millimetres (as opposed to 36 mm horizontally) meant that minimum exposure and flash synchronisation times could be reduced. These shutters are usually manufactured from metal, and use the same moving-slit principle as horizontally travelling shutters. They differ, though, in usually being formed of several slats or blades, rather than single curtains as with horizontal designs, as there

2400-557: The VEB Zeiss Ikon (Dresden) Contax S (1949, East Germany), the first pentaprism eye-level viewing 35mm SLR. The Biotar , originally designed in 1927, had a six element asymmetric double Gauss formula. Post-World War II Zeiss (Oberkochen, West Germany) no longer uses the Biotar name; instead lumping all double Gauss variants under the Planar name. The Soviet 58mm f /2 Helios-44 lens of

2496-635: The Zenit camera was the most common version/clone of the Biotar , making an excellent value-for-money accessory today for any digital camera with APS-C and Full-Frame sized sensor, though an appropriate M42 adaptor is required for this particular lens. Several contemporaneous competing, but less famous lenses, were similar to the Biotar, such as Albrecht Tronnier 's Xenon for Schneider Kreuznach (1925, Germany). For example, three asymmetric Double Gauss lenses were produced in 1934 for Ihagee VP Exakta (1933, Germany)

2592-450: The pixel resolution, contrast ratio , refresh rate , and color gamut of an LCD preview screen cannot compete with the clarity and shadow detail of a direct-viewed optical SLR viewfinder. Large format SLR cameras were probably first marketed with the introduction of C.R. Smith's Monocular Duplex (U.S., 1884). SLRs for smaller exposure formats were launched in the 1920s by several camera makers. The first 35 mm SLR available to

2688-840: The waist-level finder , the interchangeable sports finders used on the Canon F1 and F1n; the Nikon F, F2, F3, F4 and F5; and the Pentax LX. Another prism design was the porro prism system used in the Olympus Pen F , the Pen FT, the Pen FV half-frame 35 mm SLR cameras. This was later used on the Olympus EVOLT E-3x0 series, the Leica Digilux 3 and the Panasonic DMC-L1 . A right-angle finder

2784-515: The 1960s. The Biotar is another competitor of British Panchro series. In the same year of 1927, Zeiss designed the Biotar 50mm f /1.4 for cinematography. Its still photography version, the Zeiss Biotar 58mm f /2 (Germany) appeared on the Ihagee Kine Exakta (1936, Germany), the first widely available 35mm single-lens reflex cameras , in 1939. It was also the standard lens on

2880-598: The 1980s and so there have been few newly designed Double Gauss normal lenses, but many new prestige low production Double Gauss lenses have been released. Compare the Canon EF 50mm f /1.2 L USM (2007, Japan), Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f /1.4 G (2008, Japan/China), Sigma EX DG HSM 50mm f /1.4 (2008, Japan), ( Cosina ) Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f /1.1 (2009, Japan), Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH (2009, Germany) with their antecedents, or SLR Magic HyperPrime 50mm CINE T0.95 (2012, Hong Kong, China). The design

2976-657: The 1990s, SLR was the most advanced photographic preview system available, but the recent development and refinement of digital imaging technology with an on-camera live LCD preview screen has overshadowed SLR's popularity. Nearly all inexpensive compact digital cameras now include an LCD preview screen allowing the photographer to see what the CCD is capturing. However, SLR is still popular in high-end and professional cameras because they are system cameras with interchangeable parts, allowing customization. They also have far less shutter lag , allowing photographs to be timed more precisely. Also

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3072-416: The 2000s. Around 2010, the mirrorless technology utilized in point and shoot cameras made the way to the interchangeable lens cameras and slowly replaced DSLR technology. As of 2022, all the major camera brands (Except Pentax) ceased development and production of DSLRs and moved on to mirrorless systems . These systems offer multiple advantages to the photographer with regards to autofocus systems as well as

3168-816: The Bronica ETRs, the ETRs'i (both producing a 6 × 4.5 cm. image), the SQ and the SQ-AI (producing a 6 × 6 cm image like the Hasselblad), and the Zenza-Bronica G system (6 × 7 cm). Certain Mamiya medium-format SLRs, discontinued camera systems such as the Kowa 6 and a few other camera models also used between-the-lens leaf shutters in their lens systems. Thus, any time

