Best East Germany made SLR?

Pentode said:
I’m a fan of the Exaktas, especially the early VX and VXlla, but they are extremely quirky to use. Very well made but quirky nonetheless.

The Pentacon F and the Praktina FX are two other cameras I really like. Bear in mind that none of these have an auto-return mirror. They’re all too early for that. They were extremely advanced for their time but they’re slow and cumbersome by today’s standards regardless of how beautifully they were made.

If your goal is to take advantage of all those great East German lenses from that era you might consider that they were all available in m42 mount (originally introduced by Contax, I believe). That means you’re not restricted to using a DDR body. You could just as easily use all that wonderful glass on a Pentax S1 or similar and you would probably have a more reliable outfit in the long run. I love my DDR SLRs but they don’t feel as solid to me as an old Pentax.
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I'm happy to use my Praktinas as they are but, if the spring motor is attached it converts the operation of the mechanism to instant return mirror.
 
Cheating! Get a Chinon re-badged as a Revueflex, there’s some earlier models around that are really nice!��
 
Of the Exaktas, I've found the VX500 to be the best of the lot, in user terms. Ihagee quality started going down the tubes when the VXIIB came out, and got worse with the VX1000. When they were rolled into VEB Pentacon, the quality improved a bit and the VX500 and the last of the VX1000 cameras are actually pretty decent shooters. But the VX500 does away with the intricate self-timer/slow speed mech, they're lighter and more robust because of it. The VXIIA and earlier cameras exhibit a nicer fit and finish than the later cameras, but the shutter curtains are made from a material that self destructs with age - and in any event all of them should be cleaned and lubed before use - it's just the cost of replacing the curtains on top of that can make the older Exaktas quite pricey. The VX500 is simple enough that it an be opened up dusted out, and oiled, at home by anybody with the right tools and mechanical finesse. I've never even had to mess with the shutter tension on any VX500 I've opened, just clean and lube and it's good as new.

The early Prakticas I generally stay away from. They're loud, crude, and huge. Then the Novas come and are supremely unreliable. The revised Novas (that is with the modern shutter dial instead of the old lift-and-set type) are serviceable... but the shutter times can be all over the place even if the camera sounds like it's working correctly. The later L series cameras are a better bet.

My favorite? The Exas. It's rare to find one that doesn't work perfectly. I've encountered just a few problems through the dozen or so I've had. The original series cameras have a light seal behind the mirror made from the same self-destructing material as the Exakta shutter curtains. This seal cannot be replaced. It's rare that it happens, but sometimes you get a light leak here. It can be painted over with fabric paint for a simple fix though. Shutter capping is another issue, caused by dried out lubricants, this is a simple fix, open the camera up (no special tools are needed, just flathead screwdrivers) clean out the old grease and oil, and relube - the Exa will be good for another 60 years.
 
Russell W. Barnes; said:
I recently acquired an IV-F and whilst it is a lovely, solid, well-made camera, you should be aware that you can't look through the viewfinder to compose a picture unless the shutter is cocked!
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Russell,
The Praktica V-F has the instant return mirror.
 
I've had good luck with several 1980's bayonet-mount Praktica bodies.
Features and handling are competitive with their Japanese contemporaries.
Since it's a "dead" lens mount some nice lenses can be reasonably priced.

Chris
 
Not exactly on point, but a testament to Exactas. My father was an entomologist. He had a colleague who had a side gig making and selling macrophotographs of insects on slide film (it was the 70s), and he made enough from his photo sales to be able to afford and acquire top-of-the-line Nikon and Hasselblad bodies, lenses and macro bellows of the day. His workhorse outfit was an Exacta, probably because that is what he could first afford. The other gear was for hobby and vacation photography. Unusual choice, perhaps, but it worked for him, and the proof was in his sales.
 
Exakta Varex (VX)

Exakta Varex (VX)

For the longest time, I have wanted an Exakta but not sure which model. I did a lot of research and came across this beauty.

For under $500 USD, I acquired this beautiful condition and CLA'd Exakta Varex (VX) (version 5) w/Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8 lens, German Heliopan 49mm x 0.75 lens filter and included the various finders shown below in the original ad.

The camera functions wonderfully and - given all it's idiosyncratic operations - is an exquisite example of German engineering.


Exakta Varex VX by rdc154, on Flickr


Exakta Varex VX by rdc154, on Flickr
 
Thanks! Credit to the seller for the backdrop :)

I don't regret spending the money as it's a lovely functioning example... ...and like other vintage cameras... ...the $$$ to machine something like this today?

I'll enjoy it for what it is and occasionally shoot with it.
 
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