Two concurrent Exa lines

Over a number of years there were two Exa camera lines, being manufactured concurrently:

• The original Exa (often referred to as Exa 0), continued as Exa I: this line was undergoing a normal evolution, being manufactured between 1952 and 1970. Their viewfinders were interchangeable with Exakta. The mirror was used as a part of the shutter, and speeds were limited to 1/150s.
• Exa II/Exa 500: a new body with non-interchangeable prism finder and a regular, vertical focal-plane shutter. These cameras were made from 1959 until 1977 or so, well after Ihagee was eaten by VEB Pentacon.

Both these lines would accept all Exakta lenses, but the first one had a limitation: there was a slight image cutoff with lenses above 100 mm; narrow strips of the film along longer edges of the frame remained unexposed.

Note that the Exa II line never replaced Exa/Exa I — it was just a different camera, co-existing with that line over a period of time.

M42 screw-mount Exas

Additionally, from 1977 to 1987 another Exa line was made: Exa Ib (later renamed to Ic without practically any other changes). This camera was basically an Exa Ia accepting M42 screw-mount lenses (Pentax/Practica standard). Therefore it was not a part of the Exakta/Exa system, although its family relationship with Exa cannot be denied. I decided to add the screw-mount Exas to this list, if only to avoid confusion.

Models and serial numbers

The listed models are categorized according to four different version systems:

• My own star notation, introduced here in 2003;
• A&R 2003 from "new" Aguila and Rouah book, somewhat improved upon its predecessor. This will be usually shown as just A&R;
• A&R 1987 from the "old" Aguila and Rouah book — for compatibility with sources still using it;
• Hum.1995 from Richard Hummel's 1995 book a treasure trove on Exakta history (if you read German).

"Model" sometimes show multiple names under which a given version, basically the same camera with various logos, was distributed.

Serial numbers are quoted after A&R 2003, production runs — after Hummel.

Clicking of any of the thumbnails will take you to the proper section of my small Exa Gallery, with pictures and remarks on just a few Exa models. There are not many of these, as I collect only Exaktas. (Still, if I find a nice Exa, I will gladly give her a home for retirement).

Additional notes:

1. Exa Varex

   According to Hummel, 1n 1950 two very short runs of Exas under the name Exa Varex were made:

   • 038 — with one pair of bipolar contacts; a run of 40 (!)
   • 039 — with two pairs of bipolar contacts; a run of 100 (!)
   If you really have to, you may use for them the star notation *1.0.1 and *1.0.2.
2. Cosmetic variants of *1.1.2 (error fixed 2018/01/08: the version referred to is 1.1.2, not 1.2!)

   As always, the "star notation" adds letter symbols to distinguish between cosmetic variants within the same model.

   • Lens flange: chrome ('c') or black-painted aluminum ('b');
   • Synch contacts marked as V and E (symbol: 'v') or as M and E (symbol: 'm');
   • Leatherette: fabric-like striped ('s') or leather-like wrinkled ('w').
   Although eight combinations of these three factors are possible, according to A&R 2003, only the following four have been identified:
   • *1.1.2.bsv, A&R v1.2
   • *1.1.2.bms, A&R v1.3
   • *1.1.2.cms, A&R v1.4
   • *1.1.2.cmw, A&R v1.5
   The aluminum lens flange was quite shabby, and many owners replaced it with a later-vintage steel one — the whole process takes two or three minutes. The leatherette could also be changed, especially after years, as Exas (and Exaktas) often suffer from back oxidization dimples. This is why a camera which originated as one A&R variant may now look like another, even one not listed here.
3. Variants of *1.3 Exa Rheinmetall

   Giving this model a separate version number seems to be a departure from the principle used in the star notation of not assigning a new version number if all differences are cosmetic only.

   This exception has been made because Exa Rheinmetall was manufactured in a different factory, not Ihagee Dresden. This attempt to farm out Exa production to a subcontractor failed, and production was resumed at Ihagee .

   The "old" A&R lists two minor variants of this version:

   • the hinged shutter release protector with a cutout for a release cable (A&R v3.1)
   • no cutout (A&R v3.2)
   One has to remember, however, that the protector breaks easily and is very easy to replace, therefore this distinction is not really meaningful.

   This is not all, however. I have seen an Exa with the Rheinmetall logo and a serial number from that range, otherwise physically reminding *1.5: chrome flash contacts, removable hinge spindle, "F" instead of "M" marked at the front plate. According to Hummel: "Various detail modifications (among others: flash contacts, bayonet ring, leathering") during production". A number of external and internal modifications over the production span is also mentioned in A&R 2003. Therefore we may say there is no single version *1.3; it should be split into a number (possibly large) of minor versions.

4. Cosmetic variants of *2.1

   There seem to be two of these:

   • 2.1.z — with letters A and Z on the camera bottom, next to the back-opening key (A&R v1.1)
   • 2.1.d — with a red dot in that place (A&R v1.2).
5. Cosmetic variants of *3.2

   Aguila and Rouah (2003) identify five cosmetic variants of *3.2, differing only in etching on the top plate, next to the winding lever (similar etchings in Exaktas went unnoticed in that source; a slightly inconsistent approach).

   • *3.2.n — no etching, A&R v2.4
   • *3.2.p — Pentacon logo (a tower), A&R v2.2
   • *3.2.i — cursive Ihagee Dresden, A&R v2.1
   • *3.2.a — aus DRESDEN, A&R v2.3
   • *3.2.d — DRESDEN, A&R v2.5
   Some of cameras were also given other nameplates, otherwise being identical to *3.2.n:
   • *3.2.f — Elbaflex 175, Hum.056
   • *3.2.x — Exakta 100, Hum.057
   • *3.2.v — no etching, VX 100 logo, A&R v3, Hum.058
   Note that this classification covers both Hummel and A&R 2003 variants.
6. M42 Exas made by Certo

   VEB Pentacon licensed the production of screw-mount Exas (some late Ib *4.4 and all Ic *4.5) to another East-German maker, Certo. Cameras built by Certo have serial numbers preceded with a letter C.

7. Cosmetic variants of *5.1

   These can be distinguished by looking at the top of the prism housing:

   • *5.1.r — rectangular frame on top, around Ihagee Dresden
   • *5.1.n — no such frame
8. Cosmetic variants of *6.1

   Again, there are two variants of etching near the opening key at the camera bottom:

   • 6.1.z — letters A and Z (A&R v1.1)
   • 6.1.d — red dot (A&R v1.2).
9. Name variants of *6.4

   A&R 2003 assigns each name a separate version number; in the star notation we will denote the name variant with a letter:

   • 6.4.n — the "normal" variant, Exa 500 (A&R v1)
   • 6.4.k — Exakta 500 (A&R v2).
   • 6.4.v — VX 200 (A&R v3).