It's not a rangefinder, but

[oftheherd]

... what a nice stable of lenses.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67378&item=3859202615&rd=1

Anybody ever use one of these? I would be interested if it didn't go too high, but I don't do paypal (and what in the world would I do with another camera?) 😀

 

[pshinkaw]

It should go for a pretty respectable price if the proximity to the holidays doesn't distract from the auction interest. Exakta collectors are somewhere between Russian collectors and Leica collectors in their zeal. Someone will probably buy it as a self-gift for Christmas.

I have seen the Xenon and most auto wide-angles get snapped up pretty quickly. The VXIIa body is fairly common, although I think it is the best made of the Exaktas.

-Paul

 

[justins7]

I have a slightly older (but virtually the same) Exakta that I LOVE. What a beast of a thing: beautiful and strange. It cost me $10 with three lenses, including an Angeneux 35mm. It's like something from another planet.

 

[doubs43]

I have a slightly older (but virtually the same) Exakta that I LOVE. What a beast of a thing: beautiful and strange.

The Exakta is a very capable machine and the first 35mm SLR. They cost a great deal of money in the early years but their build-quality was first rate. They can still hold their own with more modern cameras.

The Exakta today seems peculiar to most because it's rife with unusual features; left-hand film advance, trapizoidal body, built-in film-cutting knife, separate slow speeds dial and self-timer.

I rebuilt my late father's VX-IIa and even a Leica has nothing on the smoothness of it's film advance....... like silk on glass. The attached picture was taken with it.

Walker

 

[former member]

C46? Just does not look quite like a C47.

Nice picture: but you have to list more detail when posting pictures of vintage aircraft on this forum. Hey, I don't make up ALL of the rules around here, just this one.

I have the 50mm F1.9 Xenon on my Retina IIIS. Very sharp, and great look to it. I would love to find one in LTM.

 

[doubs43]

C46? Just does not look quite like a C47.

Nice picture: but you have to list more detail when posting pictures of vintage aircraft on this forum. Hey, I don't make up ALL of the rules around here, just this one.

Hi Brian. Yep, it's a C-46 alright. The picture was taken at the Air Museum that adjoins Robins AFB at Warner Robins, GA. I used a 35mm CZ Flektogon on the VX-IIa Exakta and Ilford FP-4 film developed in Rodinal 1:25. If I was at home now I'd attach a picture of the C-47 "Gooney Bird" that's there.

Every time I see the C-124 (Ol' Shakey) sitting there, I feel old. It was the first plane I worked on for the AF early in 1966 at McChord AFB, WA.

If you like old planes and get the chance to visit the Air Museum here, you'll love it. I'd be happy to show you around.

Walker

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Now that you have listed it here you can almost bet that price won't hold🙂

Todd

 

[former member]

Walker,
I will put it on my list for our summer visit to Columbus! My Dad was in B29's. I need to scan some of those old prints in and fix em up. He went through 7 of them.

 

[doubs43]

Walker, I will put it on my list for our summer visit to Columbus! My Dad was in B29's. I need to scan some of those old prints in and fix em up. He went through 7 of them.

The B-29 was quite a plane. Was your Dad in the Pacific? Most of the 29's went that way, I believe.

One of my uncles was a Tail-gunner on B-17's assigned to the 305th Bombardment Group (H) out of RAF Chelveston in North Hamptonshire. At one time, the future general Curtis LeMay was the unit's Commander. I don't know if their tours overlapped or not. My uncle didn't say a whole lot about the war.