Vince Lupo
Nobody's Mentor
Check the back of the Steinheil's plunger to see if there is a screw (sometimes it might have two little holes). If so, you should be able to back it out to adjust the length of the plunger.
I put new curtains in a Varex IIa not so very long ago, and serviced a Varex which surprisingly, has good, light tight supple curtains. I have found that the Exakta can be a reasonably straightforward camera to work on, with certain provisos.
One such is the clearance between the second curtain ribbons and first curtain on their take up shafts is marginal. When they rest the material is virtually touching. I fitted new curtains to one and although the material used was negligibly thicker than original, the miniscule increase in effective diameter as the first curtain wrapped around its shaft was enough to make the second curtain ribbons bind against it, which would then brake the second curtain a few millimetres short of finishing. Solved it eventually with some substitute slightly thinner ribbon but it was inconvenient having to tweak the installed length. To its credit if an Exakta mechanism is in decent condition, cleaned and lubricated, and new curtains are correctly measured and installed, the times will often be pretty decent. With new curtains fitted, my IIa returned a very creditable 1/1000 time on its original curtain tensions—not to be taken for granted even with many high end mechanisms. But you better measure and position the curtains accurately, because unlike Eg a Leica shutter there are few easily made timing adjustments available for the release. Fit the curtains well and they won't be needed.
Proviso number two: the unusual combined slow speeds/timer gearing and its escapement will give few problems *if* the gears are correctly timed. The register gear and escapement gear can be meshed in dozens of different combinations. Only one will see all the speeds and the timer speeds work properly. The proviso is many Exaktas have been worked on previously, and, if so, they're usually re-assembled wrongly. Working out the timing from scratch is possible but a PITA.
The easy way to avoid this if you are removing the works from its casing is to first cock the camera (or at least partly cock until the wind lever is parallel to the body), and tension the escapement dial before removing it (and the wind lever and main speed dial on the left side). You can then remove the two side covers after which, you should immediately refit the controls on both sides temporarily (sans covers) during repairs. Helps preserve the timing. (Also useful for testing the shutter after you have the mechanism out of the casing.)
Proviso #3. Exaktas are nicely made cameras of some quality. But Ihagee seemed to have a penchant for employing screw fasteners of a smaller gauge than most. And some of their metals, Eg for tapping the lens bayonet fixing screw hole threads, were a bit on the soft side. Whereas you generally need to be a bit of a klutz to, say, strip a thread on a Nikon or Zeiss, it's substantially easier to snap Exakta screws or strip threads. I'd go as far as argue the bayonet fixing screws are not up to the task of supporting a heavy 200 or 300mm lens. I love Exaktas, have worked on numerous Japanese and German cameras over some years and on only two occasions have I stripped out a camera thread not already mangled by someone else. Both times were working on Exaktas and not necessarily as a result of overtightening. They don't always appreciate being removed and installed repeatedly—if the previous person re-assembled incorrectly and you need to fit and remove a part a few times, to get things right, those soft threads can bite you on the ass, simply because they won't take a lot of use, (gentle or otherwise). It's not impossible to avoid, but think about how much you'd tighten a similar size thread on a typical Japanese camera, then halve that. Ie. use a *very* light touch...
I've got an Exa here with a sticking shutter I may get around to looking at one day. A vertically running fabric focal plane shutter is a somewhat unusual beast. Years ago I sorted out an earlier model with the mirror shutter. Another odd design, it wasn't capping off the gate fully after releasing, but wasn't hard to fix. I'd also welcome an Exa-Exakta forum, Stephen.
Cheers
Brett
One such is the clearance between the second curtain ribbons and first curtain on their take up shafts is marginal. When they rest the material is virtually touching. I fitted new curtains to one and although the material used was negligibly thicker than original, the miniscule increase in effective diameter as the first curtain wrapped around its shaft was enough to make the second curtain ribbons bind against it, which would then brake the second curtain a few millimetres short of finishing. Solved it eventually with some substitute slightly thinner ribbon but it was inconvenient having to tweak the installed length. To its credit if an Exakta mechanism is in decent condition, cleaned and lubricated, and new curtains are correctly measured and installed, the times will often be pretty decent. With new curtains fitted, my IIa returned a very creditable 1/1000 time on its original curtain tensions—not to be taken for granted even with many high end mechanisms. But you better measure and position the curtains accurately, because unlike Eg a Leica shutter there are few easily made timing adjustments available for the release. Fit the curtains well and they won't be needed.
