Film cameras
Exakta Pocket Guide Reference guide
Reference guide for Exakta Pocket Guide. 73 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
73 pagesEnglish9.2 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Exakta
- Model / document
- Exakta Pocket Guide
- Document type
- Reference guide
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 73
- File size
- 9.2 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 3 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
DOGUa;ENTS-fo t Aourprotectionl
EffiIrrrrs!--:E THISIS HOWA BUYEROFAN EXAKTACANBE
*till -.-e b:=trar.a CERTAINOFGETTINGA BRANDNEWEXAKTACAMERA!
H.ffi SHls#S Every Brond New Exokto Comero is shipped with o Guor-
onteed Certificote,Owner's regisiry Cord ond lmport Cer-
tificote.Thesepopersore issuedby ExoktoComeroCompony,
Bronxville,N.Y., ond corry the SeriolNumbersof the Exokto
6d,i'"-.- & Lens. --'2 r21l$ c;H-,F Comero
ond Registrotion #'bs tf these Guorontee & lmport Certificotes
a Cord ore not includedwith the Exokto,the comero is second- o44-€Fffi
hond ond used.
H;*
EXAKIACAIUIERACOIUIPANY. 705 Bronx RiverRood,Bronxville,N.Y.
istheexclusivefoctoryrepresentotivein theU'S.A.for Exoktoond Exo
comeros,ond thereforeis noturollybest equippedto provideyou
with the very bestserviceobtoinoble.Shouldyou requireodvice, ossistonce,or technicol,
service,pleosewrite to them.View original page 3Page 4 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
\ T E R N E R \ 7 ' U R S T
}
E X A K T A P O C K E T G U I D E
"EXAKTA-Tips" Title of the Original German Edition:
Authorized English translation: Fred.WiIIy Frerk, London
Printed in Germany. Only authorized English translation. All rights including thar of reproduction in whole or
in part expressly reserved. Published tgSg by Heering -Verlag GmbH, Seebrud<am Chiemsee. Printed by
\{rilh. Friedr. Mayr, Budrdruckerei, Miesbach/Obb. This book is distributed in the U.S.A. by Exakta Camera
Company, 7o5 Bronx River Road, Bronxville, New York.
P U B L I S H E D B Y H E E R I N G - V E R L A G S E E B R U C K A M C H I E M S E E T 9 ' gView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Foeusing rrn a screen is the safest way to sueeesg
There is no getting away from the- fact- that the_old plate camera with its Sround-81,u1?t.t.:l
ffi-t,;;aJ11iuUtJ*.riis. when the photographer of that era looked at_the ground glass, he
had full control "";;1h; frumir,g, th. d.firrition,. and tbe aesthetic value of the picture he
;; ;b;"t r" i"t .. ihe resnlts ploved the soundness of this method of .photography, and,
"iit""!n in. lu.ge plute camera is no-longer.a favorite,of photographers because of its size,
;h;;;;"J:it"6"*r'*" certainly is still pJpular, probably even more so than ever before.
Lone before the invention of photography it was known that -an _image produced by a lens
.""t? t" viewed-but on a matted gllss plate-. The plate camera wa-s the logical develo-pment of this
;ir;;ry, when the plaie hojders replaled the. ground-glass screen in the camera, a
considerabl" unro.r.rt of time was lost in changing h6lders eic., consequently, photography
;i iti;iiit"" was slow, and people did not show signJ of- tremendous interest in this medium. In
rg36, howerrer, th.re-#* u r|".iu.ular revival of sireen focusing, when the Ihagee Kamerawerk of
"Kine-Exakta", which, in those days wis the only 24x36 mm. (35 mm') ii;;a; introduced the
miniature camera with a real focusing screen: It was the first single-lens mirror reflex miniature "Automatic EXAKTA LIGHT-METER II a". .u-ut" in the world and the predeceisor of todays
It is true that the Exakta embodied a streanrlined version of the old, well-known reflex principle
but it was unique in so far as the reflex principle was used in a tiny miniature camera and,
iot th. fi.rt tim'e, made screen focusing possibliin this newly awakened- field of photography.