3264-612: The Canon Pellix and Sony SLT cameras , along with several special-purpose high-speed cameras (such as the Canon EOS-1N RS), whose mirror was a fixed beamsplitting pellicle . Focus can be adjusted manually by the photographer or automatically by an autofocus system. The viewfinder can include a matte focusing screen located just above the mirror system to diffuse the light. This permits accurate viewing, composing and focusing, especially useful with interchangeable lenses. Up until

3360-458: The EV scale itself is rather inconveniently located on the underside of the lens assembly. Once the aperture release tab is set and released, the shutter ring is coupled to the aperture ring - moving the shutter ring automatically moves the aperture ring, so that the same exposure value is maintained. In other words, when in use, the camera is normally locked into one EV setting until the aperture release tab

3456-855: The Fujica ST701 (1971), Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 50mm f /1.4 for the Minolta XK/XM/X-1 (1973), Zeiss Planar HFT 50mm f /1.4 for the Rolleiflex SL350 (1974), Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f /1.4 for the Konica Autoreflex T3 (lens 1974, camera 1973) and Nippon Kogaku Nikkor (K) 50mm f /1.4 (New) for the Nikon F2 (lens 1976, camera 1971); all from Japan except the Zeiss which was designed in West Germany. Zoom lenses have been dominant since

3552-453: The Reflex S, but after 1962 a larger one was fitted, again made by Gossen . The Reflex III features the same "setting wheel" and interlocking aperture/shutter rings as the Reflex S. As it was fashion in the early 1960s the shutter release button on top was replaced by a shutter release shifter beside the lens mount. The film advance release button was eliminated, that function being incorporated in

3648-534: The Retina IIIS of 1958. The Retina Reflex brand was discontinued in 1966, then revived as the Instamatic Reflex in 1968, using the same DKL-mount lenses with the easy-loading Kodapak line of 126 film cartridges. The Instamatic Reflex was discontinued in 1974. The Kodak Type 025 Retina Reflex is an SLR camera that uses convertible lenses (German: Wechselobjektiv), made by Kodak Stuttgart , Germany. It

3744-454: The Retina Reflex. The Retina Reflex S originally sold in 1959 for US$ 235 (equivalent to $ 2,460 in 2023). Approximately 78,000 were made. A later variant is the Type 041 Retina Reflex III. It was made from 1960 to 1964. Its match-needle meter instrument scale is visible in the viewfinder as well as on the top plate. The camera was originally equipped with the same coupled selenium meter as

3840-572: The Rodenstock front components are not compatible with the Schneider rear component (and vice versa), minor changes were made to the bayonet mount for each manufacturer. These interchangeable Retina lens components can also be used on the Retina IIc , IIC , IIIc , and IIIC rangefinder cameras. The camera offers the convenience of image composition with wide open aperture. The aperture is stopped down to

3936-454: The SLR's versatility, most manufacturers have a vast range of lenses and accessories available for them. Compared to most fixed-lens compact cameras, the most commonly used and inexpensive SLR lenses offer a wider aperture range and larger maximum aperture (typically f /1.4 to f /1.8 for a 50 mm lens). This allows photographs to be taken in lower light conditions without flash, and allows

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4032-624: The SLR. In 1952, Asahi developed the Asahiflex and in 1954, the Asahiflex IIB . In 1957, the Asahi Pentax combined the fixed pentaprism and the right-hand thumb wind lever. Nikon , Canon and Yashica introduced their first SLRs in 1959 (the F , Canonflex , and Pentamatic, respectively). Canon, Nikon and Pentax have all developed digital SLR cameras (DSLRs) using the same lens mounts as on their respective film SLR cameras. Konica Minolta did

4128-614: The Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenon are intended to be used with the Retina-Curtar-Xenon or Retina-Longar-Xenon front lens units exclusively, while those originally equipped with the Rodenstock Retina-Heligon were advised to use Retina-Heligon wide-angle and telephoto front lens units. In addition, the front and rear standard lens units were matched, and the serial number on the lens should match