Proviso number two: the unusual combined slow speeds/timer gearing and its escapement will give few problems *if* the gears are correctly timed. The register gear and escapement gear can be meshed in dozens of different combinations. Only one will see all the speeds and the timer speeds work properly. The proviso is many Exaktas have been worked on previously, and, if so, they're usually re-assembled wrongly. Working out the timing from scratch is possible but a PITA.
The easy way to avoid this if you are removing the works from its casing is to first cock the camera (or at least partly cock until the wind lever is parallel to the body), and tension the escapement dial before removing it (and the wind lever and main speed dial on the left side). You can then remove the two side covers after which, you should immediately refit the controls on both sides temporarily (sans covers) during repairs. Helps preserve the timing. (Also useful for testing the shutter after you have the mechanism out of the casing.)
Proviso #3. Exaktas are nicely made cameras of some quality. But Ihagee seemed to have a penchant for employing screw fasteners of a smaller gauge than most. And some of their metals, Eg for tapping the lens bayonet fixing screw hole threads, were a bit on the soft side. Whereas you generally need to be a bit of a klutz to, say, strip a thread on a Nikon or Zeiss, it's substantially easier to snap Exakta screws or strip threads. I'd go as far as argue the bayonet fixing screws are not up to the task of supporting a heavy 200 or 300mm lens. I love Exaktas, have worked on numerous Japanese and German cameras over some years and on only two occasions have I stripped out a camera thread not already mangled by someone else. Both times were working on Exaktas and not necessarily as a result of overtightening. They don't always appreciate being removed and installed repeatedly—if the previous person re-assembled incorrectly and you need to fit and remove a part a few times, to get things right, those soft threads can bite you on the ass, simply because they won't take a lot of use, (gentle or otherwise). It's not impossible to avoid, but think about how much you'd tighten a similar size thread on a typical Japanese camera, then halve that. Ie. use a *very* light touch...
I've got an Exa here with a sticking shutter I may get around to looking at one day. A vertically running fabric focal plane shutter is a somewhat unusual beast. Years ago I sorted out an earlier model with the mirror shutter. Another odd design, it wasn't capping off the gate fully after releasing, but wasn't hard to fix. I'd also welcome an Exa-Exakta forum, Stephen.
Cheers
Brett
Kai-san
Filmwaster
Thanks Vince, I've learnt something new today. A set of pliers was required, but otherwise no problems. But then I had to check the rest of my lenses (7 in all) and 5 out of 6 had to be adjusted. There is clearly a difference between the Exa and the Exakta on this, or maybe it's a camera to camera variation.
Lee Rust
Member
I recently read an article describing the Exa and within three weeks there were two 1b cameras sitting on my table. The initial draw was the rugged and simple shutter design, but the interchangeable finders and M42 mount add so much flexibility.
Mos6502
Well-known
I made a short review of the Exa earlier this year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8iy1JBd_o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8iy1JBd_o
Tin
Well-known
Exakta was my first SLR. It was a Varex IIb. Later, I added a VX1000. I had never owned an Exa, but had used it occasionally, as my high school friend had one of those. I think it was the Exa II.
Tin
Well-known
Lenses that I got included the Tessar 50/f2.8, The Sonnar 135mm/f4. Later, I added a Lydith 35mm/f4.5. That lens flaired a lot, but that was my only wide-angle lens for quite a few years, until I got a pre-set Vivitar 28mm T-Mount lens. The Sonnar definitely was the best lens for the system that I ever had.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Another vote for an Exakta / Exa forum!
I have one Exakta 500, otherwise known as an Exa II. These are the best Exa’s: prism, instant return mirror, speeds from 1/2 to 1/500, and a shutter-uncocked indicator in the viewfinder. They are small and comfortable to hold and take all the Exakta lenses. It is elegant!
Completing my Exakta family are three VX’s and a VX IIa.
The best Exakta sites I’ve found are:
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html
(This site is extensive! You can find detailed descriptions and photos of every Exakta model, variations, lenses, finders, and more!)
https://simonhawketts.co.uk/2017/04/...0-35mm-camera/
Too many Exakta lenses than I can show here. I actually use these Exaktas and they are in working order - even the timed and slow speeds.
