A Vintage SLR: Kine-Exacta by Ihagee, Dresden

I had almost forgotten how photography used to be in the early days!!! When my father died two years ago, I ran into this heavily mended, smudgy leather case, labeled "Exakta" and "Ihagee" — the leather strip for carrying the item was torn off, the color no longer black, really (or mostly). Before selling it off (or rather: in order to sell it off), I took a series of pictures, using my Nikon D300, using a flash (SB800) and a AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8GF IF-ED lens. As the D300 is a camera with a DX size sensor, the focal length at full frame would calculate to 157 mm. I should really switch to full frame, as 157 mm effective focal length is at the border of being a bit unhandy for bigger objects!

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60 

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60  

Note the spelling "Exakta" on the leather case: this has some significance... Upon removing the leather case, we see its content:

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60 

Here, the labeling is "Exacta" and "Ihagee Dresden". What we have here is a close descendent of the world's very first 35mm (24 x 36 mm) SLR (single lens reflex) camera. This was first introduced in Leipzig (Frühjahrsmesse) in 1936, under the name "Exakta" — some people refer to this as Kine-Exakta. The first model featured a round focusing loupe. Prior to the war, this was succeeded by model II (rectangular loupe), then by model III (rectangular loupe, 3 connectors for external flash). After the war, production continued between 1945 and 1948, with model IV, which was also intended for exporting (as war reparation production), hence the change in the label from "Exakta" to "Exacta". Models I - III also had a slightly different wheel for the long shutter times (left side in the picture above). Interestingly, all Exacta (and Exakta) models had the shutter release button on the left side of the lens. For details on the history of this camera see Wikipedia (German), or the English version (rudimentary), or here (in German).

So, what we have here is a Kine-Exacta manufactured by Ihagee in Dresden — a version IV, from around 1946 - 1948. For details on the lens see below.

The bottom view shows the screw for mounting the cover and for mounting the camera on a tripod, plus the two handles for rewinding (or advancing) the film:

ISO 720, f/7.1 1/60 

Here's the rear view, with the film compartment and the viewfinder closed. On the left side, the film transport lever with coaxial exposure counter, the little handle for disabling the film transport (for multiple exposures), and the shutter control wheel (short exposure times); on the right, the wheel for long exposure times and the self-timer:

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60 

On the top, we see the closed viewfinder with the rectangular focusing loupe. Unfortunately, none of the original Exacta / Exakta models had a cover for the loupe (other than the leather casing), so scratching it was almost inevitable...

ISO 640, f/7.1 1/60 

On the lens, the front adjustment controls the aperture (f/2.8 .. f/22), the rear adjustment is for the distance (minimum distance ca. 0.8 m), with indicator for the depth of field:

ISO 640, f/7.1 1/60 

The right adjustment wheel is used to control long exposure times (1/5, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4, ... 11, 12 sec) and the self-timer (1/5, 3/4, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 6 sec):

ISO 450, f/7.1 1/60

Top, left side adjustments / features: film transport lever with coaxial exposure counter, the little handle for disabling the film transport (for multiple exposures), and the shutter control wheel for short exposure times (1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/150, 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, Z, B). On the top of the picture: the shutter release button.

ISO 400, f/7.1 1/60

The lens (exchangeable, of course) on this model is labeled "Carl Zeiss Jena Nr.2823606 Tessar 1:2.8 f=5 cm". The picture was taken with the aperture set to the minimum, 1:22.

ISO 200, f/7.1 1/60

At the time of production, four different lenses (all f=5 cm) were available (shown in order of ascending price):

• Exaktar-Anastigmat, 1 : 3.5
• Xenar 1 : 2.8
• Zeiss Tessar 1 : 2.8 (shown here)
• Xenon 1 : 2

The focusing loupe is definitely not in good shape. The viewfinder is opened by pressing the button at the bottom of this picture:

ISO 320, f/7.1 1/80

One way to use the viewfinder was through the two rectangular openings, obviously without picture / focus control — one could call this the "sport viewfinder". As this is without optics, one had to be careful with placing the eye such that the two rectangles would approximately match, in order to have reasonable control over the field of view:

ISO 560, f/7.1 1/60

The front view with the viewfinder opened — the focusing loupe really is in bad shape!

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

This camera was presumably made before the invention of the pentaprism. the viewfinder is a simple lens (convex, flat bottom with focusing screen / surface); the picture seen is mirrored horizontally, but focusing works amazingly well, even without loupe — at least as long as the aperture is open!

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

The loupe could be used to focus on a very small (part of the) field of view — a rather fiddly procedure! Obviously, this works better if the loupe isn't full of scratches...

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

 Side view, right hand side:

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

On the left side, we find the little button that opens the back cover:

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

Perspective onto the shutter release button (with conical thread for a mechanical cable control), viewfinder closed:

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

Perspective onto the 3 flash sync connectors (typical for models III and IV), viewfinder closed:

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

 When the rear cover is removed, we see the shutter blind (horizontal, canvas), the film cartridge compartment on the right, the winder spool on the left, and the guide roll for the film perforation. The camera serial number, 616167, is engraved above the shutter. The back cover also presses the film against the guides above and below the shutter, ensuring a flat exposure area. To the right of the shutter, there is an additional vertical bar connecting to a knob at the bottom of the camera — this was presumably used when the camera was re-functionalized as magnifying apparatus?

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

 Front view onto the lens (see above for details):

ISO 800, f/7.1 1/60

After removing the lens, one can see the mirror housing and the lens bajonet:

ISO 320, f/9, 1/250

The rear (bajonet) side of the lens — much simpler than current lenses, as there is no aperture control through the camera body, nor any electrical connectors / internals to the lens...

ISO 450, f/9, 1/250

So much for looking at this early SLR, over 65 years of age; the signs of use are there for good reason, as my father was an avid hobby photographer for a couple years (up till around 1955 - 1958), thereafter, unfortunately, the camera mostly saw the inside of drawers. I'm now trying to auction it — I don't think I'll make much money out of it, though...