Difference between revisions of "Exakta 66 (vertical)"
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− | The '''Exakta 66''' vertical model is an [[SLR]] camera for 6×6 cm pictures on 120 film, launched at the September 1952 [[Leipziger Messe|Leipzig Autumn Fair]] by [[Ihagee]] of Dresden, East Germany<ref>http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/ihagee_exakta/exak6x6/exakta_6x6-kameras.html</ref>. It was made for a few years from 1953 (McKeown dates it to 1953-4,<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p428.</ref> and an article in a 1953 edition of Exakta magazine states that the camera would ''probably'' be available before the end of that year;<ref name=Mag>[http://www.ihagee.org/USA/exaktamagvol2no2-1953.pdf Exakta magazine Vol. 2, No. 2, 1953, p26-7] at Hugo Ruys' [http://www.ihagee.org/ Ihagee.org].</ref> the camera was certainly still available in 1958.<ref name=Price58>[http://www.ihagee.org/USA/exaktapricelist1958new.pdf US Exakta price list, 1958] (the 66 is on page 5), at Ihagee.org.</ref> | + | The '''Exakta 66''' vertical model is an [[SLR]] camera for 6×6 cm pictures on 120 film, launched at the September 1952 [[Leipziger Messe|Leipzig Autumn Fair]] by [[Ihagee]] of Dresden, East Germany<ref>http://www.dresdner-kameras.de/ihagee_exakta/exak6x6/exakta_6x6-kameras.html</ref>. It represented a change in direction, after Ihagee first presented an updated version of the 1939 [[Exakta 6×6 (horizontal)|horizontal Exakta 6×6]] in 1951. The 1951-design was dropped due to continuing production problems<ref name=McK></ref>, or possibly fundamental design flaws in the film transport. Development of the vertical model was already underway by April 1952<ref>The British Journal of Photography May 30, 1952 p. 260</ref>. The prototype vertical model presented at the September 1952 Leipzig Autumn Fair (see photo to the right) still shared a few features with the horizontal Exakta 6x6, including the waist level finder loupe design and notably the lens mount. At the August-September 1953 Leipzig Autumn Fair, a camera with further design refinements was presented.<ref>Die Fotografie, January 1954 p. 21</ref> This included changing the lens mount to a larger mount which, together with a longer split mirror, gave a better groundglass image when using longer focal lenghts. The waist level finder loupe was also changed to a design which let less light in. The camera was made for a few years from 1953 (McKeown dates it to 1953-4,<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p428.</ref> and an article in a 1953 edition of Exakta magazine states that the camera would ''probably'' be available before the end of that year;<ref name=Mag>[http://www.ihagee.org/USA/exaktamagvol2no2-1953.pdf Exakta magazine Vol. 2, No. 2, 1953, p26-7] at Hugo Ruys' [http://www.ihagee.org/ Ihagee.org].</ref> the camera was certainly still available in 1958.<ref name=Price58>[http://www.ihagee.org/USA/exaktapricelist1958new.pdf US Exakta price list, 1958] (the 66 is on page 5), at Ihagee.org.</ref> The film is loaded in interchangeable backs, and runs vertically, with the supply spool at the bottom.<ref name=Man>[http://www.ihagee.org/Manuals/ECM51-exakta66v.pdf User's manual] at Ihagee.org.</ref> |
The camera has a cloth focal-plane shutter with a very wide range for the period — 12 seconds to 1/1000th plus 'B' and 'T'. The speed is set with separate fast and slow speed dials on the right hand side of the body. The upper dial sets speeds from 1/25 - 1/1000 second, 'B' and 'T'; the lower dial has separate scales for 1 - 12 seconds, and for 1/5 - 6 seconds (this second slow speed scale is for use with the self-timer).<ref name=Man></ref> The shutter release is a button on the bottom right corner of the front. It is threaded for a cable release. | The camera has a cloth focal-plane shutter with a very wide range for the period — 12 seconds to 1/1000th plus 'B' and 'T'. The speed is set with separate fast and slow speed dials on the right hand side of the body. The upper dial sets speeds from 1/25 - 1/1000 second, 'B' and 'T'; the lower dial has separate scales for 1 - 12 seconds, and for 1/5 - 6 seconds (this second slow speed scale is for use with the self-timer).<ref name=Man></ref> The shutter release is a button on the bottom right corner of the front. It is threaded for a cable release. |
Revision as of 12:58, 11 February 2018
See also the earlier horizontal Exakta 6×6 and the West German Exakta 66 of 1986.
