To the best of my knowledge, all of the Exaktas were left-handed. At least,
my two were of the southpaw variety.
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Fildes" <afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Olympus Camera Discussion" <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 10:39 PM
Subject: Re: [OM] Might be of interest to Olympus list EP 2
> Apparently the Exakta line became progressively worse as the forces of
> darkness slowly exerted control over what had been a strangely independent
> maker in East Germany. Anything from the '50's was built like a tank with
> beautifully engraved front panels (like both of mine) and weighs a ton.
> After that came a slow decline in quality until by the early '70's, they
> were the same old EastBloc junk with M42 mounts.
> Hard to use the Varex because it is a left-handed camera. Wind is on the
> left, trigger on the left front, transport from right to left and you have
> to adjust the focus with your right. Really, really weird.
> I've picked up a few extra accessories (another prism, another split
> screen) but can't find lens caps anywhere so if anyone has Exakta rear
> caps, body caps or ZeissMeyer/Schact 49mm front caps I'd love to hear from
> you. That's bayonet, not screw.
> Andrew Fildes
> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
> On 07/01/2011, at 9:35 AM, Jim Nichols wrote:
>
>> Hi Andrew,
>>
>> The Exa is a rugged beast, and, though its shutter speeds are limited, it
>> keeps going like the Energizer Bunny. My Exakta, as well as my very
>> heavy
>> Schneider lens, had delicate mechanisms that are no longer maintained by
>> any
>> shop that I could locate. I never had a Varex; perhaps they hold up
>> better.
>>
>> Jim Nichols
>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Andrew Fildes" <afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: "Olympus Camera Discussion" <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 4:26 PM
>> Subject: Re: [OM] Might be of interest to Olympus list EP 2
>>
>>
>>> If he wants to go retro, he should do it properly on the cheap. I just
>>> picked up an Exakta kit for $150. Varex IIa with prism and split image
>>> screen, original Exa, four lenses (inc. a 90/2.8), extension tubes. All
>>> looks barely used. These are perhaps the prettiest cameras I've ever
>>> owned. I believe that the Varex sold for $3-400 in the 1950's. That's M9
>>> territory now.
>>> I am going to have to shoot some silver.
>>> Andrew Fildes
>>> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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