Exakta Viewfinder Question

[klop]

I won an auction on ebay for a Exakta VX IIB and was wondering if the EXA viewfinders are interchangeable? I have the 2nd version Exa.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Have a look at this site,

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html

in particular and in regard to what's a first and second version, look at:

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exa-serial.html

The second version of Exa's have fixed prisms; the first version has a removable prism that is interchangeable with Exaktas.

 

[anfenglin]

The interchangeable ones of Exa and Exaktas can be used on all Exas and Exaktas although some look weird on some.
For instance: the original prisms for the first Exaktas (VX and Varex IIa) are the plain silver one with the pointy top and the similar looking one with the two leather patches. They sometimes are stamped „Ihagee“ or VX.
The prisms for the later Exaktas (Varex IIb and such), the one with the black plain name plate, are with three leather patches and have a flat front that fits behind the name plate and is on the same level as it.
The first ones are the P1 and P2 on the wrotniak.net site, the later ones are the P3 and P4.
The shown waist level finder in silver ist the first one for the Exakta and Exa 0, also for the Rheinmetall System Exa but that one is engraved with „Rheinmetall“.
The shown WLF H3 is the one for all Exas except the Exa 1C, that one was fully plastic and has a completely black top, the bottom part is silver.
The prism for the Exa 1C is completely black.
All focusing screens are interchangeable, except the ones in the WLF H1 and H2.
For example, I have a fresnel screen from a 1C in a prism P2 in my Exakta VX (US export model).
Imho the plain silver prism P1 is the prettiest but finding one without marks or dents is getting difficult, even over here where they were made.
Also, there are theories that a prism for the Rheinmetall Exa with a stamped „Rheinmetall“ exists (it is shown on the manual) but no such thing has been found by now.
There are other rarities like prisms with unusual lettering for export or small batch productions but that is a thing for the collectors.
I am quite happy using my Exakta and playing with the different types we have in our shop and get from buying them from their mostly first owners.

 

[Ian Grant]

I won an auction on ebay for a Exakta VX IIB and was wondering if the EXA viewfinders are interchangeable? I have the 2nd version Exa.

The WLF from my Exa 1a fits my Varex IIb no problem but and the Varex prism fits the Exa 1a, However I have a second WLF possibly older and that won't fit the Exa.

Ian

 

[Peltigera]

The Exakta RTL (the modified Praktica version) viewfinders are not compatible with the older Exaktas and Exas.

 

[klop]

Have a look at this site,

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html

in particular and in regard to what's a first and second version, look at:

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exa-serial.html

The second version of Exa's have fixed prisms; the first version has a removable prism that is interchangeable with Exaktas.

Great, Thank You... Checking it now.....

 

[klop]

OK, I have Exa 1.5.1

 

[klop]

Thank You everyone... Your info gives me hope... I like the EXA build, it was the shutter speeds that turned me off to it. I will dig it out this weekend and see for sure what finders I have. I have both a prism and WLF. Didn't realize the number of different ones made. The Exakta I have coming has the Examat finder on it.....