It was possible now with the Exakta, to focus a miniarure image with the accuracy ot the
old plate camera, but with incompa.rable-greater-convenience. With this new single lens reflex
."miru, the point of focus, the depth of field and th-e lighting _conditions can all be determined
U.f"r. i"t l.tg a photog.upit. Even^more important, the-pictorial content and composition, those "picture"- can be studied right up to the moment of ex-posure. vital elemeni, whi.h tiuk" u real
fn. uaoption of the reflex principleby many other camera manufacturers is a positive indication
*u, it.'groundglass screen image was to piay u major role in thefieldof miniiturephotography.View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com A new way of seeing and photogr:aphlng at the rarne firne Prior to the introduction of the EXAKTA, photographers had to squint through the usually tinl' peephole of the view/rangefinder: now however, they have a life-sized, brilliant image on the ground-glass scre.n of thc EXAKTA. With rangefinder 6c twin lens reflex cameras, rhe viewfinder and the taking lens are two units independent of each other, although frequently coupled to one another as far as focusing was concerned. \[ith the EXAKTA, the finder and the taking camera ^re one unit. The very same lens which projects the picture onto the film also serves for viewing. The same lens first produces the image on the screen and then on the film, no matter what lens is used. Viewing the screen image is viewing the future picture, since both are absolutely identical. The diagram below demonstrates the opti."l ..fl.x principle on whidr the design of a single-lens reflex camera is based. The lens forms the usual upside- down image of the subject in the focal plane. The path of rays, however, is interrupted by a small pivoted mirror whidr deflects the image of the subject upwards on to the focusing ,.r..rr, which is at the same distance from the lens as the focal plane. The resulting screen image appear, ", "r, upright, sharply defined picture in its natural colors. The area covered, the relative brightness and the definition willbe strictly identical with thosc of the picture actually exposed on the film. Focusing with this life-sized image before one's eye means photographing just what appears on the screen and nothing else. There is never the slightest difference between the visual image and the image on the negative: the single-lens reflex camera is perfectly free from parallax. "parallax,, indicates the difference between the view seen in a separate viewfinder and that *Ua *U actually be depicted by the taking lens. Parallax is particularly conspicuos in other cameras when used for clcie-rrpr. There the final picture is quite different from that seen through the viewfinder. Parallax-errors can arise with any camera, with the exception of a single-lens reflex EXAKTA, where the same lens is used for both, taking the picture and view- 6nding. Even in close-ups, photomicrography, telephoto- photography, or on other occasions where special lenses are used you are never bothered with parallax. jView original page 6
Page 7 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com Convertlble eamerat a new prlnclple To a certain extent the Automatic Exakta II a is a photographer'sdream come trire. Enthusiastic Dhotosraphe6 hurr. ui*uvr Ji"u-t of a camera,ivfriA,"atitrough easy to op-er-ateand without i;;;.?;; h;;i".*rr'".i.r, ."" be assembledto suit the reluire"i..ltt of the task at hand' be converted to can of which imp-ortant.elementi the_most- .u*lru, u -"tti-p*pt-r.i;-rfi;;; "dual-system" i'tools". in the This dream has been realized?;;';-;;i;iy;f fh'otogruphic Exakta II a camera.'In tfre i"*. *uy as one Exakta lens can be- replaced-by another, more ;;;j.^i; in. gu;*i ; b. i;k;", tire focusing_sysremof the Exaktf can also be-interchanged "..".ai"s to the t."dr of the moment. The time--honouredreflex finder hood, which necessitates "i.*r"g ifr. g.o""d-glur" i*ug" from above, can be replaced by a penta'prism viewfinder, *hi.h p-ermits"vie*i"! ut .y"leriel and gives an upright, laierally correcffind.e1imase. You need no longer compromiie between_a rijid lu-".^u-r!rtem and .your pictoriat am6itions. The Exakta II a can b. .l"ipp.d ,o ihat it"always-to meet; your parti;r-r,lardemands.and ensuresthe b.ri t"rolts in whatever way you prefer work. If ybu don't like the low view-point, ""u"oiauUfe with the finder h'ooh,yoo .utt use the penta-prism viewfinder; if you are mainly concernedwith taking children, animals, people siiting, flowers, rowing boats, etc., stick to ;ilii"d;; h;d" rin.eihe waist-ievel position lirres a more genuineperspectiveof suchsubjects than the looking-down of the eye-level p_osition.The important.thing is:. the Automatic Exakta IIa is und r.*"itrs a singie-lensreflex camera with-its high-ly m-aglified, bright.and ;;;;ii;J;.e-ground-glass screen"itr,ug..The finder hood can be used by looking into it from uborr", from t"heside'or from below. the hooded reflex finder imz.ge,however, has one little ai*arl""t"ge: it is upright, but laterally reversed,that is to say, o6;ectson the right in.front of the ,lens-appearot tlie left on the screen,and vice_versa. With the p-enta-prismviewfinder' with rvhich the fxakta II a is used at eye level, the subjectwill be upright and laterally -correct in all cases.Before dealing with a detiiled description of the various applicationsof the two focusing systems,it woulJbe useful first to have i look at the various operationalcomponents of the Exakta II a.View original page 7
Page 8 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Ifow a penla-prlsm vlewffndcr works
The left half of the sueen image (zalten looking tbrough
tbe eyepiece) is reflected lrom tbe left-band portion of the
prisrn-roof (a) on to the right-band side of the oblique
(450) mirror (c). From the rigbthand portion of the prism-
roof (b) the igbt-hand haU of the screen irnage is reflected
on to the left-hand side of the rnirror (c), On tlte surlace
of tlte mirror (c) an uprigbt, laterally correct image a.,ill
dppedr,
Diagram of tbe prism finderCrocs rection through
the Automatic EX^{KTA IIa
a) with focusing hood.