4224-838: The Tokyo Optical RE Auto-Topcor 5.8 cm f /1.4 for the Topcon RE Super/Super D (1963), Olympus G. Zuiko Auto-S 40mm f /1.4 for the Olympus Pen F (lens 1964, camera 1963), Yashica Auto Yashinon DX 50mm f /1.4 for the Yashica TL Super (1967), Canon FL 50mm f /1.4 (v2) for the Canon FT (lens 1968, camera 1966), Asahi Optical Super Takumar 50mm f /1.4 (v2) for the Pentax Spotmatic (lens 1968, camera 1964), Fuji Fujinon 50mm f /1.4 for

4320-678: The Voigtländer Vitessa (1951, West Germany) and the Leitz Summicron 50mm f /2 for the Leica M3 (1953, West Germany). A notable, but largely-forgotten, use of the Double-Gauss formula was in the Canon 28mm f /3.5 (1951, Japan) in M39 mount for Rangefinder cameras. By enlarging the rear group significantly (compared to a Double-Gauss type of more traditional focal length), the field of view

4416-561: The ability to update the lens technologies due to the reduced distance between the back of the lens and the sensor resulting from the removal of the mirror. Film-based SLRs are still used by a niche market of enthusiasts and format lovers. Double-Gauss lens The double Gauss lens is a compound lens used mostly in camera lenses that reduces optical aberrations over a large focal plane . The earliest double Gauss lens, patented by Alvan Graham Clark in 1888, consists of two symmetrically-arranged Gauss lenses . Each Gauss lens

4512-443: The amount of light travelling to the film plane or sensor and also can distort the light passing through them, resulting in a less-sharp image. To avoid the noise and vibration, many professional cameras offer a mirror lock-up feature, however, this feature totally disables the SLR's automatic focusing ability. Electronic viewfinders have the potential to give the 'viewing-experience' of a DSLR (through-the-lens viewing) without many of

4608-436: The autofocus system or for wireless communication with off-camera flash units. A pre-flash is often used to determine the amount of light that is reflected from the subject, which sets the duration of the main flash at time of exposure. Some cameras also employ automatic fill-flash, where the flash light and the available light are balanced. While these capabilities are not unique to the SLR, manufacturers included them early on in

4704-428: The body only, finished in black, to US$ 249 (equivalent to $ 2,180 in 2023) with the f / 1.9 lens. The 135 mm lenses could be fitted with the earlier "T I/60" close-up lens to bring the focusing distance range to 1.43 to 2.0 m (4.7 to 6.6 ft), or a "T II/60" close-up lens, which brought the focusing distance range to 2.0 to 3.72 m (6.6 to 12.2 ft). The 85 mm lenses could be fitted with

4800-421: The camera's exposure value (EV) by changing (in a most complex fashion) the aperture and/or shutter rings at the same time that it changes the depth-of-field pointers on the camera's lens. When another button (located on the top plate) is pushed simultaneously, the setting wheel is also used to set the exposure meter's ASA/DIN setting. The top plate, bottom plate, and camera body are otherwise nearly identical to

4896-502: The camera. The maximum aperture of the standard Retina-Xenon fitted to the IIc/IIC was f /2.8 , while the IIIc/IIIC was equipped with a faster f /2 version. The Retina Reflex was equipped with either a Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenon or a Rodenstock Retina-Heligon , both f /2 . For each camera, the standard lens is a six-element, four-group Double-Gauss lens split into two parts:

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4992-558: The capability to control perspective. With a triple-extension bellows 4" × 5" camera such as the Linhof SuperTechnika V, the photographer can correct certain distortions such as "keystoning", where the image 'lines' converge (i.e., photographing a building by pointing a typical camera upward to include the top of the building). Perspective correction lenses are available in the 35 mm and medium formats to correct this distortion with film cameras, and it can also be corrected after

5088-438: The development of SLR, all cameras with viewfinders had two optical light paths: one through the lens to the film, and another positioned above ( TLR or twin-lens reflex ) or to the side ( rangefinder ). Because the viewfinder and the film lens cannot share the same optical path, the viewing lens is aimed to intersect with the film lens at a fixed point somewhere in front of the camera. This is not problematic for pictures taken at

5184-457: The disadvantages. More recently, Sony have resurrected the pellicle mirror concept in their " single-lens translucent " (SLT) range of cameras. SLRs vary widely in their construction and typically have bodies made of plastic or magnesium. Most manufacturers do not cite durability specifications, but some report shutter life expectancies for professional models. For instance, the Canon EOS 1Ds MkII

5280-410: The end of a roll, setting the counter up properly at the beginning of a roll is complex, awkward, and time-consuming. This is a typical example of much of Retina engineering - complex and ingenious, but perhaps over-done. The non-coupled selenium cell exposure meter reads out in exposure values (EVs) only. The camera is then set to the proper EV setting via an easily reached aperture release tab, though

5376-516: The exposure. In addition, the movement of the reflex mirror takes time, limiting the maximum shooting speed. The mirror system can also cause noise and vibration. Partially reflective (pellicle) fixed mirrors avoid these problems and have been used in a very few designs including the Canon Pellix and the Canon EOS-1N RS , but these designs introduce their own problems. These pellicle mirrors reduce

5472-403: The exposure. There are various designs for focal plane shutters. Early focal-plane shutters designed from the 1930s onwards usually consisted of two curtains that travelled horizontally across the film gate: an opening shutter curtain followed by a closing shutter curtain. During fast shutter speeds, the focal-plane shutter would form a 'slit' whereby the second shutter curtain was closely following

5568-561: The fact with photo software when using digital cameras. The photographer can also extend the bellows to its full length, tilt the front standard and perform photomacrography (commonly known as ' macro photography '), producing a sharp image with depth-of-field without stopping down the lens diaphragm. Early SLRs were built for large format photography, but this film format has largely lost favor among professional photographers. SLR film-based cameras have been produced for most film formats as well as for digital formats. These film-based SLRs use

5664-417: The film (advance) release button, the frame (counter) advance slider, and the accessory shoe . The bottom plate contains the tripod socket, the film advance lever, the back release latch, and the film rewind release button. In use, the Retina Reflex frame counter works down from 35 (or 20) to 0, at which point the film advance locks. While this is convenient for the user and does prevent torn film sprockets at

5760-496: The film advance lever (Reflex) and aperture/shutter setting wheel (Reflex S) are located on the bottom. The photo shows just how complex the Retina case had become. The Reflex III has the same aperture/shutter setting wheel (which Kodak called simply the "setting wheel") and interlocking aperture/shutter rings as the Reflex S. The Retina Reflex III originally sold in 1961 for US$ 248.50 (equivalent to $ 2,530 in 2023). Approximately 116,000 were made. The Type 051 Retina Reflex IV

5856-469: The first opening shutter curtain to produce a narrow, vertical opening, with the shutter slit moving horizontally. The slit would get narrower as shutter speeds were increased. Initially these shutters were made from a cloth material (which was in later years often rubberised), but some manufacturers used other materials instead. Nippon Kōgaku (now Nikon Corporation ), for example, used titanium foil shutters for several of their flagship SLR cameras, including

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5952-586: The focusing feature of a lens if they enter into the focusing helicoid. The problem of sensor cleaning has been somewhat reduced in DSLRs as some cameras have a built-in sensor cleaning unit. The price of SLRs in general also tends to be somewhat higher than that of other types of cameras, owing to their internal complexity. This is compounded by the expense of additional components, such as flashes or lenses. The initial investment in equipment can be prohibitive enough to keep some casual photographers away from SLRs, although

6048-466: The focusing mechanics of the lenses. Even the Synchro- Compur shutter is very similar to the earlier designs. The convertible lenses of early Retina reflex models are equipped with interchangeable front elements and a fixed set of elements that remain on the body. Later models had fully interchangeable lenses. In these first models, the front three elements are contained in a cell that bayonets into

6144-453: The frame reset slider, which was moved to the bottom plate along with the (still) manually reset frame counter. The ASA setting button was moved from the ASA dial to the spot vacated by the release button. This redesign made a new camera case design necessary, leaving additional space for the frame counter, and the frame reset slider. The Retina Reflex cases were already something special before since

