Exakta I, II, Varex VX, VX500, Varex V User Manual
...
POSTED 6-27-'04
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EXAKTA
I, II
EXAKTA
VAREX
V
VX
EXAKTA
VAREX
IIa, IIb
EXAKTA
VXsOO,
VX1
OOO
EXAKTA RTL l
OOO
EXAKTA
l, la, ll, lla,
llb
EXA
5OO
C)
-e
,t)
J
F
F
ts
g
0
M p L
E
I!
]li
;i.:"#'ht"'/"0,"'r','.'r1*,i:l
=@=ip';*i#t*i#,dfr
Ct
-l
scrupulous
ln fully
describlng the
nl$fmtUl03
camira
and advising
on its use is the
very best
type
of manufacturer's
book
of
Instruclons. lt ls, however, more
critlcal than
they could
be.
No Comero
6uldc
will attempt
to
camouflage
the limltatlons of a camera or make efforts to sell an endless
chaln
of accessorles. lt
ls stralghtforward, practical
and
devoted
to the
guestions
ofhow
to take
the best photographs
with
a
particular
camera, rather than to
praise
of ir. The
Comero
Guldc
ls complled
by
an
author who
has had long
experlence
ln handling the equipment in
questlon.
lt repre-
sents at the same time the
gist
of all available
literature
colfected by the Focal Press Clrcle of Photogrophers
nd
filtered through lheir considered
ludgment.
Fitta Edtrtq: |pril,
1956
Sccond Editim: Morch, 196l
Thitd Edrtton: Septembr 1952
Foutth Edition: tllarch, 1961
Fifth
Edition : Apt,t. 1965
Sixth Edition:
Jutf,
1966
Scvcnth Editr'oa: August, 1967
Eighth Edition: Moy, 1969
Ninth Editioa: Februory, 1972
Tcnt./n Edition: Moy,
1971
E
qcnah
Ediaion:
Jonuory,
lg78
Tvelfh
Edition: Moy. 1979
Seul
fot frcc
cotologn
d
books on
photogtophf,
ctnemotogrophy,
tcreyirion.
?und.
gu.tio-vituol
metlnds,
rcprogtophl,
grophic
on ond
printing
to:
1994t flEtl lTP., i!
Fitzroy Squerc, London WIP
6BH,
Ensland.
FOCAL
PRESS lNC..
l0 Erst.l0th
Strcct, Ncw
York
10016,
USA.
HOW
TO. .
.
Lod tbc
Erd.fr
13
Hold th.
ErrLtr
24
Crrry
thc
Enlh
16
Shoot
rlth lbe
Errhr
26
Untosd
tic
Drrtrr
30
CharCc
prra.crpotcd
fild
32
Cd
ofi
c4oeed
leogthc
33
Focer
20'
50
llca
abG
dop
28
A!$r
thc
Grltosurc
64
Usc
ttrc
rhuttcr
27
Choo3e
rbc
fi|[
!4
Ucc
0Lcn
7t
Urc
thc
lcccr
45
Tafc
chco.lPo
79
Urc
irrl
83
Crrc
for
crncn
76
WHAT
IS
WHERE?
Acccssories
Aperture
Bellows attachmclt
Carrying
camcra
Chsnging
lcnscs
Closc-ups
Coating
Colour
film
Cutting
film
Dclaycd sction
Dcpth of
ficld
Exposurc
Ext?nsion tubcs
Filn transport
Filns
Filtcrs
Flash
crposurcs
Focr.sing
Handling
0lm
Holdhg
camcra
Hypcrfoc&l
distance
Irnscs
Irading
camera
Loading
casscttcs
Micro
attachment
P.cntaprism
6ndcr
Pol,arizing
fiItcr
Rc8ex
findcr
Relcasing
Safdisbt
Shooting
Shutter
Stop
Suppleoartarics
Zooo
focusing
85
28
8E
t6
.15
79
17
12
33
28
52
g
g)
25
34
79
83
52
34
21
s7
45
l3
t7
55
2l
75
IE
21
t4
26
27
2t
79
56
EXAKTA
35
mm.