Changlng the foeurlng.ystem
The small catcb on the lens panel ol the Automdtic
EXAKTA II a should be pressed dounwards and the
closed finder hood or penta-prism dttdchment remoztel,
from the camerd by lilting it *putards bodily. - Either
attachment should be replaced carelully and exactly oer-
tically, atithott canting. It sbosld be inserted at the correct
angle into tlte camera, wbere a sligbt pressure uill loch it
in position (nezteruse force),
b) whb prism finderView original page 8Page 9 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
I)o you know youn Arrtomatic Exakta IIa?
The EXAKTA iI a is a camera which will never t6. Finder hood release button
let you down, but it is of the utmost import- 17. Slow shutter speeds (r/s-tzsec.) setting
anc; that it should be handled strictly in knob, also for setting delayed action
accordance with the instructions. (self-timer)
i-. Rotary release knob for camera back 18. Film type indicator
2. Camera back lock (operated by knob r. i-9. Film advance control disc
above) r9a. Pin-head of back hinge
3. Shutter release knob zo. "M" Flash contact
3a. Safety lock for shutter release knob zi.. Red dot on camera (guide mark for
4. Eyelets for carrying straP changing lenses)
S. Frame counter zz. Depth-of-field scale of the lens
5a. Frame counter setting knob 23. Distance setting ring with feet or metre
6. Film advance and shuttertensioning lever scale
7. Release pin for film rewind 24. Diaphragm setting ring with aperture
8. Shutter speed setting knob (rlzt-rltooo, scale
T and B) z4b. Tensioning lever for automatic spring
9. Release catch for focusing units (finder diaphragm hood or penta-prism) . -
"F" z4c. Reliase knob for operating the spring 10. Flash contact
diaphragm 7.7-, Finder hood
4 2 , Frame finder cover for magnifier 13 25. Lens
13. Magnifier (in swung-down position) 26. Red dot on the lens (guide mark for
L4. Operating knob for collapsible magnifier changing lenses)
L 5 . Back of finder hood (with frame finder 27. Lens bayonet catch "X" eyepiece) 28. Flash contactView original page 9Page 11 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
29. Empty take-up spool for exposed film
3c.. Spool chamber for take-up spool or
empty cartridge
1,r-. Film advance sprocket
3ra. Holding bracket for cartridge
32. Film guiding rails
33. Shutter curtain
j4. Film cutting knife
35. Button for operating 34
36. Fork for engaging spool
37. Rewind knob
38. Centre disc of rewind button 37 (press
inwards before rewinding)
39. Chamber for cartridge with unexposed
film
4c.. Hinged camera back (detachable)
4t-. Film pressure plate
42. Tripod bushing
43.Penta-prism
44. Eyepiece of penta-prism finder
BView original page 11Page 13 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
IIow to use the Autornatle EXAI(TA IIa wlth the ftnden hood
When the reflex waist level finder hood is inserted into the EXAKTA II a,
the camera can be used successfully in almost every field -of photography,
particularly foi stationary robj..rc, sucb as landscapes, architectural detail,
still life, ttchnical photographs, etc. The highly magnified image on the
ground-glass r....ti can Le ixamined easi'ly with both eyes. fhi,t screen
i, u.toa"lly a plano-convex lens, acting ir a powerful magnifier, th.
lower side of *hi.h is finely-anmatted. For criticil,ly sharp focusing this
magnifying screen is truly asset; however, to ensure the -highest
poitiUt. de"finition a second magnifier is built into the camera in the front
wa|| of the finder hood and can be folded up into the viewing position.
