Exakta - "the bad curtain period" ?

[Luddite Frank]

Does anyone have a ball-park range of the period when Exakta SLRs were made using the crackly curtains ?

Going by serial range or design features... anyone ?

Thanks,

Luddite Frank

 

[KoNickon]

I think the later '50s models have this problem mainly -- Varex/VX IIa. Too bad, since those are some of the prettiest of the Exaktas. A good site: http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html

 

[tunalegs]

All of the Exaktas are prone to pinholes because of the non-instant-return mirror. However the shutter material used during the mid to late 1950s deteriorates more or less on its own. So VXIIa cameras are unfortunately the least likely to be in useable condition. The Exas from the same period also suffer this problem even though they have a metal shutter (the same curtain material is used as a light seal at the hinge on the exa shutter).