Exakta Varex IIb

1963

Ihagee Kamerawerk AG.

Dresden

German Democratic Republic

Lens:

f2.8, 5 cm Zeiss Tessar, fully automatic iris diaphragm (FAD) to f22. Depth-of-field scale. Bayonet mount. Serial no. 6860704 .

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 12s - 1/1000, B, T. Delayed action. Speeds are regulated by delaying the second blind, low speeds, 1/10 - 12s run through a gear train. X, F, FP Synchronisation.

Construction:

Metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film.

Focusing:

Helical to 1' 6".

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through taking lens. Split-image focusing screen with condenser. Removable roof pentaprism view-finder.
Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance tensions the shutter.
Film cutting knife.

Serial Number:

1024746 .

With:

f2.8, 35 mm Zeiss Flektogon, fully automatic iris diaphragm (FAD) to f22. Focus to 0.6 feet. Aperture compensation for close focusing. Introduced 1961. Serial no. 9862670.

f4, 135 mm Zeiss Sonnar, fully automatic iris diaphragm (FAD) to f22. Focus to 1 metre. Aperture compensation for close focusing. Serial no. 6901597.
Ever-ready case. Lens hood for 35 mm lens, in box. Cable release with lock.
Instruction book. "Accessories, Close-up Photography" - pamphlet c. 1969. "Exakta and Exa Accessories for Macrophotography and Microphotography" - pamphlet. "Practical Tables".
Finders
Waist-level view-finder, late version c. 1966, with magnifier.
Magnifying view-finder.
Focusing screen - Plain ground glass without condenser, primarily for close-up and macro work in conjunction with the Magnifying finder. Box.
Focusing screen - Plain ground glass with condenser. Box.
Close-up
Extension tube set. Comprises: 5, 15, 30 mm tubes and front and rear adapters.
Two-in-One ring. Front and rear bayonet adapters combined in one piece giving a total of 5 mm extension.
Autocouple Extension Release. Comprises: 9 cm rod, 15 cm rod, connector to lens, connector to camera, 2 screws to fix connectors to cable release sockets. This connects the lens release to the body release when using extension tubes or bellows. In box.
Small bellows in box. For 35 to 125 mm extension.
Microscope Attachment. In box.
Lens reversing ring.
Vielzweck
Focusing Slide and Bellows (Vielzweck). Late version. For extension between 35 and 200 mm. In box.
Transparency Copying Attachment to fit Vielzweck.
Swing Angle Top.
Tripod Plate. Fits to a tripod and provides a short rail to which the Swing Angle Top can be fitted.
Right-angle bracket. Fits to a copying stand and changes the camera axis from vertical to horizontal.

The IIb was replaced in 1967 by the VX 1000 model. The focusing screen is held in the view-finder by a simple push-fit against a spring, the pentaprism and other finders are also a push-fit into the camera.

Bellows and Focusing Slide

These were catalogued and sold as two separate items. The front and rear standards move independently along the rail (called the Focusing Slide) and the rail moves with respect to its tripod or other fixing. The front standard carrying the lens is generally positioned at the front of the rail, the rear standard is then moved to obtain the correct image size (magnification), the image is then focused by operating the rack and pinion drive which moves the rail and bellows together. The rail carries two scales, one, marked in black, is for the standard lens, the other, marked in red, is for the 50 mm Tessar in sunk mount. Both scales show the bellows extension. The Focusing Slide was used with other apparatus. The bellows provide for extensions between 35 and 200 mm on a 290 mm long rail.

Early models of the Vielzweck bellows had a black crackle finish with levers to tighten the standards. Later versions had a blue hammer paint finish also using levers, late models have black plastic control knobs.

Transparency Copying Attachment

This can be used with slides in cardboard mounts and rolls of film, single pieces of film were held in paper holders that made it easy to move the film to the correct position. When the copier is first assembled it has to be aligned with the film gate of the camera, for this it was recommended that the back of the camera be removed and the transparency holder observed with the aid of a ground glass screen held against the film gate.

Swing Angle Top

This attaches the camera to the Focusing Slide or Tripod Plate (a shorter slide), the camera can be turned through 90 degrees.

Microscope Attachment

Comprises:

Bayonet ring to fit camera;
30 and 15 mm extension tubes, these screw into the bayonet ring;
Flange, this screws onto the extension tubes and has a conical rim that clips into the draw tube connector;
Draw tube connector, this fits onto the draw tube of the microscope and holds the eye-piece.

For low power work (i.e. without the use of the eye-piece) the draw tube of the microscope can be removed, the flange of the microscope attachment will then clip directly onto some microscopes.

Magnifying view-finder

This comprises a body to fix into the camera and a separate lens unit that bayonets (normal lens bayonet) onto the body. Used in close-up and macro photography. The two units - finder body and lens - were sold separately.

Code Names:

308.01 - Body of magnifying finder. 312 - Top lens for magnifying finder. 308.22 - Plain ground glass screen. 180 - Extension tube set (comprises: 181/183 - bayonet rings; 184 - 5 mm tube, 185 - 15 mm tube, 186 - 30 mm tube). 187 - Two-in-One ring. 176 Miniature Bellows. 178 - Autocouple Extension Release. 153 - Microscope attachment. 155.10 - Focusing Slide and bellows (Vielzweck), these could be bought separately as 155.01 U7 and 155.02. 155.04 - Transparency Copying Attachment, this could be bought together with the Focusing Slide and Bellows as 155.19. 155.13 - Tripod Top. 155.03 - Swing Angle Top (when combined with the Focusing Slide this became the Swing Angle Attachment with a code of 155.08).

References & Notes:

Wurst, Exakta Manual. Macrophotography Photomicrography Stereo Photography.

Exakta Varex IIb

1963

Ihagee Kamerawerk AG.

Dresden

German Democratic Republic

Lens:

f5.5, 400 mm Meyer Telemegor, pre-set iris diaphragm to f22. Focus to 5.5 m. Depth-of-field scale. Bayonet mount. Serial no. 3263914 .

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 12s - 1/1000, B, T. Delayed action. Speeds are regulated by delaying the second blind, low speeds, 1/10 - 12s run through a gear train. X, F, FP Synchronisation.

Construction:

Metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film.

Attributes:

Serial Number:

1121448 .

Early Photography

Exakta Varex IIb

1963

Ihagee Kamerawerk AG.

Dresden

German Democratic Republic

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Serial Number:

With:

Finders

Close-up

Vielzweck

Bellows and Focusing Slide

Transparency Copying Attachment

Swing Angle Top

Microscope Attachment

Magnifying view-finder

Code Names:

References & Notes:

Exakta Varex IIb

1963

Ihagee Kamerawerk AG.

Dresden

German Democratic Republic

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Attributes:

Serial Number: