Exakta 35mm Guide

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							EXAKTA I, II
EXAKTA VAREX V VX
EXAKTA VAREX IIa, IIb
EXAKTA VXsOO, VX1 OOO
EXAKTA RTL l OOO
EXAKTA l, la, ll, lla, llb
EXA 5OO
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=@=ip;*i#t*i#,dfrCt -l scrupulous ln fully describlng thenl$fmtUl03 camira and advising on its use is thevery best type of manufacturersbook of Instruclons. lt ls, however, more critlcal thanthey could be. No Comero 6uldc will attempt to camouflagethe limltatlons of a camera or make efforts to sell an endlesschaln of accessorles. lt ls stralghtforward, practical anddevoted to the guestions ofhow to take the best photographswith a particular camera, rather than to praise of ir. TheComero Guldc ls complled by an author who has had longexperlence ln handling the equipment in questlon. lt repre-sents at the same time the gist of all available literaturecolfected by the Focal Press Clrcle of Photogrophers ndfiltered through lheir considered ludgment.
Fitta Edtrtq: |pril, 1956Sccond Editim: Morch, 196lThitd Edrtton: Septembr 1952Foutth Edition: tllarch, 1961Fifth Edition : Apt,t. 1965Sixth Edition: Jutf, 1966Scvcnth Editroa: August, 1967Eighth Edition: Moy, 1969Ninth Editioa: Februory, 1972Tcnt./n Edition: Moy, 1971E qcnah Ediaion: Jonuory, lg78Tvelfh Edition: Moy. 1979
Seul fot frcc cotologn d books on photogtophf, ctnemotogrophy, tcreyirion.?und. gu.tio-vituol metlnds, rcprogtophl, grophic on ond printing to:1994t flEtl lTP., i! Fitzroy Squerc, London WIP 6BH, Ensland.FOCAL PRESS lNC.. l0 Erst.l0th Strcct, Ncw York 10016, USA.
HOW TO. . .
Lod tbc Erd.fr 13
Hold th. ErrLtr 24
Crrry thc Enlh 16
Shoot rlth lbe Errhr 26
Untosd tic Drrtrr 30
CharCc prra.crpotcd fild 32
Cd ofi c4oeed leogthc 33
Focer 20 50
llca abG dop 28
A!$r thc Grltosurc 64
Usc ttrc rhuttcr 27
Choo3e rbc fi|[ !4
Ucc 0Lcn 7t
Urc thc lcccr 45
Tafc chco.lPo 79
Urc irrl 83
Crrc for crncn 76
WHAT IS WHERE?
AcccssoriesApertureBellows attachmcltCarrying camcraChsnging lcnscsClosc-upsCoatingColour filmCutting filmDclaycd sctionDcpth of ficldExposurcExt?nsion tubcsFiln transportFilnsFiltcrsFlash crposurcsFocr.singHandling 0lmHoldhg camcraHypcrfoc&l distanceIrnscsIrading cameraLoading casscttcsMicro attachmentP.cntaprism 6ndcrPol,arizing fiItcrRc8ex findcrRelcasingSafdisbtShootingShutterStopSuppleoartaricsZooo focusing
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							EXAKTA 35 mm.