It is of rectar,g;lut shape and allows almost the who]e image Tigla to be
viewed, proviling a nigh (5 ")'canmagnification of the reflected iry-ug..
Satisfactory horiiontal plctui.r be obtained by either of the follow-
ing focusing methods:
U; the full"aperture of the lens (see pages !g-29-Then-and focus to the high.est
possible definition by using the riragnifier.- return the folding
magnifier to its rest positionind watch the subject on the focusing screen
ot tYl the shutter is r61eased,holding the camera at either chest or shoulder
levei. The diaphragm should be il-r.t to the aperture required, either
shortly before ih. J*posure is, made (with lenses wit! pre-set diaphrag*)
or simply by releasing the shutter (with lenses with automatic spring-
diaphragffi,'*uy(see page p)..
Th; ottftr i; io noia the camera as near to the -eye as Possible and
to watch the focusing screen by using the magnifier. Naturally,. pre-
selecting the aperture-should precede focusing at full aperture with the
aid of the magnifier.
7_OView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Both these methods can similarly be employed for vertical pictures. In this "aroundcase the qicture is taken the corner", so to spea( and this is an
ideal method for candid shots. By looking straight in front of you, the
actual taking-direction is_"camouflaged" while the subject is snipped at
an angle to the right or left. You may also hide behind a wall or a tree
with only the camera sticking out.
The EXAKTA II a with the waist-level reflex finder hood is particularly
useful for taking all subjects as flowers, animals, small children at play,
etc., and which qan easily be photographed with the camera held hori-
zontally. Even t-ubjects at-gtoutid level provide no difficulty. The reflectecl
image can also be viewied from below, bf course, a great advantage when
taking pictures above the heads of a crowd or from behind obstacles, such
as walls or hedgerows. In this case the EXAKTA II a is simply held above
one's head and the screen image examined from below.
It nqay happen that at a sports meeting the prism-viewfinder is not at
hand. Then the sports frame finder incorporafed in the reflex hood will
goJTe in very handy. Set the {olding magnifier to the working position,
fold up the cover cap in the front wall of the finder hood anJ Jight the
t"bieci directly bV lrtaing_the camera at eye level and looking tf,rough
the peephole-in the back wall of the reflex finder hood. The opertlr,g in the
front wall of the finder hood shows the exact image field cdveredby the
taking len-s (that is, with standard lenses of 5o andla mm. focal lenjths).
Before,sighting the subject through the frame findei it should be foiused
correctly. For close-ups at distanies of less than 9 feet, the frame finder
should not be used on account of parallax. Speclacle wearerr; using the
reflex finder hood (*i!h the magnifier) should focus the subject witL the
spectacles they normally wear for reading.
7_7.View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
IIow to use the Arrtornatle EXAKTA IIa
wlth the prlsrn'viewffnder:
"tapid-action
Equipped with the penta-prism, the EXAKTA II a becomes a
.*,,6*,,. When the subjeit is moving rapidly, as in sports events or even
f"^a"tfy fif. (.arr, horse-s, u.*plil;;, eic.), !h. enorinotts advantaq:i -"^{
ili. pti"m-viewfitrd.t .will soon^ be obvious. It ensures a direct eye-Ievel
"i.# of the subject, the hnes-of-sight oJ b-oth the eye and the camera are
alwavs identicai ""a the image in"the finder moves in the same direction
lr'.t|"r;j;;ti" ito", of the"lens. In addition - the image |s upright and
i"r.t"tty .ott..t. All these advantages apply no l]atter whether horizontal
oi ".ttld pictut.r ut. taken. A racing t*"ttavelling at fiemendous spe,ed
the within and distanci u consid"erable ui Ly." 6;-;Gh;J ;;;;;ity F.pt "swinging" one camera/ the. slowly moment. last op io the fiJld i;g;
fotio'*r the car-i.*and releases the shutter shortly before it readres the point
"" *flia th. tt"r il; focused beforehund. when gsing lenses with
;;;-;;t aiupltug*r,--it. ;r"t required should be set befoiehand; with
i."r.r witfi semi-automatic or iutomatic diaphragm settingr stopping
do*t to the pre-selected stop is done automatically.
