a SLR (re)discover story

[alphonse2501]

Oregon Hikers Stumble Upon a 1950s SLR in the Wild

Ethan Field and Ron Campbell were hiking off-trail in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge last week when something shiny caught their eye. Bending over, they discovered an old camera that was mostly covered by rocks, dirt, and vegetation.

The camera appears to be a Exakta VX IIa, an East German SLR that was produced between 1957 and 1963. The corrosion on the camera and lens suggest that it’s been outside for quite some time.

“Obviously we were in a spot not many people have been,” Ron writes on Instagram. “Down a high steep slope next to the creek!”

They soon discovered that there was still film loaded in the camera, and now they’re working to get it processed to see if any historic photos appear.

Ethan and Ron are also trying to locate the owner of the camera using a number found engraved on it — possibly a social security number, they say.

Quite amazing for a SLR camera that forgotten in forest.

Exakta info:
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exakta-gallery.html

 

[kbg32]

I love stories like this....

 

[BillBingham2]

The last frame will have the world's first selfie on it.

It will be D.B. Cooper, looking worse for wear, beard, torn cloths, but still with a big smile on his face. Sadly you will see a Mad Mama Bear charging about 10 feet away in the background.....

B2 (;->

 

[julio1fer]

How can they have checked if there was film inside? I hope they did not open the back!

Lens is a Tessar and the camera has an adapter in the tripod mount. FWIW.

Corrosion must have killed the mechanisms. Even an Exakta cannot function after 50 years inside of wet earth.

 

[Trius]

How can they have checked if there was film inside? I hope they did not open the back!

Lens is a Tessar and the camera has an adapter in the tripod mount. FWIW.

Corrosion must have killed the mechanisms. Even an Exakta cannot function after 50 years inside of wet earth.

Rewind. Open in a darkroom or changing bag.

 

[aoresteen]

Soon to be on ebay listed as in mint condition.... 🙂

 

[css9450]

Soon to be on ebay listed as in mint condition....

Marvelous patina!

Bonus points if they can get "bokeh" mentioned in the description too...

 

[sevo]

Lens is a Tessar and the camera has an adapter in the tripod mount. FWIW.

Corrosion must have killed the mechanisms. Even an Exakta cannot function after 50 years inside of wet earth.

The lens is a (affordable, presumably Korean made) f/2 Gauss type, and the camera has been 40 years or less in the ground - the "Exaktar" lenses I am aware of all hail from a period around and after 1970, after the (Dutch) heirs to Ihagee (the Exakta makers) had been disowned in Eastern Germany and tried to re-establish a new company in West Berlin.

 

[Trius]

Soon to be on ebay listed as in mint condition.... 🙂

Maybe they'll be honest and downrate to "Minty".

 

[bmattock]

There is more information on it - theories of ownership:

http://www.oregonlive.com/geek/2016/02/did_jimmy_stewart_own_mystery.html

Did movie legend Jimmy Stewart own mystery camera found in Columbia Gorge?

 

[sevo]

There is more information on it - theories of ownership:

http://www.oregonlive.com/geek/2016/02/did_jimmy_stewart_own_mystery.html

Jimmy Stewart, in 1954? Not unless some prankster added a then new lens to the camera at least a decade after it was lost. The Exaktars I am aware of hail from the seventies, and the company that made (or rather, branded) them did not start until 1963.

 

[Chromacomaphoto]

Amazing! Love stuff like this.