Exakta

[alanrockwood]

Any Exakta fans out there?

...comments about your experiences with Exakta(?).

 

[AgX]

Haven't got one.

But it was the first system-SLR.

 

[frank]

I have an early model with embossed script. Shutter curtains are shot. Great steam punk look.

 

[Xmas]

2x iia one needs a pressure plate polish

you need to wind on immediately as no instant return mirror

useful for people with handicap as can be operated left handed

 

[Nick Merritt]

I like them -- can't speak to what's "steampunk" and what's not, but definitely, if you are into some remarkable clockwork mechanics, these cameras are the acme. The early VXs, with the engraved name and the curved wind lever, are neatest of all, very reminiscent of screw mount Leicas esthetically. However, there's a lot to be said for the more modern features (instant return mirror) of the later cameras like the VX1000.

Speaking of the clockwork, I always have to refamiliarize myself with which settings on the slow speed knob are for the self timer, and which are for slow speeds without delay action. In practice I've never needed those slow speeds, but it's pretty neat to know they're there!

I definitely prefer the later lenses that automatically stop down the aperture -- working with the manual aperture lenses is s-l-o-w. And I love how there are so many different lenses from different (and now obscure) manufacturers, like Enna, Schacht, Steinheil, Meyer (to name four).

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I am a total Exakta hound and have three VX's. I actually use the cameras and have a good selection of Zeiss and Schneider lenses, but, alas, I don't have a 35mm lens yet!

Here are some great Exakta links:

http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/

http://www.ihagee.org/

Dead Link Removed

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html <--- my favorite

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exakta-guide.html <--- awesome!

http://exakta.org/

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-160.html

http://www.exaktaphile.com/index2.html

 

[flavio81]

There is a "top 10 35mm cameras" thread here and i forgot to put the Exacta. Shame on me.

They are really flexible cameras!

 

[summicron1]

Exakta is a classic line that hit hard times and faded away. The Exakta RTL 1000 was made by Pentacon and was junk, but the earlier cameras were good.

My first real slr was an Exa IIa so I've always had a soft spot in my heart. The cameras don't age well, or perhaps they're just more complex than Leicas, but the older ones all seem to make that squeal sound when you fire the shutter, although the exposures are still good. The shutter curtains seem to dry out faster than other models.

Lovely cameras with a cool mechanical look, which is that steampunk thing you hear about. The lenses were made by the best and are lovely -- a 58mm biogon is to die for. The Exa models that use a barrel shutter (as opposed to fabric focal plane) are quiet and fun because you change shutter speeds with a little gear shift lever. Using one with a waist-level finder makes them the ideal candid/spy camera because they're both quiet and unobtrusive. People don't know you are taking pictures with them.

Even the focal plane shutters are quiet if you have one that's been serviced in the last 10 years or so -- the non-returning mirror makes for a very quiet shutter sequence.

There's a huge selection of lenses and finders. My best working ones are the oldest, oddly enough. And where else can you find a camera with a film knife?

 

[summicron1]

I am a total Exakta hound and have three VX's. I actually use the cameras and have a good selection of Zeiss and Schneider lenses, but, alas, I don't have a 35mm lens yet!

Here are some great Exakta links:

http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/

http://www.ihagee.org/

Dead Link Removed

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html <--- my favorite

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exakta-guide.html <--- awesome!

http://exakta.org/

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-160.html

http://www.exaktaphile.com/index2.html

would any of these be up to the challenge of servicing a prewar exakta 66? Probably needs a new curtain.

ct

 

[alanrockwood]

I kinda like the non-return mirror. The mental image just before blackout is a good approximation of the shot, better in my view than a camera with an instant return mirror. Also, it makes it easy to see if the film needs to be wound for the next shot.

 

[sagai]

I have two exa 1a and apart from having diffuculties with proper focusing for night shots they are quite okay. Having a Tessar does make a difference though.

 

[Ian Grant]

I have a Varex IIb and a couple of Exa's, also a few lenses but my 35mm Flektagon & 135mm Sonnar were stolen about 20 years ago unfortunately.