GUIDE
How to
Use
The
Exakta
I, IL
Exakta
Varex V,
VX, IIa,
IIb,
vx500,
vx1000,
RTLL000
AIso the Exa
I, Ia, II, IIa,
IIb and 500
By W.
D. EMANUEL
Tw,elfth
Edition
Focal Press
.
London
CONTENTS
Page
Page
The 35 mm.
Exakta
Models 4
Handling
the Exakta
13
Loading
13
Carrying
16
Viewing
18
Holding
27
Shooting
26
Unloading
30
Unloading
without
Rewinding
32
Changing
Partly-Exposed
Film
32
Cutting
Off
Exposed Film
Parts
33
Exakta
Films
34
Safelight
34
Handling.
Winding and
Trimming
the Film
34
Length
of Film
Required
for
any Number
of
Exposures
36
Loading Cassettes
37
Cassettes
with Bulk Film
or
Darkroom
Refills 37
Cassettes
with
Daylight
Refills
39
The Choice
of Black-and-
White Material
39
35
mm. Black-and-
lVhite
Films
40
Conversion
of Film Speed
Systems
4l
Colour
Film
42
35 mm. Colour
Films 43
Wide-angle
Lenses
48
Long-focus
Lenses
48
Exakta
Lenses
Compared
50
The
Technique
of Focus 52
DeDth
of Field 52
Coirtrol
of Debth of Field 54
Limits
of
Depth of Field 55
The Hyperfocal
Distance
56
Safety-zone
Focusing 56
Hyperfocal
Distance and
Depth
of Field Tables 57
Hyperfocal
Distance 57
Depth of Field
for
Standard
Lenses 58
Depth of
Field
for
Vlide-angle
Lenses
59
Depth of
Field
for
Lo ng-fo
cu s Le n s e s 6O-63
The
Technique ofExposare
&
Examat
TTL
Meter
65
Attachment
Exposure Meter Attachment
66
The TTL Pentaprism
for
the Exakta
RTL1000 66
Fitting
the TTL
prism
68
Using
the TTL Pentaprism
Meter
68
Open aperture
measuring 68
Stop
down measurement
70
Fitting and
changing
battery
7l
Using
an
Exposure Meter
7l
Exakta
Lenses
45 The Technique
of
Tone
Setting and Changing
Lenses
45
The Use of Filters
The
Choice
of
Lenses
46
Filter Factors
Standard
lrnses
47
Polarizing
Filter
2
74
74
75
76
FocaUHastings
House .
New
York
Coe of
the
Canera
Storage
Exercise
Running test after
storage
Keeping
the interior clean
Treating the camera with
care
Coping with tropical
conditions
78
Close-up Work
80
Supplementary Lenses
80
Close-up Focusing
Table
for
Supplementary
Lenses
82
Extension
Tubes
82
Page
77
Flash
with the Exakta
77 How to
Use Flash
77 Flash Exposures
77
78
7g
Exakta
Accessories
Slwtter Speeds to Anest
Movement
Page
84
84
85
THE 35
mm. EXAKTA
MODELS
The 35
mm. Exakta
is a
single-lens
reflex camera. The
actual
taking lens serves
both for focusing and
taking the
picture
and
is used
to form the
image on the film as
well
as
to reflect
the
picture
to be taken on
to
a
ground-glass
focusing screen.
Film and
focusing screen are for all
intents
and
purposes
at
the same distance
from the
lens, but in
different
positions
and
at right angles
to
each
other. The
film
runs along
the
back
of
the camera while
the focusing
screen
is on the
top of it. Thus, the
light entering
through
the lens
has
to
go
alternately
in two directions: once
to the
focusing screen
and once
to the film. This
two-way
traffic is
controlled
by a mirror on
point-duty.
By setting the
shutter,
the mirror
is introduced
into the
path
of the
light-rays
between
lens and film, thus reflecting
the
image on to the
focusing
screen,
showing exactly the same
outlines,
defini-
tion, depth of field
and relative
brightness of the subject
as
will appear
on
the
negative.
