IHAGEE EXA II

Name: Ihagee Exa II
Brand: Ihagee

The Ihagee Exa II is a 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera produced by the East German manufacturer Ihagee between 1960 and 1963. It is part of a transitional generation of SLRs with a fixed reflex mirror that remains in the up position after exposure, requiring manual reset via film advance.

Overview

Introduced during a period of rapid innovation in SLR technology, the Exa II represented Ihagee’s effort to modernize its post-war camera lineup and compete with emerging Japanese and Western European models. It succeeded the original Exa I, which lacked an instant-return mirror, and was positioned as a mid-tier SLR for amateur and advanced amateur photographers. The Exa II retained the robust metal construction typical of East German engineering and featured a simplified but reliable mechanical design. It was manufactured at Ihagee’s Dresden factory, which had a long heritage in camera production dating back to the 1920s, including the famed Kine Exakta series—the world’s first 35mm SLR.

The Exa II used the 40mm Ihagee thread mount (not to be confused with the Praktica thread-mount), a proprietary screw mount specific to early Ihagee SLRs., allowing compatibility with a wide range of lenses from Zeiss Jena, Meyer-Optik, and other GDR optical manufacturers. This mount, while eventually superseded by the M42 screw mount used by Praktica and others, was still widely supported in the early 1960s. The camera’s most significant innovation was its instant-return mirror mechanism, which automatically lowered the reflex mirror back into the viewing position after the shutter was released, eliminating the blackout period that plagued earlier SLRs. This feature greatly enhanced the user experience, particularly for tracking moving subjects.

Despite its technical merits, the Exa II had a relatively short production run, ending in 1963 when Ihagee was absorbed into the state-owned Pentacon conglomerate. The Exa II was succeeded within Ihagee’s lineup by models such as the Exa 500/10, but the Praktica line—developed by KW and later produced under Pentacon—was a separate product line that adopted the M42 mount. The Exa II remains a historically significant model as a transitional design that bridged the gap between early mechanical SLRs and the more refined, user-friendly models of the mid-1960s.

Specifications

Specification	Value
Type	Single-Lens Reflex (SLR)
Film Format	35mm (135 cartridge)
Years Produced	1960–1963
Lens Mount	40mm Ihagee Thread Mount (screw mount)
Shutter	Focal-plane cloth shutter, speeds 1 – 1/500 sec, B, X-sync at 1/30 sec
Metering	None (uncoupled meter required)
Exposure Modes	Manual only
Viewfinder	Fixed pentaprism eye-level finder with central ground glass screen
Dimensions	Approx. 145 x 85 x 90 mm; Weight: ~600 g (body only, no lens)

Key Features

Instant-return mirror: One of the first SLRs to feature automatic mirror retraction, restoring the viewfinder image immediately after exposure.
High-speed focal-plane shutter: Offers shutter speeds up to 1/1000 sec, which was fast for its era and competitive with contemporary Japanese models.
40mm thread lens mount: Compatible with a wide array of East German lenses from Carl Zeiss Jena, Meyer-Optik Görlitz, and Schneider-Kreuznach.
Mechanical reliability: Fully mechanical operation with no battery dependence, ensuring long-term functionality with proper maintenance.
X-sync at 1/30 sec: Flash synchronization available via PC terminal, useful for studio and flash photography.

Historical Context

The Exa II was released at a pivotal moment in SLR development. By the late 1950s, Japanese manufacturers such as Asahi (Pentax) and Nikon were advancing rapidly with integrated light meters and improved ergonomics. The Exa II’s introduction in 1960 reflected ongoing mechanical innovation in East Germany, though it lagged behind Japanese competitors in usability and standardization., particularly with the inclusion of the instant-return mirror—a feature that would become standard in later SLRs. However, Ihagee lagged behind in electronics integration and standardization, particularly in lens mounts.

The use of the proprietary 40mm thread mount, while functional, limited the Exa II’s appeal in international markets where the M42 mount was gaining dominance. Competitors like the Praktica FX series (also from the Pentacon group) adopted M42, making lens interchangeability easier. The Exa II thus occupied a niche position—technically advanced in mirror mechanics but constrained by backward compatibility. It was well received in Eastern Bloc countries and among budget-conscious photographers in Western Europe, but it did not achieve the widespread export success of later Praktica models.

Collectibility & Value

The Ihagee Exa II is a moderately collectible camera, valued more for its historical significance than for practical use. Working examples typically sell for $75–$150 USD, with higher prices only for rare lens combinations or mint-condition bodies., with higher prices for models paired with rare or high-quality lenses such as the Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f/1.8. Its rarity stems from its short production run and the fact that many units were eventually discarded or modified after Ihagee’s integration into Pentacon.

When purchasing an Exa II, collectors should inspect the shutter for smooth operation across all speeds, check for mirror bounce or sticking (a known issue with aging return springs), and verify that the film advance and rewind mechanisms function correctly. Light seals are almost certainly degraded and should be replaced for proper light-tightness. The thread mount is prone to cross-threading, so lens compatibility should be tested carefully. While not as common as M42 Prakticas, the Exa II is still obtainable through online marketplaces and East German camera specialty dealers.

Similar Cameras

Praktica FX 2 (1963) – M42 mount successor with similar mechanical layout but improved lens compatibility.
Fujica ST 705 (1962) – Japanese SLR with instant-return mirror and focal-plane shutter.
Zeiss Ikon Icarex 35 (1965) – West German SLR with M42 mount and advanced ergonomics.
Konica Auto-Reflex (1965) – Early Japanese SLR with aperture-priority automation.
Zorki-12 (USSR, 1965) – Thread-mount SLR with similar mechanical design philosophy.

Repair & Maintenance

The Exa II requires no batteries and operates entirely mechanically, making it durable and long-lasting with proper care. The most common issues involve the cloth focal-plane shutter, which may develop uneven speeds or fail to fire at higher speeds due to dried lubricants. Reconditioning the shutter typically requires a skilled technician familiar with vintage East German cameras. The instant-return mirror mechanism relies on a spring assembly that can weaken over time, causing delayed or incomplete mirror return. This can often be remedied by cleaning and lubrication, but replacement parts are scarce.

Regular maintenance includes cleaning the viewfinder prism, replacing deteriorated light seals, and ensuring the film transport mechanism is properly tensioned. The camera uses standard 35mm film with manual frame spacing via the rewind knob and red window on the back—a somewhat outdated system by 1960s standards but reliable when used correctly. Lubrication should be performed sparingly with modern synthetic oils to avoid gumming. Overall, the Exa II is moderately difficult to repair due to limited parts availability, but its mechanical simplicity makes it a rewarding project for vintage camera enthusiasts.