Difference between revisions of "Exakta 6×6 (horizontal)"

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(Background)
(Some new lenses from the "Exakta Collection" book.)
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The first '''Exakta''' 6×6cm model was released in 1939 by [[Ihagee]] in Germany. It makes twelve square-format pictures on a 120 film. It has interchangeable lenses, a waist-level viewfinder and a peculiar, very large film-advance lever built onto the base. There is a [[red window]], used to advance a new film to frame 1. The cloth focal-plane shutter has a very wide range for the period — 12 seconds to 1/1000th plus B, set on two dials, and has [[Flashbulbs|Vacublitz]] flash terminals.
 
The first '''Exakta''' 6×6cm model was released in 1939 by [[Ihagee]] in Germany. It makes twelve square-format pictures on a 120 film. It has interchangeable lenses, a waist-level viewfinder and a peculiar, very large film-advance lever built onto the base. There is a [[red window]], used to advance a new film to frame 1. The cloth focal-plane shutter has a very wide range for the period — 12 seconds to 1/1000th plus B, set on two dials, and has [[Flashbulbs|Vacublitz]] flash terminals.
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
===1937-1945===
+
===Exakta 6x6 - 1939===
 
Management at [[Ihagee]] considered a 6x6 project in 1937, and Willy Teubner was made leader for development from the middle of the same year. <ref>Peter Longden, ''Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras'' p. 86, 2011</ref>. A workshop for prototypes was set up in 1938<ref>Ibid.</ref>. This is also reflected in the Carl Zeiss Jena archives, with one to three Carl Zeiss Jena lenses of different types for the Exakta 6x6 mount starting production in 1937-1938, including new 1937-designed 6.5cm f6.3 Tessar, 10cm f2 Biotar and 18cm f4 Sonnar lenses, and the 1938-designed 13.5cm f4 Triotar lens. The 8cm f2.8 and f3.5 Tessar lenses used the same design as for the [[Super Ikonta]], [[Reflex-Korelle]] and [[Ikoflex III]] cameras. Other lenses, such as the Tele-Tessar 18cm and 25cm f6.3 were older designs<ref>Hartmut Thiele, ''Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena'', 2015, p. 313-314</ref>. The camera was first shown at the [[Leipzig Spring Fair]] in 1939, alongside the competing [[Beier-Flex II]]. A version of the camera with the aforementioned 100mm f2 Biotar or 100mm f1.9 Primoplan was also shown, called the Night-Exakta 6x6.<ref>Peter Longden, ''Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras'' p. 86, 2011</ref>. Production was delayed due to problems with the film transport, and did not begin before august 1939, and stopped already in november 1939 with only 1500 cameras produced<ref>Ibid.</ref>. Production of lenses seems to have continued for a few more batches, with a batch of 100 6.5cm f6.5 lenses starting production as late as March 1941<ref>Hartmut Thiele, ''Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena'', 2015, p. 60</ref>. Prices for the camera in 1939 varied depending on the delivered lens. From 225 RM for the camera with Ihagee-Exaktar 8,5cm f3.5 to 390 RM with the Makro-Plasmat 10,5cm f2.7<ref>Exakta - nun auch im Grossformat 6x6</ref>. The Night-Exakta was significantly more expensive, at 460 RM including the Primoplan 10cm f1.9 or 600 RM including the Biotar 10cm f2.
 