GUIDE
How to Use
The Exakta I, IL
Exakta Varex V, VX, IIa, IIb,
vx500, vx1000, RTLL000
AIso the Exa I, Ia, II, IIa, IIb and 500
By W. D. EMANUEL
Tw,elfth Edition
Focal Press . London
CONTENTS
PagePage
The 35 mm. Exakta Models 4
Handling the Exakta 13Loading 13Carrying 16Viewing 18Holding 27Shooting 26Unloading 30Unloading withoutRewinding 32Changing Partly-ExposedFilm 32Cutting Off Exposed FilmParts 33
Exakta Films 34Safelight 34Handling. Winding andTrimming the Film 34Length of Film Requiredfor any Number ofExposures 36Loading Cassettes 37Cassettes with Bulk Film orDarkroom Refills 37Cassettes with DaylightRefills 39The Choice of Black-and-White Material 3935 mm. Black-and- lVhiteFilms 40Conversion of Film SpeedSystems 4lColour Film 4235 mm. Colour Films 43
Wide-angle Lenses 48Long-focus Lenses 48Exakta LensesCompared 50
The Technique of Focus 52DeDth of Field 52Coirtrol of Debth of Field 54Limits of Depth of Field 55The Hyperfocal Distance 56Safety-zone Focusing 56Hyperfocal Distance andDepth of Field Tables 57Hyperfocal Distance 57Depth of Field forStandard Lenses 58Depth of Field forVlide-angle Lenses 59Depth of Field forLo ng-fo cu s Le n s e s 6O-63
The Technique ofExposare &Examat TTL Meter 65AttachmentExposure Meter Attachment 66The TTL Pentaprism forthe Exakta RTL1000 66Fitting the TTL prism 68Using the TTL PentaprismMeter 68Open aperture measuring 68Stop down measurement 70Fitting and changingbattery 7lUsing an Exposure Meter 7l
Exakta Lenses 45 The Technique of ToneSetting and Changing Lenses 45 The Use of FiltersThe Choice of Lenses 46 Filter FactorsStandard lrnses 47 Polarizing Filter
2
74747576
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							Coe of the CaneraStorageExerciseRunning test after storageKeeping the interior cleanTreating the camera withcareCoping with tropicalconditions 78
Close-up Work 80Supplementary Lenses 80Close-up Focusing Tablefor SupplementaryLenses 82Extension Tubes 82
Page
77 Flash with the Exakta77 How to Use Flash77 Flash Exposures7778
7g Exakta Accessories
Slwtter Speeds to AnestMovement
Page
848485
THE 35 mm. EXAKTA MODELS
The 35 mm. Exakta is a single-lens reflex camera. Theactual taking lens serves both for focusing and taking thepicture and is used to form the image on the film as well asto reflect the picture to be taken on to a ground-glassfocusing screen. Film and focusing screen are for all intentsand purposes at the same distance from the lens, but indifferent positions and at right angles to each other. Thefilm runs along the back of the camera while the focusingscreen is on the top of it. Thus, the light entering throughthe lens has to go alternately in two directions: once to thefocusing screen and once to the film. This two-way traffic iscontrolled by a mirror on point-duty. By setting the shutter,the mirror is introduced into the path of the light-raysbetween lens and film, thus reflecting the image on to thefocusing screen, showing exactly the same outlines, defini-tion, depth of field and relative brightness of the subject aswill appear on the negative. The screen is a plano-convexlens ground on the underside, and shows the image magnifiedand brilliant all over. It is the right way up and permitscritical focusing (aided by a built-in magnifier), as well asadiustment of the extent of definition towards both thefoieground and background and, lastly, composition of thephotograph before the negative is exposed. With the releaseof the shutter for exposure, the mirror first snaps upwardsand covers the focusing screen. Then the shutter goes acrossand the image is recorded on the fi.Im.The shutter of the Exakta is a self-capping focal planeshutter (except RTLI000, see page 10) travelling from rightto left. Self-capping means that it remains closed whilebeing wound up; focal plane means that it moves rightin front of the negative material, thus ensuring full protec-tion to it. With this type of shutter, Ienses can be changedwhile the camera is loaded. The Exakta shutter has thewidest possible range of speeds. Besides the instantaneousspeeds from l/30 (early ll25) to l/1000 sec., automatic timeexposures from 1/8 (early 1/10) to 12 secs. can be set.
Convercion of Feet and Inchesinto Metic Units 90
Close-up Focusing Tablefor Extension Tubes 83 How to . . . llthat is where? 92
@ 1979 Focal Press Limited
ISBN (excl. USA) 0 240 44780 8ISBN (USA only) 0 8038 1943 9
AII rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or tansmitted, in any form or by any means,electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recordingo r o t he r w i s e l!?;i #,;;i:, p.e r m i s s io n of t he
Some items of equipment or certain materials mentioned in thisbook may not be .fieely available in every eountry. Import andmarketing conditions vary widely, and are outside the control ofthe photographic dealer.
