Kodak Retina IIIc and IIIC
The Kodak Retina IIIc/C cameras served as the last of Kodak's line of folding 35mm viewfinder/rangefinder cameras. Confusingly, the IIIc was introduced in 1954, at the same time as the Retina Ib and IIc. The Retina IIIc differs from these earlier cameras in a couple of ways. It made standard the fast 50mm f/2 lens and it included an uncoupled selenium cell light meter. The Retina IIIc also popularized the ability to swap out the front optic of the lens for either a wide angle 35mm f/4 or telephoto 80mm f/4 auxiliary lens. The Retina IIIc also boasts a redesigned lens carriage that slides out of the body when the front door of the camera is opened. This added to the camera's already durable nature.
In 1957, the Retina IIIC was introduced. This variant is most notable for including framelines in the viewfinder for the two auxiliary lenses. The earlier Retina IIIc requires an accessory viewfinder for proper composition. The later IIIC also switched to a single range light meter. Since most Retina III users don't typically track down the auxiliary lenses and are quite happy with the 50mm f/2, it makes little difference whether you end up with a IIIc or IIIC.
One last note: the Retina IIIc/C can be found with either Schneider Xenon or Rodenstock Heliogon optics. Since only the front optic is swapped out and the rear optic remains inside the camera, it is important to match auxiliary lenses to the same brand as the original lens. If you have a Retina IIIc with a Schneider 50mm, make sure to get the Schneider versions of the 35mm and 80mm and not the Rodenstock versions.
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