Any Exakta enthusiasts here?

peter_n said:
Lucky guy Vince! I wanted one so many years ago but couldn't afford it so I made do with a Zenit 3M and Helios lens instead. I really like the Zeiss lenses but have never been able to find that legendary 75mm Biotar.
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Yes this Biotar is a real beauty, especially since Frank went through it (he literally took it completely apart, and now you could rotate that focusing barrel with a feather!). I have not yet shot with it, but I'm going to try it with that recently CLA'd Exakta V.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Cute, yes.

Usable... um...

I've had a couple. They're interesting, especially the 'stick shift' model, but I can't say I regret selling them.

Cheers,

R.
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Some of the later Exa's are more 'useable', such as the Exa 500, or even the Exa II from the late 1950's (these offered a wider range of shutter speeds). Only thing about those is that they have a fixed prism, so you can't take full advantage of all the Exakta accessories, such as a waist-level finder.
 
I'm using my Exaktas (VX1000 and RTL1000) as my main camera system on the ordinary basis. You can find a more then 150 photos on my flickr photo page.

CZJ Flektogon 20/4
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/20mm/

Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Orestegon 29/2.8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/29mm/

Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Lydith 30/3.5
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/30mm/

CZJ Flektogon 35/2.8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/35mm/

Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Oreston50/1.8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/oreston/

CZJ Pancolar 50/2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/pancolar/

CZJ Biotar 58/2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/58mm/

Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Orestor 100/2.8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/100mm/

CZJ Sonnar 135/4
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/1354/

Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Orestegor 200/4
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vjekoslav_bobic/tags/200mm/
 
Really super shots -- you've definitely illustrated not only your creative talent/abilities, but also the quality of these cameras.

I've never used an RTL1000...how are they?
 
Finally got some film back from my latest Exakta (an Exakta V that I got with the case, original Schneider lens and box for $50).

Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC
Exakta1-1.jpg


Dumbarton1.jpg
 
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Exa Madness

Exa Madness

Roger Hicks said:
Cute, yes.

Usable... um...

I've had a couple. They're interesting, especially the 'stick shift' model, but I can't say I regret selling them.

Cheers,

R.
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Well I thought what the heck when i stumbled upon an EXA with "original" lens ..ISCO Gottingen 1:2.8 50mm on ebait. So I bid and won. Wanted to see what all the hubbub was about. I haven't run any film through it as I can't seem to get past the waist level finder. I look down at it and all I see is my reflection... that curiosity isn't going to work for me. Bought it for about $25 US. I won't be able to find lenses for that price. 😱 It does make for a magnifying glass if I should need one. 🙄
 
Dave a Varex IIa with a good shutter and good curtains is extremely rare - almost all of them need expensive work. I hope you bought it.

I use a VX1000 now, instant return mirror and many still have working shutters and curtains, and they still look very nice (but nearly as cool as the earlier models)

I predict a Primotar 50/3.5 will disappoint. The best Exakta compatible 50mm lens I've seen is the Pancolar 50/1.8 -- these are really remarkably good. The Biotar, faster Meyer lenses, Isco, etc. I'm sure are excellent, highly collectible, better made than the Pancolar, but probably not quite as sharp.
 
I was handed a vxIIa not too long ago , but sadly it needs a bunch of work.
Beat shutter curtains and a lense in dire need of a CLA, I cant imagine who repairs them but it does look cool so its got that going for it.
 
Ranger Copy said:
Those worked out rather well Vince. What film were you using?
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Um, I think it was Kodak 400 Max film -- I'd had this film kicking around for a while and thought I'd use it up.

As far as to who can repair these cameras, Frank Marshman / Camera Wiz is the man. Now, I have to tell you a couple of things: shutter curtain material is getting hard to find (at least that's what Frank has told me), so you'd probably have to find another camera with good curtains and use those. If you can find a reasonably clean camera with good curtains and it just needs a CLA, that's really not a big problem. I'm fortunate to have four Exaktas in great cosmetic and working condition (2-VX Version 1's, 1 V (Varex), and an Exakta II Version 1), and Frank has three more for service (2-Kine Exakta 1 Version 4, and another VX Version 1), and from having used them for more than 30 years I know what to look for and have specific preferences. Once you've found a good one and have had it serviced, it is a really rewarding system to use - the only thing that I've never really like is that long 'throw' of the film advance lever, but that's really a minor quibble.
 
A fool and his money II

A fool and his money II

leica M2 fan said:
If all you see is your reflection, try winding the shutter. At least, that's how the Exakta works.
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Yes M2 Fan, that works. 😱

So now I decided to run a roll. I open the back, place the canister in the left chamber pull the film leader to the right.......😱 NO TAKE UP SPOOL! Well whaddaya know about that professor? 🙁

There was a picture on the listing that showed the back open...but did i save/enlarge/enlighten...not this time amigos. What really gets me.. I've been messing with the camera for a few days ,,,camera back wide open and no clue. No sir, nada. That maybe a reason to take snapshots. The camera lens sees things that I cannot. Obviously that theory did not work in this case. :bang:

Have a good day🙂
 

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Don't if I posted this 'fix' on the Forum or not, but for you Exakta devotees who have pinholed shutters, there is a solution (how permanent it is remains to be seen).

Providing your curtains aren't wrinkled or cracked, you can fill the pinholes with a black fabric pen, available at either art supply stores, Michaels etc. The pen is called 'DecoFabric', and it has a 3mm felt tip, and dispenses this rubbery, flexible ink that seems to be perfect for Exakta shutter curtains. As well, I've used this pen on almost an entire Reflex-Korelle curtain, and it worked out just fine. I just finished fixing a second curtain on an Exakta VX that I picked up about a year ago with a bunch of other camera stuff. The first curtain looks fine, and the second curtain 'looked' good, but upon closer inspection, had a bunch of pinholes. After about 20 minutes of filling with the pen (and with a really bright light pointing into the camera from the opposite side), I think I got all the holes. Only left to do is to run a roll of film through it to see if it's truly fixed. We'll see!

Here is a link to a site that carries the markers: http://www.markersupply.com/madema2.html
 
Love my Exakta Varex IIa with Biotar 2/58, Sonnar 4/135, 2.8/35 Flektogon and finally the 2.8/85 Schacht Travenar the camera just feels right in my hands some people call it ergonomics a disaster I call them wonderful and the lenses made for the Exakta system are superb. The front mounted shutter release feels better than the topmounted counterparts from other manufacturers and the winding is super smooth.

Dominik
 
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