This book is sold suhject to the Standard Conditions of sale ofNet Booksand may not be resold in the UK below the net price.
Printcd snd bound in Grcat Britaio by Maund & Irvinc Ltd., Tring, Hcrts.
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							A delayed-action release (self-timer) is built-in and coupledto the shutter, allowing all speeds from 1/1000 to 6 secs. tobe released with a delaying time of about 12 secs. This verywide choice of longer automatic shutter speeds is unique forminiature cameras and is useful for certain specialised work.On the other hand, this shutter is more complicated thanthose of most of the other miniature cameras and needscareful handling. Shutter winding is automatically coupledwith fi.lm transport and the swing of the mirror into thefocusing position.
Exakta lenses include the well-known Domiplan, JenaTessar, Pancolar, Domiron, Orestegon as standard lenses,besides a wide range of more specialised lenses by othermanufacturers. The lenses are interchangeable, allowing theuse of telephoto, wide-angle and particularly fast lensesfrom 20 to 1000 mm. and apertures up to/l.8. One uniquefeature of the single-lens reflex type is that, whatever lens isused, zo special finders are required, as the reflex findershows in every case the correct image with the lens employed.The interchangeability of the lens permits the straight-forward use of extension tubes for close-ups without theleast complication of focusing. The same goes for using thecamera in photomicrography, etc.
The reflex-finder hoodpermits normal reflex image viewingand focusing as well as eyeJevel viewing and focusing bymeans of a pentaprism in the Exakta V, VX, IIa, IIb, VX500,VX1000, RTL1000 and Exa I. It has a direct vision framefinder to be used for viewing only A magnifying glaxpermits critical focusing.
The waist-level reflex finder is interchangeable in Exaktamodels V, VX, IIa,IIb, VX500, VXl000 and RTL1000-aswell as on the Exa I-against an eye-level pentaprism reflexfinder.
The body of the Exaktas (except RTL1000) is of trapezoidshape, approximately 6 x 3* x 3 in. It is die-cast aluminiumalloy in one piece with the negative aperture, leather-covered, and has a hinged back. It is comparatively small
3456
7
8
tIII
16--------
i-----------28Ilr----------29
1, Shutter speed knob.2, Rapid-wind levcr. 3,Shutter releasc. ,1, Re-lease lock. 5, Depth offield preview. 6, Self-timer relerse. 7, Slowshutter speed knob. 8,Slow speed tensioninglever. 9. Finder hoodcover. 10, Finder hood.11, .Rewind crank. 12.Film speed reminder.13, Rewind arbor. l,l,Cassette chambar. l5.Film aperture. 16, Auto-menual switch, 17, Rc-wlnd button. 18. Pentr.grism eyepiecc. 19, Pente-prism. I 9a, Finder syst€mlock. 20. Flash contact.21, Lens change aligningmark. Zl, Lens changealigning mark. 23, Shut-ter release. 24, Depth offield scale. 25. Distanccscale. 26, Lens lockinglever,27, Lens. 28, Focur-ing magnifier. 29, Findsrhood release catch. 30.TTL pentaprism couplingpin. 31, Film-type rc-minder. 32, Frame coun-ter. 33, Carrying lug. 3.1,Camere back. 35. Filmwind sprocket. 36, Take-up spool,37, Film lcadermark. 38, Film leaderguide. 39, Lens lockin3lever..{0. Tripod bush.
Top: Front vicw ofcamerr with pcntrprirm.Ccntre: Rear view ofcem€ra with focusinghood and opened back.Bottom: Bottom view ofcrmere with rtandrdl6m .ttached,
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							EXAKTA ltA, llB, VX500 AND VXt000 CONTROLS
3-Y
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45 --------
6 ------------
________20
7---------------------21---------22-----------23
The Exa 1, introduced in 1963 (below), is basicallythe same as the models currenr up to 1951 (right).Its styling was improved, however, and theshutter speeds changed.
