We have two Exaktas and an Exa in our collection.
The Exaktas came primarily with a viewfinder hood. You'd have to hold the camera at waist level and look down to aim and focus the camera. You were, however, looking directly through the lens.
Our oldest Exakta is the Exakta Model B Type 5.1, which was manufactured from 1937-1939.
This was not a camera for 35mm film. Instead it took larger photos on 127 roll film.
We also have the much newer Exakta VX 500, made around 1969, which was for 35mm roll film.
For fun, I'll also include the Exa Type 1.2 that we have in our collection. This little camera, made specifically for 35mm film, was only manufactured for a few months in early 1952.
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