MTC Photography Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 I finished a roll of 36 exp film in my Ihagee Exakta camera, rewound the film (pushing down a plunger), take out the film close the back cover. This morning, I take out the camera to excercise the shutter. The shutter did not work. The film winding mechanism did not actuate the shutter. I thought, this camera may be dead, I should throw it away. HOever, after a closer look, I discover a very tiny switch by the side of the plunger. Push the switch to other side the camera shutter comes back to live again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_foreman1 Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 I've never noticed a switch near the plunger. Often there are inter-related links that sometimes cause such problems.. so it's a mystery and a challenge to find and resolve them Next time I use my Exakta... I will look for this... I've noted my Exa often won't fire... usually when I have film and I have twice unloaded the camera in the bag to salvage the roll because the shutter quit, but a similar interlock in the form of a lever left of the viewfinder is the culprit and I can't ever seem to remember if red is go or stop!! Cover the red and it fires.....Go figure!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evert49 Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 Yes, it is quite normal, I think. Most Exakta (and Exa's) have shutter locks. Probably because it is quite easy to make an unintentional picture while putting the camera away. Older Exakta's refused to work when the viewfinder was closed. At least with the newer ones you can see that the shutter button is locked. Not all Exa's have this lock at the back, some have the same lock newer Exakta's have. But isn't this part of the fun? Finding out things about old and totally outdated camera's. I personally love Exakta's, even though I prefer a somewhat more modern camera to take pictures with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 I have a few Exaktas, but upon inspection I can't find "a very tiny switch by the side of the plunger". What model Exakta are you referring to, MTC ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTC Photography Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 My Exakta VX has no such switch, My early Exakta with winding knob has a small swtich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald_miller5 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 This is not the only camera that has its own little secrets that defy our intuitive experiences. I saved a lot of cameras from the trash heap after referencing butkus.org. I have given him many donations to show my appreciation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Hi MTC! It is easy to get tired with an Exakta especially of the VX series. But please do not throw it away. These cameras will work even if 50% of the system is broken. I have several of them and have brought many of them back to life! Good luck. sp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 I'm puzzled too. You don't mean this little gadget, do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTC Photography Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 JDMvW That little cover is a shutter release lock, to prevent accidental triggering of shutter Tiny tiny pin head switch at right hand side of Exakta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTC Photography Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 Tiny switch near plungger circled up It is very small, like a pin head The plungger is used for film rewind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I know what it was I showed, but if you're so picky about it why didn't you post a picture to start with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Right...We're talking about an Exa here, not an Exakta... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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