The screen
is a
plano-convex
lens
ground
on the underside, and shows
the
image magnified
and
brilliant
all
over. It is the
right way
up and
permits
critical
focusing
(aided
by a built-in
magnifier), as well as
adiustment
of the extent of definition
towards
both the
foieground
and
background and,
lastly, composition
of the
photograph
before the negative
is exposed.
With the release
of the shutter
for exposure, the
mirror first snaps
upwards
and covers
the focusing screen. Then
the shutter
goes
across
and the
image is recorded on the
fi.Im.
The shutter
of the Exakta
is a self-capping
focal
plane
shutter
(except
RTLI000, see
page
10) travelling from
right
to
left.
"Self-capping"
means that
it
remains
closed
while
being wound up;
"focal
plane"
means that
it moves
right
in front of
the negative material, thus
ensuring full
protec-
tion to
it. With this type
of
shutter,
Ienses can be changed
while the camera
is loaded. The Exakta
shutter has
the
widest
possible
range of speeds.
Besides
the instantaneous
speeds
from l/30
(early
ll25) to l/1000 sec.,
automatic
time
exposures
from 1/8
(early
1/10) to 12 secs.
can
be set.
Convercion of Feet
and
Inches
into
Metic Units 90
Close-up Focusing Table
for
Extension Tubes
83 How to . . . llthat is where?
92
@
1979
Focal Press Limited
ISBN
(excl.
USA)
0
240 44780
8
ISBN
(USA
only) 0 8038 1943 9
AII rights reserved.
No
part
of this
publication
may be
reproduced,
stored in a
retrieval
system,
or tansmitted, in any
form
or
by any
means,
electronic,
mechanical,
photocopying,
recording
o r o t he r w
i s
e'''
l!?;i
#,';;i:,
p.e
r
m
i s s io n of t he
Some items
of equipment
or
certain
materials mentioned
in
this
book may not be
.fieely
available
in
every eountry.
Import
and
marketing conditions vary widely, and
are
outside
the control of
the
photographic
dealer.
This book is
sold suhject
to
the Standard
Conditions
of sale
of
Net Books'and may not
be
resold
in the
UK
below the
net
price.
Printcd
snd bound in Grcat Britaio by Maund & Irvinc Ltd., Tring, Hcrts.
3
86
9l
A delayed-action
release
(self-timer)
is built-in and coupled
to the shutter, allowing all speeds from 1/1000 to 6 secs. to
be released with a delaying time of about 12
secs. This very
wide choice of
longer
automatic shutter
speeds
is unique
for
miniature cameras
and
is
useful for certain specialised work.
On
the other
hand, this shutter is more complicated
than
those of most of the other miniature cameras
and needs
careful
handling. Shutter
winding
is
automatically coupled
with
fi.lm transport
and the swing of
the
mirror into
the
focusing
position.
Exakta
lenses include
the
well-known
Domiplan,
Jena
Tessar, Pancolar, Domiron,
Orestegon
as standard
lenses,
besides a wide range
of
more
specialised
lenses
by
other
manufacturers. The
lenses
are
interchangeable, allowing the
use of telephoto, wide-angle and
particularly
fast lenses
from 20
to
1000
mm.
and apertures up to/l.8.
One
unique
feature of the single-lens reflex type is
that, whatever lens is
used,
zo
special
finders
are required, as the reflex
finder
shows in every case the correct image with the lens
employed.
The
interchangeability
of the lens
permits
the
straight-
forward use of extension tubes for close-ups
without the
least complication
of focusing. The same
goes
for using
the
camera
in
photomicrography,
etc.
The reflex-finder hoodpermits normal reflex image
viewing
and
focusing as
well as eyeJevel
viewing
and
focusing
by
means of a
pentaprism
in the Exakta V, VX, IIa, IIb,
VX500,
VX1000,
RTL1000 and Exa I. It
has
a
direct
vision frame
finder to
be
used for viewing
only A magnifying
glax
permits
critical focusing.
The waist-level reflex
finder
is interchangeable
in Exakta
models
V, VX, IIa,IIb, VX500, VXl000 and RTL1000-as
well as on the Exa I-against
an eye-level
pentaprism
reflex
finder.
