Exakta

1933

Original model, second version

Ihagee Kamerawerk, Steenbergen & Co.

Dresden

Germany

Image of Exakta Original model, second version

Lens:

f3.5, 7 cm Zeiss Tessar, iris diaphragm to f16. Interchangeable screw mount. Serial no. 1379545 (c. 1932).

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 1/25 - 1/1000, Z, B. Second blind delayed to vary exposure. Self-capping.

Construction:

Leather covered metal body.

Format:

8, 4.5 x 6 cm exposures on 127 roll-film.

Focusing:

Helical to 2 feet.

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through taking lens. Waist-level finder with ground glass screen and magnifier. Frame finder in hood, mirror in hood for eye-level use.
Mirror raised by spring.
Film advance indicated by red window. Film advance tensions shutter and lowers mirror. Double exposure prevention.

Identification:

Late type film advance knob.

Serial Number:

406266 .

With:

f5.5, 15 cm Meyer Tele-Megor. Lens hood. Serial no. 861047.
Accessory focusing hood with magnifier, in pouch. Lens cap. Ever-ready case.

The original version was, with minor improvements, renamed model A in 1934 when the model B with slow speeds was introduced. Main variations of the original model are in the shape of the film advance wheel; the earliest versions were shorter and of small diameter (22 mm, later 26 mm). The lens thread was also changed during the first year of production from 39.5 x 0.5 mm pitch to 39.8 x 0.75 mm pitch. The price with an f3.5 Tessar was £18.0.0.

The chief designer at Ihagee at this time was Karl Nuchtenerlein (b. 1904, d. 1944) who was instrumental in the development of the Exakta cameras.

The focusing hood shown here was available with or without a magnifying lens.

References & Notes:

BP 410306/1933. BP 414465/1933. BJA 1934, pp. 282, 601. BJA 1935, pp. 309, 591. Falchenberg, Exakta Exhibition Cat. Cameras from Dresden, p. 19.

Illustrations:

Auer, History, p.183.

Early Photography