The Exakta VX1000 - A Left Handed Film Photographers Dream?

In this video I test out the Exakta VX1000. I took the beautiful German camera to the beach with some Kodak Gold to test out the camera in a beautiful setting. I also talk about its features and its faults. Check it out.

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My Equipment
Video Lights
Light meter
Camera for video
Video Mic
2nd video camera
tripod
Audio Recording

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[tomredd]

Really enjoyed the video. Thank you for doing it. As a long time Exakta collector, I have to say that actually other cameras, like the Leica, are the left handed cameras. The Exakta is one of the few right handed cameras around. Think about it. What do you do most with a mechanical non automatic camera - Focus of course. Advancing the film and tripping the shutter are secondary and take only a moment. Focusing, the camera can take a lot of time and effort, especially when you are following a moveable subject. That is why Ihagee, the maker of the Exakta, choose to design the camera to be focused with the dominant hand of the majority of people, that is, the right hand. While you are left handed, you noticed that using the Exakta right handed focus quickly became second nature. When I grab another 35mm camera, I have to mentally force myself to go to a left handed focusing mode, which still feels less than comfortable. The design of the Exakta dates all the way back to 1933 and the Vest Pocket Exakta, which used 127 film. The 35mm Kine Exakta (Kine, as in Cinema - for the film used) came three years later and followed the same essential layout with right handed focus. At that time, camera designs were in flux and most other cameras followed the Leica layout. I have been using Exaktas since the mid 60s. The camera can still produce great photos because as you noted, it had great lenses that were made by Zeiss, Steinheil, Nikon, Schneider, Angeneux, Isco, Meyer - well just about everyone except Leica. Anyway, during the 30s, 40s and even into the 50s, Leica lenses were not on the same level of quality as the other top lenses manufacturers, like Zeiss. I would like to make a couple of other points. I believe it is a design flaw with the last Zeiss automatic lenses that a cable release often does not work well. Other lens brands and earlier Zeiss semi auto lenses work just fine. What I find is best is to close down the auto lens button by pushing it all the way in and turning it. This will lock on the manual diaphragm. This is of course after you focus. Then use the self timer for the exposure. There will be a lot less shake. This is especially true since on the self timer, the mirror goes almost all the way to the top and acts like a mirror lock up, which will further minimize camera shake. I have some really really long throw cable releases which will also work but they are not easy to find. As far as the knife cutter, it is actually very useful for a person developing their own film. In high school, I was on the year book staff and would take a few photos after school and then cut the film and run to the school darkroom to develop the frames. You can exchange the the film take up spool with a film cartridge so you can take the exposed film out in daylight without the use of a changing bag. The Exakta was a surprisingly well thought out design, which is way it lasted for 35 years with minimal changes. Finally, if you get a chance look up the embossed script Exakta VXIIa. While the Exakta VX1000 is a lovely camera. The embossed Exakta VXIIa, is in many people's opinion one of if not the most beautiful camera ever made. Thank you again for the video and for giving me a chance to add my two cents worth.

[hayderassam]

The exakta is one of the most beautiful cameras ever made 😀

[lucianofreaza]

It's a beautiful camera with a lot of style and personality. Vintage Zeiss glass is fantastic too.

[MrMarkpoole]

I'm very left handed. I have a few Exakta cameras, but I don't use them much. My favorite SLRs are the Olympus OM series.

[baxtermarrison]

I love the quality of the images, they look pleasantly contrasty and saturated. That is a function of the glass rather than the body. One to look out for, for sure.

[roiloubia]

Excellent video on this beautiful Exacta camera, and very nice and pleasant shots. Could you. Please tell what type of lens was mounted? Also I saw that you were using an incident light meter, was it the Sekonic L-398 or else? Thank you for sharing your experience with this camera.

[yelonhesli]

Nice photos! This camera does have a M42 mount?

[AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Awesome shots! Much better than the VXIIa that I reviewed several years back. Super weird to get that left-hand game going on. Also Rear Window is the first movie that my wife and I ever watched together :)

[WalksInCamera]

I have an Exakta VX1000 with a similar Pancolar lens. It was my uncles camera. I don’t have a manual with it but it does come with a nice leather case. I love the look of it. I'll get some film for it and see what I can do with it! I was a bit lost trying to get this camera to work. Thanks for posting this video!

[ianwilkinson]

Hi Aly, I have the very same camera fitted with a Meyer-Optics Gorlitz Domiplan f2.8/50mm ( not as good as the Jena) or a converted Pentacon 50mm f1.8, I am right handed but find no problem using any of the Exa or Exakta cameras I have. I bought this from Germany, advertised as fully functional and refurbished !! it wasn't, so did it myself :-) I love old cameras and the challenges they present, my latest camera is a 120, a Bencini Koroll 24 S, surprisingly it takes 24 shots 45x30 vertically oriented on standard 120 film, a lovely camera and solid as a rock, I have run film through it but have not developed it yet . Keep up with your excellent videos, Covid-19 lockdown here in Wales, UK has limited my activities, things seem to be going from bad to worse. Keep safe now and cheers.

[NicoleSmallOneonOne]

Oh I would love to test with one if I ever get the chance! I am a lefty too and would like to start shooting 35mm more.

[nmd]

I have often thought of getting one. I think the pictures you took were gorgeous - the detail and contrast were very nice. What was the B&W film?

[isabeldambrosio]

I found this same camera in my dads stuff after he passed. How do I open it to check for film?

[SamuelP]

To open up do you just pull down the lever or is there more to it? I just got a cheap one from an antique shop and the back won’t open when I pull this down. Also the mirror seems to be in a locked position because my viewfinder is blacked out. :/

[AggroKragg]

I'm left-handed, but have learned to do so many things right-handed out of necessity. I kind of like stabilizing and focusing with my dominant hand and using my right to shoot.

[rollsoffilm]

I'm no collector but damn this is one pretty camera... Enjoyed the video!

[JamieMPhoto]

That blade is super weird, but I could see it being awesome for film testing. You got good work with it, at least!

[msbrownbeast]

My brother had a similar one (but older, Varex IIB) many years ago. The Exakta body with its tapered sides is really difficult to get a good grip on. Seems like its designed for lefties.

[marcusdidius]

Dear Aly,
Canny video as always:)
Regards,

[ertugrulkaraduman]

Why is your Intro the same as Trogly's Guitar Show?