Exakta 66 1952 prototype, with Tessar 2.8/8cm from a reproduction in Exakta Times No. 15, June 1994 p. 3 scanned by Camera Historian (Image rights) |
Exakta 66 image by Danipuntocom (Image rights) |
The Exakta 66 vertical model is an SLR camera for 6×6 cm pictures on 120 film, launched at the September 1952 Leipzig Autumn Fair by Ihagee of Dresden, East Germany[1]. It represented a change in direction, after Ihagee first presented an updated version of the 1939 horizontal Exakta 6×6 in 1951. The 1951-design was dropped due to continuing production problems[2], or possibly fundamental design flaws in the film transport. Development of the vertical model was already underway by April 1952[3]. The prototype vertical model presented at the September 1952 Leipzig Autumn Fair (see photo to the right) still shared a few features with the horizontal Exakta 6x6, including the waist level finder loupe design and notably the lens mount. At the August-September 1953 Leipzig Autumn Fair, a camera with further design refinements was presented.[4] This included changing the lens mount to a larger mount which, together with a longer split mirror, gave a better groundglass image when using longer focal lenghts. The waist level finder loupe was also changed to a design which let less light in. The camera was made for a few years from 1953 (McKeown dates it to 1953-4,[2] and an article in a 1953 edition of Exakta magazine states that the camera would probably be available before the end of that year;[5] the camera was certainly still available in 1958.[6] The film is loaded in interchangeable backs, and runs vertically, with the supply spool at the bottom.[7]
The camera has a cloth focal-plane shutter with a very wide range for the period — 12 seconds to 1/1000th plus 'B' and 'T'. The speed is set with separate fast and slow speed dials on the right hand side of the body. The upper dial sets speeds from 1/25 - 1/1000 second, 'B' and 'T'; the lower dial has separate scales for 1 - 12 seconds, and for 1/5 - 6 seconds (this second slow speed scale is for use with the self-timer).[7] The shutter release is a button on the bottom right corner of the front. It is threaded for a cable release.
The shutter is synchronised for flash, with a PC socket on the left shoulder of the body. The synchronisation delay is adjustable for bulb and electronic flash, with a dial on the left side of the body. There is no accessory shoe, but the camera has two ¼-inch tripod bushes, to which a flash holder might attach (a bulb flash is in the 1958 price list[6]). In addition to the tripod mounts, the camera also has a table-stand at the front, so that it will stand upright on a flat surface.
A range of high-quality interchangeable lenses was made for the camera. The standard lens is an 80 mm f/2.8 Tessar with preset aperture: McKeown states that lenses between 56 mm and 400 mm were made.[2] The lenses have helical focusing, and a bayonet mount. Some of the lenses are illustrated in a 1953 edition of 'Exakta' magazine,[5] and the article refers to Meyer f/3.5 Primotar lenses in 85, 165 and 180 mm, and f/5.5 Tele-Megors in 150, 180, 250 and 400 mm; a rather smaller range of lenses (and only long focal lengths) is in the 1958 price list.[6] As with other Exakta cameras, extension tubes and a bellows were available for close-up work.[6]
The viewfinder is interchangeable. The standard finder is a folding waist-level hood, with a loupe and the facility to fold the front panel to form a frame finder, familiar on TLR cameras. The user's manual refers to a pentaprism finder as 'in preparation':[7] however, the advertisement shown here does not mention this attractive accessory at all, and it is not in the 1958 price list.[6] No example has been seen with an Ihagee prism; one was sold at Christie's in 2003 with the prism from a Kowa camera fitted.[8] The focusing screen includes a magnifying lens (i.e. it is a condenser with a ground bottom surface), and this is also interchangeable with a 'special' one according to the manual (presumably allowing for alternative screens to be introduced later; perhaps ones incorporating a split-prism rangefinder spot).
Between the two speed dials is the film advance winder, which also tensions the shutter. Frame spacing is automatic, and there is a frame counter above the winding knob. There is a double-exposure prevention interlock, which has an override mechanism (this is stated in the advertisement shown here, and in the article about the camera in 'Exakta' magazine,[5] but it is not explained in the user's manual.[7]
1955 advertisement for the Exakta 66 scanned by Nesster (Image rights) |
Notes
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Links
- Examples sold in past auctions by Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna:
- Exakta 66 serial no. 600074, sold at the 21st auction, on 23 May 2012.
- Exakta 66 serial no. 600089, sold at the thirteenth auction, on 7 June 2008.
- Exakta 66 serial no 600243, sold at the nineteenth auction, on 28 May 2011.
- Exakta 66 serial no. 601002, with extension tubes, sold at the fifth auction, on 29 May 2004.
- The Ihagee page of Peter Lanczak's site features a picture and a repair manual for the vertical Exakta 6×6