Exacta's are capapble of high quality results particularly with the better Zeiss lenses, I much prefer the Pancolor to the Tessar, the Domiplans were nearly always terrible.

Some of the best 35mm negatives I've developed and printed for someone else were made with a Varex 1000 and a 50mm Pancolor, a 35mm Flektagon or a135mm Sonnar lens.

Ian

 

[Theo Sulphate]

On my three VX's, the shutter curtains, normal speeds, slow speeds, and delay times are all still fine. In general, Exaktas seem to be robust cameras. I've made a little note I can take with me to help remember how to use the slow speeds and delay settings.

I've got a plethora of 50mm and other lenses for the Exakta, including the Biotar 58/2 - but the Steinheil Auto-Quinon 55/1.9 is a true gem. I have only one Angenieux lens; these are very nice.

The color-coded timeline of features in the Wrotniak website's Quick Guide is great for seeing which models have which features.

 

[snapguy]

VX1000

I have an Exacta VX1000 that was lovingly taken care of by a friend of mine for many years before I bought it from him. When I worked as a photographer for the University of Washington in Seattle in 1962 the university hospital had a photographer who took a lot of scientific photos -- through a microscope and so on. He used an Exacta which was, before the advent of the Nikon F, the best SLR system available.
The Exacta can be a little klunky and the quality varies but it is overall a very fine camera system with great lenses. Mine has a knife inside the camera body so you can cut the film and take a partial roll out of the camera. And there are three ways to NOT trip the shutter release. In the "olde days" saving yourself from taking a blank frame was considered important. A tad bit over-engineered but lovable.

 

[michr]

I have two 35mm Exaktas, the Varex IIa and IIb. Until I bought these I'd almost completely stopped using 35mm film, because medium format is so much bigger and almost all 35mm SLRs follow the same template, and hence are pretty boring to use (including, I presume the last Exacta models).

The Exaktas are a bid weird. No auto-return mirror, two shutter speed dials (haven't need the slow dial yet, so I haven't bothered to figure out how to use it). No auto-aperture, except, some lenses have a button that stops down when you press the shutter. Weird, but clever, and realistically, the Exaktas do everything I need to take a photo.

The two lenses I have so far, the Pancolor, and a Steinheil 85/2.8 both are decent lenses. I was especially surprised by the Steinheil. Nice sharpness and out-of-focus rendering, in what is essential a barrel with glass in it. The apparent simplicity, and lightness of this lens is surprising coming from the late model Nikon/Canon world.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Exakta system must have included some of the best lenses in the world at the time, and most are available for purchase at a reasonable price.

The 35mm SLR was a solved problem in the Exakta, everything that came later was a refinement.

I'm now looking out for an affordable (as in cheap) working VP Exakta. I can dream about the Night Exakta or the Exakta 66, but I think a 127 film SLR would be quite a lot of fun, in spite of having to cut my own film.

 

[flavio81]

And where else can you find a camera with a film knife?

LOL!! Agree!!

 

[AgX]

I always took the view that if theree was a place to conquer the upcoming japanes camera industry it would have been East-Germany:
high-end cameras at competive prices

Most probably it was the system of decisonmaking that spoiled that.

 

[alanrockwood]

Regarding the left handed film wind, I once read that this actually made it more convenient to wind the film when the Exakta is set up on a copy stand.

 

[desertrat]

Exakta is a classic line that hit hard times and faded away. The Exakta RTL 1000 was made by Pentacon and was junk, but the earlier cameras were good.

My first real slr was an Exa IIa so I've always had a soft spot in my heart. The cameras don't age well, or perhaps they're just more complex than Leicas, but the older ones all seem to make that squeal sound when you fire the shutter, although the exposures are still good. The shutter curtains seem to dry out faster than other models.

Lovely cameras with a cool mechanical look, which is that steampunk thing you hear about. The lenses were made by the best and are lovely -- a 58mm biogon is to die for. The Exa models that use a barrel shutter (as opposed to fabric focal plane) are quiet and fun because you change shutter speeds with a little gear shift lever. Using one with a waist-level finder makes them the ideal candid/spy camera because they're both quiet and unobtrusive. People don't know you are taking pictures with them.