The body of the Exaktas
(except
RTL1000) is of trapezoid
shape, approximately 6 x 3* x 3 in. It is
die-cast aluminium
alloy
in
one
piece
with the negative aperture, leather-
covered, and has a hinged back. It is comparatively
small
3
4
5
6
7
8
t
I
I
I
16--------
i-----------28
I
lr----------'29
1,
Shutter
speed knob.
2, Rapid-wind
levcr. 3,
Shutter
releasc.
,1,
Re-
lease
lock.
5, Depth
of
field
preview.
6, Self-
timer
relerse.
7, Slow
shutter
speed
knob.
8,
Slow
speed tensioning
lever.
9.
Finder hood
cover.
10, Finder
hood.
11,
.Rewind
crank. 12.
Film
speed
reminder.
13,
Rewind
arbor. l,l,
Cassette chambar.
l5.
Film
aperture. 16,
Auto-
menual switch,
17, Rc-
wlnd
button.
18. Pentr.
grism
eyepiecc. 19, Pente-
prism.
I 9a,
Finder syst€m
lock. 20. Flash contact.
21, Lens
change
aligning
mark.
Zl, Lens change
aligning mark. 23,
Shut-
ter release.
24, Depth
of
field scale. 25.
Distancc
scale. 26, Lens locking
lever,27, Lens. 28, Focuring magnifier. 29, Findsr
hood release catch. 30.
TTL
pentaprism
coupling
pin.
31,
Film-type
rc-
minder. 32, Frame coun-
ter. 33, Carrying
lug. 3.1,
Camere
back.
35.
Film
wind sprocket. 36, Takeup spool,37, Film lcader
mark. 38,
Film
leader
guide.
39, Lens lockin3
lever..{0.
Tripod bush.
Top: Front
vicw of
camerr with
pcntrprirm.
Ccntre:
Rear
view of
cem€ra with
focusing
hood and
opened
back.
Bottom: Bottom
view of
crmere
with rtandrd
l6m .ttached,
:-32
-------39
EI--s--
-----tu-:trI
SRRRRRRR-p*:+--7..
------:r--
-24
:-------i---25
EXAKTA
ltA,
llB, VX500 AND VXt000
CONTROLS
3-Y
-t8
-14
4
5
--------
6
------------"
________20
7----------
-----------21
'---------22
-----------23
The Exa
1, introduced in 1963
(below),
is basically
the same as
the models currenr up to
1951
(right).
Its styling was
improved, however, and
the
shutter
speeds changed.
THE EXA MODELS
1, Slow
speed
and
de-
leyed action
knob.
2,
F6cusing screen.
3.
Film
indicator.
.1.
Carrying
lul. 5,
Magnifier
6,
FocusinS hood.7,
Aper-
ture rin8.8,
Hood
pente-
prism
crtch
(not
on 11b).
9, Bayonet
lens
mount.
10.
Flesh
sockets.
l1,
Film cutting
knife.12,
Rewind
knob
(crenk
on
llb).13, Tripod
bush.
1.1.
Shuttcr
speed
knob.
15,
Repid lever
wind.
16.
Rewind button.
17,
Eyepieco in
hood.18,
Film counter.19,
Coun-
ter
setting.
20, Rcleasc
for
preselector
iris.
21,
Depth
of
field scale.
22. Distance scale.
23,
Focusint
mount.
24, Pen-
teprism.25,
Release
covcr. 26, Shutter relaase. 27, Lens
catch.
28,
Beck lock. 29, Eye-
piece
in
pentaprism
flnder.
(.)
b
t<
a
J
F
F
B
foPl Top
view
of camera
with focusing hood.
Centre:
Front view with-
out lensr. with
penta-
prism.
Eodom: Rear
view of upper
part
with
pentaprism.
The 1954 Exa lla
(left)
is similar
to the Exa ll
(obove),
but has a
detachable back and improved
film transport.
lt can be supplied
with standard
ground glass
screen or with a
ground glass
with
fresnel
screen and
split-image
rangefinder
in the
centre. The
Exa llb is as lla. but with instant
return
mirror.
