Exakta 35mm Guide

							Top row: Open camera back (on RTL 1000, pull up rewind knob lully) and insert.film cassette.Seiond row: Attach leader totake-up spool (on RTL 1 000, lay leader across spool after passing underfilm guide). Close camera back.Third- rowi Open finder hood, where applicable. Make two blind exposures. Wind on again and setfilm counter (except on RTL 1000).Eottotn row: iet nim speed indicitor on earlier models (tefi), on RTL 1000 (centre). Set film typeindicator.
7. The third film-wind brings the first unexposed piece of film intoposition, at the same time pulling the film tight. After winding on,the exposure counting disc is set to No. I by moving its setting knob(in eailier models the disc itself) in the direction of the engravedarrow until No. I points to the picture counting mark (small blacktriangle). On no account must the counting disc be turned backwards(against the arrow), as the subsequent exposure numbers would notbe indicated correctly.The Exa I (1961) film counter is a segment cut out in the top ofthe camera beside the film transport knob. Turn the knob in frontof the segment (while pressing the top of one finger against it) inthe direction of the arrow until No. I points to the index mark of thesegment. On the subtractive counter of Exa I (1963) and Exa 500,set to 36 or 20 respectively.On the Exakta VX, IIa, b, VX500 and VX1000 the film controldisc, seen in the circular cut-out on the outside of the slow-speedknob, will rotate when the film is being transported.8. The film indicator around the base of the slow-speed knob of theExakta VX and IIa, b (on VX500, 1000 in its centre, on RTLI000on the base of the transport lever) should be set in accordancewith the speed of film loaded into the camera as a reminder. Earlymodels have instead a film type indicator with the symbols S : black:and-white; black C:colour, daylight type; red C:colour, artificialIight type. The Exa 500 has both types of reminder.
Carrying
However elegant it may be to carry the camera on a longstrap hanging from the shoulder, this position is quite
unsuitable for quick action. Many a good shot has beenlost in this way. A better method is to carry the Exakta ona short strap round the neck, so that it lies on ones chest-in the right position ready for work. Opening the case andfinder hood or, when working with the pentaprism liftingthe camera up to eye level, is then a matter of a split-second.
There are a number of different types of cases available for theExaktas:The ever-ready case carries the Exakta ready for use, anda holding screw which prevents the camera from fallirrg outopened case- Outfit cases in several variations are available to take the Exakta,together with auxiliary lenses, filters, films, etc. Also, separate cases-forone lens or any of the. other Exakta accessories are also on the market.
LOADING THE EXAKTA
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LOADING THE EXA
Top left: Open the camerr back,
Tob cent?a: lnsert the film cessette.
Top right: Fix the film on the teke-up spool.(entre lcft: Closc thc cemcn brck.
Ccntrc: Open the flndcr hood (on Exe I only).
Ccntre right: Advancc the film twice, pressing the release eech time.
Bottont left: Set the film councer for the first exposure (slightly different on thc twomodels),
Sottom ccntre: The path of the film inside the cemera lt winds up emulsionside-out o_nthe teke-up spool 6n the cXA I up to 1961, but emulsion side in on th€ EXA | (1953)and later,
Generally, it is of foremost importance to acquire sufficientexperience in manipulat@ all parts that eventually lead totaking the picture by getting thoroughly acquainted with theways in which to work them before actually setting out tomake photographs. Surely one should try the gears, theaccelerator, the brakes and even the horn of a new carbefore going all out with it. Going all out with a newcamera without being able to do the right thing almostautomatically is not less dangerous. It may be less wastefulof lives-but it is not less wasteful of live pictures, if notof the camera itself.
The following are the mechanical points that must beparticularly v,atched when using the earlier Exakta: (l) Open.:ing and closing the fnder hood. (2) Winding the film andsetting the shutter. (3) Releasing.
Viewing
The reflex finder and the eye-level pentaprism are viewing-focusing devices. The frame finder is purely a viewing device.
REFLEX FINDER. To bring the finder hood of the Exakta intothe working position, the catch on the back of the finder hood has to bepressed do-wn, when the hood automatically opens up, permittingbbservation of the ground-glass screen image up to the moment ofexposure. The screen of the Exakta is actually one side of the plano-convex lens, the lower side of which is matted to form a ground-glassscreen; the lens also acts as a powerful magnifier. Therefore, the refleximage seen in the finder hood is bigger than the actual image on theneeative whi le-natural ly-the outlines and defi nition remain iden tical.F
						

							Right: The standard reflex finderfitted to all models is used bylooking down on the screen.With Models V, VX, lla, llb, VXand RTL 1000 as well as the Exa Iand la, the viewing unit is inter-changeable with a pentaprismtype, which permits use at eyelevel. In the Exa ll the eyeJevelfinder is fixed.
