Best EXA camera?

[fotomachi]

Falling in love with BW-photography, I'm trying to build a small Exakta-collection: a camera with a handful of primes. I was wondering which Exakta camera is recommended for use, especially considering the reliability of the mechanics. For instance, I found that the 500 gets quite some votes, but it also suffers from an easily jammed shutter.

foto-herbst has quite some EXA-material. Recommended?
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[bob955i]

Exaktas tend to be an acquired taste - the shutter release is on the LH side, mirror return didn't appear until the VX1000, the finders can be a bit dark and depending on what type of focus screen is fitted, focus may be difficult, shutter curtains can be pin-holed etc., the early Exas couldn't use lenses longer than 100mm due to the shutter design, none had TTL metering as standard, etc., etc.

Don't let that put you off though as I love mine for all that....

If you intend to shoot with lenses longer than 100mm, don't go for the early Exas as they suffer from vignetting due to the shutter design - later Exas had a FP shutter and didn't have this restriction. If you don't intend to go above 100mm, any Exa will do, with the proviso that the shutter speeds are limited on them.

If you want the most up-to-date Exakta, go for a VX1000 as it has mirror return - no previous models had this although all it means in practice is that you have to wind on the next frame before you can see anything on them. There is also a VX500 model which is a cut-down VX1000 and lacks the 1/1000 sec shutter speed and the low speed capabilities of the VX1000 and previous models.

If you don't mind the lack of mirror return, a Varex VX, Varex IIa or Varex IIb will all be good contenders - always keep a lens cap on the lens when not in use though as the shutter curtains can be holed by the lens magnifying strong sunlight.

Whichever one you go for, make sure that the shutter curtains, where applicable, are good - not pin-holed, cracked or otherwise damaged and test the shutter several times at each and every speed if possible - if you hear a squawking noise when the shutter is fired, especially on the three figure speeds, the shutter rollers will need lubricated at the very least. The squawk is caused by the FP shutter rollers vibrating on their bearing pins as they rotate - all due to a lack of lubrication.

For that reason, try and get one that's been CLA'd, or budget for a CLA if you'd rather not attempt it yourself. Reason I say that is that the newest of these cameras is still going to be at least 40 years old.

[fotomachi]

Thanks for the reply! I have an EXA IIa in not too good condition. I am trying to clean it somewhat, as the interior contains some kind of a deposit I cannot identify. The domiplan lens also was colonized by fungus. I'll probably use this camera as "study material"

The idea of buying an Exakta is to have several camera systems with some assorted lenses. Depending on the mood of the day, I'll use one analogue system next to my digital setup. I thought it was a good time now to start with an EXA-system Based on the EXA IIa I have examined, I'd say that the lack of mirror return is a minor nuisance to me. As you say yourself, I think it adds to the character and charm of the camera. I'm more looking for a good relation between aesthetics and reliability/durability rather then user-friendliness. I learned more about photography (technically) using "old trash" rather then using the newest hot item on the market.

I think I'll go for one of the Varex VX, VX IIa or IIB - the VX1000 has the least appealing look (IMO).
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[montecarlo]

Some TOPCON cameras had Exakta bayonet :
http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/praktina/Topcon%20Cameras.htm
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Topcon#Exakta_lens_mount
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