Wh.t photoiruphine subiecls whidr call for the iastest possible shutter
;pga ;;h-;r it;; *tli.t have to be taken at right. angles to their
a'it..iio" "t motion (ski-jumPing, car or motorcycle raies), it may haPPen
that even ttre sfrort.it rhotter sieed of 1/roooseiond is not fast enorrgh to
"swinging the camera" is indicated. freeze motion. These ur. .ur.r-*h.t
G;i ,h.-fast-monit-;;";i"?rtvg subject in the viewfinder while it is still at a distance
"J [.;p ir ,r" the centre of the viewfinder by moving Ih:
.u*.tu ilowty but st"adily along with the moving subiect, as described
above.
7.2View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Using the prism-finder and making the Automatic EXAKTA II a an 'action'
camera, however, does not mean that the prism-finder-speed. should be used
only for action shots at the fastest shutter Whenever it appears
more suitable to use the EXAKTA II a at eve level and to focus crilicallv
on the laterally correct reflected image, it can and should be done. Th;
dual-focusing system of the EXAKTA II a has been introduced with the
definite purpose of replacing the categorical "yorl must" by-willthe more "yoti tolerant can". It is quite possible that certain subjects give a
better picture when taken at eye level, because they are habitually seen
from the eye-level position (persons, architectural details, technical sub-
jects, e-t..). Sometimes a sub,lect,cannot be viewed properly by looking
from above into the finder hood; well, then, use the prism-viewfinder.
The correct gpplication of the two different focusing systems soon
becomes a habit - you will select the most suitable metliod almost auro-
matically. Both horizontal and vertical pictures can be taken without
difficulty. tlorizontal shots can also be made with the camera upside
down which permits the smooth back of the camera to be pressed agiinst
the forehead for protection against camera shake.
Furthermore, there is eyepiece which can be slipped on the eyepiece of the
prism-viewfinder, preventin_g stray light from 6oth sides entetittg the eye-
piece_and maklttg it possible to press the camera firmly againsr- the face.
People with defective eyesight can have a corrective glais for distant views
fitted to the eyepiece.
The standard, ground-glass eyepiece can be replaced by the split-image
rangefinder glass. It permits precision focusing by means of iis built-in
split-image range{inder and can be used with lenses of all focal lengths
For focusing a wide aperture (not under fl 5.6) should be used as usual
L3
I.View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Presdng the lelcase Lnob
starts a drain of interesting events inside the Automatic EXAKTA- II a. Y-ou should make a
;;;;-fuir;6-"i-these opera"tionsbefore loading the camera, preferably with the camera open
and the lens removed.
When the release knob is depressedthe mirror flips upwards and seals ofi,the ground-glass
screen,so that the beam of light from the lens can fall on the fiIm in the tilm 8,ut: lhtl ln:
i"."i it"". opens. The focal p'iane shutter, consisting o{ two blinds of rubberized cloth, has a
#ftJ#;""ih; tli"Jr, 'inrfi ir-.ith.r "utto* o. iia. according to the speed to whidr the
shutter is set. The rlit tiu""ir ulo"g the fikn from left to right and-exposeseidr portion of film
for exactlv that exposure time to which the shutter is set. At the same instance tne fiame
;;;";;ftil;r 6-;;str;L. b.pt.mi"g the release,knob on-c-eagain has no effect at all,
rlt.. tf't. *f't"le mJ.hanism it'"ort6"g.t dnsioned. When,the-film i1gn9Port lever'is turned
""ri ri'i,"il,-.tr. rh"ii"t *itl Uu ten"sionedonce again,.the film will be advanced and the
mirror will return to its viewing position, that is to'say, the screenimage will again,become
visible'unintentionaldouble'*?iy:ffi""xt#T:tt""":i":|:0ifitr1nfift1:,""x'#I.Yi'J
has not been turned as far as it will go but has been left
at an intermediate position, the shutter will be locked, For
intentional double exposures, 6ee page 47.
-How to operate the shutter
The use of the various shutter speeds will be described later.
