Exakta Vx iia

[joshuakpb]

<p>Hey, so i recently aquired an almost mint(looks 90% unused) Exakta VX iia with a 50 f2 Car Zeiss Jena lens. It has an extra waist level finder as well as the standard(?) finder with split image focusing screen. It has a Fujitar 35 f2.5 lens and a Tamron 135 f2.8 telephoto also. Came with a brown leather case(actually looks brand new), a light meter, a few filters and lens hoods, a changing bag and some tripod accessories.</p>

<p>Was kind of a bidding war at the end while i was searching all over the internet trying to find out info on them to figure out how rare they are and think i paid a pretty good price for it all ($320 NZD). have i made a good buy? the Carl Zeiss Lens has minimal spider webbing on the front element, focus and diaphragm blades are smooth and oil free. Shutter on the camera fires perfectly, all dials are tight and smooth. Mirror is a little dusty, but would clean up nicely.</p>

<p>will post pictures this weekend if anyone is interested.</p>

<p>would love anyones feedback :)</p>

[nickc1]

<p>If I were buying from an auction site in the UK I would say that you have paid top price, but whether the condition warrants this is up to you - without actually handling the camera no one can really advise you.<br>

I said if buying in the UK - these cameras are not that rare in europe, but I don't know if that is the case in NZ - if the model were not available there, or if it is different in detail - (eg the model names changed in different markets) - this could send the price up or down. </p>

[steve_levine]

<p>This is a find to a collector. The truly clean samples are becoming more rare as time goes by. So this justifies what seems to be a slightly high paid price.<br>

Converted to USD this equals $270. If the gear is as nice as you say, you did okay, but you didn't steal it either. The Fujitar is a gem of a lens as is the Jena. But I think the Fujitar's were pre-set apertures? The Tamron isn't a particularly valuable lens (to collectors), but should work fine. And the "like new" original accessories are always nice to have.</p>

<p>What exactly do you mean by "spider webbing"? Does this clean off with lens tissue?</p>

<p>Now lets see some pictures of the kit!</p>

[subbarayan_prasanna]

<p>Congratulations! on the acquisition. I don't know about the price, now. The Camera and the lens [f/2 could be a Biotar or a Pancolar] are superb items. I have one of the same model, the VXIIa with a Pancolar. Exaktas make you work hard. But they reward you with excellent results.<br>

You may want to buy the Repair Manual by <strong>Miles Upton</strong> Via Ebay USA or by direct contact with him at <www.Exaktaphile.com>. The Manual is very detailed and focused on this particular model, the VXIIa. I have used it successfully and learned to CLA Exaktas including changing the shutter curtains.<br>

Other sites that would give you more information on the Exakta models are <strong>Captain jack's</strong>, <strong>Wrotniak's</strong>, <strong>Rick Oleson's</strong> [www.tripod.com] and <strong>Exakta.org</strong>. Just Google search them and obtain the information. You may be happy to know that the model you have was priced higher than its contemporary Leica, at somewhere around US$400.<br>

Would love to see pictures of the camera as well as those taken with it. Best, sp</p>

[chuck_foreman1]

The camera is not so rare here in Europe. Often the shutter is wrinkled and loud. They often need attention. Working copies are bringing more money now. Exakta lenses are a mixed bag. They will only work on an Exakta as opposed to the M42 versions. That the Zeiss lens is a bit attacked from fungus is definitely a disappointment. Like others mentioned in NZ or

down-under they might be rare. Pluses are two finders and alternative lenses, filters plus lightmeter! Is the meter a clip-on from Exakta? A changing bag if it's usable is a great investment!! I think too you paid a pretty price, but given the rarity down-under you may have made out ok! I paid a pretty price for my outfit in 1990 ($125,00) but I did get three Zeiss lenses all of which including the camera eventually needed servicing. The shutter refused to trip early on. The 120mm lens wouldn't stop down. (Still doesn't properly you have to twist after each use) . The 35mm needed cleaning of the rear element (totally yellow and auto-diaphragm, and the 50 Pancolar (great lens) too, eventually needed auto-diaphragm rebuild.Please post pictures and first results!!

[JDMvW]

<p>The price paid is pretty high, but if it is in good working shape and with a lens, you aren't totally off. Prices on these in European camera stores specializing in older cameras have gone very high in the last couple of years, and not only because of the strength of the Euro.<br /> See if you can get the lens clean, or somehow kill the fungus before it goes any further. Some of the 'repair sites/books" can help on lens dis-assembly.</p>

<p>There are Exakta to EOS adapters, so the lenses can be used on Canon cameras, although the attachment is a little less convenient than for Nikon or M42 mounts.</p>

<p>And definitely post pictures taken with it. as well as of the camera too. :)</p><div></div>

[k5083]

<p>I would say the shutter curtains are key. If they are smooth with no wrinkles and don't leak, then your price was better than the majority of IIa's that cost less, but have leaky curtains and will require extra expense or some do-it-yourself effort to repair. It may mean that the camera has been serviced and the curtains replaced, which would be well worth the extra money.</p>

 

[mfophotos]

<p>Whether you got a deal is up to you. I have had several minty Exakta VX IIa's come my way over the past few years, and the shutter curtains in one of them were wrinkled and speeds were way off. The other one was pretty good except on the slower speeds. One hadn't been used in about 40 years! Both sold on ebay with good lenses for less than $100 US. My first SLR was an an Exa IIa (1973), which I used for quite a while. Having had some experience with Exaktas, they are pretty, mechanical, robust, and are interesting cameras, but I don't particularly enjoy using them. For a time, they reigned supreme among naturalists and scientists, and partly because of that, there are a never-ending trove of unusual add-ons.</p>

[tri-x1]

<p>In the early 1960s my dad paid $69.95 for a VXIIA with a Pancolor lens--brand new in the box. Of course $70 was worth a lot more than it is now but up until that first sales Exactas were rare and cost several hundred dollars.</p>

[joshuakpb]

<p>posting pictures this week! stay tuned! sorry its taken so long!</p>

[joshuakpb]

<p>finally! some pics! sorry its taken so long! would love to hear your thoughts!!</p>

<p>thanks for all your help already! i really appreciate it!<br>

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[willis]

<p>A reference that I use is Exakta cameras 1933-1978 by Clement Aguila and Michel Rouah.</p>

<p>I found my copy on eBay.</p>

<p>Lots of information!</p>

[matthew_peretz3]

<p>I wrote this question to Miles Upton but I don't know if I'll get an answer anytime soon and I'm really frustrated on this, my first Exakta CLA (of what I hoped would be many):<br>

I got to the point on this Varex IIa - my first time disassembling a camera, and I've tried EVERYTHING I could think of - oil, solvents - but I cannot get 1 of the shutter curtain gear SCREWS loose and at this point I've either stripped the head (the slot where you insert the screwdriver) or come very close to having done so. You said they can be notoriously hard to get out... but I'm so depressed and frustrated I'm just thinking of throwing the whole thing away. </p>

 

I tried some light oil, some heavier oil, and even lacquer thinner (pretty strong) - let them soak in for a good while - but the screw is stuck. It could be rusted stuck. I don't know.

 

I spent to much time and money and I realized that one thing going wrong (with my lack of knowledge about what is 'possible' to do) can simply stop a project dead.

 

If you have a moment to suggest what I should do... I'd really appreciate it.