THE EXA MODELS
1, Slow speed and de-leyed action knob. 2,F6cusing screen. 3. Filmindicator. .1. Carryinglul. 5, Magnifier 6,FocusinS hood.7, Aper-ture rin8.8, Hood pente-prism crtch (not on 11b).9, Bayonet lens mount.10. Flesh sockets. l1,Film cutting knife.12,Rewind knob (crenk onllb).13, Tripod bush.1.1. Shuttcr speed knob.15, Repid lever wind.16. Rewind button. 17,Eyepieco in hood.18,Film counter.19, Coun-ter setting. 20, Rcleascfor preselector iris. 21,Depth of field scale.22. Distance scale. 23,Focusint mount. 24, Pen-teprism.25, Releasecovcr. 26, Shutter re-laase. 27, Lens catch.28, Beck lock. 29, Eye-piece in pentaprismflnder.
(.)
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FFB
foPl Top view of camerawith focusing hood.Centre: Front view with-out lensr. with penta-prism. Eodom: Rearview of upper part withpentaprism.
The 1954 Exa lla (left) is similar to the Exa ll(obove), but has a detachable back and improvedfilm transport. lt can be supplied with standardground glass screen or with a ground glass withfresnel screen and split-image rangefinder in thecentre. The Exa llb is as lla. but with instant returnmirror.
The 1967 Exa 500 (similar in appearance to theExa lla) is fitted with pentaprism and microprismrangefinder, extended shutter speed range andfully automatic diaphragm lens,
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							EARLIER 35 mm. EXAKTA MODELS
Right: Model I, the originalKine Exakta, has non-interchangeable focusingscreen and is synchronizedfor bulbs only.
Right: Models V and VXhave interchangeablescreens and are M- and X-synchronized, having twosets of sockets. The 1956model of the VX has asingle concentric socket ateach side.
in spite of housing the focal plane shutter, reflex arrange-
ment and fast interchangeabla lenses. It also has a tripod
bush, internal flash synclironisation for electronic flash and
flash bulbs and hooks for a neck-strap. The weight is
approximately 33 oz. (950 grams).
Focusing is effected by a rapid helical focusing screw,
which is part of the lens-mount. A focusing qcqle is found
on all models indicating the distances from infinity down to
4 or 3 ft. There are also scales provided for reading off the
depth of field.
The film is the standard 35 mm. miniature film for up to
36 exposures I x l| in. (24x36 mm.). A fiIry cultin^g knife
is buiit in (except RTL1000). In the latest model the film can
be transported from cassette to cassette, .m?.king.rewindingunnecessary, or to take-up spool with rewinding. A film type
indicator ind a film transport indicator complete the
mechanism.
A through-the-lens metering finder (the Examat) has- been
marketed, made by Harwix, Berlin, which can be used with
the Exakta or EXA I. This unit combines a pentaprism
viewfinder and exposure meter converting the camera into
a TTL model (details on page 65). For the model RTL1000
a TTL prism attachment for automatic exposure system
with inteinal metering is available, made byExakta (page66).
Exakta Models
EXAKTA RTL1000 (1970). This model embodies all the refinements of the Exakta, but has been redesigned and incorporatessierificant advances in photographic technology. One of the threeinierchangeable viewfinder systems consists of a coupled !TL- pentaprism foi internal light measurement. It has a qretal -focal planeih.rtter from 8 sec. td 1/1000 sec. and B; the built-in delayed-actiontimer covers the speeds irom I sec. to l/1000 sec. Electronic flash issvnchronised at lil25 sec., bulbs at l/30 sec Shutter release on rightind left-trand side. New range of lenses with internally controlledautomatic apertures. The lenses of the earlier Exakta models can beused also for automatic aperture with an adapter on the release.. Ithas self-setting frame counter, rewind pin remains 9epr-essed, rewindirank. The filir cutting knife of the eailier models has been omitted.