6240-420: The front of the lens assembly. The standard front cell can be replaced with one of three Schneider components - an 80mm and two different 35mm components. The rear part of the lens (which is a permanent part of the camera body) contains the focusing apparatus, the entire Synchro- Compur shutter, the aperture, and the three rear elements, which are common to all 4 lenses. This interchangeable front component concept

6336-427: The front set of lens elements to modify the focal length. There are two groups of accessory front element sets: a wide-angle group which has a focal length of 35 mm and a maximum aperture of either f /4 or f /5.6 , and a telephoto group which has a focal length of 80 mm and a maximum aperture of f /4 . For the Retina Reflex, the wide-angle 35 mm f /5.6 unit could be fitted, but this combination

6432-465: The lens, is reflected upwards by the reflex mirror, into the pentaprism where it is reflected twice to correct the inversions caused by the lens, and align the image with the viewfinder . When the shutter is released, the mirror moves out of the light path, and the light shines directly onto the film (or in the case of a DSLR , the CCD or CMOS imaging sensor). Exceptions to the moving mirror system include

6528-405: The market for used SLRs has become larger particularly as photographers migrate to digital systems. The digital single-lens reflex camera has largely replaced the film SLR for its convenience, sales, and popularity at the start of the 21st century. These cameras were the marketing favorite among advanced amateur and professional photographers through the first two decades of

6624-508: The mass market, Leica's PLOOT reflex housing along with a 200 mm f4.5 lens paired to a 35 mm rangefinder camera body, debuted in 1935. The Soviet Спорт (“Sport”), also a 24 mm by 36 mm image size, was prototyped in 1934 and went to market in 1937. K. Nüchterlein's Kine Exakta (Germany, 1936) was the first integrated 35 mm SLR to enter the market. Additional Exakta models, all with waist-level finders, were produced up to and during World War II . Another ancestor of

6720-404: The mirror box and pentaprism/pentamirror. The mirror box also prevents lenses with deeply recessed rear elements from being mounted close to the film or sensor unless the camera has a mirror lockup feature; this means that simple designs for wide angle lenses cannot be used. Instead, larger and more complex retrofocus designs are required. The SLR mirror 'blacks-out' the viewfinder image during

6816-401: The mirror moves upwards from its resting position in the direction of the arrow, the focal plane shutter opens, and the image is projected onto the film or sensor in exactly the same manner as on the focusing screen. This feature distinguishes SLRs from other cameras as the photographer sees the image composed exactly as it will be captured on the film or sensor . Most 35 mm SLRs use

6912-597: The modern SLR camera was the Swiss-made Alpa , which was innovative, and influenced the later Japanese cameras. The first eye-level SLR viewfinder was patented in Hungary on August 23, 1943, by Jenő Dulovits, who then designed the first 35 mm camera with one, the Duflex , which used a system of mirrors to provide a laterally correct, upright image in the eye-level viewfinder. The Duflex, which went into serial production in 1948,

7008-523: The only choice for focal plane shutters at that time was 1 ⁄ 60 . Later, Nikon again pioneered the use of titanium for vertical shutters, using a special honeycomb pattern on the blades to reduce their weight and achieve world-record speeds in 1982 of 1 ⁄ 4000 second for non-sync shooting, and 1 ⁄ 250 with x-sync. Nowadays most such shutters are manufactured from cheaper aluminium (though some high-end cameras use materials such as carbon-fibre and Kevlar ). Another shutter system

7104-423: The photographer with considerably more control (i.e., how the image is viewed and framed) than would be the case with a view camera. In addition, some SLR lenses are manufactured with extremely long focal lengths, allowing a photographer to be a considerable distance away from the subject and yet still expose a sharp, focused image. This is particularly useful if the subject includes dangerous animals (e.g., wildlife);

7200-459: The problem of setting the wrong aperture on the original Retina Reflex. Speed are from 1 sec. to 1/500th plus bulb. It features M and X syncs and a self-timer. What was the meter adjustment knob on the top plate is now a fixed housing for the ASA/DIN scale. The selenium cell exposure meter is now coupled to a "setting wheel" located on the very bottom of the lens mount. This setting wheel sets adjusts