Eelow: The normal ground screenof the pentaprism finder and alsothe reflex finder of the 1961Exakta lla and llb may be readilyinterchanged with other typesfor special scientific purposes(see page 20).
REFLEX FINDER AND PENTAPRISM
An eye-level pentaprism attachment has beenmade for Model ll and fits on toD of the erectedhood (left). An accessory for the pentaprismunitfor Models V. VX, lla, llb, VX and RTL 0000is,anevepiece to exclude stray light (right),
whole image, so that thc camera can be used without lowering it aftercritical focusing.The reflex finder image seen is the picture produced by the cameralens and reflected by the mirror on to the screen. The reflex image isonly visible after the film has been wound on, and it disappears oncethe shutter is released. It has a twofold purpose: first to show theoutlines of the picture, second to permit the best definition to be obtained.The reflex finder ofExakta IIa (1961) and IIb accepts also the specialcondenser bases with split-image range finder, etc.There should be no difficulty in getting the outlines as exact asrequired. It is advisable to view the picture first withfull-opened apertureto ensure the brightest possible reflex-image. The finder hood extension(page 8l), keeping stray light from the screen, gives additional brilliancyto the picture. In spite of the fact that one is likely automatically tohold the camera quite level, one should make sure that the verticallines of the picture run parallel with the sides of the ground-glassframe, if intentional tilting is not aimed at.The second purpose ofthe reflex finder, obtaining the best definition,is at the same time one of the most important facton ensuring goodresults. The less experienced user of the reflex screen is apt to accept,all too hastily, a seemingly sharp impression of the image as bestdefinition. There are, however, different degrees of sharpness even atfull aperture, which one should make use of in determining the bestpossible definition. The best way to arrive at critical definition is toturn the helicslfocusW mount to andfro while observing how the mainobject at which one intends to focus accurately becomes more andmore sharp up to a certain point, beyond which it will again losedefinition. It is at this beyond stage that we reverse the movement ofthe focusing mount. The degree of movement of the focusing mount isslowly narrowed down until one unmistakably arrives at the point ofthe very best definition. It is a case of encirclement from the sharpsurrounding to the critical sharp point. It must be repeated that, beforeand beyond the point of maximum definition, the image still appearssufficiently sharp, but no one should be deceived by this fact: it is notgood enough for enlarging.The built-in magnifying glass swung into position will assist indetermining the critical focus. Having found this, the magnifier shouldbe folded back and the whole image on the screen surveyed beforerelease. The camera, which had to be raised when usingi the magnifier,should now be lowered again. Otherwise-with the magnifier in frontof us-we may get excellent definition, but are bound to lose sight ofthe picture as a whole.The picture on the ground-glass screen appeani upright but reversedleft to right. Similarly, movements are also shown reversed and thecamera will have to be turned against the apparent movement of theobject to follow it.
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							PENTAPRISM FINDER. This is for the Exakta RTL 1000. VXS00.lfi)0, rla, b, VX, V and EXA I; it is interchangeable against th6 normaireflex finder and is an extremely valuable alternativelocusing-viewincmethod. To change from the rbflex to the ey+level finder, ihe findeihousing is lifted up bodily and replaced by the other findbr housine,while on EXAKTA VXl0(n, IIa,VX or V the sliding catch on thlfront plate is depressed.With the pentaprism in position, the image is viewed and focused ateye_level and see-n upight and the right way round. The bright imagemakes accurate focusing easy, and changrng from the horizontal to thevertical position is straightfonvard._ The base of the pentaprism finder consists of a plano
						

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Right: The hood incorporates a ramefinder which can be used for normaleye-level work, in particular action shots.
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Thc.reflex finder of Models v-vX, lla and vXl000 is removed by depressing the catchon the. front plate and then lifting ic off (left), on Model ntt t ooo itru i*oi.f in r.nlion either side of the Exakta engravedfront plate are pressed down. The ;;;;p.i*Itnder may. then.be fitted, in its place(lel! centie), and thi camera used at eyele;ei; h;iJfirmly against the _face (right ientrei. ihe caniira is turned throurh 90 derreds foiverti€at pactures, th€ imate still remaining upright on the screen (ght),
HOLDING-FRAME FINDER AND PENTAPRISMingly; only very experienced photographers will be safe from seriouserrors when applying this method. It is safer first to use the reflexfinder for focusing and then to change over to the frame finder forviewing. Both these procedures are unsuitable for photographingmoving objects. The frame finder will more efficiently be used foidistant photography where infinity setting only is required; or, withsubjects nearer to the camera, by using zone focusing methods,which, by presetting the lens, ensure that a c€rtain depth of field-within the limits of which the action is expected-will be recorded sharpall over (see page 52). This last method of viewing and focusing is, infact, preferable to any other when dealing with rapidly moving subjectsin front of a reflex camera. It is almost impossible to catch and shootfast motion when one is looking down with ones attention fixedto the mirror that shows the direction of motion laterally reversed.With the frame finder it is easier to follow movement and keep the(other) eye on it, even before it becomes visible within the finder frame.