Management at [[Ihagee]] considered a 6x6 project in 1937, and Willy Teubner was made leader for development from the middle of the same year. <ref>Peter Longden, ''Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras'' p. 86, 2011</ref>. A workshop for prototypes was set up in 1938<ref>Ibid.</ref>. This is also reflected in the Carl Zeiss Jena archives, with one to three Carl Zeiss Jena lenses of different types for the Exakta 6x6 mount starting production in 1937-1938, including new 1937-designed 6.5cm f6.3 Tessar, 10cm f2 Biotar and 18cm f4 Sonnar lenses, and the 1938-designed 13.5cm f4 Triotar lens. The 8cm f2.8 and f3.5 Tessar lenses used the same design as for the [[Super Ikonta]], [[Reflex-Korelle]] and [[Ikoflex III]] cameras. Other lenses, such as the Tele-Tessar 18cm and 25cm f6.3 were older designs<ref>Hartmut Thiele, ''Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena'', 2015, p. 313-314</ref>. The camera was first shown at the [[Leipzig Spring Fair]] in 1939, alongside the competing [[Beier-Flex II]]. A version of the camera with the aforementioned 100mm f2 Biotar or 100mm f1.9 Primoplan was also shown, called the Night-Exakta 6x6.<ref>Peter Longden, ''Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras'' p. 86, 2011</ref>. Production was delayed due to problems with the film transport, and did not begin before august 1939, and stopped already in november 1939 with only 1500 cameras produced<ref>Ibid.</ref>. Production of lenses seems to have continued for a few more batches, with a batch of 100 6.5cm f6.5 lenses starting production as late as March 1941<ref>Hartmut Thiele, ''Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena'', 2015, p. 60</ref>. Prices for the camera in 1939 varied depending on the delivered lens. From 225 RM for the camera with Ihagee-Exaktar 8,5cm f3.5 to 390 RM with the Makro-Plasmat 10,5cm f2.7<ref>Exakta - nun auch im Grossformat 6x6</ref>. The Night-Exakta was significantly more expensive, at 460 RM including the Primoplan 10cm f1.9 or 600 RM including the Biotar 10cm f2.
===Post 1945===
+
===Exakta 6x6 - 1951===
 
After the war, Willy Teubner, now as Technical Director, reintroduced the pre-war Exakta 66 at the 1951 Leipzig Spring Fair. Certain functions were updated, including an interchangeable finder, but production started based on pre-war parts<ref>Peter Longden, ''Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras'' p. 107-108, 2011</ref>. The update also included a new Tessar 80mm f2.8 lens design from 1950<ref>Hartmut Thiele, ''Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena'', 2015, p. 237</ref>. Only about 300 cameras were produced post-war<ref>Ibid.</ref> The tooling for the pre-war lens mount was used to a much larger degree, however, as the post-war Tessar 80mm f2.8 lens in pre-war 6x6 mount was made in several thousand copies<ref>Ibid.</ref>. Later Tessar 80mm f2.8 lenses for the vertical Exakta 6x6 and Exakta 36x24mm actually contain the pre-war mount, adapted to fit. The adapter for 80mm f2.8 Tessar lenses to the Exakta 36x24mm mount can be used to mount any pre-war 6x6 lens to Exakta 36x24mm cameras, and furthermore to other adapters, e.g. to digital cameras. The focal flange distance for the pre war camera is shorter, however, so prewar lenses cannot focus to infinity without stopping down.
 
After the war, Willy Teubner, now as Technical Director, reintroduced the pre-war Exakta 66 at the 1951 Leipzig Spring Fair. Certain functions were updated, including an interchangeable finder, but production started based on pre-war parts<ref>Peter Longden, ''Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras'' p. 107-108, 2011</ref>. The update also included a new Tessar 80mm f2.8 lens design from 1950<ref>Hartmut Thiele, ''Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena'', 2015, p. 237</ref>. Only about 300 cameras were produced post-war<ref>Ibid.</ref> The tooling for the pre-war lens mount was used to a much larger degree, however, as the post-war Tessar 80mm f2.8 lens in pre-war 6x6 mount was made in several thousand copies<ref>Ibid.</ref>. Later Tessar 80mm f2.8 lenses for the vertical Exakta 6x6 and Exakta 36x24mm actually contain the pre-war mount, adapted to fit. The adapter for 80mm f2.8 Tessar lenses to the Exakta 36x24mm mount can be used to mount any pre-war 6x6 lens to Exakta 36x24mm cameras, and furthermore to other adapters, e.g. to digital cameras. The focal flange distance for the pre war camera is shorter, however, so prewar lenses cannot focus to infinity without stopping down.
  
