No complaints from me about B&H. My most recent FedEx experiences have included 1) Three weeks for a small item to get from Smyrna, Georgia to New Hampshire by way of California, 2) An envelope left literally in the middle of my driveway during a snowstorm (yes, it got plowed into the snowpile), 3) A package left under the downspout on my neighbor's patio (no water resistant bag or covering) during a rainstorm, and 4) A delivery to my office left on the front steps of a large office building in the downtown of a large city.

I'm not buying anything, unless I have to, from any seller that offers FedEx as the only option.

Andy

Going back to the Exakta models - this was the preferred camera for scientists and astronomers right through the mid 60s, for good reason. There were tons of accessories for microscope and telescope use, the famous film cutter allowed for taking short rolls for immediate development, and the long shutter speeds were extremely useful in scientific applications. Such users didn't care much about automatic diaphragms and instant return mirrors. The left handed features of the camera never bothered me at all, and I'm probably the least ambidextrous person on the planet.

Once the brand moved to West Germany, the quality, features, and overall usefulness dropped like a rock. The version you have is one of the earlier ones, and still has a large variety of very high quality glass available.

Embrace the uniqueness of this camera in the context of its time, and use it as it was designed to be used. It's a beautiful piece of kit and its value is increasing rapidly as today's generation of film users seem to love the look and feel of it.

Andy

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

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

The drier the worse. Pencil leads are made of graphite and a waxy, greasy binder. Carpenter's pencils designed to write on rough surfaces have the highest binder content, so I suppose it's better to use that than a drafting pencil. Something has to hold the lead together.

It's probably better to have a waxy emulsion than fine powder. Graphite does NOT stay where it's put, and getting it into my cameras or lenses is not something I want to deal with. Do as you like, but the more powdery the graphite, the less I want it near anything optical. Most camera repair persons avoid using graphite in mechanical cameras except in tiny doses in highly contained pieces for the exact same reason.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil

Andy

I’m sorry, but I’ll never understand the attraction of having minute graphite particles suspended in a base of grease around my lenses and bodies. Sticky particles are not one thing I’m fond of.

Andy

Of course. Am I missing something or is that exactly what I said?

Light seals generally came in during the SLR era of the 60s and later.

Andy

This is good to keep in mind, even on lenses that don't "trombone". Pressing the flat filter surface down horizontally should not be done with excessive force anyway, it's usually not required. I've never actually gotten even an aluminum filter stuck on a lens since I began rubbing a bar of Ivory Soap on the filter threads. It doesn't take much.

Andy

Excellent point! I have prewar Leicas and a pre-war Super Ikonta that are still ticking, with clean glass and rangefinders and shutter speeds that are quite close to accurate. There isn't a single light leak on any of my pre-1960 cameras.

Built to last, they were.

Andy

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout, GeorgeH!

I'm bookmarking this thread for the next time I have to send something out. Mark Hansen is another name that has been recommended a number of times on these forums.

Andy

Sticky rubber, disc shaped "jar opener" on a sturdy flat surface, like a kitchen counter.

Press the lens and filter assembly into the rubber surface.

Slowly turn the lens anti-clockwise while pressing the filter into the rubber disc.

As with many stuck things, it may also help to try turning clockwise a hair to tighten it further before trying anti-clockwise.

Last resort is cutting the filter - you really don't want metal filings all over your nice, shiny lens.

Andy

Although I've never used them, they have a sterling reputation. Very worthwhile suggestion that had slipped my mind!

Andy

There are quite a few that have been recommended by other UHH members, including one in North Carolina, whose name I don't recall. I have used Steve Gandy (cameraquest) who was very professional, and Harry Fleenor (a legend!) for my Rolleiflex. There is also a great shop in Rhode Island, which you may be able to find by googling. RMalarz (Bob) has a regular shop in Tempe that sounds incredible.

I wish UHH would pin a thread somewhere showing recommendations! My forgetfulness is increasing as I age.

Andy

I’m not a fan of small particles of graphite getting anywhere near any openings in my camera. I rub Ivory soap, rubbed on the threads.

Andy

The Praktina was a German original design, and built in a German factory with experienced German technicians, from the KW factory, which was in business before WW2. They just happened to wind up on the wrong side of the occupation line in the Russian Zone. The early post war Praktinas may have suffered from material shortages in some of their metal finishes, but so did the West German and Japanese models. It has nothing in common with the rather hamfisted Russian designs of the time.

The Praktina's breech lock lens mount remains one of the most solidly constructed ever, and will stand up to rough use. The lenses were great and were made by Zeiss, Schneider, and other great lens makers. If you (or anyone else!) have any and are looking to dispose of them, I'll be very happy to take them off your hands and pay you for the privilege.

http://www.praktina.com/

Andy