The
'1967
Exa 500
(similar
in
appearance to the
Exa lla) is
fitted with
pentaprism
and microprism
rangefinder,
extended shutter speed range
and
fully automatic
diaphragm lens,
8
11--------
EARLIER
35 mm.
EXAKTA
MODELS
Right: Model
I, the original
Kine
Exakta, has noninterchangeable focusing
screen
and is
synchronized
for bulbs
only.
Right: Models
V
and
VX
have interchangeable
screens and
are M- and
X-
synchronized,
having two
sets of sockets. The
1956
model of the
VX has
a
single
concentric socket
at
each side.
in
spite
of housing
the
focal
plane
shutter,
reflex
arrange-
ment
and
fast
interchangeabla
lenses.
It
also
has
a
tripod
bush,
internal
flash
synclironisation
for electronic
flash and
flash
bulbs
and hooks
for a
neck-strap.
The
weight
is
approximately
33
oz.
(950
grams).
Focusing
is effected
by a
rapid
helical
focusing
screw,
which
is
part
of the
lens-mount.
A
focusing
qcqle
is found
on all
models
indicating
the distances
from
infinity
down
to
4 or 3
ft. There
are
also
scales
provided
for
reading
off the
depth
of
field.
The
film
is the
standard
35
mm.
miniature
film
for
up
to
36 exposures
I x l|
in.
(24x36
mm.). A
fiIry
cultin^g
knife
is
buiit in
(except
RTL1000).
In
the
latest
model
the
film can
be transported
from
cassette
to cassette,
.m?.king.rewinding
unnecessary,
or
to take-up
spool
with
rewinding.
A
film type
indicator
ind a
film
transport
indicator
complete
the
mechanism.
A through-the-lens
metering
finder
(the
Examat) has-
been
marketed,
made
by Harwix,
Berlin,
which
can be
used
with
the Exakta
or
EXA
I.
This
unit
combines
a
pentaprism
viewfinder
and
exposure
meter
converting
the
camera
into
a
TTL
model
(details
on
page
65). For
the
model RTL1000
a TTL
prism
attachment
for
automatic
exposure
system
with
inteinal
metering
is available,
made
byExakta
(page66).
Exakta
Models
EXAKTA
RTL1000
(1970).
This
model
embodies
all
the refine'
ments
of the
Exakta,
but
has been
redesigned
and
incorporates
sierificant
advances
in
photographic
technology.
One
of
the three
inierchangeable
viewfinder
systems
consists
of a coupled
!TL-
penta'
prism
foi
internal
light
measurement.
It
has a qretal
-focal
plane
ih.rtter
from
8 sec.
td 1/1000
sec. and
B;
the
built-in
delayed-action
timer
covers
the
speeds
irom
I sec.
to l/1000
sec.
Electronic
flash
is
svnchronised
at
lil25
sec.,
bulbs
at
l/30 sec'
Shutter release
on
right
ind
left-trand
side.
New
range
of lenses
with internally
controlled
automatic
apertures.
The
lenses
of the
earlier Exakta
models
can
be
used
also
for automatic
aperture
with
an adapter
on
the release..
It
has
self-setting
frame
counter,
rewind
pin
remains
9epr-essed,
rewind
irank.
The
filir cutting
knife
of the
eailier
models
has been
omitted.
Left: Model ll is similar
to
Model
I, but has a different
hood and film counter.
l0
EXAKTA
VAREX IIa
(1957).
This
model
follows
in
general
the
above
description.
Its main differences compared
with the earter
models
are
three
co-axial
flash sncker.
/X.
M
and F). a specially silent
shutter
mechanism and an improved
film indicator. The 196l model of
the Varex IIa
is fitted with an improved reflex
hood
(with
one-fnger
closing)
which also
accepts the interchangeable
ground-glass
screens
for
special
purposes,
e.g. with split image rangefinder
(up
to now only
available
for
the
pentaprism).
This hood
has
no
direct
vision
frame
finder.
The
standard
lenses have fully automatic
preset
iris.
EXAKTA IIb
(1964)
is similar
to the model IIa of 1961, but has
geometrical
speed
scales
(1130,
1160, lll25,
11250, 1/500,
U1000
sec.).