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==Lenses==
 
==Lenses==
 
===Wide angle===
 
===Wide angle===
 +
*[[Berthiot]] Olor 6.5cm f5.7
 
*[[Carl Zeiss Jena]] Tessar 6.5cm f6.3 - 4 elements (150 RM)
 
*[[Carl Zeiss Jena]] Tessar 6.5cm f6.3 - 4 elements (150 RM)
 
===Normal===
 
===Normal===
 +
*Berthiot Flor 7.5cm f3.5
 
*Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f2.8 - 4 elements
 
*Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f2.8 - 4 elements
 
*Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f3.5 - 4 elements
 
*Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f3.5 - 4 elements
 
*[[Schneider-Kreuznach]] Xenar 8cm f3.5 - 4 elements
 
*[[Schneider-Kreuznach]] Xenar 8cm f3.5 - 4 elements
*Ihagee-Exaktar 8.5cm f3.5 - 4 elements (produced by Schneider-Kreuznach]]
+
*Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 8cm f2.8
 +
*Ihagee-Exaktar 8.5cm f3.5 - 4 elements (produced by Schneider-Kreuznach)
 
*[[Meyer]] Primotar 8.5cm 3.5
 
*[[Meyer]] Primotar 8.5cm 3.5
 +
*Berthiot Flor 9cm f2.8
 
*Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 10cm f2 - 6 elements
 
*Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 10cm f2 - 6 elements
 
*Meyer Primoplan 10cm f1.9
 
*Meyer Primoplan 10cm f1.9
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*Carl Zeiss Jena Triotar 13.5cm f4 - 3 elements (165 RM)
 
*Carl Zeiss Jena Triotar 13.5cm f4 - 3 elements (165 RM)
 
*Meyer Primotar 13.5cm f3.5 (advertised)
 
*Meyer Primotar 13.5cm f3.5 (advertised)
 +
*Berthiot Tele 15cm f5.5
 
*Meyer Primotar 18cm f3.5 (advertised)
 
*Meyer Primotar 18cm f3.5 (advertised)
 
*Meyer Tele-Megor 18cm f5.5 - 4 elements (144 RM)
 
*Meyer Tele-Megor 18cm f5.5 - 4 elements (144 RM)

Revision as of 16:51, 22 September 2016

See also the 1953 vertical Exakta 66 and the 1986 West German Exakta 66.

The first Exakta 6×6cm model was released in 1939 by Ihagee in Germany. It makes twelve square-format pictures on a 120 film. It has interchangeable lenses, a waist-level viewfinder and a peculiar, very large film-advance lever built onto the base. There is a red window, used to advance a new film to frame 1. The cloth focal-plane shutter has a very wide range for the period — 12 seconds to 1/1000th plus B, set on two dials, and has Vacublitz flash terminals.

Background

Exakta 6x6 - 1939

Management at Ihagee considered a 6x6 project in 1937, and Willy Teubner was made leader for development from the middle of the same year. [1]. A workshop for prototypes was set up in 1938[2]. This is also reflected in the Carl Zeiss Jena archives, with one to three Carl Zeiss Jena lenses of different types for the Exakta 6x6 mount starting production in 1937-1938, including new 1937-designed 6.5cm f6.3 Tessar, 10cm f2 Biotar and 18cm f4 Sonnar lenses, and the 1938-designed 13.5cm f4 Triotar lens. The 8cm f2.8 and f3.5 Tessar lenses used the same design as for the Super Ikonta, Reflex-Korelle and Ikoflex III cameras. Other lenses, such as the Tele-Tessar 18cm and 25cm f6.3 were older designs[3]. The camera was first shown at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1939, alongside the competing Beier-Flex II. A version of the camera with the aforementioned 100mm f2 Biotar or 100mm f1.9 Primoplan was also shown, called the Night-Exakta 6x6.[4]. Production was delayed due to problems with the film transport, and did not begin before august 1939, and stopped already in november 1939 with only 1500 cameras produced[5]. Production of lenses seems to have continued for a few more batches, with a batch of 100 6.5cm f6.5 lenses starting production as late as March 1941[6]. Prices for the camera in 1939 varied depending on the delivered lens. From 225 RM for the camera with Ihagee-Exaktar 8,5cm f3.5 to 390 RM with the Makro-Plasmat 10,5cm f2.7[7]. The Night-Exakta was significantly more expensive, at 460 RM including the Primoplan 10cm f1.9 or 600 RM including the Biotar 10cm f2.