Small setting knob; Shutter speeds from Llzs to 1/rooosecond ttTtt "8" ilTa is for time ex- are set by this knob. and and
posures of more than rz seConds duration. The smal,l setting
i.t ob should be lifted slightly before or after tensioning the
shutter and turned in the direction of the arrow. The knob
t4View original page 17Page 20 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
direction of the arrow so that the last dividing stroke before',r',
points towards the small black triangle.
The EXAKTA II a is ready for the first shot !
The EXAKTA II a is designed so that the take,up spool usually
supplied can be replaced,by an empty fi,lm cartridge of normal
commercial type. The film need not be rew-ound in this case,
but can be removed from the camera together with the take-up
cartridge. Since the film is in a light-tight container it is not
necessary P expose all 36 frames, it can be removed after any
number of exposures (see page ag).. It will then be nece ssdr! r
however, to trim the beginning 6f the remaining film and io
attach it to the cenffe spool of another take-up cartridge. with respect to trimming, -
the necessa.rycurved cut.should begin between the ninth "ia t."itt toi.'oi th. lowe, p.i-
iorations. When re-insertingthe closedcartridge the prongs of the fiIm transport lever should
engagethe small bar in the cartridge,and the emulsionsidi of the film musr f'acethe film gate.
The smooth running ol the fiIm
and its correct advance can be controlled by watching the film control disk or rotodial in the
circular hole on the outer rim of the large-shutterri..a r"tting-k""t, lt rt""fa rotate when
the film is advanced.The fflm type_indiJatoraround the,bar" 3f ii.t" i"tg"'r",,h! L;"t f""i to be confusedwith the shutter spbedsetting ring) rhouid b" ;;r;;h" iuo'" #rirrri*ith which
the camerais loaded. The ring underneath tfie hile L"ob;n""ri L;;;4il;n anti-clockwise
rvp." of fihi,i" question coincid"eswith the ;"1i,ri;;;i".^ir," ng*., [.""i. lf:l:1,"",1.,.h. the speedsof the various black-and-whitefilms (e. g. z3 ASA, roo ASA etc.). Foi color films let1e1191'9 provided as fotlows: btad<.,,C,,.t* a'uyfighi;;i;;,"L;;i'nr*'(*'bla?[-"NA rodachrome), ttct' rcd for color reversal t9r artificiar lighr, f"; d-"yligli^cil,-' ---t negutiu" fil# "NC",{1tg. (asta color negative), red for color tt.guiiu" film for "itiri.i"iiii,rr?.
L7
&View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Unloading the Autornatle EXAI(TA IIa
usually possible it is been made have 20 exposures or When 36 lever ot advance the film before- exposures, more two to add
the EXAKTA II a becomes immonable. The camera should then
be unloaded.
When nsing the take-uP sPool
and the film transPort lever- cannot be moved to its rest po?l-
tion because the end "f th; fih has been reached, -.th'
rewind catch or pin (16) should be depressed. The film
udrrur',." lever .ur-, ih.t 5. t.tutt',.d to its initial position'
To rewind tlre iik;e.pr.rr ,h. .."rt. disk of the rewindknob'
Then hold the camera as ;;;" in the illustration and rewind
,h; fi* ty ;;t;i"t rh. rewind knob slowly 1t',d..":"lI ll^l .io.f.*ir" iir..,ion" whilst keepingthe rewind pin {epresseO
al,l the time. n.*i"aittg cat be coitrolled easily.by-ofobserv-lJrg
the control disk on the oo,"r rim of the spindle the film
;;;";ilri te""t (the one wit\ ,h-.-big screw nick). As soon as
;il Jptndle comes to a standstill th"efilm is rewound. when
;il; t;;ile pi" is releasedit will return to the initial position'
The camera;; "t* U. opened and the cartridge with the
;;p";.J fil; t.*o".d- tt pil1ti"g'.u*.ruthe rewind knob out as far
as it will g". b.r"re closirig in. back the rewind knob
shouldbe"pushedback in its initial position.
When wsing a take-uPcartridge
rewinding is unnecessary.When the end of the film is reached,
making tLe film transPort lever immovable, unscrew the knobry L 8
tView original page 21Page 22 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
of the film cutting knife (:S) by turning it in an anti-clock-
wise direction and pulling it out from the camera. This wili
cause the knife at the end of the rod to cut ri'ght through the
film. Now push back the knife and tighten the screw. In order
to wind the film right into the cartridge turn the film trans-
port lever and release the shutter twice. Now open the camera
and femove the exposed film.
