Vintage Camera Repair - Ihagee EXA 500 - Slow Speed Shutter Timer & Tessar Lens

In this video I'll take a look at a 1967 EXA 500 film camera (also sold as the Exakta 500), made by Ihagee in Dresden, Germany. There are a few faults with the camera, the shutter curtains are dragging, so the rollers that they run on need cleaning and oiling, and the slow speed shutter timer is at best running too slowly, and at worst, it remains stuck with the shutter open. The Carl Zeiss Jens 50mm Tessar f2.8 lens also needs attention - there's dirt and fungus on the optical elements, and the focusing helicoid is almost solid due to dried old grease.

I'll work my way through the problems to get the camera back operating correctly - this is more of an overview than an instructional video, please don't think it's all as simple and quick as this if you're planning to attack your own camera - I probably spent half an hour on the slow speed shutter timer alone.

Start 00:00
Faults 00:09
Camera Disassembly 02:24
Slow Speed Shutter Timer 04:01
Shutter Testing 06:41
Camera Reassembly 08:01
Cleaning the Lens 09:04
Focusing Helicoid Disassembly 12:04
Helicoid Regreasing 14:57
Lens Reassembly 15:20
Summary 15:53
Outro 16:38

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Outro Music
"As Yet Untitled"
by GrumpyTim (available to download from GrumpyTim's Bandcamp page)

[enginelover]

You are a very patient person to fix that. Old things where built much simpler and can be fixed unlike todays things. For what it is, it took a very clear and sharp photo. Something modern in the black & white photo would have looked surprising, such a modern car or a smart phone. I think every one that demonstrates old camera with photos or video should shoot something from our time.

[vvmmm]

I love to watch vintage camera repair. This is a great video!
Thank you for sharing.

[DavidFlowerOfficial]

Watching you take things apart makes me wonder why I had a nervous breakdown when I cleaned my CZ Jena Tessar 50mm f2.8 😂
You're far more skilled and patient than I am with these things and it's great to watch.
I have a particularly grubby 135mm f2.8 that needs some tlc so I'll take inspiration from this and have a poke around I think.
Great video, Tim

[ohjajohh]

Nice video! I Measuring the lens with a caliper is a great idea! And I also should get a random sheet of rubber.

[Notso_Wild_Bill]

I have 2 Domiplans and the Tessar with similar problems, thanks again!

[magso]

gracias por toda la informacion Tim, me acaban de regalar este modelo y no sabia como abrir tapa trasera ... 👍👍👍

[BensWorkshop]

Cheers for the tips. I wonder how it does taking photos.

[turboconqueringmegaeagle]

Miniature suction tools aye, they look fun.
So many tricks here obviously learned through experience but alien to myself.
Interesting mix of materials, not sure what i expected but the canvas shutter was a surprise.
Thank you for another illuminating video, and please help out with your subtle humour, why did your digital camera have an eyebrow?

[vintage_enthusiast]

Hi Tim its been quite some time.... As u know i have successfully got my Olivetti Summa prima 20 back in working condition. And yes i am like old film camera too! I got my self a China made Peafowl DF_I it seems to be in good condition, but the reflex mirror is badly jammed up. Opening a cover underneath reveal the mechanism, after some oil and testing its now fully working😁.

[ianwilkinson]

Hello Tim, like everyone else I am very grateful for these videos, I have two Exa's with the same problem, an Exa500 and a IIa. The problem is, although the shutters wind ok they do not latch or lock in position ready to fire, can you possibly point me in the right direction to solve this? that is, if there is a way ! Thanks Ian

[SchwarzPoet]

Hi Tim, have you tried the bigger sister of the Exa, the Exakta (Varex/VX model range), preferably the Exakta Varex IIb as well?

[johnmoore]

Enjoyed your video, what is the I. P. A fluid you mentioned, kind regards John Moore