Pre-war VP Night Exakta SLR Camera
Photo thanks to Bob - [email protected]
Remember When Collectibles
Box 431 Island Pk., NY 11558
Ph. 516 678 1188
Related Links:
History of the Medium Format SLR
This camera is one of the pre-war (WWII) Exakta cameras which are
credited by many as the inspiration for the modern medium format SLR designs.
The triangular shape identifies it as the earlier design variant, unlike
the boxy post-WWII versions. This Exakta VP model sports a fast f/2 80mm
Zeiss Biotar lens, making it one of the unusual VP Night Exakta models.
These early Night Exakta cameras also reportedly had an enlarged throat
or lens mount to enable mounting larger wide angle lens designs.
Special thanks to Gary Cullen - [email protected]
For updated information on this prewar VP Night Exakta camera!
Photos courtesy of Robert Revius - [email protected]
Photo Notes:
Photo Notes:
Description I believe that this is the Exakta B because it has the slow speed dial on the left (facing it). It has is a camera that takes 4X6.5cm exposures on 127 roll film. This camera has a 7cm (70mm) f/3.5 Zeiss Tessar lens. This camera is in 8.5 cosmetic condition, but it is poorly working. The following conditions should be noted: 1) The shutter cocks and fires, but the second curtain does not make it all of the way across the opening. The shutter dial is corroded so you can not see the shutter speeds, the self timer and slow speeds do not seem to operate properly, but it may be related to the shutter curtain not completing its travel. The lens seems pretty clear, and the viewfinder flips up nicely. The reflex mirror must be dim, because focusing is rather dark. Look, the camera looks real nice, but it needs a serious going over.
From an EBAY listing 5/12/98 by [email protected] for Exakta A camera:
An undeniably classic collectible camera,...an original Exakta "A" single
lens reflex
camera for #127 rollfilm made by Ihagee of Germany around 1933. A
VERY
difficult camera to find in clean and complete condition, but this
one is extremely
fine. The black finish shows some use, but no abuse. The leather is
excellent. The
Xenar 7.5cm F3.5 lens is very nice. The focusing helical is clean.
Even the shutter
still works, although not very well. It looks like the camera was
stored for some
time with the shutter cocked and the curtain now has stress wrinkles
in it. The only
cosmetic glitch is that there is a bit of corrosion coming up around
the numbers of
the shutter speed dial, so they are now hard to read, but any
experienced
photographer would know the progression. Some trivial details for
the real Exakta
experts out there,...the camera is #408809 and the lens is #595264
(this is truly an
original, probably from late 1933); there is NO flash
synchronization and NO sun
and moon under the Ihagee insignia on the hood (more indications that
this is an early
one); the advance knob is the 24mm version. A vastly important,
historically
significant, and highly desirable collectible camera in unusually
excellent overall
condition.
From: Markus Czekalla [email protected] [2] Exakta 66 lenses was Re: Hasselblad Locked Date: Fri Mar 06 1998 Hi take a look at: http://www.globalxs.nl/home/r/roskam/www.htm All you need to know about the lenses of this wonderful camera family Regards Markus Timothy Schooler wrote: > >By the way, you're right -the Exakta 66 has had some nortorious bad raps from > >unknowledgeable people. But then again, if they knew what a wonderful german > >camera this was, I wouldn't be able to buy all those Zeiss and Schneider > >lenses at 50% less than Hassey owners-right? Remember, the camera is ONLY A > >BOX - it's the lense that counts! > > It looks like a very interesting camera. Well made, from it's description > and appearance. But according to Cambron (www.cambronny.com), Zeiss > and Schneider only make one lens each for this camera. From their web > page... > > "The Exakta 66 Model III has the largest selection of standard lenses; > one made by Exakta, one by Zeiss, and one by Schneider, made in accordance > with the highest German standard of quality. All three lenses are > Multi-Coated". > > Reading on, it appears the rest are Cambron.
[Ed. note: from an EBAY ad (5/24/98) for a prewar Night Exakta...]
Exakta, Night Model, Serial #545164, original leather case, and instruction manual for models "A,B,and Junior. The seriall # is located on the finder , top front, and it has the large focusing ring, so it is a "night", however it has the 7.5cm F2.8 Zeiss Tessar lens on it. The camera is really very clean with very few small paint chips. The leather looks great, although there is a little damage near the tripod socket. The miror is somewhat scratched although the image looks good though a little dim. The shutter works at the higher speeds but hangs up and doesn't close at 1/25th and on the slow speeds. The chrome looks fine everywhere. The lens itself is clear, but has fine cleaning scratches that only show if you take the lens off and hold it up so a bright light source is shining through it. The case shows some wear, and the strap is falling apart. The instruction manual is in very nice shape, although yellowed. This is a very nice display camera and one that is very hard to find.
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