The errgravlngs arorrnd the EXAKTA lenses
indicate the name of the manufacrurer, the name and the
optical data of the lens in use, and also include various scales.
These engravings are of the greatest importance, since the
data given provide all the knorvledge necessary for using the
lens just for the purpose for which it is designed.
There is, for instance, flz.58 mm, What doesthis mean?
"collected"The light r_aysreflected from the subject,are by the camera lens (consisting of
various-high-quality lens components) and made to converge to give a picture of the su$ect.
The light rays coming from a distant pgint enter the lens il itraigf,t lineJalmost parallel to the
optical axis and are brought to a focus behind the lens, in the focil point. The disiancebetween
the-le-ns(approximately from the diaphragm,_plane)to the focal point is called the focal length
and dmoted_asf- (:focus) so-and-so,',.ually expressedin millimetres. So f:58--. m"itt
a focal.length of 58mm. Subje-ctswhidr are neir-er to the camera are not dei,icted sharply
by the lens in the actual focal plane, however, but behind it. To compensatefor ihis differenci "focused''the lens must be on a shorter distance, that is to sav,-the lens must be moved
L9View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
forward slightly in order-rn. to place_the sharp picture correctly in the film plane.of the EXAKTA
ir, u..ordu,i.. i"ith irr.riused lens-imugi dittut.e. This is done by turning the distance
setting ring; the ,"*ii "i lt ir operation iur, be watched ott tt'," ground-glassscreen of the
fXefle tYa and read off from the distancescalein feet or metres.
InIn anVanv lenS,lens, thethe amountamount Ofof lightlight passlnging"uiiehtJrthfougnthrough lSis limitedllmlteo byPy tne.mclalthe- metal crrLrccircle urof thettrrr mount'rrruqrrr' ,i;;:i;;iiil lr;;.-*i"a"'i *iiiu.--.u...u. thana roorn.ofthe same'i". *ill--u '_T{t
window. It is the rl"m;;,h tt " i."r.r are classified_as high-speed,medium-speed,
;;^i;;-;p;;d;""d this highly important factor is denotedby the numeriCalratio between the
aiu-.r.iri in. turg.r, ;pilil;J the focal length (d : f). ihur u lekrsof 5o mm',focal length
and a maximum "b.r,"i. oi ,g *-. hur u rp"""a of t's :5o, or as it ii usually expressed
r:2.8 or flz.8.
However, the high-speed EXAKTA lenses are not 4yu{t used at this maximum aperture
uiito"gh'it"permitis erxtiemelyuseful fo-r focusing.Th.. EXAK'TA-lenseshave diaphragm s-ettingrings *t,i.t tn. rp"Jd of the lens to bi reduced,that is to say, to give the built-in iris
il;;111"g-'"-#rf."-"p.r*i.. rn"i9 is a scale on the diaphragm setting,ring showt:lg ll: various"f/numbers.The smaller the f/number the larger is the aperture and--conse-quentlythe
q""",iiy-"t iigtrt passedhy rhg lens, th-e.largerthe_f/numberthe smaller will be the aperture. An I/+i.r,, pirr., huf thi light paised by in f/2.8 lens. Hence,the smaller the f/number the
shortei is the exposureneedJd,whatever the lighting conditions.
The calibration on the diaphragm setting ring are arranged so thlt i1 pas.sing.from one
fln,rntb.. to the next the an ount of ligh1 pasled by the lens is halved or doubled. If, tor
ir.rriutr.",the correct exposuretime at f7g ii 1/ro secbnd,it will be 1/roosecond at,f/5.6,.but
;7;; ;;;";t it fln. The'diaphragm, however, is not intended only to exclude or admit liSht
i certain exteni the overall efficiency of the lens.I toimprovea varyingio exrent ur-t.q.iir.a,"but-is primarily used to increasethe depth of field and to
Beiore describingthe most important uses of the-diaphragq the latest developmentin imp,19v;
ittg-l*r.r shouif be mentioned: the coating. All mbdern lenses and, of course,all EXAKTAView original page 23Page 24 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
lenses are coated, that is^to say, all lens surfaces have an anti-reflection layer which largely'u
eliminates the surface reflections in a compound lens. These r.n..,io"r,- *hi.il u.. ".r""f[y
scattering of the light at the glass-to-air surfaces, increase with the number of s.rrfu."r, ind
degrade the image contrast. By coating-the surfaces the loss of light and the decrease in contrast
have been eliminated to a very l_rjsh degree; after coating, l91s"eshave proved to hu"" gui""J give greater -brillianceind contrast.Coiied lenses.u,i b. i".og"ir.a fiv ,lt. llbluish-red:ry.9_'uldtingelo of the front lens.
