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Exakta VX500 (1969–1972)

Dresden's last affordable Exakta: a stripped-down VX that traded a selenium meter for a lower price tag - and kept the glass mount that mattered.

Overview

Ihagee introduced the Exakta VX500 in 1969 as an economical variant within the long-running Exakta VX series. It is a 35mm single-lens reflex built in Dresden, East Germany, aimed at budget-conscious amateurs who wanted reliable mechanical operation at a lower cost. The trick was simple. Take the earlier VX1000 and VX2000 and strip out the selenium-cell exposure metering systems. That allowed a simpler top plate design and lower manufacturing expense, and it made the VX500 one of the most affordable Exakta SLRs of its time.

What's left is a camera that does one thing, exposes film, and does it without a battery anywhere in the body. The shutter is a vertically-traveling focal-plane cloth type running from 1 second to 1/500 second in 1/3 stop increments, plus Bulb. It's mechanically timed, so the camera works whether or not you can find a cell for it. Exposure is manual only. Shutter speed and aperture are set by hand, and with no built-in meter you either carry a handheld meter or estimate from experience.

The VX500 has the classic Exakta layout: a large rewind knob on the left, a film advance lever on the right, and a prominent shutter speed dial concentric with the rewind knob. The body measures approximately 145 mm wide, 95 mm tall, and 50 mm deep, at roughly 650 g without lens or battery. It's a compact, dense little brick. The viewfinder is a fixed pentaprism eye-level unit with a microprism spot and split-image rangefinder center. There are no interchangeable finders here, unlike the higher-end Varex and VX models, but the focusing screen is perfectly usable for everyday work.

Production ran from 1969 to around 1972. The VX500 fits into the final phase of Exakta's 35mm SLR development, following the more advanced VX1000 (1965) and preceding the short-lived VX Plus series. Its production ended around 1972, marking the effective end of Exakta's 35mm SLR line as Ihagee shifted focus to medium format and eventually ceased camera production altogether by the late 1980s.

Key Features

The Exakta Bayonet Mount — The Real Reason to Own One

The best argument for the VX500 over any number of cheaper mechanical SLRs is the mount. The camera uses the standard Exakta bayonet, often called the "Exakta Standard" or "Kine Exakta" mount. It gives compatibility with a broad range of Exakta lenses from the 1950s through the 1970s, including popular models like the Zeiss Tessar, Pentacon Auto-Mutar, and Meyer-Optik Görlitz Lydith. That's a two-decade-deep lens ecosystem hanging off a body that cost less than the fancier Exaktas next to it on the dealer's shelf.

The mount is sturdy, but it isn't indestructible. Collectors note that it can suffer from wear or misalignment if lenses are frequently changed, potentially affecting infinity focus. Check it carefully on any used example, because a misaligned mount is a much bigger problem than a stiff shutter.

Mechanically Timed Shutter, No Batteries Required

The shutter is a vertically-traveling focal-plane cloth unit with speeds from 1 second to 1/500 second in 1/3 stop increments, plus Bulb. There's no electronic timing anywhere in the chain, so the camera has no reliance on batteries and remains fully functional indefinitely if mechanically sound. A VX500 that's been properly serviced will still be shooting when the electronics in a contemporaneous Japanese SLR have long since given up.

The trade-off is that the cloth shutter is particularly sensitive to improper handling or storage in humid environments, and it's the single most common failure point on these cameras. More on that below.

Manual-Only Exposure — And No Meter to Worry About

Exposure is manual only. Shutter speed and aperture are set independently by hand. There's no built-in light meter, so exposure settings must come from an external meter or from experience. The upside is that without a light meter there's no worry about selenium cell degradation, a common issue in the VX1000 and VX2000 that the VX500 was derived from. Selenium meters die quietly with age, and the VX500 doesn't have one to die. Users should still make sure the viewfinder is clean and free of fungus or haze.

Instant-Return Mirror (Later Production)

Later production VX500s have an instant-return mirror, which improves viewing continuity after exposure. Early units may show non-instant return behavior, where the mirror stays up until the film is advanced. This is one of the few feature variations between early and late examples. Ask a seller which behavior their camera has, not because either is broken, but because it changes how the camera feels in use.

Top-Plate Shutter Speed Dial Integrated with the Rewind Knob

The shutter speed dial sits concentric with the rewind knob on the top plate, a signature Exakta design element that allows quick speed selection without moving the hand far from the rewind lever. It's an unusual layout compared to the Japanese SLRs of the era, and it takes a little getting used to.

Self-Timer Lever

A self-timer lever sits on the front of the camera, manually cocked and released via a knurled knob. It's a purely mechanical delay, with no electronics and no battery drain.

Historical Context

The VX500 arrived in 1969, when the ground was shifting under Ihagee. By the late 1960s, Japanese manufacturers such as Nikon, Canon, Pentax, and Minolta were rapidly advancing SLR technology with features like through-the-lens metering, aperture-priority automation, and improved ergonomics. Ihagee, based in Dresden, East Germany, operated under the constraints of a centrally planned economy with limited access to modern electronics and declining export capacity. The company couldn't compete on features. It competed on price and mechanical reliability instead.

The VX500 was positioned as an entry-level, no-frills SLR, derived from the earlier VX1000 and VX2000 models but stripped of their selenium-cell exposure metering systems. It competed indirectly with entry-level models like the Pentax Spotmatic (introduced 1964) and the Canon FT, though without built-in metering it was inherently less convenient for average users. It lacked the sophistication of contemporary Japanese SLRs, but it kept the high build quality and precise mechanics that had defined Exakta's reputation since the 1930s. It found niche appeal among photographers who valued mechanical reliability, manual control, and the extensive ecosystem of Exakta-mount lenses.

Its production coincided with the decline of Ihagee as an independent entity, as the company faced increasing competition and supply chain challenges within the East German economy. The VX500 was, in a sense, the last affordable gasp of a brand that had pioneered the 35mm SLR in the first place.

Collectibility & Value

Today, the Exakta VX500 is a modestly collectible camera, sought mainly by Exakta enthusiasts, mechanical SLR collectors, and users interested in vintage lenses. It is not particularly rare, but complete, functional examples in good condition are increasingly difficult to find due to age-related wear and the degradation of rubber components such as the shutter curtain and light seal foam. Expect to pay in the region of $50-$120 USD on the secondary market, depending on condition, included accessories, and whether it comes with a lens. Recent listings broadly reflect that range, with body-only examples appearing around $45 and clean, lens-equipped kits sitting closer to $90.

When buying, inspect the shutter for consistency across all speeds, check for mirror bounce or sticking, and verify that the film advance and rewind mechanisms operate smoothly. Common issues include stiff or inconsistent shutter speeds, often due to dried lubricants, light leaks from deteriorated foam seals, and worn shutter curtains. The vertically traveling cloth shutter is particularly sensitive to improper handling or storage in humid environments, so a camera that's lived in a damp attic is a much riskier purchase than one that's been kept dry.

Repair is feasible but requires specialized tools and expertise, especially for shutter calibration and mirror mechanism adjustment. Replacement parts are scarce, though some components are interchangeable with other Exakta VX models. Routine maintenance should include CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) servicing by a technician experienced with vintage mechanical SLRs, replacement of light seals, and inspection of the film pressure plate and take-up mechanism. When stored properly - cool, dry, and with the shutter uncocked - the VX500 can remain functional for decades. There's no meter to fail, no battery to leak, and no circuit board to rot.

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VINTAGE TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVE / 10-14-2026 / FEEDBACK