Even the focal plane shutters are quiet if you have one that's been serviced in the last 10 years or so -- the non-returning mirror makes for a very quiet shutter sequence.

There's a huge selection of lenses and finders. My best working ones are the oldest, oddly enough. And where else can you find a camera with a film knife?

That squeal, or barking noise comes from the dried out grease on the shutter curtain roller spindles. A good CLA will fix that.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have my father's Varex IIb with prism and waist level finders. I haven't used it yet.

I have an Exa IIb as well.

The only lenses I have are the standard (I assume) 50mm Domiplan and a huge 500mm Danubia which appears to be one of those lenses which you bought along with the correct adaptor to fit whichever camera system you owned.


Steve.

 

[Roger Cole]

That squeal, or barking noise comes from the dried out grease on the shutter curtain roller spindles. A good CLA will fix that.

Who works on these things? Is there an acknowledged expert?

I don't have one, and need another camera (except for a replacement for my falling apart 4x5) like the proverbial hole in the head, but I've always thought these things looked so cool I'd like to have one eventually just for that reason - but if so I want to be able to use it.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

A note on shutter speeds: you have the main dial (with 1/1000-1/25, B, T) and the secondary dial with black and red numbers.

-- To use 1/1000, B, or T, just set it on the main dial; leave the secondary dial unwound.
-- To use 1/5sec to 12sec, set B on main dial; wind and set to black number on secondary dial
-- To use fixed delay before 1/1000-1/25, set speed on main dial; wind and set any red number on secondary dial
-- To use fixed delay before 1/5-6sec, set B on main dial; wind and select a red number on secondary dial

I hope I got that right. The fixed delay time and the specific speeds vary by model.

 

[Xmas]

A note on shutter speeds: you have the main dial (with 1/1000-1/25, B, T) and the secondary dial with black and red numbers.

-- To use 1/1000, B, or T, just set it on the main dial; leave the secondary dial unwound.
-- To use 1/5sec to 12sec, set B on main dial; wind and set to black number on secondary dial
-- To use fixed delay before 1/1000-1/25, set speed on main dial; wind and set any red number on secondary dial
-- To use fixed delay before 1/5-6sec, set B on main dial; wind and select a red number on secondary dial

I hope I got that right. The fixed delay time and the specific speeds vary by model.

Don't know if that is the full or correct set I need a A4 page or manual on smart phone.

But if you have a 'modern' lens you need to also lock the aperture eg with a cable release lock.

To be fair mine (a Pancolar /2) has an aperture stop down lock but not obvious or convient IMO.

It was not until the Nikon F2 that the delay/slow speeds were copied.

 

[desertrat]

Who works on these things? Is there an acknowledged expert?

I don't have one, and need another camera (except for a replacement for my falling apart 4x5) like the proverbial hole in the head, but I've always thought these things looked so cool I'd like to have one eventually just for that reason - but if so I want to be able to use it.

Miles Upton at www.exaktaphile.com used to do this work. He also published a heavily illustrated book on complete DIY CLA for exakta owners. His website is still up, but he posted last year he wasn't ready to receive any more cameras for repair. His book, Ultimate Exakta Repair occasionally shows up on Ebay or some of the used book websites.

Rick Oleson has repair notes on a bunch of different old cameras. His chapter on Exakta curtains is here:

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-160.html

This should help you get the camera stripped enough to put fresh oil on the curtain roller spindles. I did this to a VX-1000 and it cleared up the 'bark' completely, but the camera eventually developed uneven exposure issues at speeds above 1/125 second. Someday I may try to overhaul it properly. The only shooting I've done in the last couple of years has been 8X10.

Hope this helps.

 

[Roger Cole]

Well it won't help me "get the camera stripped..." as a) I don't have one, and b) I'd never attempt that myself if I did. I was just wondering as some models have known experts - Mark Hama for Yashica, Harry Fleenor for Rollei etc. In the event I did decide to get one (because, well, they look cool and I just like things that work, not just look cool...) I was wondering, but thanks for the info. The book could always be picked up and maybe provided to an adventurous general camera repair person.