The rewind
kndb has a crank. The catch
to
secure
the finder
is
not
needed.
EXAKTA
VX1000
(1967)
is
as
the
Exakta
IIb, but with
instan
return mirror and
minor mechanical
improvements.
EXAKTA VAREX
VX500
(1969)
is
a scaled-down
version
of
the
VXl000,
with shutter speeds
of l/30 to
U500
sec. and B only.
EXAKTA VAREX VX
(1950
is
similar
to the model IIa, but
has
only
two flash sockets.
EXAKTA
VAREX VX
(1951)
has flash sockets
for a two-pin flash
plug
instead of concentric
sockets.
EXAKTA
VAREX
V
(1950),
the
predecessor
of the VX is similar
to
it except
that it
has
no
film type or transport
indicators, it does
not
permit
working from
cassette to cassette and
the
back
is not
hinged.
EXAKTA
II
(1949)
is as Exakta V
but
has no interchangeable
reflex
finder, so
that
the
pentaprism
attachment
is not usable
(but
a special
prismatic
attachment can be
placed
on top
of
the
reflex hood,- see
page
84).
The flash contact
is for flash
bulbs
only, and
there
is
a minor
change
in the mechanical construction
of the film
transport.
EXAKTA I
(1936),
the original
pre-war
Kine
Exakta, is similar
to
Exakta II with
quite
minor mechanical differences
which do not affect
its
manipulation.
The Exakta cameras
using 35
rnm. film were originally
called
"Kine
Exakta"
to
distinguish
them from the roll film
Exaktas
then also
produced.
The
prefix
"Kine"
was dropped
in
1950,
however.
Exa Models
The
Exas are simplified
versions of
the
Exakta.
They retain many
of
its features,
in
particular
the reflex focusing-viewing
system and
the
interchangeable
lens system.
In addition
to the lenses
listed for
the
Exakta, an
inexpensive standard
lens,
f2.9
50 mm.
Meritar, 3
element
with
pre-set
diaphragm,
is available
for the Exa
models.
EXA
II
(1959)
has
shutter
speeds from
ll2 to 11250
sec. and.
B,
single flash
contact, but no delayed
action.
The eye-level
pentaprism
finder
is
permanently
fitted. Most Exakta accessories,
including all
lenses,
may
be
used
in it.
EXA IIa
(1963),
similar
to II, but
has detachable
back and
improved
film
transport.
EXA
IIb
(1965),
similar
to
IIa,
but
with instant
retum.
mirror
(the
imase
can bd
vieived
before
and after
exposure),
a
warning signal
in
the
-viewfindor
when
the film
has not been
advanced,
and
general
mechanical
improvements.
EXA
500
(1967)
is an
improved version
of
the-Exa IIb
with fully
automatic
diiphragm
lens,
pentaprism
with fresnel
screen
and micro-
prism
rangefuider,-shutter
speeds
ll2 sec.
and
1/500 sec.
and B, and
XM
flash synchronization.
EXA
I
(iSS:)
has a shutter
of different
design
with speeds
of
-1125,
1/50. l/100,
l/i50
sec.
and B
only,
two
flash contacts,
no delayed
abti6n.'filrir
wind is by
a
transport
knob;
the film cutting
device
is
omitted.
Long focus
lenses beyond
100
mm. are not
usable
(with-out
undue
cut-off)and
similarly
close-ups
with
longer
extension
tubes
than
2
in. 6 cm.) cannot
be
made.
EXA I
(1961),
as
I 1953 with
improved
reflex
hood.
EXA I
(tgefi-nas
improved
styling,
shutter
speeds
1130,1160,lll25.
1/175 sec.,
B, single
flash contact
with symbol
setting
for
electronic
flash
and bulbs.
EXA Ia
(1965),
similar
to EXA I
(1963),
but
with
lever film
transport.
In handiing,-ihe
Exa cameras
are
substantially
the- same
as
the
Exakta.
Whert
differences
occur which
are
not self-evident,
these are
pointed
out in
the text.
tl
t2
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