7296-521: The same, and after having bought Konica Minolta's camera division in 2006. Sony continues using the Minolta AF lens mount in their DSLRs, including cameras built around a semi-transparent fixed mirror . Samsung builds DSLRs based on the Pentax lens mount. Olympus , on the other hand, chose to create a new digital-only Four Thirds System SLR standard, adopted later by Panasonic and Leica. Contax came out with

7392-443: The selected value after the shutter is released. After exposure the mirror stays up until the bottom-mounted single-stroke film advance lever is again wound. Focusing is via a ground glass screen with a central split-image rangefinder. The camera's top plate has the manually set frame counter, the shutter release, the film rewind knob with film reminder dial, the exposure needle window, meter adjustment knob with EV and ASA/DIN scales,

7488-419: The serial number engraved inside the outer bayonet ring. When equipped with either of the telephoto (80 mm) lens units, the minimum focusing distance is 6.5 ft (2.0 m). Kodak sold a close-up lens labeled "T 1/60" (denoting application, diopter, and attachment thread size) that extended the minimum focusing distance to 3.5 ft (1.1 m). Introduced in 1959, the Type 034 Retina Reflex S

7584-405: The start of the 21st century. A cross-section ( or 'side-view') of the optical components of a typical SLR camera shows how the light passes through the lens assembly, is reflected by the mirror placed at a 45-degree angle, and is projected on the matte focusing screen . Via a condensing lens and internal reflections in the roof pentaprism the image appears in the eyepiece. When an image is taken,

7680-552: The subject prefers anonymity to being photographed; or else, the photographer's presence is unwanted (e.g., celebrity photography or surveillance photography). Practically all SLR and DSLR camera bodies can also be attached to telescopes and microscopes via an adapter tube to further enhance their imaging capabilities. In most cases, single-lens reflex cameras cannot be made as small or as light as other camera designs—such as rangefinder cameras , autofocus compact cameras and digital cameras with electronic viewfinders (EVF)—owing to

7776-654: The system. There are many variations of the design. Sometimes extra lens elements are added. The basic lens type is one of the most developed and used photographic lenses. The design forms the basis for many camera lenses in use today, especially the wide-aperture standard lenses used with 35 mm and other small-format cameras. It can offer good results up to f /1.4 with a wide field of view , usually with seven elements for extra aberration control. Modern super wide aperture models of f / 1.0 can have eight or more elements, while more moderate aperture f /2.8 versions can be simplified to five elements. The Double Gauss

7872-435: The top models, whereas the best rangefinder cameras adopted such features later. Many of the advantages of SLR cameras derive from viewing and focusing the image through the attached lens. Most other types of cameras do not have this function; subjects are seen through a viewfinder that is near the lens, making the photographer's view different from that of the lens. SLR cameras provide photographers with precision; they provide

7968-708: The type 127 roll film SLR camera: 8 cm f /2 versions of both the Biotar and Xenon , as well as the Dallmeyer Super Six 3 inch f /1.9 (UK). Other early Double Gauss variants for 35mm cameras included the Kodak Ektar 45mm f /2 on the Kodak Bantam Special (1936, USA), the Kodak Ektar 50mm f /1.9 for the Kodak Ektra (1941, USA), the Voigtländer Ultron 50mm f /2 on

8064-527: Was a focal-plane shutter SLR. Rollei later switched to a camera system of leaf-shutter design (e.g., the 6006 and 6008 reflexes) and their current medium-format SLRs are now all of the between-the-lens shutter design. Since the technology became widespread in the 1970s, SLRs have become the main photographic instrument used by dedicated amateur photographers and professionals. Some photographers of static subjects (such as architecture, landscape, and some commercial subjects), however, prefer view cameras because of

8160-553: Was a major redesign of the original Retina Reflex. The major difference is its use of fully interchangeable lenses, the same lenses that were made for the Kodak Retina IIIS rangefinder camera. The lens mount is commonly referred to as the Deckel mount, after the manufacturer of Compur leaf shutters. This same mount, with minor differences, was also used by a number of other German camera makers, including Braun and Voigtländer . It