diophrogm
opticol
O X I S
gL.q E X A K T A P H O T O G R A P H Y
*t
il'' by Jacob Deschin
A anrking manual for the EXAKTA and EXA camerds whicb thorougbly explores the operdtional
details and picture-taking potentials ot' both canlerd.s.
ro" x 7", r92 pp,, 2jo pliotos $ +.Sl
Aaai.lable at yoar dealer or EXAKTA puBLICATloNs, Box 97, Bronxoille, Neut yorhView original page 24Page 26 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
\.low, whel we reduce the aperture-of our standard lens we car observe quite clearly how the
of field grows the mor,ewe decreasethe aperture, and how the zoni of sharp-definition $epth
becomes-mu-4groater beyond the distance focused on (6 ft) than in front of it. Acrually 1/r of
the depth of field lies in front of the plane focused on ind 2/s behind it.
All lensesof the EXAKTA IIa have a depth-of-ffeld scale engraved on their mounts. This scale
shows the zone of sharp definition at vaiious aperture settin.-esand distances.In the centre the
red mark is set to the distancefocusedon (16 fi). When now"the aperruresetting to be used is
located among the f/numbers to the left anil right of the red distanie setting mari, the distance
values on the distance setting scale opposite the selectedf/numbers represe-ntthe near and far
limits of the depth-of-fieldzone. Forli-rstance:Focuson 16 ft. stop f/^s;sharp definition from
ro ft. to 5o ft. (Seeillustration alongside).
Examining the ground-glass screen while decreasingthe aperture will become more difficult
becausea small aperturedoesnot transmit as much light as a large one. After someexperience
this darkening of the focusing screencan becomequitJuseful ford'eterminingthe exposriretime.
The full apertureof a lens gives the most brilliant image of the subjectin front of the lens,but
for the actual exposurethe diaphragmmust be closedto the stop required.In order to savetime
the lenses of the Automatic EXAKTA II a have either a
fully automatic diaphragm, a semi-automatic diaphragm r;;:ijiit!;:t:l,ji11]||:tir:r:r::..., .
ot, at least, a manually operated ring which can be
turned to the pre-set stop just before the exposure,
without having to consult a scale. With the latter device
the aperture necessary for the exposure should be set
before focusing and the focusing done at full aperture.
With the semi-automatic diaphragm it is necessary to
tension the mechanism beforehand, whilst the automatic
diaphragm springs back automatically to the pre-selected
stop when the shutter release knob is depressed.
23View original page 26Page 28 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
focus the lens at 10 feet and stop down to flrt The Zone of sharp
definition will then start at 6 feet and end at 25 feet.
Snapshot focusing is a good method of photographing sports
events, children at play, street scenes, etc.I since the subject can
move within the range of sharp definition without getting out of
focus.
The lens should never be set, however, to either of the extreme
points of the depth-of-tield range required; the aperture would
become too small and the exposure time too long.
With the hyperfocal-distance or snapshot settings it may happen
that the figures of the distance scale do not exactly coincide with
the f/numbers, but lie between two figures" In this case set the
diaphragm to this intermediate stop or to the next larger or smaller
stop.
"anFocusing the dot": When taking pictures where the depth of
field is of no special importance the best thing to do is to focus
sharply on the chief subject and then to stop down the lens as far
as necessary.
It is obvious that stopping-down the lens, that is to say, decreasingthe amount of light passing
through it, must influence the exposuretime.
However, the correct exposuretime is not only determined by the diaphragm; it also depends
on the lighting conditions prevailing and thus on the season of the year, the time of day
and the weather, and, furthermore, on the speed of the ftlm used, the type of developer to
be used for developing the negative and on the factor by which the exposuiJ must be increased
when a fflter is uied] tf all ihis were not enough, the shutter rp..d ir also dictated by the
speedof moving subjectsand their direction of motion relative to ihe camera.
25View original page 28Related documents and language editions
From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.