Left: Model ll is similar toModel I, but has a differenthood and film counter.
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							EXAKTA VAREX IIa (1957). This model follows in general theabove description. Its main differences compared with the eartermodels are three co-axial flash sncker. /X. M and F). a specially silentshutter mechanism and an improved film indicator. The 196l model ofthe Varex IIa is fitted with an improved reflex hood (with one-fngerclosing) which also accepts the interchangeable ground-glass screensfor special purposes, e.g. with split image rangefinder (up to now onlyavailable for the pentaprism). This hood has no direct vision framefinder. The standard lenses have fully automatic preset iris.EXAKTA IIb (1964) is similar to the model IIa of 1961, but hasgeometrical speed scales (1130, 1160, lll25, 11250, 1/500, U1000 sec.).The rewind kndb has a crank. The catch to secure the finder is notneeded.EXAKTA VX1000 (1967) is as the Exakta IIb, but with instanreturn mirror and minor mechanical improvements.EXAKTA VAREX VX500 (1969) is a scaled-down version of theVXl000, with shutter speeds of l/30 to U500 sec. and B only.EXAKTA VAREX VX (1950 is similar to the model IIa, but hasonly two flash sockets.EXAKTA VAREX VX (1951) has flash sockets for a two-pin flashplug instead of concentric sockets.- EXAKTA VAREX V (1950), the predecessor of the VX is similar toit except that it has no film type or transport indicators, it does notpermit working from cassette to cassette and the back is not hinged.- EXAKTA II (1949) is as Exakta V but has no interchangeable reflexfinder, so that the pentaprism attachment is not usable (but a specialprismatic attachment can be placed on top of the reflex hood,- seepage 84). The flash contact is for flash bulbs only, and there is a minorchange in the mechanical construction of the film transport.EXAKTA I (1936), the original pre-war Kine Exakta, is similar toExakta II with quite minor mechanical differences which do not affectits manipulation.The Exakta cameras using 35 rnm. film were originally called Kine
Exakta to distinguish them from the roll film Exaktas then alsoproduced. The prefix Kine was dropped in 1950, however.
Exa Models
The Exas are simplified versions of the Exakta. They retain many ofits features, in particular the reflex focusing-viewing system and theinterchangeable lens system. In addition to the lenses listed for theExakta, an inexpensive standard lens, f2.9 50 mm. Meritar, 3 elementwith pre-set diaphragm, is available for the Exa models.EXA II (1959) has shutter speeds from ll2 to 11250 sec. and. B,single flash contact, but no delayed action. The eye-level pentaprismfinder is permanently fitted. Most Exakta accessories, including alllenses, may be used in it.
EXA IIa (1963), similar to II, but has detachable back and improvedfilm transport.EXA IIb (1965), similar to IIa, but with instant retum. mirror (theimase can bd vieived before and after exposure), a warning signal inthe -viewfindor when the film has not been advanced, and generalmechanical improvements.EXA 500 (1967) is an improved version of the-Exa IIb with fullyautomatic diiphragm lens, pentaprism with fresnel screen and micro-prism rangefuider,-shutter speeds ll2 sec. and 1/500 sec. and B, andXM flash synchronization.EXA I (iSS:) has a shutter of different design with speeds of -1125,1/50. l/100, l/i50 sec. and B only, two flash contacts, no delayedabti6n.filrir wind is by a transport knob; the film cutting device isomitted. Long focus lenses beyond 100 mm. are not usable (with-outundue cut-off)and similarly close-ups with longer extension tubes than2 in. 6 cm.) cannot be made.EXA I (1961), as I 1953 with improved reflex hood.EXA I (tgefi-nas improved styling, shutter speeds 1130,1160,lll25.1/175 sec., B, single flash contact with symbol setting for electronicflash and bulbs.EXA Ia (1965), similar to EXA I (1963), but with lever film transport.In handiing,-ihe Exa cameras are substantially the- same as theExakta. Whert differences occur which are not self-evident, these arepointed out in the text.
