Retina IIIc vs Retina IIIs

[franco r]

pls help me. I'd like to buy a retina rangefinder for use. I I'm undecided between the IIIc or IIIs. On one side the IIIc is more compact and easy to carry, but on the other side the IIIs has the automatic parallax compensation, very usefull for portrait. Any other consideration? what do you suggest? Quality should be the same..
thank a lot!

[kitaanat]

IMO, IIIC / IIIc are a little bit complicate when you shoot with 35mm / 80mm because you have to re-adjust the focusing again.

some info of IIIS can be found in this topic that
pshinkaw & Brian Sweeney discussed about Kodak Retina IIIS

[Towermax]

The IIIS has automatic parallax correction.

I use both the IIIC and the IIIS. I agree with Kitaanat that the IIIC (or IIIc) is complicated to use with the 35mm and 80mm lenses--actually, IMO, they're very awkward to use.

When I just want a pocketable camera to carry around, and don't need anything other than a 50mm lens, I grab the IIIC. When I want to use other focal lengths, I choose the IIIS, and one or more lenses--28, 35, 85, and/or 135.

If you are big on portraits, I'd choose the IIIS and get the 85mm and 135mm. Either of the 50mm lenses is excellent, but the 50/1.9 is just superb.

[murpograph]

I second kitaamax. Handling the 35 and 80 mm is complicated. And the finder of the small "c" is very small.
I wouldn't say that parallax is a real problem for a portrait session but if you think it is the big "C" will not help as it has no automatic parallax correction. The only advantage versus the small "c" are the mirrored frames for 35 and 80 mm. With the small "c" you have to make use of a separate finder.

I would go for the IIIs an look for the Arton tele lens ( I guess with 85 mm).

[Brian Sweeney]

For portraits, the IIIS with 85/4 Tele-Arton would be my choice. The minimum focus of the 85 is not as close as a Leica short telephoto. The Arton gets into ~5.5ft, close enough for a portrait. The 135/4 Tele-Xenar has a minimum focus of ~14ft.

The 50/1.9 is superb, but if buying separate from the camera make sure to get one with a 3ft minimum focus. The later versions of the lens focus to 2ft, but do not have an RF cam.

The 90/4 Tele-Arton is NOT RF coupled, and is for the SLR's. The 85/4 Tele-Arton should work on both, has the RF cam.

[Towermax]

Originally Posted by murpograph

I second kitaamax.
I wouldn't say that parallax is a real problem for a portrait session but if you think it is the big "C" will not help as it has no automatic parallax correction.

Whoops, I meant the IIIS has automatic parallax correction, not the IIIC. I just edited my first post to correct that error.

[franco r]

Thank you to all. At the end I have chosen for a III big C. One of the think that I love is wandering with my motorbike around the hills looking for something that excite curiosity, so the compact size of the IIIC at the end won.
Now I'm waiting to receive the camera. I have to learn to use it well quickly, at the end of June I'll be in Provence (France) for my holidays!
Thank all again.