amatt662

I inherited this camera from Dad, among others cameras 25 yrs ago. I primarily shoot digital with my Sony A7III, but recently I pulled it out the closet. I became curious and want to learn more about it and learn to use it. Can anyone share their experiences with this camera. Thanks!

Hanson

If it is in good condition, it is a gem. You can learn how to use it. But East Germany made camera was not known for quality. Post a picture to share?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I had one and what I remember, in the darkroom, I could cut off the exposed film too develop without going through the 36 exposures. A great camera.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Welcome aboard.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

It's a wonderful camera, and was built in a German factory by skilled German technicians. Robustly built for the most part, although some of the finishes were less than perfect, in common with many postwar cameras from both sides of Germany, as well as Japan. Quite advanced for the time. First get a manual from Mike Butkus and leave him a few bucks to carry on his wonderful work for fans of vintage cameras.

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/exakta.htm

Then look at some of the great fan pages for this camera:

https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Exakta_Varex_VX

http://www.exakta.org/

Pick up a copy of the Exakta Guide from Focal Press.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/685028571/exakta-guide-complete-correct-compact?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_b-books_movies_and_music-books-guides_and_how_tos-other&utm_custom1=1f8c2923-8b53-4db0-9ff5-df4ef4106454&utm_content=bing_352012659_1295224846847968_80951579296794_pla-4584551173174417:pla-4584551173174417_c__685028571&utm_custom2=352012659&msclkid=b665cc758d5b16ea0f439283da1eece7

Finally, get yourself some film and try some shooting. If you're having fun, there are plenty of used lenses and other gear available on eBay and from used camera dealers.

It's a fun camera to use!

Andy

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

PS: It was good enough for Jimmy Stewart in Rear Window!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I used one from about 1955 to 1975. Really liked it. Had a competition with a Leica friend over who could make better shots. No winners or losers there. But I liked the bayonet lens mount (Leica was screw-in).

As I recall, it had a film cutter built in so you could take out the film you had shot already (needed a darkroom) and then finish the rest of the roll. (I had a vague recollection that you could use another canister as a takeup spool so you may not have needed a darkroom, but my memory is experiencing age faults so I can't be sure that was on the Exakta). My rolls were rarely 36 exposure because I loaded my own so I could estimate what I needed and load accordingly. I used anything from 12 to 40 exposure rolls.

Have fun with it.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Quite a difference from today, with big memory cards’ capacities.

Did you get used to the “left-handed” operation easily?
I think I remember reading a theory that it was made that way as the fine motor skills needed for focusing were best left to the dominant hand (for right-handed people) leaving the other to advance and trip the shutter.

exakta56 Loc: Orford,New Hampshire

The Exakta was my first serious camera which I bought in 1956 along with a 50mm and 135mm lens. I took photos with it all over the US and in the US Navy. Rugged camera with lots of flexibility. I have the interchangeble view finders as well. This conversation brings back a lot of memories, thanks.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I've always been left eyed.
And ambisinistrous.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

My VX (Serial #791602) is still fully functional. The worst thing you can do to the shutter is to set speeds without first cocking the shutter. Likewise, never wind the slow speed knob without first cocking the shutter, and never set slow speeds unless the knob is wound. Download the manual and follow it to the letter - if yours is in working condition now, you may never wear it out. I have run somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 rolls of film through mine over the past 60+ years, 3 rolls this January, probably will expose another half dozen this year.
Tons of great Exakta mount lenses were made, what lenses do you have?

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

The VX1000 was my first SLR and I still have it along with several lenses. I used it to get my BFA and MFA in photography. Feel free to PM about your camera

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

My Choice of an Exakta VXIIa.

As I was graduating from USC in EE, I knew that my income would permit to move up from my Argus C3 to a more competent camera. I really liked Leica IIIf which the current model. I also knew that I would be adding telephoto and wide angle lenses to my arsenal as time went on as the limited 100mm Argus lens was so inadequate for my intended types of images. Studying the capabilities of what was available I soon learned that all the RF 35mm cameras suffered from the same malady: limitation to mostly OEM provided lenses or subject to awkward and kludgy limitations in operation. I eventually discovered the SLR camera type and saw its advantages immediately. There was Alpa which was as expensive as Leica and almost as limited in lenses since the Alpa mount was unique and it suffered also as far as I could tell from a very limited user base. There was limited information available on Alpa. The Exakta and it’s baby brother the Exa were noted and found to be more flexible and the Exakta lens mount was made for many non-camera OEM lenses. The Exacta was more affordable as well. The decision made, I bought my VXIIa and an Exakta 58mm lens from Spiratone in NYC by mail. That started my many years of enjoyment of SLR photography. I used the Exakta in the USA from 1958 and in Europe from 1967 through 1969 adding a 135mm telephoto, a 200mm telephoto, a 20mm super wide angle and a 35mm wide angle as well as extension tubes for macro. I continued to use the rig back in the USA into the 70’s when I moved on to Minolta SRT 101 and later 201 cameras and appropriate lenses. In the 90’s I moved on to Nikon film having N90 and couple of other N bodies until getting dibital with a D90 and moving through several other D bodies until now I am at D850 and quite satisfied. My lens arsenal now is all Nikon from a 24-120 up through a 200-500 tele with 4 Nikon lenses in between plus a Rokinon fisheye (cost related choice considering limited use intended). That’s my story . Sorry if it got long, but it’s a long story sitting now at 62 years!

Hanson

I used Minolta in the 60s. Very durable and much better-made than Exakta. Lenses were higher quality too. Minolta later collaborated with Leica and produced many nice bodies and lenses.