Exakta Varex VX & Primotar 3.5/180

[Rachel]

Here is my Exakta Varex VX with Meyer Optik Gorlitz Primotar 3.5/180. The lens is interesting in that it uses the external bayonet on the lens mount. The Primotar was absolutely filthy inside and out when I bought it at a camera fair some years ago. It has cleaned up fairly well although it still has a few chips and scratches. The focus and aperture action is very smooth. It's a huge and heavy lens to carry about.

[Randy]

Very nice Rachel, you'll build some muscles hauling that one around.

[herron]

Ya know, Rachel, that just looks...............nice!

[Rachel]

Thank you all.

These older cameras and lenses are mechanical marvels. They feel so good to handle and use. On the other hand I do appreciate the featherweight feel of modern cameras if I am carrying one around all day.

I did think that I could use this combination with a trigger equipped pistol grip but there is very little room to attach the cable release to the shutter button. An older style cloth covered release might fit but modern ones have too long a fitting for this setup. Anyway, I will have to experiment.

[doubs43]

Rachel, I'd love to find a 180mm Primotar lens for my Exaktas. I have the much smaller 180mm f/5.5 Meyer lens as well as the (very) hefty 300 & 400mm Meyer lenses. The 180 looks to be as large as my 300... very nice and impressive.

Looking at your lens, I don't see why there's a problem with the cable release attachment. The release button doesn't appear to be obstructed by the lens. Is it a matter of cable length?

Walker

[PeterW]

That's a very impressive looking set-up, Rachel.

Some of the modern metal and plastic covered cable releases do have rather a long nose on them, but it looks from the picture as if a cloth covered cable release would fit OK, but it might be a fairly sharp bend.

I'm not familiar with that lens, in fact I haven't seen one before, but is the tripod collar fixed? On some of that type you could rotate them, to bring the lens markings to the top and move them back and forth slightly for balance, after you slackened the clamping screw. If it is moveable it looks as if there might be room to move it forward a little to give a release cable more room.

PeterW

[SidW]

I used to have one of those, Rachel, around 1960. I used it on an Exakta II so it must have had the original bayonet fitting. It worked beautifully at full aperture. I held it in the hand mostly, they used to say the sheer weight of the thing prevented shaking, especially if held balanced under the lens itself. I see your number is 2926...., mine was 2025...., purchased new around 1960, possibly 1959 (I still have the box, the thieves didn't want that).

[Rachel]

Peter, the collar rotates but you can't move it back and forth. On the second picture the large knob on the side of the collar locks/unlocks it's position.

Walker, the picture is a little misleading. Here is a vertical view of the situation. There is about 1 inch clearance so an old fashioned cable release with small nose would fit OK. I have two pistol grips but the cable releases attached have metal cables and long noses. You can just about fit them but the shutter release is then slewed over at an odd angle which adds resistance to the action.



SidW, yes that weight does help considerably when trying to hold it steady. I must make an effort and try it out.

[mickeyobe]

Rachel,

Congratulations. That is an impressive lens.
I just checked my cable releases and find that the shortest distance required at least 1.25". It was a cloth one. It worked with
a somewhat sharper curve than any others but there is a stiff section of about 1" within the cloth sheath.

If, however, you are going to use it with the waist level (Hah!) finder you can use a very short neck strap and thus free your left hand for the shutter release. It will probably be awkward. I recall doing that years ago with an Enna (I think) 280 mm lens for canoe and kayak white water races where the river banks were too steep and muddy for a tripod. It worked fairly well but was very uncomfortable and literally a pain in the neck.

Mickey

[John Parry]

Lovely set-up Rachel!

Just to change the subject a moment, be careful with the cloth covered releases. I have a Praktica bellows, which came with a double barreled cable release (camera and lens of course). Get the bend too tight, and the inner cable penetrates the cloth outer sheath, and it doesn't matter what you try you can't get it back in. Get a more modern one and clip it off with cable cutters, then file it smooth. Works fine!

Regards - John

[SidW]

rachel said:

... the collar rotates but you can't move it back and forth ...

The collar rotates so the camera can shift between horizontal and vertical. I'm trying hard to remember, isn't there a notch and groove that the collar can slip off over and be taken off? Maybe I'm thinkling of some other lens. I used mine in the hand mostly with WLF and would've taken the collar off if it were possible.

[Rachel]

sidneywood said:

rachel said:

... the collar rotates but you can't move it back and forth ...

The collar rotates so the camera can shift between horizontal and vertical. I'm trying hard to remember, isn't there a notch and groove that the collar can slip off over and be taken off? Maybe I'm thinkling of some other lens. I used mine in the hand mostly

Sid, not that I can find. There is a tiny hole next to the tripod bush so perhaps you can unscrew something through there to remove it. Personally I'd leave it on as I find it is handy to grip the lens with.

Having played around with it a bit. I think, if not using it on a tripod, holding it in the right hand and doing aperture adjustments and shutter release with the left hand is easiest.