Exakta 6x6 - 1951

After the war, Willy Teubner, now as Technical Director, reintroduced the pre-war Exakta 66 at the 1951 Leipzig Spring Fair. Certain functions were updated, including an interchangeable finder, but production started based on pre-war parts[8]. The update also included a new Tessar 80mm f2.8 lens design from 1950[9]. Only about 300 cameras were produced post-war[10] The tooling for the pre-war lens mount was used to a much larger degree, however, as the post-war Tessar 80mm f2.8 lens in pre-war 6x6 mount was made in several thousand copies[11]. Later Tessar 80mm f2.8 lenses for the vertical Exakta 6x6 and Exakta 36x24mm actually contain the pre-war mount, adapted to fit. The adapter for 80mm f2.8 Tessar lenses to the Exakta 36x24mm mount can be used to mount any pre-war 6x6 lens to Exakta 36x24mm cameras, and furthermore to other adapters, e.g. to digital cameras. The focal flange distance for the pre war camera is shorter, however, so prewar lenses cannot focus to infinity without stopping down.

In the end the pre-war Exakta 6x6 was replaced by a complete redesigned vertical Exakta 66 in 1953 and later, with the Reflex-Korelle and Meister-Korelle, inspired the Praktisix and Pentacon Six models. Through these, the camera's influence can be traced as far as the Pentax 67 discontinued in 2011.

Lenses

Wide angle

Normal

  • Berthiot Flor 7.5cm f3.5
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f2.8 - 4 elements
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f3.5 - 4 elements
  • Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 8cm f3.5 - 4 elements
  • Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 8cm f2.8
  • Ihagee-Exaktar 8.5cm f3.5 - 4 elements (produced by Schneider-Kreuznach)
  • Meyer Primotar 8.5cm 3.5
  • Berthiot Flor 9cm f2.8
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 10cm f2 - 6 elements
  • Meyer Primoplan 10cm f1.9
  • Meyer Makro-Plasmat 10.5 f2.7 - 6 elements

Telephoto

  • Carl Zeiss Jena Triotar 13.5cm f4 - 3 elements (165 RM)
  • Meyer Primotar 13.5cm f3.5 (advertised)
  • Berthiot Tele 15cm f5.5
  • Meyer Primotar 18cm f3.5 (advertised)
  • Meyer Tele-Megor 18cm f5.5 - 4 elements (144 RM)
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Tele-Tessar 18cm f6.3 - 4 elements (225 RM)
  • Schneider Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 24cm f4.5 - 5 elements (255 RM)
  • Carl Zeiss Jena Tele-Tessar 25cm f6,3 - 4 elements (280 RM)
  • Schneider-Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 30cm f5,5 - 4 elements (220 RM)
  • Meyer Tele-Megor 30cm f5.5 (advertised)
  • Schneider Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 36cm f5,5 - 4 elements (260 RM)

Notes

  1. Peter Longden, Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras p. 86, 2011
  2. Ibid.
  3. Hartmut Thiele, Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena, 2015, p. 313-314
  4. Peter Longden, Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras p. 86, 2011
  5. Ibid.
  6. Hartmut Thiele, Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena, 2015, p. 60
  7. Exakta - nun auch im Grossformat 6x6
  8. Peter Longden, Ihagee - the Men and the Cameras p. 107-108, 2011
  9. Hartmut Thiele, Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena, 2015, p. 237
  10. Ibid.
  11. Ibid.

Further reading

  • Wolf. H. Döring, Das Exakta 6x6 Buch (1941)

Links