Holding
It is obvious that the camera should be held as steady aspossible, as the slightest shake, even if not seen in theoriginal negative, will become visible in the enlargement. Itis advisable to stand always with your legs apart.A particularly steady hold of the camera is necessarywhen working with long-focus lenses (page 52). In this casethe centre of gravity is further forward and therefore it isdesirable to hold the camera by grasping the helical focusingmount with the right hand, while the left hand steadies thecamera and operates the shutter-release.As the Exakta is horizontallv built. it obviouslv lendsitself. most simply and naturaliy to photographs in thisposrtron.When working with the reflex finder at chest level, thecamera should be firmly held with the left hand, the indexfinger of which should be in position on the release knob,while the right hand supports the camera from underneaththe camera-body, which should rest against the palm of thehand, while thumb and index finger support and handlethe focusing mount.Vertical photographs cannot be taken at chest level. The normalprocedure is: hold and focus the camera horizontally, as describedbefore, then raise it to eyeJevel position, turning it at the same time,
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							SHOOTING WITH THE EXAKTA
ToP left: Wind film.ToP centre: Set speed.Top right: Focus.Bottom left: Set stop.Eottom centret Release.
sHooTrNG wrTH THE EXA | (t96t)
Top left: Advance the film (with knob or winding lever). Iop right.. Set the shutrerspeed. Sottom left: Focus. Eottom centre: Pre-set rhe apertrrre. Eottom right! Release.
so that the focusing screen is vertical and the eye examines the imageon it at right angles to the object to be photographed. The lens restsin the fork between thumb and index finger of the left hand, while theright hand supports the camera body, so that its thumb comes to lieagainst the release knob. One actually works round the corner.When working horizontally at eye level, either with the pentaprismor the frame finder, the Exakta is grasped with both hands, the cameraback rested against cheek, both elbows kept close to the body, and theindex finger of the left hand on the shutter release button.For taking vertical photographs at eye level either with the pentaprismor the frame finder, right and left hands are employed as advised forhorizontal photographs, but the camera body is turned 90 to the leftso that the right hand holds the Exakta from above and the camera ispressed against the forehead.
To release the shutter (page 26) the shutter-release buttonshould be pressed with the ball of the left forefinger. Usefinger pressure only, keep the hand and its grip steady onthe camera. The actual pressing down will have to be doneslowly and smoothly. The slower the exposure time, thesmoother must be the release. Keep your hand clear of thespeed knob while releasing!
For slow exposures in the hand it is advisable, when work-ing at chest level, to inhale, hold the breath and releasesmoothly in order to avoid shake.
When using long exposures while holding the cantera ateye level, rest the elbows against some support or at leastlean against something stable. In this way, 1/10 sec. or morecan be risked without incurring camera shake.When using large aperture and long-focus lenses (pages 45,48), stand the Exakta on a table or other flat surface.Use o.f a tripod is necessary when taking time exposuresand working with the delayed-action release, and it isrecommended for speeds from 1/30 (1125) to l12 sec. andinstantaneous exposures of l/60 (l/50) sec. with long-focuslenses.
Shooting
Practice the operations described here so that in timethey will become practically automatic. After the camera
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							I.2.3.4.3.
has been loaded with firnr, as instructed on page 13, proceedas follows:
Wind film transport.Set shutter speed.Focus and determine picture frameSet stop.Release.
DELAYED ACTION RELEASE FOR SPEEDS FROM II3O TOr11000 sEC.:(a) Set sh:tter-speed knob to actual exposure time required.(D) Wind slow-speed knob as far as it will possibly turn in a clock.wise direction.(c) Lift slow-speed knob up, tum it so that any red figure comes tolie against the mark on the knob and let knob drop back.*(d) Release smoothly.