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							HANDLING THE EXAKTA
To start with, we take it for granted that we have ourExakta, together with a cassette of film, in front of us. Ourfirst task is to load the camera with fi.Im.
Loading
The fi.lm should be loaded into the camera in subdueddaylight, or at least in the shadow of your body. Theprocedure is as follows:
1. Open camera-back.2. Insert film.3. Fix film on take-up spool.4. Close camera.5. Open finder hooil.6. Transport film twice and release.7. Wind film-winder once more and set picture-counter.8. Set fiIm indicator.
1. Open qamera back by pulling downwards and turning the milledcamera opening knob on the camera base. On earlier models andsome Exa models, press camera back lock. On RTLI@0, pull upthe rewind knob as far as it will go.
2. The rewind key is pulled out as far as it will go, then place loadedfilm cassette into right-hand side film chamber (below slow speedand delayed action knob) with its hollow part towards rewind key.The mouth of the cassette with the film end has to point towardsthe take-up spool. The rewind knob is now fully pushed back,taking care that its centre plate is not pushed upwards.The film chamber of the Exa has a cassette guide (a metal sheathwhich projects from the roller towards the chamber). The loadedcassette is inserted from beneath the camera, so that the mouth ofthe cassette lies against the edge of the guide.3. Hold the cassette in position with the left thumb, while pullingwith the right hand 4 to 412 in. (10 to ll cm.) film from it. The freeend of the filrn is pushed under the spring tongue of the take-upspool of the camera (below the film winder). The take-up spoolcan be turned on its axis to bring the spring tongue into the mostconvenient position for inserting the film. While fixing the filmunder the tongue the spool should be prevented from turning by
holding it still with one finger. Before closing the camera back,make sure that the perforations of the film engage in the teeth ofthe film transport sprockets.On RTL1000, pull the beginning of the film to the green markand push it with its lower perforation from above under the filmrest and over the film transport sprocket. The wire frame on thetake-up spool must not poir^t upwards (but in any other position).On the Exa I (1961) camcra, remove the take-up spool from itschamber and push the film end under the spring of the take-upspool. The film is wound on to the take-up spool with the emulsionside outwards except on Exa I (1963) and later, where it windsinwards. Now insert the take-up spool into its chamber, ensuringthat its top engages in the shaft of the film transport knob, and theperforation of the film in the film transport sprockets.When working with two cassettes with the Exakta VX, IIa, b,VX500 and VXl000, trim the free film end square. Open the take-upcassette (page 37), remove any cut-off film end from the centrespool and attach the end of the fresh film to the centre spool of thetake-up cassette (No. 4, page 37). Assemble the take-up cassette,and.insert it in the take-up chamber. The slit of the take-up cassettemust point towards the film aperture of the camera. Make sure thatthe perforations of the film engage in the teeth of the film transportsprockets, and close the camera back.To work from cassette to cassette on Exa I (1961) cameras, simplyreplace the take-up spool by an empty cassette and adopt otherwisethe same loading procedure as described for use of the take-up spool.4. Cfose the camera back. With the Kine Exakta I and II, take carethat the circular peg inside the camera connected to the rewind keyis pushedfirmly into the interior of the camera. This is best done withthe ball of the left thumb. The camera back, held in the right handwith its locking-key upwards, is hooked with its lower end into thegroove on the body of the camera, and the back itself pressed lightlytowards the body until the locking-key snaps into position. Therewind key must be allowed to catch in the camera back so that itis clanrped to the camera and cannot be pulled out when the backis closed.On RTLI000 just press back gently home; it will lock automatic-ally. Transport and release the film transport lever and repeat untilthe automatic frame counter points to No. l. Igaore the points5, 6, 7 below.5. The finder-hood springs open by pressing its catch in the middle ofthe back base of the hood.6. Wind and release the film transport twice with the shutter set toany speed except T (:Z). This action implies that the film has beenmoved forward the first two frames, which have been exposed tolight while inserting the film into the camera. These two wastedleader-frames do zot count as part of the 36 exposures.
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