My repair tech friend is looking for the out-of-print book on Exakta repair, “Ultimate Exakta Repair”, by Miles Upton. Contact me if you know where a copy can be found.
I have one Exakta 500, otherwise known as an Exa II. These are the best Exa’s: prism, instant return mirror, speeds from 1/2 to 1/500, and a shutter-uncocked indicator in the viewfinder. They are small and comfortable to hold and take all the Exakta lenses. It is elegant!
Completing my Exakta family are three VX’s and a VX IIa.
The best Exakta sites I’ve found are:
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html
(This site is extensive! You can find detailed descriptions and photos of every Exakta model, variations, lenses, finders, and more!)
https://simonhawketts.co.uk/2017/04/...0-35mm-camera/
Too many Exakta lenses than I can show here. I actually use these Exaktas and they are in working order - even the timed and slow speeds.
My repair tech friend is looking for the out-of-print book on Exakta repair, “Ultimate Exakta Repair”, by Miles Upton. Contact me if you know where a copy can be found.
boojum
Mentor
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
I have a couple of Exa and Exakta bodies.
My oldest Kine-Exacta
My Varex IIa after fixing a couple of pinholes and cleaning out the optics.
My Exa (version 6)
Recently replaced a mirror bumper on my latest purchase, another Exa v6. Unfortunately, the material I chose was too thick and it prevented the guillotine shutter from closing fully on the up-swing ruining the roll of film. Easily remedied though.
My oldest Kine-Exacta
My Varex IIa after fixing a couple of pinholes and cleaning out the optics.
My Exa (version 6)
Recently replaced a mirror bumper on my latest purchase, another Exa v6. Unfortunately, the material I chose was too thick and it prevented the guillotine shutter from closing fully on the up-swing ruining the roll of film. Easily remedied though.
What year is your Kine, Rick?
I was recently gifted a pair in need of some repair. I have another here also basically complete and running in need of curtains.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
I recall having looked it up before and that it's an early post-war model of the Version 3 (export version for the US). It came with a Victar lens. I bought it from a restorer in Eastern Europe at the time.
I have not dated the two I received last week. I think one I already had here may be circa 1938. One of the new ones is similar, the other has a round magnifier. Both need work.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Thanks! Passed the info on to him!
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Prices have really increased (like other vintage photographic equipment) for these little cuties.
Exa 1a
Exa 1a
santino
FSU gear head
Yeah, I blame people like us for skyrocketing prices of vintage gear. We shouldn't talk good things about vintage cameras on the net 
Aren't those digicams the hottest thing on the streets, why are they so cheap?
Aren't those digicams the hottest thing on the streets, why are they so cheap?
Retro-Grouch
Well-known
Anyone here remember Seymour's Exakteria, in NYC, devoted exclusively to Exakta goodies? They advertised in the big photo mags, and sent out a monthly mailer with all sorts of obscure accessories for sale, as well as informative articles on the system. They were around through the mid-seventies, and seemed to disappear about the time that the last gasp, the Exakta RTL and its ilk, vanished from the scene. I pored over that mailer endlessly; it was the ultimate camera porn for me. I started with an Exa II in 1967, graduated to an Exakta VXIIb, then to an Exakta VX1000. Then I started to feel insecure because it seemed that "real" photographers were all shooting Nikons, so, inevitably...
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Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Strange - I don’t remember that at all. I will have to look at the few issues of mags that I’ve saved from the 60’s and 70’s.
Retro-Grouch
Well-known
A quick Google shows a letter to Laura Gilpin from Seymour's, discussing the purchase of a 135mm lens, dated 1961. It's in the archives of the Amon Carter Museum. See also this page: http://www.ihagee.org/USA/exaktanewschrist67.pdf from Seymour's, and check the prices! This must date from the time I owned mine, as it shows the Schact Travemat meter prism, which I had. The ad encourages those interested to get on the waiting list, so I guess I was a lucky devil to have owned one of those state-of-the-art beauties!
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Wow! I‘ve never seen those before. That is just wonderful.
Travemat prisms: I’ve seen two for sale, would love to have one, but sadly neither one was working.
Travemat prisms: I’ve seen two for sale, would love to have one, but sadly neither one was working.