DELAYED ACTION RELEASE FOR SPEEDS FROM TI8 TO6 SEC.:(a) Set shutter-speed knob to B (or Z).(D) Wind slow-speed l
						

							the effective opening of the lens. The smaller this opening, the greaterthe depth of field (page 52). At the same time, as less light can passthrough the lens in any given time, the exposure time must be longer(page 52). The reduction in light means obviously a reduction inbrightness of the reflex image with an increase of depth of field.Both /oss of lieht and inueased depth of field make the accuratefocusing on the ground-glass more diftcult, therefore reflex focusingshould always be done at full aperture.To facilitate focusing at full aperture with subsequent quick andcorrect stopping down, the later lenses have preselective aperturesetting-those of the 196l Exakta, the IIa, IIb, YX500, VXl000 andRTL1000 have fully automatic iris preset.Sorne of the early lenses have behind the aperture scale a milledring, and this is pushed backwards towards the camera and turneduntil its index mark points to the aperture one wants to use. It isthen released to spring back into its original position.Having focused at full aperture, the aperture ring is turned, untilit stops at the preselected setting. The exposure is then madewithout it being necessary to move the camera from the takingposition.Later lenses have an automatic iris preselecting mount. Afterselecting the aperture required, a tensioning lever on the mount isset, and when the shutter release is depressed the diaphragm isautomatically set to the selected apertue just before the shutterstarts moving.The lenses of the 196l Exakta, IIa,IIb, VX500, VXIOU), Exa 500and RTLI000 do not require tensioning. The iris opens up againautomatically when the shutter is released.5. Release by pressing the shutter-release knob gently, without shakingthe camera. The release knob is blocked as long as the finder hoodis closed, to protect against accidental release. A release lock isfitted to the models with interchangeable finder hood in the formof a release knob cover-and on the RTLI000 a locking disc forthe right-hand release.
UnloadingAfter all exposures on the film have been made, it has tobe removed from the camera and replaced with a new one.When working from cassette to take-up spool, the procedureis as follows:
1. Depress rewind pin.2. Rewind film into cassette3. Open camera-back.4. Remove cassette.5. Close camera-back or reload with film.
l. After all exposures have been taken, press the rewind pin on RTLI000in camera bottom plate; it will stay automatically depressed. Onearlier models, press the pin situated on the camera top plate betweenthe exposure counter and shutter-speed knob and keep it depressedwhile rewinding (No.2). On the original 35 mm. Exakta models is alever in this position which has to be folded up and left in thisposition while rewinding; while the original Exaktas have a reversinglever which has to be pushed sideways so that the letter R is visible.On the Exa I (1961) and Exa 500 the rewind pin is behind the filmcounter. On Exa I, keep it depressed while rewinding.
2. Press the centre of the film rewind knob as far inwards towards thecamera body as it will go; this engages the rewind key on the centrespool of the cassette. Then turn the rewind knob in a clockwisedirection until the film is completely wound back into its cassette.Correct rewinding can be observed by the movement of the filmtransport indicator beside the slow-speed knob.Incidentally, the centre screw securing the film transport leverturns in the opposite direction to the lever itself.Exakta VX and RTLI000 rewind knob has a fold-over handlewhich has to be turned in the direction of the engraved arrow torewind film.On earlier Exakta models, raise the rewinding key on the camerabottom and turn it clockwise with the thumb and index finger. Onthe Exa, turn in the direction of the arrow. Turn until a slightresistance is felt, wind over this resistance and give two or threemore turns. The film end now comes off the spring of the take-upspool and is wound back into the cassette.
3. Open the camera back (see page 13, No. 1).
4. The cassette of exposed film is taken out by pulling the rewind keydownwards as far as it will go.
5. Before closing the camera back, push the rewind knob back into itsoriginal position. While the rewind pin of the RTLI000, IIa, IIband VX and Exa will spring automatically back into its normalposition, on the earlier models the rewind lever has to be foldeddown, and on the original models turned sideways so that the letterV is visible.
U nloading without Rewinding
When working from cassette to cassette, the procedurefor unloading the Exakta VX, IIa, IIb, VX500 and VXl000is as follows:
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							UNLOADING THE EXAKTA
7op left: Depress rewind pin on RTL1 000. Top centre: Depress centre of rewind knob, not on RTL1 000.rvPtcfr. vEP,sJ> rvP!gr,!, evP,vTop right: RLwind film inio cassette. Bottorn reft: Open camera back.Eottom centre: RemovecassetteEottom right: Close camera back or reload.
UNLOADTNG THE EXA | (1961)
lcft: Dcpress thc rcversing button. Ccntre: Rcwind thc film. Ritht: QPen.thc -cemcra and remoYcthr cerrdttc. Thc uppqr ro* referr to the Exa ll, che lower row to the Exe | (1961 ).
