Exakta VX IIa

Hello

I found the above camera at a yard sale for 20.00 and went ahead and bought it, I still have to go through the manual to learn the camera but had a question, the lens is a Schnieder Xenon 1.9 50 and when it is mounted there is a slight looseness.

 

I don't know if this is normal or if it is worn.

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

Thanks

Don

Edited October 2, 2021 by Donald Harpold

I used to hanker after a Varex IIb, but I'm over it now. So I don't have one, but I have a boxful of old Exa/Exacta fit lenses and accessories. The mounts all seem pretty firm to me, although the spring-catch lock is a bit crude.

 

The lenses I have are all massive Novoflex telephotos, and the tiny Exacta mount seems to hold them all pretty firmly.

 

Is the spring still there, and does it have enough tension in it?

Hello

I found the above camera at a yard sale for 20.00 and went ahead and bought it, I still have to go through the manual to learn the camera but had a question, the lens is a Schnieder Xenon 1.9 50 and when it is mounted there is a slight looseness.

 

I don't know if this is normal or if it is worn.

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

Thanks

Don

I've repaired two Exakta cameras over the last twelve months, a Varex and a Varex IIa. The IIa needed complete mechanism cleaning plus new curtains cut and fitted. In past years I have worked on a few other Exaktas. I quite like them, although they have their weaknesses—a proclivity for Ihagee to sometimes employ a smaller size thread than many other makers might, being one such.

 

The Exakta internal bayonet can wear. Unless it's quite bad, the fit of the lugs which bear against those of a lens can often be adjusted to remove excess play. The bayonet mount should come off for this, but that's straightforward.

 

Be careful re-fastening the mounting screws afterwards, they are under size for what they are expected to cope with, and the metal into which their threads are tapped is OK, but only OK—it is not excellent quality, rather, a little cheesy. I've had to reclaim stripped threads by filling with JB Weld before drilling out by hand with a pin vise and tapping new threads. So, be more gentle than you might with an equivalent Japanese camera.

Don, I had a similar issue on my Exakta RTL 1000 with some play in the mount. The photo below shows the tabs inside the bayonet mount, which as mentioned fit against the lugs on the lens. I was able to gently adjust the three tabs just a hair, and now the lens fits snugly.

 

Edited October 2, 2021 by m42dave

Hello All and thank you, and Dave thanks for the photos that helps.

 

I will give it a try, Dave and Brett, how did you adjust the lugs.

 

Thanks Don

Don, on the left part of the tab you can see a thin gap at the top. I inserted the tip of a slotted jeweler's screwdriver into the gap to push each tab back just a fraction (better too little than too much). Then mount the lens to check fit and re-adjust if needed.

 

You may be able to do this without removing the mount, but you''d have to be careful for the screwdriver not to slip. Brett's suggestion of removing the mount is probably a good idea.

If you can do this without removing the mount, it's a much better idea to not disassemble the thing.