8256-504: Was a telescope objective lens consisting of closely spaced positive and negative menisci, invented in 1817 by Carl Friedrich Gauss as an improvement to the Fraunhofer Achromatic telescope objective lens by adding a meniscus lens to its single convex and concave lens design. Alvan Graham Clark and Bausch & Lomb further refined the design in 1888 by taking two of these lenses and placing them back to back, making

8352-530: Was also the world's first SLR with an instant-return (a.k.a. autoreturn) mirror. The first commercially produced SLR that employed a roof pentaprism was the Italian Rectaflex A.1000, shown in full working condition on Milan fair April 1948 and produced from September the same year, thus being on the market one year before the east German Zeiss Ikon VEB Contax S , announced on May 20, 1949, produced from September. The Japanese adopted and further developed

8448-473: Was also used in the later Retina Reflex III, Retina Reflex IV, and the Kodak Instamatic Reflex . As for the original Retina Reflex, lenses were available from both Schneider and Rodenstock , but this time the lenses had identical bayonet mounts. The shutter is a Synchro-Compur behind the lens unit, which is part of the camera body. The aperture is now in the interchangeable lenses, which eliminates

8544-753: Was due to Taylor Hobson in the 1920s, resulting in the f /2.0 Opic and later the Speed Panchro designs, which were licensed to various other manufacturers. In 1927, Lee modified the Opic design and increase the maximum aperture up to f /1.4 , which was named the Ultra Panchro lens. Further improvement was done by Lee in 1930, the Super Speed Panchro . It was a f /1.5 fast design with seven elements in five groups, which influenced later fast speed lens designs, being cited by many lens manufacturers until

8640-532: Was increased while keeping the aperture relatively large- making it, for a time, the fastest 28mm lens available for 35mm cameras by a large margin. In 1966, Asahi Pentax combined the Super Speed Panchro type and the Xenon type, developing the seven-element, six-group Super Takumar 50mm f /1.4 (v2). During the 1960s to early 80s every optical house had Super Panchro type or Super Takumar type double Gauss normal lenses jockeying for sales. For example, compare

8736-503: Was introduced in 1954 with the folding Retina IIc and IIIc models. Care must be exercised when using front components other than the standard (50mm) one, as it is possible to set the body mounted aperture wider than the maximum aperture of the lens (i.e. f/2 instead of f/4 or f/5.6). A similar system was introduced in 1953 with the Contaflex (SLR) . The Retina Reflex is, on rare occasions, found with very similar lenses made by Rodenstock . As

8832-498: Was likely the most intensively studied lens formula of the twentieth century, producing dozens of major variants, scores of minor variants, hundreds of marketed lenses and tens of millions of unit sales. It has few flaws, most notably a small amount of oblique spherical aberration, which could lower peripheral contrast. Double Gauss/Planar tweaks formed the basis for most normal and near-normal prime lens designs with wide apertures for sixty years. The original two element Gauss

8928-466: Was made between Spring 1957 and October 1958. Like many 35 mm SLR cameras of West German heritage it is equipped with a leaf shutter instead of a focal plane shutter . It was named Type 025 Retina Reflex since it inherited several features from the contemporary Retina rangefinder cameras, like the Retina IIIc : The film advance and exposure counting system, the film channel, the selenium meter , and

9024-399: Was made from 1964 to 1967. It has a characteristic little window in the front of its pentaprism housing, which displays the aperture in use in the viewfinder. The accessory shoe now had flash contacts. The frame counter now automatically resets to 36 when the back is opened; the frame advance slider is used to set the counter for shorter rolls. The split-image rangefinder on the ground glass

9120-406: Was not recommended as the resulting image on the ground glass screen would be dim and hard to focus. There are six distinct front lens units in total from the two manufacturers; each of the wide-angle and telephoto front lens units include six elements in four groups. Users were cautioned to stay with the same manufacturer for the front conversion lens units: that is, cameras originally equipped with

9216-649: Was the original six element symmetric f /4.5 double Gauss lens. Horace William Lee added a slight asymmetry to the Planar in 1920, and created the Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Series 0 (also called the Lee Opic , UK) f /2 lens. It was commercially unsuccessful, but its asymmetry is the foundation of the modern double Gauss, including the Zeiss Biotar . Later the design was developed with additional glasses to give high-performance lenses of wide aperture. The main development

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