3l
1.2.3.4.5.
Cut film with built-in cutting knife.Make two blind exposures.Open camera-back.Remove cassettes.Close camera-back or reload with fiIm.
1. The knob of the fitm cutting knife (on the bottom of the camerabody beside the rewind knob) is unscrewed by turyin-g it- in an anticlockwise direction. This knob is fitted to the end of a long rod atthe other end of which a knife is fitted. Pulling the knob out (about2 in.) cuts the film right across. The knife rod is then pushed backand its knob screwed back by turning it clockwise.2. Turn the fihn transport lever and release twice to wind the film fullyinto the cassette and so protect it from light.3. Open camera back (see page 13, No. l).4. Remove cassette (see above, No. 4).5. Close camera back (see above, No. 5).
Changing Partly Exposed Film
Replacing a partly exposed fllm by another one, as mighthappen if a few colour photographs were made in betweensom-e black-and-white pictures, or a slow-speed film usedinstead of a fast one, is an easy matter with the Exakta.First note the number of exposed frames on the fi.lm counterand then rewind the film back into its original cassette(see page 30, No. 2). One has to be careful to wind only until
a litfle iesistance is felt. (In the ordinary way, this resistancewould have to be overcome in order to pull the film endfrom the take-up spool, but to do so in this instance wouldbe to run the risk of rewinding the whole film into thecassette, when the film would have to be extricated in thedarkroom in order to be able to reload it later on.) Therewound film has to be taken out of the camera. On thebeginning of the film, note the number of exposure_s takenana then put it into a container or wrap it up. Now thecamera can be loaded with another type of fi.lm.
To use the partly exposed film again, it has to be loaded into thecamera in the usual way (see page l3). It is then run through thecamerawith the lens cap on-winding on and pressing the release until all theexposed framei have been wbund off. To be on the safe side, it is
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							advisable to wind off one frame more than actually exposed. Whenmaking blind exposures it is wise-in addition to covering the lens-to stop it right down and to set the shutter to the highest speed.
Cutting Off Exposed Film PartsThe desire to process some of the 36 exposures of the Exakta rvithoutshooting or wasting the whole of the load in the canrcra ntight easilyarise. For that reason all nrodels have been fitted with the built-infilm cutting knife described on page 32. This can be used for cutting offthe exposed frames; the cut is made about I in. behind the last exposure.If more space is required-for exarnple, when film clips are used inprocessing-it is advisable to rnake one blind exposure before bringingthe knif-e into action, which gives about 2| in. handiing space after thelast frame. The camera must now be opened in the darkroom, as theexposed film is not protected rvhen opening the camera back to removeit. To remove the film, it is simply drawn frorn the take-up spool,rolled and wrapped up light-tight ready for prccessing.The procedure is sinrplified wiren using a take-up cassette in theExakta IIa, IIb and VX. Make trvo blind exposures (wind the film andrelease the shutter tr.vice), open the canlera, and cut off the filnr closeto the take-up cassette, rvhich can then be removed.
EXAKTA FILMS
The Exakta uses standard perforated 35 mm. film givingup to 36 exposures I x 1| in. (24x 36 mm.) at one loading.DAYLIGHT FILM CASSETTE. The film is supplied ina metal or plastic cassette, which is light tight, so that it canbe placed into the camera and removed in daylight.DAYLIGHT REFILL FILM. The film is supplied on acentre spool and covered with an opaque leader to render itlight tight. The daylight refills have to be used in emptycassettes and can be loaded into them in daylight.DARKROOM REFILL FILM. These are ready-cutlengths, generally for 36 exposures, which must be loadedinto empty cassettes in the darkroom.BULK FILM. Uncut 35 mm. film in lengths of 16 to100 ft. (5 to 30 m.), from which lengths may be cut, trimmedand loaded into an empty cassette (see page 37).While the insertion of the loaded cassette is described onpage 13, we have to see how the cassette itself is loaded witha suitable length of fi.lm in the darkroom.
Safelight
In the case of black-and-white films only, the dark greenpanchro-safelight may be used, but it is safest to work incomplete darkness. This is not difficult. It is, however,advisable to first practise fiIling with a dummy film indaylight before starting darkroom work.
Handling,lVinding and Trinming the Film
When handling the actual film, particular care must betaken not to touch its emulsion (matt) side.lt should only behandled and spooled on to the centre spool of the cassetteby holding the film by its edges, preferably between thumband index finger (page 35). At the same time, it is of no lessimportance that the spot on which the loading is done
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